Indholdsfortegnelse for Prepper - Spring/Summer 2021 i American Outdoor Guide

WATERBOB EMERGENCY WATER STORAGE The WaterBOB is a bathtub-sized, food-grade plastic container that allows you to fill up your bathtub with fresh tap water without having to worry about contamination from cleaning chemicals or a dirty bathtub. It holds up to 100 gallons, but that depends on the size of your bathtub. According to the manufacturer, the WaterBOB will keep water fresh for up to 16 weeks. A siphon pump is included. MSRP $34.95 URL WaterBOB.com 55-GALLON WATER DRUM KIT One of the best ways to store water for the long term is with a 55-gallon drum. At 36 inches tall and 23 inches in diameter, this 55-Gallon Water Drum Kit includes a water preserver, siphon pump and bung wrench. It’s made with FDA-approved polyethylene resin. Water can be…

The relationship between humans and fire is a long and mixed one. When we need it, fire can be our best friend and, in some situations, it might be the only thing that keeps us alive. When it comes to human survival in austere environments, it would be difficult to be successful without the benefits fire affords us. You’ll find some gear in the following pages that can help you reliably summon fire when and where you need it the most. BIC Lighter When it comes to survival, the acronym, KISS (“Keep It Simple, Stupid”), certainly applies. You’d be hard-pressed to find an easier-to-use fire starter than a BIC lighter. It isn’t perfect, but even the most experienced survival instructors usually have one in their pocket. Spin the thumb wheel,…

For those new to the prepping world, the plethora of diverse food sources and accessories to produce food today could be overwhelming. From MREs (meals ready to eat) to dehydrated meals and hydroponic vegetable-growers, the options are seemingly endless. For the experienced survivalist, emergency rations aren’t what they were 10 or even five years ago. New ways of cooking, more-advanced and -durable packaging, along with state-of-the-art technology that can literally grow food with very little human interaction, are leaps ahead of cracking open a can of Spam or cooking over a candle. Now, for both the novice and the pro, there are tons of options to increase the variety of your food supply. The more you have, the better, because if or when a crisis hits, you’ll be on your…

Mountain passes and arroyos clogged with twisted foliage can be confusing when you’re lost. The sun might peek into a canyon for only a brief moment before disappearing behind the rim again. Subtle turns of the trail mask your direction. Being lost can induce a panic that’ll sap your energy, along with your ability to reason and make smart decisions. There are many myths and methods associated with the cardinal directions: moss on trees, flights of birds at dusk, the direction squirrels sit while they’re eating. Which ones are true, and which are just old wives’ tales? Do you remember? Hmmm ... if only you had a compass. Other gear can help you keep your mind clear and focused on your destination and will often be at least as important…

Preparing now means that when it comes time to use the tools you’ve invested in, your focus can be on the important tasks of the moment. If you wait until trouble arises, you won’t have the time—or clarity of mind—to accomplish everything you’ll need to do in the limited time you’ll have to make decisions and take action. Gear choices should be researched, and product purchases should be tested and used to gain experience with them before you need them for survival. Here are some shelter gear choices we think you might like. Ameristep Deadwood Stump Blind While not a conventional shelter, a hunting blind is the perfect shelter. Not only does the camo pattern help blend in seamlessly with the surroundings, it also offers exceptional all-around views. This blind…

There’s a great deal to plan for when preparing for an emergency move. Food, water, medical items, navigation and communications are added to personal gear. The key is to not be concerned about the amount of gear you take; it’s about having the right gear and knowing how to use it. When sorting through your gear, ask yourself • Does it serve multiple purposes? • What are the benefits versus the cost of carrying this? • Do I really need it? Remember: You aren’t on a camping adventure; you’re escaping danger. Gerber 9-Inch Black Hatchet An axe is always good to have, but when size and weight are issues, go with the Gerber 9-inch Black Hatchet, which weighs only 20 ounces. The head is forged steel and has a PTFE…

There’s a wide range of gadgets and gizmos that can augment your security protocols—from cameras to lights, weapons to carry systems and much more. The important thing to remember? No product on the planet can replace what rests between your ears. Use common sense and logic to work your way through problems, and make decisions based on facts rather than frenzied emotion that fires off in the middle of a situation. Training and experience are invaluable too. Seek out classes, seminars and other opportunities to pick up new skills and techniques, as well as to brush up on the ones you’ve learned already. Remember the old adage: Practice makes perfect. Kershaw Launch 13 The Launch 13 is an automatic knife that’s perfect for everyday carry (EDC) because it’s slim and…

1.0 HISTORY LESSONS History is filled with lives that were lost because of bad communication. At the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon couldn't tell whether an advancing force comprised his expected French reinforcements or the enemy Prussian forces. By the time it was determined that it was, indeed, the enemy, France's Marshal Grouchy was executing Napoleon's previous orders and was unreachable due to the limited communications of the day. Nearly two millennia earlier, a Greek soldier named Philippides was sent to announce that the Persian army was defeated at the Battle of Marathon. After running 26.2 miles, the exhausted messenger arrived and said something like, "We are winners," before collapsing to the floor and dying. Today, "marathon" races are the same distance in honor of Philippides' achievement, but certainly, running such…

We rely far too heavily on the media to tell us if there’s an epidemic, tornado, hazardous chemical spill or other event that could affect our health and to provide guidance on how to stay safe. Additionally, too many of us have given complete control of our health to doctors and pharmaceuticals. In addition, we take for granted our ability to dial 911 in a medical emergency. What happens if the grid goes down and there’s no one to provide guidance or if there’s no easy access to medical services? How will you know if there’s a nuclear explosion, chemical spill or a pandemic? What will you do if you or a loved one breaks an ankle, gets bitten by a tick carrying Lyme disease or a venomous snake or…

Our goal here, at American Survival Guide, is to provide you with the information and advice you’ll need to survive any emergency situation. Everyone’s needs are different, so we’ve developed this expanded checklist to help simplify and organize your efforts, inventory and to-do lists. No matter where you live or what you’re planning for, this checklist will help ensure you have what you need to survive. It’s organized in the same order as the sections in this Prepper Manual edition. We encourage you to add your specific needs to it so it’ll meet your requirements better. Whatever gear you’re able to gather, be sure you know how to use it before you need it. We suggest you make copies of this checklist that you can keep in your storage areas…

Without water of any kind, you’re doomed. There’s no way around it. Dehydration can rapidly affect the body without an ample water supply. Depending on the person's physical condition, environment and exertion levels, they might notice changes in their body after just a few hours. The big problem with the vast majority of the water on the planet is that it’s not potable. Only 3 percent of the water found in liquid form on this planet is drinkable—and most of that’s in underground aquifers and is inaccessible to humans. The rest is salt water. It’s a terrible irony that the majority of people stranded in the great expanse of the world’s oceans after a plane crash or a boat catastrophe usually die from lack of water—not drowning, exhaustion or starvation.…

Without a doubt, fire is one of our most important assets in a survival situation. It’ll keep us warm, staving off hypothermia. We can use it to boil water, rendering it safer to drink so we can avoid dehydration. And, of course, a warm meal is often better than cold mush. On top of all that, there’s a psychological element at work: We’re not only comforted by the fire as it lights up the night and keeps the "bogeyman" at bay, being able to light and tend the fire also gives us something practical we can accomplish. Even if every other thing seems to be going wrong, at least we have some control over this. Carry with you a couple of ways—at minimum—to get a fire going, just in case…

Although the human body can go about three to four weeks without food, death hovers nearby. Even with so long between the last bite and the last breath, after only a few days without food, a person’s mental and physical sharpness decrease rapidly, and this can put even greater strain on an already tense situation. Let’s take this one step more: Remember the last time you missed even one lunch or dinner? Were you grumpy, lightheaded or unable to concentrate fully? Most likely, yes, and this is when you skipped just one meal on one day. Luckily, there are many resources for food that can be found in your house, just outside your home and in a variety of nearby locations. The more options you take advantage of—and that you’re…

Stepping off the trail and heading up a canyon for a mile or so is enough to get a person lost. The twists and turns of a benign-looking range of hills and arroyos can be confusing, especially if you add to it the fears of survival, the pangs of hunger or the parched dryness of thirst. You know where you came from—perhaps a broken-down car or last night’s camp—and you know where you want to go: civilization. But you’re not sure how to get there. You need to get from point A to point Z, and you’re on foot. You’ve never done that before, so you’ll have some challenges. To help overcome some of those challenges, you’re prepared, because you have in your pack a map of the area and…

There are very few things more critical than shelters during survival situations. Regardless of the continent, temperate zone or time of year, shelter is one of the constant necessities for human survival. Many times, people get caught up wondering which shelter type is the longest lasting or strongest structure; something in which they can store their belongings and shield themselves from the elements. The reality is that even the most humble and temporary shelter should fulfill a user’s needs. However temporary a situation might be, there’s a grand sense of security in a reinforced and rigid structure that’s meant to last lifetimes. Whether they’re natural or man-made, they all must keep at bay one form or another of the “big, bad wolf.” 1.0 QUICK SHELTERS Quick shelters are essentially thrown-together…

The decision to move might not be yours to make. This year’s forest fires and hurricanes often found people being asked to leave “now”! Those without a plan in place often found themselves in a quandary and wasting precious time trying to figure out what to do and where to go. As a hurricane is approaching your town or a forest fire is cresting the next ridge isn’t the time to try to figure out what you’re going to do. You must have a plan—or multiple plans—already in place so you’re prepared to move on very short notice. Where are you going to go, and how are you going to get there? These are plans that must be in place long before they are needed. This section will look at…

For far too many people, the concept of security begins and ends with firearms. While defense weapons are an important component of the plan, they shouldn’t be the entire plan. There are many facets to a well-rounded approach to security—from hardening the home to protecting your digital assets. 1.0 PRIVACY Keeping things close to the chest is one of the best ways to avoid being a target. Often, we have a tendency to reveal far more than we should ... and we do so without thinking. 1.1 Conceal Big Purchases Big-ticket items often come in large boxes. Dragging the empty box to the end of the driveway for pickup tells anyone going by that you just bought a brand-new TV or another item that might interest them in what else…

We’ve all met the man who can live in the woods with next to nothing (maybe just a knife), wears leather skins and has learned to live off rats and squirrels. He brags that he pays no taxes and has no electric or gas bills. I say, Good for him! However, we realize that we don’t desire to live off-grid in a cave and eat rats. Most of us have a family to support and a comfortable home to maintain. Even so, whether or not you’re concerned about the high cost of modern living or modern life’s degradation of the environment, you’re still interested in living better for less. For most of us, the biggest expenses in life, besides our home, are the costs associated with living in that home…

Being as healthy as possible is up to you. Know what risks you face. You need to educate yourself on ways to lessen those risks, make a plan and commit to implement your plan for a healthier lifestyle. 1.0 IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD Changing the way we think is often difficult. However, changing your mindset to take control of health-related conditions could be crucial for your survival. 1.1 Problem-Solving When it comes to your health, instead of telling yourself what you need to do, think of your specific condition or risk as a problem that must be solved. Take whatever condition or risk you have (such as high blood pressure), and phrase it into a question: Instead of “I have a prescription for high blood pressure, so can I…

Preppers have been told repeatedly that they need to have on hand 1 gallon of water per day for every person in their group. This rule-of-thumb is a mainstay of the prepper community, and there’s nothing wrong with it. The more water you store for an emergency, the better prepared you’ll be and the longer you’ll be safely hydrated, whatever calamity befalls you. However, rarely is the subject of survival hydration brought up, because it’s a controversial topic that’s full of variables, what-ifs and mixed perceptions. Drinking a gallon of water a day is a great plan, but the takeaway here is that you can stay alive on a lot less if you have to. Whatever the outcome, you’ll need to ration what scant fluids you might have left. 1.0…

Food is part of everyone’s life. It’s obvious that without it, you’ll eventually die. However, most people’s knowledge of food is capped by what can be bought at the local grocery store, either eaten as is or cooked in any number of ways. Nevertheless, this is just scratching the surface of an all-encompassing category when it pertains to an emergency or survival situation. During such events, you might not have the ability to first procure your wanted food options, cook them under ordinary means and finally store them in the refrigerator for later use. Instead, you might have to hunt, fish or grow your meal, as well as find the means to cook, season and hold your food properly at the correct temperature to prevent decay and possible foodborne illnesses.…

Any shelter, no matter the location, needs to cover some basic needs: It needs to protect you from the heat, cold, sun, precipitation and pests; offer a place to set down belongings; provide a dry place to sleep; and give some sense of security. Fancier shelters meant for long-term use might even provide heat and cooking capabilities, bathing and toileting areas, space to cultivate a garden and room to expand. No matter what type of shelter is necessary at a given time, it’s the person or people using it who make it suit their particular requirements. Everyone’s needs will change according to numerous variables and time, but knowing what you need and what you want will allow you to keep your shelter comfortable and effective. 1.0 A PLACE TO REST…

Despite the many transportation modes available, in all likelihood, when you have to move away from dangerous situations, you’ll be using a motorized vehicle (a car, SUV, pickup, etc.). No one can tell you which of these vehicles is better, because this is a personal choice that depends on a host of different factors. The vehicle you use might just have to be the one that you have closest at hand. The key is to make that vehicle the best and the safest it can be. I’ve read many articles on this subject. Many are good, while others sound like an advertisement for brand “X.” I am from the “KISS Principle” (“Keep It Simple, Stupid”) school of thought. In other words, don’t make it any more complicated than it has…

Security is a vitally important element of your overall preparedness plan. After all, if someone can easily take your supplies and gear, what’s the point of collecting it all in the first place? Take the time to invest in the equipment, as well as the skills, needed to keep you and your family safe. However, be sure to check local laws to avoid carrying something that could get you into legal trouble. 1.0 EVERYDAY CARRY (EDC) There are a few items you should carry on your person as you go about your daily life that’ll go a long way toward keeping you safe and secure. 1.1 Cell Phone In most situations, this is your lifeline to assistance. You can use it to call for help, find directions to get you…

There’s no way to generate electricity without some “stuff.” Whether it comprises the components of a generator, solar panels, a dynamo or some other device, this is one area for which we need some outside resources. The first step in gearing-up is to determine the bare minimum you’ll need to cover your must-haves during an emergency, whether it’s just for overnight, for several months or longer. Solar power has the most universal potential, but don’t rule out other options if they make more sense in your situation. TRAVELSOL AA, AAA, C and D BATTERY CHARGER Rechargeable batteries are a great idea, and many of our devices use the sizes that this unit charges. These batteries can be cycled hundreds of times, and the solar panel means you’ll get yours charged…

There are plenty of options for staying connected during an emergency or crisis. However, in our high-tech world, little of it keeps to the “KISS” ("Keep It Simple, Stupid") principle. Often overlooked is what it takes to keep those devices ready to use—and that doesn't mean just keeping the batteries charged. Natural disasters, as well as far too many man-made events, can turn today's fancy electronic gear into little more than fancy paperweights. A solid communications plan should include a mix of high- and low-tech solutions, as well as the gear to keep it all safe and ready for those times you need it most. Faraday Defense 20-Piece Kit NEST-Z From your mobile phone and portable radio to your laptop and personal medical devices, if it has a microchip or…

Omron 3 Series Blood Pressure Monitor Omron is the number-one brand recommended by doctors and pharmacists for monitoring blood pressure at home. Omron has manufactured blood pressure monitors for more than 40 years. The package includes a blood pressure monitor, a wide-range cuff that fits arms 9 to 17 inches in circumference and an instruction manual. Be sure to read the instruction manual and follow the instructions to get an accurate reading, because blood pressure constantly varies due to many variables, including what you eat or drink, as well as the time of day. The monitor requires four AA batteries (not included). MSRP $49.99 URL OmronHealthcare.com Veridian Model 11-50D Pulse Oximeter The Veridian Model 11-50D Pulse Oximeter displays blood-oxygen saturation and pulse rate. It fits a wide range of…