The survival box

Alison_Funnell

optimus_primera wrote: »

My emergency supply will consist of Ray Mears and Bear Grylls.

I agree. But like all good things they should not be kept just for special occasions. :rotfl:

gratefulforhelp_2

Frugal wrote: »

Plenty willing to supply you HERE

Not keen on some of those pricetags... £690 :eek: HERE

Thanks, Frugal. That's gotta be a typo.

Alison_Funnell wrote: »

My goodness. TBH I've never been that cautious.

I do have lots of tinned, dried stuff etc. UHT milk and far too much. But that is for my convenience and ease of money budgeting. I prefer to buy in bulk once than bit by bit.

I grew up in a village with lots of power cuts and wind damage (top of a hill at the head of a valley). I also have accquired a lot of additional skills from historical hobbies. I think to be completely honest if you are truely that concerned and are wanting to do maximise your survival/thrival chances then initially you should be looking at your location.

Sandbags are only partially useful, not living in properties built on flood plains etc would be my first choice (and is exactly what I do - my cousin on the other hand does live in a low lying place and has terrible mist/fog/damp air to tolerate).

Look at local 'dangers'. For some living near fuel depots/refineries, or power stations, chemical production plants. Then decide if you want to live there.

All the best will in the world with tins/water etc are completely useless if things really go T*ts up, because the chances are you won't be near the box/bag etc. You could as easily be at work/school/travelling/in a loo or a 1001 other places that wouldn't provide easy access to your 'stash'.

Knowledge is really the only thing that can be truly relied on to be with you at all times.

Life is far too short to live in fear of things. One guarentee in life is that we will all die and for most of us it will not where, when or how we would prefer.

Sorry guys but I am the BIGGEST sceptic of such things. Can you tell?

Alison I totally agreed with you until I had kids. Do you have kids?

My own death doesn't scare me in the slightest, only what might happen to them.

Alison_Funnell

gratefulforhelp wrote: »

Thanks, Frugal. That's gotta be a typo.



Alison I totally agreed with you until I had kids. Do you have kids?

My own death doesn't scare me in the slightest, only what might happen to them.

Yes I am a parent and I am well aware that children are precious. Maybe I am further down the parenthood road than you, they are destined to face dangers without us no matter how great we are as parents. I still maintain knowledge is the best emergency kit and a gift for everyone in any circumstance in life, but especially in emergency situations.

Why have a comparitively useless but 'setting mind at ease' box/store when you can learn CPR and first aid. Practice lighting fires without matches, or more useful, how to keep embers burning over night?

It all depends just how far you want to be prepared for.

A life lived in fear is not really a life lived. IMO.

rachbc

Complete agree AF - a cupboard or box of supplies can be so easily destoyed in many disasters - knowing what to do can't be taken away!

gratefulforhelp_2

Alison yes, you are probably right, my two youngest are 3 and not yet born. I don't think I'm living my life in fear, just in caution.

frugal the first link, those 14 pills went for nearly £50!!!

RAS

Even the British Embassy in Toyko explains the need for preparedness there http://ukinjapan.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-japan/preparing-for-emergencies/emergency-kit

And this article may be worth reading http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12759840

One thing that struck me watching video of survivors in many areas is that skills can be as important as provisions.

If you know how to make a rocket stove, construct a latrine, box a spring or make a clay bread oven, life after this sort of disaster can improve more quickly. Dependence on external help is risky.

I am going to add a wrecking bar to my list of things to take if possible (not the lightest bit of kit).

rachbc

If you live in an area that is likely to have earthquakes such as Japan then it makes sense to prepare for them, just as if you live in a flood area if makes sense to prepare for that. I have a 'snow box' in the car. What I don't fully comprehend is preparing for, and worrying about every possible disaster that may or may not happen - buying iodine here, now for example.

RAS

rachbc wrote: »

If you live in an area that is likely to have earthquakes such as Japan then it makes sense to prepare for them, just as if you live in a flood area if makes sense to prepare for that. I have a 'snow box' in the car. What I don't fully comprehend is preparing for, and worrying about every possible disaster that may or may not happen - buying iodine here, now for example.

Totally agree. But I doubt very many people in East Anglia have a grab bag. Or even those in the Severn valley.

If things got difficult (even say a sustained problem with fuel deliveries), a wrecking bar makes breaking down things like pallets easy.

ceridwen

rachbc wrote: »

If you live in an area that is likely to have earthquakes such as Japan then it makes sense to prepare for them, just as if you live in a flood area if makes sense to prepare for that. I have a 'snow box' in the car. What I don't fully comprehend is preparing for, and worrying about every possible disaster that may or may not happen - buying iodine here, now for example.

Quite agree.

My take is that one prepares for all "reasonably likely" disaster scenarios (as it would be foolhardy and imprudent not to...).

However - one simply CANNOT prepare for every single scenario that might possibly hit - as there are just so many of them.

So - personally - I take the view one does that preparing for reasonably likely ones - but has to try and accommodate as best as one can to the fact that Life is downright absolutely terrifying and there IS only so much one can do to make sure you dont get hurt in one way or another by JUST how vulnerable we all of us are - just by virtue of being alive. (Tries not to think about that TOO often - as I DO like to get to sleep at night......:cool:).

gratefulforhelp_2

rachbc wrote: »

If you live in an area that is likely to have earthquakes such as Japan then it makes sense to prepare for them, just as if you live in a flood area if makes sense to prepare for that. I have a 'snow box' in the car. What I don't fully comprehend is preparing for, and worrying about every possible disaster that may or may not happen - buying iodine here, now for example.

I don't really think we are going to need iodine here, now. But...do you really think there isn't a small chance of a nuclear incident here?

We live near plenty of working nuclear power stations, and more of us will in the future. This isn't taking into account nuclear sources in industry and research.

In chernobyl, the children could have been protected from thyroid cancer by giving them potassium iodide pills, the government chose not to, because it didn't want a "scare":eek: