Preparedness for when

ginnyknit

To all those who are ill or partners are ill, i hope tomorrow brings good news or good health. I agree with the prepping for basic emergencies, I always pop an overnight bag in the car ( often as a good luck thing) when OH has an appointment at the hospital and Dd's OH is always sure to be on call for me when we go as he is the other named driver of OH's car.

D&DD well done on getting the form filled in and yes its very stressful actually reading it all in black and white. I did OH's latest one last week and actually cried as I was upset by the truth.

GQ thats right about taking responsibility for themselves and not putting off a minor thing now that could become a crisis. It annoys me when DS wanders through and I ask him to do something and he says 'its ok I will do it tomorrow' - yes and he wouldnt have got to Cuba if I didnt nag him about his passport. he does listen to me mostly and calls me mother instead of Mum when Im nagging him :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

D & DD - I've just realised what a stupid numpty I was in my post yesterday evening, you didn't mean the flask at all did you? Erm - The dehydrator is currently humming away dealing with a big picking of cherry tomatoes, what was I thinking- well I probably wasn't if the truth be told, it's an age thing!!!!!!!!! Coherant me? Not a chance in a month of Mondays, sorry, Cheers Lyn xxx.

GreyQueen

Too right, ginny.

My wider family is having some considerable anxiety this weekend. Uncle (81) has a problem which means he cannot drive. Auntie (71) never bothered to learn. Their car has been sitting outside their house for 2 months, unusable, in a village.

Tonight, or very first thing on Monday morning, Uncle is due at the big regional teaching hospital 40 miles away for surgery. Public transport isn't an option. Gonna be a toughie.

I have seen this play out with subtle variations so many times, the Mrs not bothering to learn to drive because the Mr can. And being left in a total pickle when the Mr is ill or suddenly passes away.

I don't have a car (can't afford one) but I've had a full clean license for over 20 years and my last lot of housemates asked me if I'd like to be on their insurances (2 different vehicles). As I was over 35 it didn't cost them anything but it meant that in a few crises over the years, I could jump into their car or their big van and save the day.

Parents and brother aslo have me on their insurances and even though we don't live in the same place, it's still convenient sometimes for me to be able to use their vehicles when visiting. So, I would look to the insurance situation, if it was affordable, to give the extended family as much flexibility as possible.

Uncle's brother may have to take him to the big hospital (round trip 80 miles) or my parents (15 miles to Uncle's, 40 miles to the big hospital, 40 miles back to Uncle's (assuming Auntie wants to accompany him on the day) and then 15 miles back home. Helluva lot of journeying for a group of people where the youngest is 69.:( And probably several hours hanging around in the hospital in between.

I am now going to play with my new sleeping bag. I last bought a new bag in the academic year 1984-1985. Slightly pleased with my new purchase.

Caterina

GQ first of all, sending good wishes for your Uncle, hoping the op goes well and for a fast recovery.

Your post is very topical for me at the moment as I am re-learning how to drive (know how to take the car down the road but absolutely CARP at manoeuvres etc) as part of a reskilling programme. On the same lines I have picked up my knitting again, too!

Compared to those of you talking about generators, wattage etc I am really not very far on the road to prepping, but am doing my best to try and have at least some basic skills.

I have just read a few days' worth of posts so please forgive me for not picking on many relevant issues but I wanted to say Nuatha I hope your OH is better and that the test results are favourable.

westlothianlass

Hi all
Just popping in to send hugs to Nuatha and 2Tonsils and your partners.
Not much OS or prepping going on at the moment, sitting in thermals with a big mug of tea mulling over what to do today...

Thanks for all the info about batteries/solar lights i have stored info for later. We have no streetlights here so having a sensor light in the back would be extremely helpful.

I have a large Stanley flask (bought from Tk maxx) and its proved to be pretty indestructable, its been dropped numerous times by "helpful" grandkids and survived intack.

WLL x

Popperwell

Just wish to echo everyone's best wishes to Nuatha and 2Tonsils for you and your loved one's, during such sad and worrying times.
Sadly too many have faced such situations or will.

[Deleted User]

2TONSILS - Sorry for not replying to your question yesterday, what I meant was the solar lamps don't have to be positioned in full sun to take a charge, only be exposed to daylight, hence the leave it on the windowsill. I re-read my post and it sounded daft to me!!!!!!!! but, that is what I should have said. Pity the owl picture wouldn't load I would have loved to see it! Cheers Lyn x.

SpikyHedgehog

nuatha wrote: »

Generally OH and myself keep an overnight bag in our cars.
A week past Friday, I'd emptied the back of my car to maximise space for taking stuff to the tip and picking up some timber. Out came the car box and the overnight bag. Having emptied the timber, I had a cuppa before taking OH to the doctors for an appointment neglecting to put the car back into five seat mode as I was planning on another tip run the next morning.
GP referred OH to hospital for some tests, where she still is a week later. No overnight bag in my car as its still in the house where it was put earlier in the day.
Got home in the early hours when they'd decided they were admitting her, thinking at least I can grab her overnight bag from her car which will give her the basics for a hospital stay. No bag in her car and she's not well enough to tell me where it is.
Throwing a hospital bag together isn't difficult, and didn't take that long.
However, I've spent a week pondering the lessons learned. Both our cars have built in concealed storage which we don't really use. My overnight bag isn't of much use to her or hers to me. So the plan is for us to both carry the equivalent of an overnight or hospital bag for each of us broken down into the concealed storage of each car. Probably one neutral toiletries bag and an emergency clothing/pyjamas etc each.

Long rambling post and hope it illustrates the why and how of the thought process in the hope it may be of use to someone.

Hoping you're both coping with the hospital stay, Nuatha, and OH will start to feel better soon.

About 11 years ago, I had to go into hospital for a couple of days unexpectedly , & then-OH (now Errant Husband, but this was before we were married, so I can't call him then-DH) had to go home with 5yr old DS1 and grab stuff for me - rather dubious provision of some of it. After that I made a hospital bag in case I had another unexpected trip.

If anyone's putting together a bag thinking about hospital trips, then try to include something to do and comfort items. Seriously, even for an adult - I know I said some of the stuff OH packed for me was dubious but DS1 was spot on the target when he included a teddy bear. And a book. If we all have to leave in an emergency, the teddy wouldn't be needed for me as I'd be able to cuddle my boys, and would be busy worrying/coping.

2tonsils wrote: »

What is it about this thread that attracts rude comments, complaining about its contents when the people commenting do not contribute to it?

I have been glad of our preps for the last ten days or so. My OH hurt his back and had to take to his bed and stay there, then got a virus just to top it all off. I did not have to go racing around
shopping/organising/working out how to do things because we have been preparing for emergencies for a long time. It saved me an awful lot of hassle and wasted time already having grocery stores, all the important papers in one place and even a store of meds so that I did not have to rush out for prescriptions.It also meant I could spend time looking after him instead of having to be out of the house doing other things.

I now have the virus as well and it means if I feel any worse he can use the grocery stores without having to leave me and I can start a course of antibiotics that are in the house until I can get my prescription written on Monday.

I feel I have been accepted onto this thread and enjoy hearing about your own prepping. You have been a great support to me when I have been stressed about all the goings on that are taking place in Greece. This is going to be a very tough winter for us and I am certain the S will hit the F before Christmas here! Preparing for the worst and hoping for the best........group hug folks...... but I promise not to breathe the lurgy on you......;)

I periodically have a look at other parts of the forum, and there are some rude people out there! But I dunno why they feel the need to come and be rude over here in Old Style.

I thought about it the other day - every so often on Old Style, I've seen threads started about drying laundry, and someone will say something along the lines of 'Oh, I can't be doing with washing lines/clothes airers, I use the tumble dryer for everything and I'm going to carry on.' But no-one turns round and says 'Well, you're a numpty then aren't you? You have to pay to use that dryer, while if you put your washing on the line it uses free solar and wind power to dry it for you!'

Anyway, we know we're right to be preparing. However we do it, and whatever situation we do it for. And we do it with a smile, because we know that keeping our spirits up is part of being prepared

D&DD wrote: »

Nuatha many thanks for posting about the gobags especially as your OH is so poorly I send my best wishes for a speedy recovery its awful when they're in there as you really can't settle to get anything done at home can you? If theres anything we can do please ask X

2T I had been following that story too especially as the patient was transferred down here..Very sad to hear he passed away today. Ticks in this country can carry Lymes disease but I *think* thats about it will google just in case and amend if necessary.Have you seen the doc yourself yet? Hope you and OH are feeling better soon X

ETA blimey wish I'd never looked now lol regarding ticks http://www.bada-uk.org/homesection/about/diseases/indexdiseases.php

*this is not a rudey link it just looks a bit dodgy on the abbreviation!*

I've just been batching up my rechargeable batteries I got some new ones recently which knock spots off any I've tried before..they are supposed to hold a charge for 2 years too
called eneloop if anyones interested.
The uniross are ok but I've a feeling I'll be replacing them all eventually with these ones.

I also purchased a few Rolsner led torches for stashing around the house which I've been pleasantly surprised by considering just how cheap they were on amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolson-Tools-61760-Torch-Batteries/dp/B002Y5XNBM/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349541740&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Ooh, thank you D&DD, will have a look for those rechargable batteries. The ones I've got at the moment are not very good at holding a charge while sat in the drawer... Guess I got what I paid for though as they weren't very much. I could take them into work as we get through batteries quickly there.

[Deleted User]

Thats the spirit of this thread SPIKY we are all doing our best to be ahead of the game without knowing what the game will be, so we have to cover all bases. It's reassuring to be in touch with like minded folks who understand why you do what you do and can come up with solutions to problems and make you laugh at the same time. I think everyone can have their own take on life but I also don't like it when folks are rude about our decision to make provision just in case. I don't think any of us would feel the need to redicule others for not preparing whatever we actually thought. Keep the faith, Cheers Lyn xxx.

2tonsils

On the subject of batteries, including rechargeables....if you find batteries are 'dead' when you try to use your digital camera you will find they often have enough charge in to run other things. For instance...the batteries I took out of the camera that were showing no signs of life have been running the clock on the mantlepiece and my ladyshaver for over five months now and are still going strong. If we take normal batteries out we put them in a bowl to use in other things rather than throw them away or put them for recycling.

The water from dehumidifiers can be used in steam irons, to top up old style car batteries...and is very soft water so ideal for rinsing your hair or washing it if you have no other water in an emergency.