5 Lifesaving Items for Emergencies

Seemingly every year about winter time, preparedness sites focus on life saving items to keep on your nightstand, or items you should keep near you at night. And it makes sense, as many emergencies can occur in winter time, including ice and snow storms, fires and break-ins. So here’s our take on the age-old question. 

Source of Light can be a LifeSaving Item (Flashlight/Headlamp)

Emergencies can come at any hour. but not being able to see during the emergency makes things all that much more dangerous, not to mention scary. Keeping a flashlight handy can save your life or at least make you much safer. 

There are several approaches to having light sources available. Personally I suggest keeping a high lumen handheld flashlight like this one.

Life Saving Light Source
Life Saving Light Source

These types in particular allow you to focus the beam very far away or broaden the focus to light up an entire room, or even a backyard. 

Many of these models of flashlights have safety loops you can wrap around your wrist when using them. And that loop can be used to hang the light close to your bedside. 

In addition, it’s highly recommended you consider including a headlamp that can be used to free up your hands in a disaster situation. 

Imagine needing to quickly grab items, like bug out bags, or weapons, and having to fumble around with a flashlight while doing so. Using a headlamp allows you to avoid this exact scenario. Be careful to try a few different types.  Some can be pretty heavy and not very effective for long term use. 

Headlamp

Another aspect of headlamps that can be important, not necessarily in emergency situations, is the ability to change the amount of light and even applying a red filter. Changing the amount of light allows you to save on battery life. And, of course, the red light is better for keeping your eyes’ natural night vision. 

Cell Phone or Mobile Device

There is no doubt, the cell phone is one of the best tools we can have available to us in emergency situations. Emergency services can be called. Quick information lookups can be made – for instance in the case of poisoning. 

Life Saving Mobile Devices
Life Saving Mobile Devices

Of course if your light sources above are just out of reach, you can still use most cell phones these days to light up an area as needed. 

Most modern smartphones also have cameras, many of very high quality. Of course that means you can take pictures of damages done during storms or accidents, or get quick snapshots of criminals while in the act if you deem it safe to do so. 

We’ll talk about it a bit more below, but don’t forget to plug that phone into its charger each night. Nothing more frustrating or dangerous to get into a challenging situation, just to realize your phone has only got 6 percent power remaining. 

Power Supply for Any Electronic LifeSaving Item

We’ve alluded to it already. It becomes very important to keep all your electronics properly charged. You’re doing nothing else with them overnight, so plug them in to be better prepared. 

One caveat here, keep in mind some electronic devices (primarily flashlights) still use the older style NiMH batteries, which will eventually lose their charge capacity. So if you do have that style, it might be important to put them on more of a schedule of allowing the device battery to run completely dead occasionally. And then completely recharge it. 

If your device uses standard batteries such as AA or AAA, then consider adding a little case to carry it along with a few backup batteries. 

Finally, consider having a small power pack, like this Mophie power station.

Lifesaving Mophie Power Supply
Lifesaving Mophie Power Supply

These can be used to charge your phone, and if you happen to have a rechargeable headlamp or flashlight, it can be used there too. These are so important to have available in everyday life and in possible emergency scenarios.

Security Device/ Self Defense Items

For security, if you’re a second amendment advocate, you likely already have a weapon of choice. And it should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway, get trained and regularly practice shooting with your platform. 

It may seem the natural choice is to go with a smaller package to “keep in your nightstand”. However, do some research and consider the possibility that a shotgun or pistol caliber carbine might be better suited for your personal needs. I won’t go too much in depth in this guide on the advantages and disadvantages of each. Just know that there are many options and considerations must be given for each. I’ll say It again, get trained on your platform, and practice. 

If you’re not much of a firearms fan, there are many options you can still use to protect yourself and your family. Consider non- lethal items such as:

Fast-Strike Tactical Whip

https://www.faststrikedefense.com/fast-strike-whip

Sabre Pepper Gel Canisters

https://www.sabrered.com/pepper-spray-and-personal-safety-products

And it may seem drastic, but keeping a large knife (like a hunting knife or machete in its sheath) can be a great deterrent if someone sees you wielding it. Again, just be knowledgeable on how to use it. And willing to use it if the time comes. If you don’t think that’s your style, then stick to the other non-lethals.

Last but not least, it’s great to have a dog!  Dogs can be our best friends.  They can go on runs with us to keep us healthy.  They can show you kindness and distract you when you’re feeling low. But throughout history, domesticated dogs have also been used as protection from danger. 

It is true that even just having a smaller dog able to bark a warning when danger is near is a great first line of defense. But it becomes even more important to have a well trained dog that knows you and your family. A dog can be treated as part of a family, but don’t skip out on proper training for the main commands. 

Eye Glasses/ Reading Glasses

Speaking from a position of years of experience, don’t forget the glasses. Yes there are many who are not afflicted by near or far-sighted struggles. But, if you’re coming from anywhere near the GenX perspective, reading glasses become so important to a normal way of life. Definitely consider getting the Multi-focus lenses as well.  They are great for everyday use.

So, just trust us, this is important to somebody out there!

LifeSaving Honorable Mentions

  • fire extinguisher – at the very least, have several positioned purposefully throughout the house and know how to use them
  • vehicle keys – at the very least, know where your keys are at all times.  Have a default place where they are kept and always leave them there
  • wallet/purse – same as keys.  Have a specific location preferably the same as your keys, and always keep them there
  • Shoes – it seems silly to say, but think of a scenario in which a breakin or storm happens, with broken glass and you’ve got to move fast in the dark.  You will want to be able to move quickly without fear of cutting your feet
  • And just for the long-locks ladies out there, possibly a hair-band.  In emergencies having those beautiful locks tied up and out of your face will allow you to function much more smoothly

Thanks for joining us on this one.  But we’d really love to hear your feedback to help us grow and communicate new ideas to the audience.  

Until next time, this is @genxtalkin signing off…

GenXTalkin Presents… Storytime: Florida Hurricane

For our imagination, training and planning today, let me introduce you to a married couple, Daniel and Elsie Gardner. Now Daniel and Elsie, for most of their lives, have lived in some western and some Mid-Atlantic states in the US. They have three great kids in their teenage years. After some long planning and hard work, it’s paid off, and they’ve bought their place at the end of a long road in Florida, just outside Orlando. Very private…. And quiet!

Daniel grew up most of his life in a preparedness minded home.  The pantry was well stocked, a small supply of water was properly stored, and there were secondary ways to get power and purify water if needed. His parents taught him from a young age that the way of the Scout was to “be prepared”!

Elsie was always a city girl and grew up knowing the power would always be there and thought there was a fine line between prepping and hoarding. To Elsie, Keeping a significant amount of food and water stored was pretty wasteful when you could just as easily go down to the market and pick up fresh food. And besides, it’s so much healthier as well. 

Preparedness had always been a minor point of contention in the household and the kids felt it whenever Dad would attempt to build any stock of food, water, or take part in any other of these types of activities. Mom would get frustrated. 

Daniel and Elsie have now lived in Florida for about 6 months.  Although they’ve heard of hurricanes in Florida, they’ve never experienced the real threat. In fact the only real experience they’ve had is when they lived in Maryland and one Superstorm skirted the area causing some wind damage, and minor flooding but nothing major.  Back in Maryland, anytime any type of storm (super or not) would come up, about two days before the storm, everyone would race to the store to stock up.  And often the shelves would be left empty until after the storm. 

Well, August rolls around and seemingly out of the blue, the news starts reporting about Hurricane Itan heading their way. As reported the storm is still about a week out, so Daniel and Elsie continue their work. Coworkers seem to be only slightly alarmed, but enough to make Daniel start thinking back to some of his upbringing. On a whim, he decides to stop and pick up 10 of the gallon sized bottles of Crystal Geyser water, and a couple of cases of smaller water bottles. Heck while he’s at it, he goes ahead and picks up some rice, and a few extra cans of soup, just in case. He just keeps them in his car for now. 

A couple more days go by and the reports are getting worse. The strength of the storm intensifies. By landfall, it’s expected to be at least category 3 and possibly even category 4.  Looking at the projected path of the storm only frustrates Daniel and Elsie as they try to decipher what it could mean for their small family. Some news broadcasts are indeed calling for evacuation of areas to the south and east of their home, but not necessarily their area. Confusion sets in, and after some time, the couple starts to argue about how they should prepare. 

Two days out from the storm, and Daniel thinks they should go buy a generator.  Elsie argues that it’s overkill. But as they see their neighbors start applying their hurricane shutters on their windows, Daniel starts to ask around for recommendations on how to prepare. 

  • They start to ask if the house they purchased has premade shutters for your windows?
  • you can often find them shoved into an attic or basement somewhere
  • Or you might still be able to pick up some plywood and clips at the hardware store before the storm
  • Might want to get those up well before the storm.
  • Do you have a generator?  That will be important. 
  • Extra gas and gas cans?
  • How much food and water do you have?
  • Last big storm took us out for about 5 days!

5 days!?  We better get moving!  With this info, Elsie was convinced. They needed to get out and pick up some of these things. 

The next day, Luckily they found the house did indeed have some fitted plywood sheets already cut to their window sizes… Thank God!  Next, Daniel decided to take a trip into town to look for a generator. As he passed through town he noticed that ALL buildings had metal shutters installed and locked into place. The town looked like the set of walking dead. 

Grocery stores, shuttered!  

Post office, shuttered! 

Two places remained open. 

The gas station, but the line to get there was over a block long. 

And the hardware store! 

He pulled into the parking lot and walked into the store. As with the grocery store several days prior, many of the shelves were bare. The only generator available still was a little 1200 watt unit that might power a couple of lights and a charger. Daniel bought it, and remembered he still had some oil he could use back at home. 

On his way home Daniel parked in the line to get gas. He waited for 2 hours listening to his podcasts. When he got to the point to fill up his car, it was running on fumes. 

He asked the attendant if they had any gas cans he could buy. “Nope, and we wouldn’t let you fill them up anyway.  Just your car!”  Daniel filled up the car’s tank and headed home. 

As he pulled up to the house, Elsie ran out to meet him, crying. 

“It’s picked up power off the coast. It’s a category 5 and headed our way!”

Now less than twenty four hours from the storm hitting the coast, Daniel and Elsie, and their young family have limited supplies, equipment they’ve never used, and the threat of an impending storm. They feel woefully unprepared, but reports indicate the evacuation routes are clogged with last minute travelers trying to get away. 

  • What challenging times have you had in discussing preparedness with spouse?
  • What are some things Daniel and Elsie could have done to better prepare ahead of time?
  • What were some good things they did leading up to the storm?
  • How early before a storm hits would be best to start preparing?
  • What are some activities they could do with the family to prepare themselves better?

Click Here to hear how Ed and Matt consider the questions themselves in our latest Podcast at Podcast.genxtalkin.com

@genxtalkin