Quarantine

The news lately is filled with the words ebola and enterovirous. They are both diseases that are causing trouble for many people.  As I was listening to the news the other day, they were discussing the family in Texas, whose father has ebola, and mentioned that the family was quarantined for 21 days in their home.  They are not supposed to leave their home for 21 days!

Could you, right now, stay in your home for almost a month and have everything required for a normal, every day routine??

Think of all the items you use every day.  From fresh foods all the way to toilet paper. Do you have at least 3 weeks worth of food and supplies?  

 Before A Quarantine....

• Always have at least a month's worth of food in your home. (I highly recommend a three-month supply, but we'll start with 1 month)
• Water storage will also be necessary. Make sure you have a few cases of water on hand.
•  Hand sanitizers, lysol, bleach, Clorox wipes, etc.  Whatever your choice of cleaner is, store it!  I would recommend not using sponges, but have paper towel, or small towels that you can wash in hot water.  You don't want to spread germs, you want to kill them.  This is also your first line of defense before getting sick!  Wash your hands often!
• Have a few simple meals ready to go and store all the ingredients together.  If the cook of the family becomes ill, it will be handy to have meals ready to cook, stored all together.  
• If your family becomes ill, think of foods that would be comforting, and kind of bland.  Crackers, soups, applesauce, jello, pudding, ingredients for smoothies (freeze-dried and dehydrated fruits are great for smoothies), liquids like Gatorade, water, and juice.  Remember the BRAT diet: banana, rice, applesauce, toast. (and when I say "ill" I mean a flu or other sickness, not ebola. If you feel you might have ebola or enterovirous please go to the hospital)
• Whatever over-the-counter meds you use should be stockpiled in your home.  If you have children, you'll need children's medicine, adults need the adult strength.  Think of cold medicine, fever reducing, pain relieving medicine, etc. 
• Do you have ice packs, heating pads, or a hot water bottle?  They can go a long way in helping someone feel better.

As you go about your day tomorrow think of all the things you use, and eat, and drink during your day.  Do you have at least a month's worth of each item?  If not, make a list of all the items you're in need of, so you can start shopping and begin adding to your stockpile.  Your friendly neighbor may become not so friendly if you have to be quarantined. Take the time to prepare for your family today!  You can't count on someone being there to help you.

Homemade Gatorade

When you think of Gatorade you may picture an athlete re-hydrating after a good workout, but did you know that you may need to add it to your storage. Did you know that diarrhea is the third highest killer in third world countries?  Dehydration sets in and many people die from it! Having an electrolyte drink on hand may be the simple solution, that can be made at home, to help those suffering from diarrhea and dehydration. If we were ever in a crisis situation and sanitation has caused many to become ill, we may need to be able to make an electrolyte drink to help those who have diarrhea.  I feel it is important to print out information like this and keep it in a binder for future reference.  You may not have electricity in an emergency for your computer and the stores may also be closed, so no getting your Gatorade.  

This mixture is for use in a crisis situation, you should always see your Doctor for diagnosis and treatment of diarrhea, especially in children.

A tip for this mix is to make several baggies worth at a time to have on hand.  If mom becomes sick, then others can mix up the electrolyte drink.  Just remember to have water stored to mix up the powdered drink.

Homemade Electrolyte Drink
(from Theharriedhomemakerpreps.blogspot.com)
1 quart water
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
3-4 T sugar
1/4 t salt substitute (it has potassium in it)
Mix well and can be flavored with lemon juice or sugar-free kool-aid.

**Adults should drink after each loose stool and drink at least 3 quarts or until they are well.

Children over 2 should drink 1/2-1 large cup of the mix.  You may have to spoon feed.

Children under 2 should drink 1/4-1/2 of a large cup.

Give it to the ill slowly and wait 10 minutes after vomiting to drink small amounts. If the drink is not used in 24 hours, make a new batch. 

**Info from HERE. 

Here is a simplified recipe with only three ingredients.  For children older than one years old. 

1 quart of water
2 T sugar
1/2 t salt
Mix all ingredients.  Can serve cold or room temperature.  Spoon feed if necessary.  Follow the same directions above when administering to the ill.



Enjoy the Journey!
Enjoy the Blessings!
Feel the PEACE!! 

Emergency Preparedness- First Aid Kits

The emergency preparedness goal for August is to make sure you have a first aid kit or take inventory of the one you have.  First aid items don't last forever, bandaids lose their stickiness after awhile and items like neosporin do expire.  

The good news is that First Aid kits can be found at almost any store, and you can decide how simple or elaborate to make them.  I bought a few ready made kits at Recreation Outlet for around $10.  I know that Walmart, Target, Emergency Essentials, etc ALL sell first aid kits.  I would just make sure they have all the basics 

 included in the kit before purchasing.  Remember you will want a smaller kit for your vehicles and also a kit for your work kit.  Check out the travel size section of Target & Walmart for a travel size kit for around $1.  They are a perfect size for your purse.

Here is a basic list from about.com

• acetaminophen and/or
• ibuprofen
• tweezers
• alcohol wipes
• antiseptic hand cleaner
• medical adhesive tape
• sterile gauze (four inch squares are best)
• elastic bandages
• several sizes of adhesive bandages
• insect bite swabs
• triple-antibiotic ointment
• hydrogen peroxide
• bandage scissors
• triangular bandages
• instant cold packs
• exam gloves
• barrier device for CPR 

Remember to include a list of anyone in your family who has special medical needs.  Read the link HERE to find out about different ways to help rescue workers know of your medical needs.  

med-Ecase

It is also suggested that we have at least a 3-month supply of over-the-counter medicine & prescription medications on hand.  Talk with your doctor to find out if this is an option for you.  Just picture our world if something happened and the pharmacies were not operational.  There are so many people who take prescription drugs to stay alive, it would be a matter of life or death, literally!!!  During Hurricane Katrina there were victims who were diabetic and were stranded in their homes with no medication.  This story inspired Jennifer Lindley to create a business that makes ready-made emergency kits for people with diabetes, asthma, and (coming this spring) a cardiac kit.  Click HERE to view her website. These are life-saving kits and if you have diabetes or asthma you NEED this in your first-aid or 72-hour kits.  

Don't put off what can be done today!!!  First aid and medications are an important part of everyone's home storage.  

Enjoy the Journey!
Enjoy the Blessings!
Feel the PEACE!! 

Pioneer Day

Happy Pioneer Day! Since today we are remembering our Pioneer ancestry, I thought it would be fun to take a look at how the Pioneers used what they had around them to survive.

I have a wonderful book called "Cookin' With Home Storage", by Vicki Tate and Peggy Layton. The author's are from Manti, UT and they do a wonderful job of using what you have in your pantry to make meals with. They also have added some Pioneer "recipes" for medicine, candy and cleaning, along with some of their food recipes as well. You can find their book at Deseret Book, Seagull Book, Emergency Essentials, and I have even seen it at Walmart.

CUCUMBER SALAD
Pioneer Recipe
2 large cucumbers
1/3 C cider vinegar
1/4 C water
1/4 C sugar
1/2 t salt
dash pepper
Cut the cucumbers into slices. Mix all the other ingredients together. Add the cucumbers and toss lightly.

"Soups were one of the most typical mainstays of the early settlers of Manti. Any leftover vegetables, any soup bones, and every scrap of meat was saved and made into soup" -Peggy Layton "Cookin' With Home Storage" p 133

PIONEER CREAM OF POTATO SOUP
1 1/2 C cubed potatoes
1 T margarine/butter
1 T onion
3/4 t salt
3/4 C water
2 C milk
1 T flour
Cook the potatoes, onion, and salt until tender. Blend the margarine and flour together and stir into the hot potato mixture. Stir constantly while cooking. When mixture thickens add milk and reheat. Modern day variation-add beef or chicken bullion to taste.

"It took several weeks to make the treacherous journey by covered wagon to Salt Lake City for medical care. If the Saints were sick they had to rely on the herbs that they could find growing wild." Peggy Layton "Cookin' With Home Storage" p 247

Doc Smith's Cough Syrup
1 C honey
1/2 C hot water
juice of 2 lemons
1 T glycerin
Mix well together and take 1 T at a time when cough persists. (I personally give my kids honey for really bad coughs. 1 T at bedtime really coats their throats and helps with the cough. Also, rub Vicks Vapor rub on the bottom of the feet and put socks on before bed and that helps with coughing-sounds weird, but works!)

CANKER SORES
Sprinkle dry Thyme on the canker sore. It should heal in a few hours.

OLD FASHIONED HONEY CANDY (lds.about.com)
Boil 2 C honey until it reaches hard ball stage (about 225 degrees) Pour onto buttered surface. When cool enough to handle butter hands and start to pull as you do for taffy.When honey holds it shape and has a golden color, twist into ropes and place back on counter and cut into pieces with scissors. Wrap in wax paper.

For more information and just a fun thing to read, click here to read a blog that is titled Pioneer Foodie, need I say more.
July Goals:
WATER: Store 14 gallons per person for a 2 week supply. This is the bare minimum for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. I would recommend storing water everywhere you can think of, under stairs, in the car, storage rooms, under beds,etc. Use soda bottles, laundry detergent bottles (for cleaning water) and any other container with the word "PETE" on the bottom of it. That means is will hold up over time and is safe to store water in.

OILS/FATS: Store 25lbs of oils and fats per person for a year storage. This includes mayonnaise,butter, oils, peanut butter, salad dressings, and shortening. Stock up this month while the prices are lower, watch for sales on ketchup and mustard as well.

NON-FOOD STORAGE: This month we are storing paper goods, which includes: paper plates, bowls, cups, utensils & napkins. I priced these items this week and found some great deals.
Big Lots:
paper plates 60ct $1.00
plastic cups 54ct $1.50
napkins 100ct $1.00
spoons 48ct $1.00

Dollar Store
forks 48ct $1.00
bowls 36ct $1.00

Both stores have great prices, make sure to watch the size of the product you are buying. Big Lots has a 36ct forks package for $1.30 and you get 48 forks for $1.00 at the Dollar Store.

CHARCOAL is our other non-food storage item this month. Store charcoal in 5 gallon buckets to keep it dry, and it will last indefinitely. Watch for charcoal to go on sale throughout the summer months. You will need charcoal to cook meals with especially if you don't have other ways of cooking with out electricity.
To cook 1 hour a day for a year you will need 24 #15 bags of charcoal.

Enjoy the journey!
Enjoy the blessings!
Feel the Peace!

June Goals & Storing Medications

June Goals

This month we are collecting WHEAT for our storage. You will need 100lbs of wheat per person for a year supply and that is the bare minimum. That may seem like a lot and it is :) so remember to only purchase the amounts that your budget allows. Wheat from the cannery costs $5.80 for 25lbs. That is a really easy way to stock up. Store the wheat in buckets to keep the bugs out.

If you have wheat allergies there are many other options out there to store. Whole Foods and Winco both have bulk areas that allow you to purchase any amount of flour that you need, such as spelt, rice, oat, barley, etc.

Also, you may want to think about how you will grind your wheat. If you don't have a grinder you may want to do a google search for one that will work for you. I own a Nutrimill grinder and I love it.

This month we are also stocking up on MULTI-VITAMINS AND MEDICINE. Right now at Walgreens they have Nature's Bounty vitamins on sale for buy one get one free. Most of the vitamins I have purchased have a 3 year expiration date. 

Prescription medicines will have to be brought up with your doctor. Sometimes you are able to purchase a couple months worth, and other times not. Check to see if your medications allow you to do this.

Over-the-counter medicine is a little easier to stock up on. Walmart has a store brand that is very affordable and has the same ingredients as the name brands. I buy a children's ibuprofen and acetaminophen every time I go to there. I also make sure to have adult strength on hand. They are easier to buy in 500 count than children's liquid medicine.

Enjoy the journey!
Enjoy the blessings!
Feel the peace!

Surviving The Flu

Swine Flu, we hear these two words on a daily basis now. I hope and pray that you have not been affected by this flu. If you have been you have probably learned what would help and what didn't while you were sick. My children haven't been sick, but they get quite a few headaches and we were down to the last bottle of Motrin. It made me think about how much medicine that I would need to last a year and I realized that I definitely don't have enough. I know all moms can understand the helplessness when children are sick in the middle of the night and nothing seems to work. Well, I don't want to have to worry about getting pain reliever for my children and stocking up on medicine and sickness related items are my focus for awhile.

Click HERE and read a handout from a mom who was ill along with her children and came up with some great ideas of what to have on hand when you and your family become sick. It is labeled a Moms Survival guide, but I think it applies to all of us.

Some items that I always have on hand are hand sanitizer, sports drinks, 7-up, crackers, pain reliever, Clorox wipes, and other disinfecting cleaners. I am a germ obsessed mom and I have to be able to disinfect everything when someone becomes sick in my family. I don't want the virus to spread to everyone.

Medicine In Your Food Storage:

I have found Walmart to have the lowest prices on their store brand medicine. It contains the same ingredients as the name brands and is usually half price. Look around as you shop to catch the deals on over-the-counter medicines. October and November are the 2 biggest sale months for Rite Aid and Walgreens for medicine. So watch the ads and save big! Stock up on the medicines your family uses.

You might want to also check with your pharmacist to see if you are able to get more than just one months worth of your medications. Especially if they are medications you can't go without.

Make a list of medicines that you and your family use and decide how you will can get enough for at least a 3 month supply. Look for sales, or maybe just by one extra every other week when you grocery shop.