Poor Man Survival
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A Digest of Urban
Survival Resources
Most Overlooked Preps for
Long Emergencies
Inexpensive Items with Long term Value
by Samantha Biggers
When it comes to being prepared, there is a lot to think about.
Generally, it is worthwhile to look at some important items that are often
overlooked in the quest to build-up your stock of bullets, beans, and
band-aids.
Some of you may have read my writing over the years at Backdoor
Survival and other websites. My time spent conversing with a wide audience, and
dealing with a ton of feedback, highlighted the fact that there are people who
scoff at the idea of putting back basics like sheets for your bed or hygiene
items beyond a bottle of soap, and a toothbrush or toothpaste. The truly
successful prep from the mindset of doing without many things we take for
granted that increase their chances of survival.
Prepping doesn’t have to be about depriving yourself of
practically everything. While I fully support and recommend prioritizing what
preps you stockpile, I also think you need to go beyond food, medicine, water,
and ammo.
This list may seem like a lot, but the good news is that you can
buy these things a little at a time. In fact, a lot of them are well under $20.
Parasite
and Fungus Kit
In some climates, parasites and fungi are more prolific. During
emergencies, they can become more of a problem no matter where you live.
Hookworms and pinworms were a lot more common among kids and
adults. Even now, pinworms are common enough in children that they sell the
treatment at most any drug store.
Fungi that cause ringworm, athlete’s foot, and candidiasis thrive
in hot and moist environments. Since it can be harder to keep clean during
difficult times, these problems arise more often among the general population.
A few years ago, I put together a kit for these problems. Most
items on this list can be found either via Amazon or any drug store with a
halfway decent selection. Other items have to be purchased via a site that
sells animal meds.
Parasites
Pyrantel Pamoate – This is often sold as Reece’s Pinworm
Treatment. The cost is much higher than buying a large generic bottle of
Pyrantel Pamoate. The difference is one is labeled for people, and one is not.
The choice is up to you. I keep some of both because we have many animals that
need to stay parasite free too.
Tapeworm Medication – This is something that you should never take
unless you are sure someone has a tapeworm or if you have tried Pyrantel
Pamoate and it did not work.
Fungus
Lotrimin Cream or a generic equivalent of Clotrizamapole Ointment
– the label says it’s for jock itch, but you’ll be surprised how useful it is
for keeping your feet and toenails healthy.
Yeast Infection Treatments – This cream can be used to treat
athlete’s foot, jock itch, or any candida surface infection.
Diflucan Tablets – This is the same drug that doctors prescribe
for yeast infections, particularly ones that don’t go away with creams and
suppositories. I hate taking these, but they work when no other treatment will.
They make me feel dizzy and out of it, so I make sure to take them before going
to bed.
Hygiene
and Bathroom Needs
It is a lot more exciting to stock up on food and ammo than it is
to think about washing your face and brushing your teeth. The truth is that
during a long emergency, hygiene matters a lot. Even if you have antibiotics,
you don’t want to use them unless you have to. Good hygiene prevents serious
infection, illness, and long-lasting disease.
Fact is, before our modern times and readily available drugs,
simple problems like a tooth infection killed people.
Here is a shortlist of items that you should have on hand. Most of
these are items that you use all the time anyway, so you’ll have plenty of
reasons to use them in the future.
·
Toothbrushes
·
Toothpaste
·
Inexpensive wash clothes. Some microfiber cloths are nice because
they dry out fast.
·
Wet Wipes or Baby Wipes. A few of these are nice, but don’t go
overboard and try to store thousands.
·
Soap that everyone can use. Dr. Bronnor’s Baby Castille is a good
choice if you have family members with sensitive skin. The Peppermint version
or Tea Tree are nice because each has extra antibacterial properties. I used
the Peppermint version as a flea and tick shampoo for pets too.
·
Feminine Hygiene Products
Clothing
Socks
It is hard to have too many socks. A few packs of inexpensive
athletic socks and a few more specialized selections, like wool socks, are
recommended. We buy the big packs of cotton crew socks that fit a wide range of
sizes. Over the last few years, a lot of brands have started producing
polyester socks or blends, so if you want pure cotton be sure to look closely
at descriptions. Synthetics and wool have their advantages if you are concerned
about them getting wet under cold conditions.
If you know anyone that served in the military, specifically an
infantry unit, they will tell you dry socks and dry feet are critical to
survival. Constantly wet or sweaty feet can lead to extreme pain and worse.
Consider keeping some foot powder on hand too.
Shoes
It always surprises me
how many people do not have shoes appropriate for manual labor or walking more
than a short distance. Living on a farm means we have to have boots that can
take a beating and have a good tread to avoid falls. I watch out for sales and
Amazon Warehouse deals. I always stay at least one pair of boots ahead. Having
a new pair put away makes a lot of sense and helps hedge against price
increases to some degree.
Even if you live in
sandals a lot of the year, you should at least keep a pair of hot weather
military-style boots or hiking boots just in case.
If you have kids, then
buy a size or two anticipating their growth spurts, and store them. You can
always adjust the size of adult or kid shoes somewhat by keeping some insoles
on hand.
Other clothing:
·
Packs of inexpensive
t-shirts
·
Several pairs of blue
jeans (Before COVID, I shopped at Goodwill. I still use those same jeans. I
could buy them for around $6 each, and they last for years.
·
Rain gear
·
Clothing appropriate for
your region. Extra warm undergarments in colder regions, for example
Shoe
Repair and Maintenance Supplies
Getting the longest life out of shoes may become more important
during hard times. Here is what you need for a basic shoe kit.
·
Shoe Goo
·
Mink Oil
·
Sno Seal
·
Brush and Rags
·
Extra shoe and boot laces in various lengths
Communication
and Information
·
Shortwave or HAM Radios
·
Walkie Talkies
·
Emergency Radios
·
Paper
·
Pens
·
Pencils
A ham operator’s license requires some studying, but it is fairly
easy to get. Even kids have passed ham radio exams. There are different levels
of certifications depending on what you want to do. Of course, during a long
emergency, it is unlikely anyone will enforce licensing laws.
Walkie Talkie radios are good to have as well. If you have a
larger property, they can be great for communication between family members. No
license is required, and you can buy them in quantity for a good price.
Do not scoff at some good old-fashioned paper, pens, and pencils
for jotting down notes and making lists. If you are like me and enjoy writing,
these supplies can double as entertainment.
Small Battery Banks
Keeping small devices like cell phones, e-readers, and tablets is
fairly easy with small battery banks. Jackery is a brand I use, but there are a
ton of generic brands that are fine too.
Power Centers
Even just a little backup power can make a big difference. Power
centers have become a lot more affordable and lightweight. Older people living
on their own can benefit from a small lithium battery power center rather than
the heavier lead-acid versions.
I have featured Jackery power centers in
the past. I support this brand because we have used them for years with
zero problems, and they have an excellent warranty.
Solar Panels
Solar panels come in many sizes and weights. Portable, lightweight
panels used to be very expensive. Now you can get panels that weigh just a few
pounds and offer hundreds of watts of power generation. Folding panels are
great for those that are short on storage space too.
Extra Chargers and Cables
USB cables and chargers may seem plentiful now, but that should
not stop you from stashing a few.
Batteries
Rechargeable batteries do
not last forever. They only have so many cycles in them. Over the years, we
learned not all rechargeables are the same. Tenergy seems
to be the most reliable when it comes to holding a charge.
I also suggest having some non-rechargeables. Sometimes it is nice
to have batteries with a full capacity that won’t lose a charge if left in a flashlight
or other device.
Animal
Feed and Pet Supplies
A lot of people keep a month’s worth of food for themselves, but
overlook putting back food and supplies for their pets or livestock. I am not
saying these folks don’t care about their animals, it’s just not top-of-mind.
The most likely scenario is that people will share their food with their pets,
because the four-legged friends are part of the family. This means the human
food runs out faster.
If you are short on space and just have a cat or a small dog or
two, you can buy freeze-dried pet foods with a very long shelf life. They don’t
take up much space at all. This is not necessarily a good idea for people with
large dogs or a lot of them because of the high cost.
During the pandemic, even those with a lot of financial resources
had difficulty finding pet foods at times.
Some dog food keeps better than others. Fancy dog foods that lack
preservatives and those that are grain-free do not have the shelf life of less
expensive foods. Unless your pet is very sensitive, you may want several types
of dog food. If you feed fancy formulas, then put back a few months’ worth, and
then keep some with better shelf life for longer emergencies. Purina Dog Chow
is an example of a brand that is not fancy and keeps well. Diamond Naturals has
an excellent shelf life when stored in the plastic bag it comes in. It is corn,
soy, and wheat-free.
Rice and beans also stretch out your dog food supply. Consider
storing a few extra bags of pintos and rice for man’s best friend.
Don’t forget flea and tick medications. Permethrin concentrate is
shelf-stable and can be mixed into a spray for use on pets and livestock.
Pyrethrin is the organic equivalent.
Non-Lethal
Weapons
If you can avoid using lethal force, it is usually for the best.
The term nonlethal refers to weapons that have a lower risk of killing someone.
Though they can be fatal if used with enough force or used on someone with an
underlying medical condition. Less than lethal is a more accurate term but not
the term that is typically used.
·
Pepper Spray or Gel
·
Tasers
·
Bludgeons like a baseball bat, club or a hammer
Tools
The type of tools you need depends on your situation, but everyone
should have a basic household tool kit. You can purchase an all-in-one kit for
most basic repairs. I highly suggest adding a cordless drill as well.
If you put together your own basic kit, I recommend the following
tools at the bare minimum:
·
Hammer
·
Phillips and flathead screwdrivers
·
Metric and standard sockets and socket wrench
·
Cordless drill and batteries
·
Allen head wrench set
Farm and Garden Hand Tools
I realize that some live in more urban settings where they cannot
store nor have the need for a lot of farm tools. At the same time, a good
entrenching or folding shovel is recommended. If you live in a rural or
semi-rural setting, then you should consider a more extensive selection:
·
Shovel
·
Hoe
·
Rake
·
Smaller gardening tools such as a trowel and hand rake.
·
What other preps do you think
get overlooked?
Baking soda, safety
pins, bolt cutters…
These items may not be at the top of your list RIGHT NOW. But
they should be. Why?
Because whether it’s an EMP, ‘quake, or riot…
Once you know why, these are some of the most flexible things
you can own.
Click Here to Discover ‘16 Overlooked (But
Critical) Survival Items’ <<
POST SCRIPT:
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4 comments:
I like your suggestion of filling holiday stockings with useful prepper items-Merry Christmas guys!
I would add survival seeds to this list...
Everything in the cosmos is cyclical & we feel America will cycle back if like minded Christians stick together.
Most don't seem to accept it but I think Biden's regime is dooming our country AND we had all better prep for hard times.
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