Utah Preppers

Family Preparedness

79 articles in this category (Including both blog posts and archived content)

Suturing a scalp
Equipment Family Preparedness

Suturing a scalp

<a href="/images/uploads/2011/10/IMG_1125.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3974" title="IMG_1125" src="/images/uploads/2011/10/IMG_1125-224x300.jpg" alt="" width="224" height="300" /></a>Suturing is an important skill to have.  Knowing how to properly sew somebody shut isn't something you need every day, but when you need it - you need it!  Sure, right now we can just run to the doctor, but what if you're way in the outback or things have collapsed and good medical care isn't easily available.  Suturing allows you to quickly close up a wound to help stop bleeding, help prevent infection and to lower the risk of damaging a wound while trying to get to better care - if needed.  There are plenty of ways and places to get training in suturing without going through medical school.  It's easy to do once you learn, you just need to look around and find a class you can take.

Phil
3 min read
#First Aid #Howto #preparedness +1 more
Backyard Chickens
Family Preparedness Food

Backyard Chickens

<img alt="" src="http://www.motherearthnews.com/uploadedImages/Blogs/The_Happy_Homesteader/GardenEggs1.jpg?n=7491" title="Backyard Chickens" class="alignright" width="500" height="350" />Over the past year, I have noticed an increased interest in raising chickens arising all over the nation. Locally, <a href="http://www.ksl.com" title="KSL">KSL</a> has published several articles recently about this phenomenon (see below) as has the <a href="http://online.wsj.com" title="Wall Street Journal">Wall Street Journal</a> (also below) and most prepper blogs. My family started keeping backyard chickens about four years ago and have had some good success. In this article we’ll summarize some of the benefits to raising chickens, what you’ll need to get started and some links to resources to help you out once you’ve got your flock.

Ekim
8 min read
#Food #Gardening #Links +4 more
Variety in Your Food Storage is a Good Thing
Family Preparedness Food

Variety in Your Food Storage is a Good Thing

Way back in 1998 sweet husband and I were just getting serious about our food storage.  That’s shortly before we had any kids.  We had the opportunity to do some canning at the LDS dry pack cannery and so we sat down to figure out what to can.

Angela
4 min read
#Food #Food Storage
Parents - Keep your kids AWAY from the rivers!
Alerts Family Preparedness

Parents - Keep your kids AWAY from the rivers!

<a href="/images/uploads/2011/06/IMGP0543.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3770" title="new nickname of &quot;2shoe&quot;" src="/images/uploads/2011/06/IMGP0543-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>Last night was a pretty rough night, we <a href="http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&amp;sid=15895363">pulled the body of an 8 year old boy out of the American Fork River here in Utah</a>.  He was the fourth kid to<a href="http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&amp;sid=15740924&amp;s_cid=rss-148"> die in the local rivers in the last week</a>.

Phil
5 min read
#Community #Education #Flood +3 more
Building a 3 Month Supply using Case Lot Sales
Family Preparedness Food

Building a 3 Month Supply using Case Lot Sales

Inevitably, each year in the weeks preceding the <a href="http://www.mormon.org">LDS</a> General Conference sessions in April and October grocery stores in Utah begin their Case Lot sales. In case you aren't familiar with the term, a Case Lot sale is a sale that allows you to purchase food (and other) items at a discount from a regular grocery store. The only catch is that you need to buy them a case at a time.

Ekim
2 min read
#Food #Food Storage #Links +2 more
Introducing Goal 0 solar power products
Equipment Family Preparedness

Introducing Goal 0 solar power products

<a href="/images/uploads/2011/03/Goal0.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-3623" title="Goal0" src="/images/uploads/2011/03/Goal0.jpg" alt="" width="215" height="50" /></a><br /> Here at UtahPreppers we try to keep an eye on prepping topics, trends and products from all over the country and often the world. Even though we try to keep a global focus we still like finding and supporting local businesses that fit into the prepping niche. We recently met up with a Bluffdale company to take a look at some of their innovative solar products.

Ekim
8 min read
#Battery #gear #lights +7 more
Post Japan Earthquake Notes
Earthquake Family Preparedness

Post Japan Earthquake Notes

I'm posting in an email that was forwarded to me, second hand from the source.  The email is from a lady who's family is currently stationed in Japan, and relates their experiences with the earthquake.  What I like best in this is her own analysis on her preparedness level, and what she wishes she could do better.

Jayce
9 min read
#72 Hour Kits #Evacuation Kits #Food Storage +4 more
How to Make an Emergency Stove from Common Materials
Family Preparedness Fire

How to Make an Emergency Stove from Common Materials

<a href="/images/uploads/2011/02/IMG_2320.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3399" title="IMG_2320" src="/images/uploads/2011/02/IMG_2320-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>The next installment in our Heat and Light series is Making a simple Emergency Stove from Household Materials.  This stove is capable of boiling water in less than 10 minutes and is very easy to use and re-use.  The materials required to make it can commonly be found in the home and should be stored in your preps.  Required are: Paraffin Wax, cardboard and a couple tin cans.<!--more-->

Phil
2 min read
#Cooking #emergency preparedness #Fire +3 more
Making Fire Starting Wafer Candles
Family Preparedness Fire

Making Fire Starting Wafer Candles

<a href="/images/uploads/2011/01/IMG_2315.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3379" title="IMG_2315" src="/images/uploads/2011/01/IMG_2315-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>The next project in my Light and Heat series is making Fire Starting Wafers out of reclaimed materials mostly available at home.  These wafer candles don't have the same burn time (but it's plenty long enough to get a fire going) as the egg carton candles but they have a much smaller imprint.  This project will again be familiar to most Boy Scouts and long term Preppers and Outdoorsmen.  However, the purpose of this series is to get back to basics and review how to generate light and heat with common household projects.<!--nextpage-->As has been mentioned in the comments on the other posts in this series, you can use old candles or other wax sources instead of the new bars of paraffin I use in the demonstration.

Phil
3 min read
#72 Hour Kits
Making Fire Starting Candles
Family Preparedness Fire

Making Fire Starting Candles

<a href="/images/uploads/2011/01/EggTinder.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3368" title="EggTinder" src="/images/uploads/2011/01/EggTinder-194x300.jpg" alt="" width="194" height="300" /></a>Continuing my series on Light and Heat, today I'm going to talk about making Fire Starting Candles.  There are a variety of ways to do this, today we're going to cover using cardboard egg cartons and dryer lint or cotton balls.  This particular project will likely already be familiar to experienced Preppers and Boy Scouts.  This post is aimed at those new to prepping who have never been exposed to this kind of thing.

Phil
3 min read
#72 Hour Kits #BOB #Fire +5 more
Making Tallow Candles
Family Preparedness Light

Making Tallow Candles

<a href="/images/uploads/2011/01/TallowCandle.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3342" title="TallowCandle" src="/images/uploads/2011/01/TallowCandle-300x252.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="252" /></a>One of the things that frustrates me in Preparedness is that many of the texts and resources out there don't adequately cover "Pioneer Skills".  That is to say, they present material lists and instructions that include things that are only available via modern-day manufacturing methods.  Often times what I'm looking for is how do I make something out of nothing - nothing being the great abundance that nature provides us with!  This is very true when it comes to activities like candle, cheese and soap making.  I want to know how to do it in a true collapse or long term survival scenario.<!--more-->

Phil
5 min read
#candles #Howto #light +4 more
Limited Time Sale
Announcement Equipment

Limited Time Sale

For those looking for some discounts on your food storage, and especially on a few bigger items, this might be exactly what you need.  Our friends at Home Storage Basics are having their Harvest closeout sale.  The following is from the email they sent out.

Jayce
1 min read
#gear #local #Sales +1 more
Turtle Tuff Shelter Demonstration
Barter Equipment

Turtle Tuff Shelter Demonstration

As a web developer who freelances in addition to my full time employment, I sometimes take advantage of bartering opportunities. Last year one such opportunity presented itself—I was on the lookout for a military surplus tent of some sort, and came across a company called <a href="http://www.turtletuffshelters.com">Turtle Tuff Shelters</a> who made yurt-like geodesic shelters. Their website at the time was very.. ahem.. lacking, so I suggested a barter. They agreed, and a few months later I became the owner of a 24' Turtle Tuff Shelter.

Connor Boyack
6 min read
#gear #Links #preps +2 more
Preparedness on People's Minds
Family Preparedness Food Storage

Preparedness on People's Minds

Today's edition of the <em>Deseret News</em> <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700038263/Economy-puts-food-storage-in-focus.html">carries a story</a> about the subject of preparedness being on people's minds in increased fashion.

Connor Boyack
2 min read
#preparedness
Financial Preparedness - MUST be built in GOOD times!
Family Preparedness Lessons Learned

Financial Preparedness - MUST be built in GOOD times!

<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-2902" title="CashGold-main_Full" src="/images/uploads/2009/11/CashGold-main_Full.jpg" alt="CashGold-main_Full" width="350" height="221" />Everyone knows times are not good and although we're told they're getting better - they clearly seem to be getting worse.  I've recently had an experience that has severely highlighted financial preparedness for me, I'd like to share the lessons I've learned in the hope that others can avoid my current situation - allow me to give you some background:

Phil
9 min read
#Economy #Financial Preparation #Financial Reserve
Wrapping Up, With Blankets
Family Preparedness Seasonal Preparedness

Wrapping Up, With Blankets

As snowflakes begin to frequently drift down, my wife began her odd seasonal transformation from warm, to cold-blooded being.  I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with this process, but it is the true mark of seasonal change around my home.  Appendages seem to have ice permanently on them, and thus have an odd habit of always finding their way to me, which is cause to no small amount of distress.

Jayce
12 min read
#gear #preps #Winter
72 Hour Kit Rotation
Family Preparedness Food

72 Hour Kit Rotation

Many products and services bill themselves as a "set it and forget it" way of getting things done. Adequate preparedness, however, clashes with this approach. Knowledge fades, food spoils, and medicine expires. One of the most important aspects of preparedness, then, is a refresh or rotation of your supplies or knowledge.

Connor Boyack
3 min read
#72 hour kit #Food Storage #preparedness +1 more
Protection Planning for Family and Property class
Events Family Preparedness

Protection Planning for Family and Property class

The city of <a href="http://www.salemcity.org/">Salem, Utah</a> has begun offering Emergency Preparedness classes on various topics. October's <strong>Emergency Preparedness Class</strong> is on Protection Planning for Family and Property. It will be held on Saturday, October 10th, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Salem Community Center, 151 West 300 South in Salem Utah. We are fortunate to have Dave Acosta come and teach this class.<br /> <!--more-->

Ekim
2 min read
#Education #Event #meetup
Survival Book Review: One Second After
Books Family Preparedness

Survival Book Review: One Second After

I've just finished reading One Second After by William R. Forstchen - I received it two days ago - I couldn't put it down. This is an excellent book that I fully recommend every Survivalist/Prepper/Anyone Else read. Seriously, this book is one of those that will help to open people's eyes to just how fragile we are and just how stinkin' hard it is going to be to survive TEOTWAWKI.

Phil
7 min read
#Book #BookShelf #EMP +2 more
Evacuation Preparedness List Review part 3
Communication Equipment

Evacuation Preparedness List Review part 3

<img class="alignright" src="http://interwork.sdsu.edu/fire/photo_gallery/images/jgfire213021x011.jpg" alt="" width="334" height="197" />This is the fifth installment of the Evacuation Preparedness Kit Series.  The first post, on <a href="../2009/06/ready-for-anything/">Evac Prep Basics</a> is here, and the second post, which introduces the <a href="../2009/06/ready-for-anything/">Evac Prep Master List</a> is here.  The third post, and the <a href="../2009/06/evacuation-preparedness-categories/">first post on the list review is here</a>.  This post will pick up where we previously left off in reviewing the categories on the Master List.

Phil
12 min read
#72 Hour Kits #BOB #EDC +2 more
Evacuation Preparedness List Review part 2
Books Clothing

Evacuation Preparedness List Review part 2

<img class="alignright" src="http://kalthoffonthefence.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/ken-traffic-3.jpg" alt="" width="336" height="248" />This is the fourth installment of the Evacuation Preparedness Kit Series.  The first post, on <a href="../2009/06/ready-for-anything/">Evac Prep Basics</a> is here, and the second post, which introduces the <a href="../2009/06/ready-for-anything/">Evac Prep Master List</a> is here.  The third post, and the <a href="http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/06/evacuation-preparedness-categories/">first post on the list review is here</a>.  This post will pick up where we previously left off in reviewing the categories on the Master List.<!--more-->

Phil
9 min read
#72 Hour Kits #BOB #EDC +2 more
Group buy on high-capacity water storage
Family Preparedness Food Storage

Group buy on high-capacity water storage

During my church’s <a href="http://www.connorboyack.com/blog/a-second-snapshot-of-a-communitys-preparedness">recent emergency preparedness drill</a>, I discovered that while many people are doing well on their three month supply of food storage, very few had any type of water storage system. To help correct that, we have arranged for group buys on <strong>two</strong> different high-capacity water tanks, both of which store the equivalent to five 55 gallon drums!

Connor Boyack
4 min read
#Group Buy #Water #water storage
Evacuation Preparedness List Review part 1
Family Preparedness Food

Evacuation Preparedness List Review part 1

<img class="alignright" src="http://www.phillysonline.com/lunch_counter/images/2006/08/03/houston_evacuation.jpg" alt="" width="246" height="344" />This is the third installment of the Evacuation Preparedness Kit Series. The first post, on Evac Prep Basics is here, and the second post, which introduces the Evac Prep Master List is here.

Phil
13 min read
#72 Hour Kits #BOB #EDC +2 more
The Master Evacuation Kit List
Family Preparedness How To

The Master Evacuation Kit List

<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1882" title="evaclist" src="/images/uploads/2009/06/evaclist.jpg" alt="evaclist" width="380" height="152" />This is the second post in a series, the first post covers <a href="http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/06/ready-for-anything/">Evacuation Preparedness basics and can be read here</a>.

Phil
4 min read
#72 Hour Kits #BOB #Evacuation Kits +1 more
Ready for Anything
Family Preparedness How To

Ready for Anything

<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1817" title="ss27-hires-small" src="/images/uploads/2009/05/ss27-hires-small-277x291-custom.jpg" alt="ss27-hires-small" width="277" height="291" />

Phil
9 min read
#72 Hour Kits #BOB #Driving +3 more
Wake-up Call for a Wealthy Prepper – Scenario Planning Exercise
Family Preparedness Personal Preparedness

Wake-up Call for a Wealthy Prepper – Scenario Planning Exercise

The wealthy prepper boasted to his friend about his huge propane tank buried in his yard, an endless supply of fuel, food stores for years, and well, basically everything he thought he might need he had purchased. “What do you think of all this?” he asked his friend. His friend paused for a moment and then asked, “so, what do you think is going to happen when you’re the only house on your block with the lights on, while all your neighbors are cold, starving and miserable?”

Royal
5 min read
#Education #Preppers #Scenario Planning
Chicken Tractors
Family Preparedness How To

Chicken Tractors

<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1757" title="ctract2" src="/images/uploads/2009/05/ctract2.jpg" alt="ctract2" width="380" height="253" />Chicken eggs are an important renewable source of fresh protein that every prepper should consider.  Of course they are also a great source of meat!  Free range chickens (letting your chickens run loose during the day to eat bugs and plants) not only cost less to maintain, they provide richer eggs - which is evident in the yolks of truly free range chickens.  However, if there are lots of potential predators around such as dogs, hawks, skunks, etc. Free Ranging your chickens could be quite dangerous to their health!  That's where we turn to the Chicken Tractor.

Phil
3 min read
#Chickens #Farming #Livestock
Pandemic Quarantine Preparedness
Family Preparedness Pandemic Preparedness

Pandemic Quarantine Preparedness

<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1697" title="pandemic-rescue2sml" src="/images/uploads/2009/05/pandemic-rescue2sml.jpg" alt="pandemic-rescue2sml" width="228" height="240" />Swine Flu is gonna kill us all! Swine flu is going away! Swine Flu is man-made! Swine Flu is a natural mutation! Oh, we offended the pigs. It's H1N1! Does anyone know what's actually going on??? Does it matter? Whatever the truth is about this H1N1 (formerly known as Swine Flu) virus there is ONE THING we can each know for sure. Has the last week caused you to think very seriously about your Pandemic Preparedness? Have you reviewed and identified holes in your preps? Have you done something about it? Are you Ready for Anything?

Phil
8 min read
#Medical #Medical Prep #Pandemic +3 more
Skills as a prep
Family Preparedness Food Storage

Skills as a prep

A few weeks ago a guest author on a popular preparation blog discussed the value of gardening as a resource. He put forth the opinion that while he enjoys gardening as a pastime, the decision as to whether to engage in it should be based solely around time and cost. Citing the inability to move a garden in an emergency and the amount of labor required to get to harvest, he concluded that it is better to save your seeds for a bug-out and expend today's efforts and money on a trip to the grocery store. "It's all about time," he says, "not a skill or desire."

Wade
4 min read
#Food Storage #Gardening #Practice +2 more
Pandemic Preparedness - DIY Sanitization
Family Preparedness Pandemic Preparedness

Pandemic Preparedness - DIY Sanitization

<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1647" title="san-prods" src="/images/uploads/2009/04/san-prods-277x184-custom.jpg" alt="san-prods" width="277" height="184" />Pandemic Preparedness is one of the simpler types of prepping - mostly because it relies heavily on you already being prepped with other things like food storage, water storage, etc.  A major component of Pandemic Prepping is preparation for quarantine.  Sanitation is a major part of Pandemic and quarantine preparedness.  While sanitzation is always important, during quarantine, sanitization will be extremely important in order to keep everyone healthy.  In this post we're going to talk about killing germs and how to do it safely with household products.

Phil
5 min read
#DIY #Howto #Pandemic +3 more
Pandemic Go-Kits
Family Preparedness Pandemic Preparedness

Pandemic Go-Kits

<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1630" title="pandemic-kits" src="/images/uploads/2009/04/pandemic-kits-265x176-custom.jpg" alt="pandemic-kits" width="265" height="176" />I've had Pandemic Preps at my house for a while now.  I also habitually carried <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>some</em></span> Pandemic Prep stuff in my Day Bag and my Go Bag.  But in the last two days, due to the swine flu breakout/scare,  I've decided to put together a hardened kit to carry, primarily so I don't squish my N95 Masks.  <!--more-->

Phil
2 min read
#EDC #Medical #Medical Prep +3 more
More Swine flu / Pandemic Preparedness Info
Family Preparedness Pandemic Preparedness

More Swine flu / Pandemic Preparedness Info

<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1602" title="viramask_n99esc3501" src="/images/uploads/2009/04/viramask_n99esc3501-324x185-custom.jpg" alt="viramask_n99esc3501" width="324" height="185" />Since my post from yesterday regarding <a href="http://www.utahpreppers.com/2009/04/pandemic-preparedness/">Pandemic Preparedness in light of the current Swine Flu outbreak</a>, I've talked to several other preppers and want to provide our readers with more information.  Specifically I want to share some other/better mask information, some great links for info on the virus spreading and to discuss sheltering in/quarantine a bit more.

Phil
9 min read
#Medical #Pandemic #Pandemic Preparedness +2 more
Pandemic Preparedness - Swine Flu Outbreak
Family Preparedness Pandemic Preparedness

Pandemic Preparedness - Swine Flu Outbreak

<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1584 scissors-resample" title="pandemic-troops" src="/images/uploads/2009/04/pandemic-troops.jpg" alt="pandemic-troops" width="334" height="214" />With the current <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE53N22820090426">Swine Flu scare coming out of Mexico</a> and popping up here and there in the United States, it is prudent to become familiar with the situation and especially prudent to review your Pandemic Preparedness Level.  I should also stress that this is a "DON'T PANIC", Just Prepare! post.  <!--more-->So first, let's get to know the player - what is the swine flu?  Well, it's just a variant of the "flu" that makes the round and gets passed around every year.  Thing is, this variant doesn't typically pass to humans so there is not an anti-virus in production or even made yet.  Don't take it from me though, and don't take it from the 'news'.  Here are links to the CDC info and briefs on this situation:

Phil
5 min read
#Medical #Pandemic #Pandemic Preparedness +2 more
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