A hurricane is severe tropical storm that can form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Just like tornadoes they are also rated in categories. Category 1 being winds 74-95 mph to Category Five, when winds are greater than 155 MPH. Fortunately for us, scientists can now predict hurricanes; however, people who live in coastal communities should still be prepared with a plan in case they are ever caught in one. When preparing for a hurricane, it’s always best to be prepared with the basic keys to survival– fresh water, food, shelter, and warmth. It is also best to have a 72-hour kit for a Grab-N-Go situation in case you are located in the path of the storm.

What to Do Before a Hurricane
One of the most important things to do is to listen for information and instructions on television or radio broadcasts. If a hurricane watch is issued, you have 24-36 hours before the hurricane hits land. Secure your home. Close storm shutters. Secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors & check with your local city regarding your evacuation routes.

• Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate. If instructed when evacuation, turn off utilities at the main valves.
• Get together with family members to talk about what needs to be done. Make sure everyone knows where to meet and who to call (recommended someone out of state) in case you are separated from one another.
• If you are not required to evacuate, stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows. Do not be fooled if there is a lull, it could be the eye of the storm-winds will pick up again. Listen to the radio or television for information.
• If you have a car, keep a half tank of gas in it at all times in case you need to evacuate.

Dealing with the Aftermath
After the storm stay in your shelter until local authorities say it is okay to leave. If you evacuated the community, do not return until authorities say it is okay to return. Once you have returned to your house, if it was affected by the hurricane you will need to talk with your children about what has happened and how they can help during the recovery. Being involved will help them deal with the situation.

There’s often no way to know when you’ll find your family in an emergency situation. These events might be frightening for adults, but they’re terrifying and traumatic for children. (Especially if they haven’t been taught what to do.)

In case of a disaster, children should not only be equipped with physical protection, like a 72-hr-kit, shelter, food, and water, but they should also be prepared mentally and emotionally. If danger is near, children may become anxious, confused, and shaken. It’s important to teach them what to do and give them guidance that will help reduce their fears. It’s also important to remember that children look to adults for help. If you react to a problem with alarm, a child can see evidence that the danger is real. If you stay calm, the child will also try to be calm. Your response to an emergency will have a lasting impact on an observing child.

Mental Preparation
• To prepare children mentally, put together a family evacuation plan and practice it with your children. Make it fun and interesting as you show them different evacuation routes, (escaping through different doors and windows).
• Plan a meeting place a safe distance for your home where your family can meet if a disaster requires evacuation. This place can be a relative’s or family friend’s house, a school, or a church nearby. Just make sure the route is one your children are, or can become, familiar with and can reach easily.
• Provide your children, nearby family, and babysitters with a list of phone numbers they can refer to in case of an emergency. This list should include different emergency numbers, numbers of your family’s doctor, and also numbers of family members they can call in case anything happens. Keep this list in an easily accessible area. Also be sure to include this list in your child’s 72-hour-kit, and see that your child knows where the kit is at all times.

Emotional Preparation
• To emotionally prepare a child, help them understand that it’s okay to be scared, but it’s also important to stay calm.
• Comfort them. Let them ask questions or talk about their fears. Children are less afraid of things they understand.
• Explain different possibilities of disasters, natural or violence related. Don’t be too graphic, but help your child know what to do in those situations.
• Assure them that there will be lots of ways they can find help if something happens. Let them know it’s important to tell someone of any danger they’re in. Explain to them that it’s important not to hide so that people know they’re safe and don’t get hurt looking for them.

See that the children are re-taught and reminded of these things as they get older, and as often as your plans change.

We have finally arrived at the last installment of the Top 5 Priorities of Emergency Preparedness. Food storage is critical to be able to survive a disaster. In our modern society we can go to the local grocery store any time of day or night and buy whatever food we need. It is so easy and convenient that we don’t consider what we would do if that resource was not available. The idea of food storage can seem so drastic when we have a fully stocked Wal-Mart right around the corner. But, speak with someone who has gone through a hurricane and ask them how quickly the store shelves get cleared out of canned food and water. Not only will those food stuffs disappear within hours or days, but they will not be replenished quickly. At that point you will have to rely on your own food storage to survive. You may have to survive only days, but it may be weeks or even months.

Because food storage is a very in depth topic I will do my best to keep it brief. Here are the areas that we need to understand:

• Why – Specific reasons why you should store food?
• What – What type of foods should I store?
• Where – Where should I store my foods?
• How – How much food should I store? How do I get started?
• Who – For whom should I store food? What should I consider when I am storing food?

Why

First, let’s talk about why you should have food storage. Here are 4 great reasons:

1. Insurance – As we have discussed in previous posts, food storage is on the best insurance policies you will ever buy. And best of all, unlike other insurance policies, you can still use it even if you don’t ever really need it. Just remember, when the house is on fire, it is too late to buy fire insurance. You need to prepare ahead of time by having your food storage in place when you need it.
2. Hedge against inflation – As fuel and oil prices go up, so do food prices. This will happen. Since July 2008, oil and correspondingly gas prices have come down a ton, but never fear, they will go back up. The food you buy today will be considered a deal 20 years from now when it is still usable and good. That is also why you buy long shelf life items.
3. Peace of mind preparedness – What is peace of mind worth to you? With so many worries in our lives isn’t nice to be able to take one off the list? Having your food storage in place and being prepared will help you diminish the fear cycle that we experience when we watch the evening news.
4. Food storage is a sound investment – Every expense in your life is some kind of investment. Money spent of long term food storage will pay dividends as a usable insurance policy, as a hedge against inflation and by giving you peace of mind.

What

Now, let’s talk about what food you should store. Here goes:

• Store food based on how you cook – a 50 lb. bag of wheat is great, but you have to know how to turn it into food. That is why I really like the freeze-dried prepared meals like Mountain House and Saratoga Farms.
• Store food with the longest shelf life possible – To get the most out of your food storage investment, you will need to buy foods that will store for the longest time possible. Look at your food storage as an annual cost. If you spend 1,000 on food that will store for 10 years, your annual cost is $100/year. If you spend the same amount on food that will store for 30 years, your annual cost is $33/year. A big savings. It also means you have to rotate your food a lot less. Which means you will be able to use the food when you need it.
• Store a variety of foods – You should have prepared meals (like Mountain House) and fruits, vegetables and other staples (like Saratoga Farms) in all varieties in your long term food storage. The more variety, the better the nutrition will be and the healthier your food storage will be.
• Work towards at least a 3 month supply for everyone in your family – Having a 3 month supply of long term food storage will give you a good buffer against whatever emergency you may face. After you have built it up to that point, than move to 6 months, then 9 months and then a year.
• Store foods that are easy to prepare – Simplicity goes a long way in your food storage. Don’t store complicated foods or meals. You don’t know what resources will be available to you when you will need to use the food. That is another reason I like Saratoga Farms and Mountain House. You just add hot water and stir. No cooking is required.

Where

Now, you know why you should have food storage and you know what to store. So, let’s talk about where to put all this stuff once you get it. Store the food in a cool, dry place. This one you have heard over and over, but it is the rule of thumb for storing your food. Two things cause your food to loss nutritional value and spoil: oxygen and moisture. Hence the dry place. Keeping your food storage cool slows down spoilage dramatically. The cooler, the better. Make sure you have your food stored in such a way that it has little or no contact with air.

Basements are perfect for food storage because they maintain a steady cool temperature year round. But many people across the country don’t have basements, so storing your food at room temperature (typically 75 degrees year round) will be just fine. I know a lot of people that store their food in cases under their beds or in closets. Just make sure you can get to it when you need it and it won’t get damaged.

I recommend keeping your food off the ground and in the original packaging as much as possible. By keeping the food off the ground on shelves or stacked, you will prevent the food from being damaged by somebody stepping on it, dropping it or kicking it. You also want to keep your food in a place where you can get to it, but that isn’t in the way. If you dent a #10 can it may affect the seam of the can and thereby affect the shelf life.

Also, by maintaining as much of the original packaging as possible, you will prolong the shelf life. So, if you buy a bunch food of in #10 cans, keep the food in the #10 cans. You may even want to keep them in the cases that they were shipped to you in. You can repackage your food in zip lock or even vacuum sealed bags, but it will reduce the shelf life.

How

Let’s talk about how much food you should store and how to get started. Basically, you want to have at least a 3 month supply of long term food storage. Meaning that is food that will store for at least 10 years. You have that much food for each person in your family. After you reach that point keep adding to your storage until you feel comfortable. To get started, just do what you can. Work within your budget and buy the food you need. The most important part about getting started is to get started today!

Who

Who should you have food storage for? Of course yourself, but also everyone in your family. Make sure you take into consideration children and special diets as you store your food. You should also consider your neighbors and others in the community that might be in need of your help. Just make sure you have enough food to take of your family and neighbors if possible. It is always better to have more food than you would need, just in case.

Best regards,

When I think of an earthquake my mind goes to the life changing effects the San Francisco Earthquake had in 1906. The quake lasted only a minute, but was one of the worst natural disasters in the nation’s history. Everyone can be affected by an earthquake, even if they’re not located by a fault line. That’s why we recommend that everyone be ready for an earthquake regardless of their location. When preparing for any emergency, it’s important to be supplied with even the most basic tools for survival, (safe shelter, clean water and food.) Grab-n-Go supplies, including 72-hr-kits, food, and water, should also be kept in an easily accessible location at all times.

Know of a Safe Location

One of the most common ways people are injured during an earthquake is by falling objects. A good way to protect yourself from falling objects during an earthquake is to hide underneath something. It’s important to know where all the low sturdy furniture is in your home, work, or school. (Metal door frames, desks, sturdy, and low tables are ideal objects to get under.) If sturdy furniture is not available, be aware of an interior wall or hallway far from windows and potentially unstable furniture. It is essential to locate these areas before you are in an actual earthquake. Make sure that all family members know the best place to find shelter in each area of the house, at work, or at school.

Have a Game Plan

Make sure you have an out-of-state contact who you can call after the quake has passed to let them know your family’s condition. All family members and friends should know that in an event of a disaster, they should call this contact for an update on your condition. It is especially important for families with young children to practice what to do in the event of an earthquake. Make sure your family has a well thought out plan of action and decide upon a meeting area to go to when the earthquake is over. If you have young children and are unsure of the proper plan of action for your family, contact your local school or childcare center to get ideas on how to develop an appropriate strategy for staying safe.

Prepare Your Home

After preparing for your family’s safety, your home should be your next priority when developing a recovery plan. There are certain steps you can take to make your home more secure in the event of a disaster. If you don’t think you have time to execute these measures – make time.

• Learn how to shut off gas, water and electricity in your home in case power lines are damaged.
• Secure heavy furnishings. (Mirrors, large pictures, tall dressers or unattached shelving, etc.)
• Secure your water heater and other appliances that could move and disrupt utility lines.
• Store breakable and heavy objects on lower shelves. Also, use latches on cabinet doors.
• Keep all flammable and hazardous liquids, such as paints, pest sprays and cleaning products, secured in low cabinets and shelves.

Nearly everyone will have to use a first aid kit sooner or later. Whether it will be used on oneself or on another, it’s important to know where the general groups of items are located in your kit so that in an alarming situation you know where things are. It’s also important to know which items should be used to address which situations. Listed below are 3 helpful tips that can assist you in navigating a little easier through your kit during an emergency.

1. When you receive your first-aid kit be sure to you open and prepare it for use before an accident occurs. Make sure you know where the items are and when you’d need to use what. When exploring through your first aid kit, it might be beneficial to label which group of items are located in which pocket. You can do this with a labeler or by writing with pen or marker on masking-tape.

2. Looking through your kit provides you with an opportunity to check expiration dates and to replace any out-of-date contents if necessary. Not all of the items in a first aid kit expire, but pay specific attention to liquids, ointments, and any medications you’re storing.

3. Most first aid kits come with a guide specifically for that first aid kit, but sometimes kits don’t come with any at all. Absent instructions are more common with the smallest, most basic kits, and shouldn’t be the case with anything larger than an 81 piece or more. If you receive a first aid kit without a guide check to see that it wasn’t supposed to be included. If it was, it’s important for you to have those specific instructions. If instructions do not come with your kit, be sure you’re familiar with the items in it before an accident happens.

4. Another inconvenient trait many first aid kits have is that the medicines and bandages are labeled only with the medical name, which will limit the inexperienced handler’s ability to help. If there are any names in your kit that you don’t understand or might forget, find a definition or description of the item online and write it on the actual item.

Here is a basic lingo-guide to help you understand what some of those hefty words mean:

H(a)emostatic – Protects wound with pressure to promote clotting and stop bleeding.

Saline – Sterile liquid used for cleaning out wounds or washing out eyes.

Antiseptic – An agent for reducing risk of infection in abrasions or around wounds.

Aceteminophen / Paracetamol – Most common pain-killing medications.

Naproxen/ Ibuprofen – Anti-inflammatory pain killers.

Codeine - Pain killer for more intense pain and anti-diarrheal medication.

Loperamide – Anti-diarrhea medication; prevents dehydration caused by diarrhea.

Hydrocortisone – Anti-itch agent in cream.

Bermabond/Tincture of Benzoin – Protects skin and can act as additional adhesive.

Sphygmomanometer – Another word for a Blood Pressure Meter.

Zinc Oxide - Soothing

Spring is here and that means tornado warnings will be ringing through the Midwest. These storms are dangerous and require planning and preparation to survive them safely. When I think of a tornado, besides thinking of “The Wizard of Oz”, Dorothy, and her little dog, Toto, I think of a story on the news about a small town in the mid-west that was dramatically affected by a Tornado. When I remember this tragic news report I recall realizing that people don’t plan to fail; they fail to plan. In order to help you make sure you’re prepared in the case of a tornado, here are 4 simple guidelines to follow:

Step 1 – Have a Safe Shelter

If you’re inside your house when you see a tornado or hear the sirens, go down to your basement or the lowest floor in your house. A windowless bathroom can be a good place to seek shelter during a tornado because of the pipes running throughout the walls. These pipes strengthen the walls, which makes them less likely to collapse in the event of a tornado. Find a thick blanket to cover yourself and lay down in your bathtub for better protection. (Doing this will lessen the chance of getting hit with debris.) Another good place to seek shelter in your home would be a closet or bedroom without any windows. Whether you’re at home, work, or school will also depend on how you should take shelter. If you live in a location that is prone to tornadoes check with your employer or teacher to see what area’s they recommend for employees or students to seek shelter in.

Step 2 – Have an Emergency Kit

In addition to knowing where to go, it is important to have an emergency-supply kit nearby and accessible during a tornado. This kit should contain at least enough supplies for 72 hours. This is the standard amount of time it takes rescuers to get to victims after a major emergency.

Your 72-hr kit should include the following:

• Food & Water

• Warmth (& some form of temporary Shelter)

• Light & Communication

• Emergency Tools

• Sanitation & Hygiene

Other personal items that you might want to include into your 72-hour kit:

• Prescription medications and glasses

• Infant formula and diapers

• Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, birth certificates, marriage certificates, and bank account records kept in a waterproof, portable container

• Cash or traveler’s checks and change

• Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, paper towels

• Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

• Pre-Paid Phone Card or coins set aside for an emergency

Step 3 – Communicate with Friends & Family

If you are away from your friends & family we highly recommend that you have a set plan in case of a disaster in your area.

• 3a) Have a Place to Meet out of your immediate area: It is recommended to have a someone out-of-state to contact after an emergency. This is to let someone know that you’re all right or if you need help. Sometimes after disaster local calls cannot be made due to the destruction. (Note: You may have trouble getting through, or the telephone system may be down altogether but stay calm and wait for the phone lines to get back up)

• 3b) Have a location where you plan to meet up: Communicate with the person that is out of your area and inform them of where you are heading, so when other family or friends contact that person they will be able to inform your loved ones of where you are, or where they can meet you.

• 3c) Listen to the Radio/TV for information: The fastest, most accurate ways for a message to get out to the community is by radio and by television. Make sure you have access to one or the other and listen to hear updates so you can understand the situation that is before you,and so you will know where relief will be sent. We recommend that you have a radio that has channels specifically meant for updates in disasters like shortwave, Weather Radio (NWR), or NOAA Weather (NWR).

Step 4 – Understanding the Signs of a Tornado

There are many different warning signs that a tornado is coming, below is a list of the most common signs that you should pay attention to:

• Green Skies – It has often been said that one of the simplest signs of a tornado is the sky turning green. While a green sky alone doesn’t indicate that a tornado is definitely coming, it is one of the first signs that tornadoes give of their presence.

• Hail or Heavy Rain – Often times hail will fall that is significantly larger than usual on a warm day. If you do notice this go inside and check your local forecast.

• Tornado Sirens – If living in an area that is commonly affected by a tornado you know the sounds of the siren. Don’t take the siren lightly and seek shelter immediately.

• Whirling dust or Debris – If you see large amounts of debris & dust starting to pick up under a cloud base this is one of the key signs to seek shelter.

• The Silence – Right before a tornado the air may suddenly become still and quiet. When seeking shelter if it becomes quiet, this does not mean it’s safe to walk around and check for damages. It is recommended to wait until your tornado sirens indicate that the tornado is over to leave your shelter.

How we store food has changed quite a bit over the years. It used to be that food storage was done only by a small set of people that were looked at as extreme or on the fringes. Today, that perception has completely changed. Storing food in your home is not only widely accepted but is considered to be a very wise and prudent choice. In my own house growing up, we had a large storage room under our garage where we kept all kinds of food and other supplies for the family. My mom loved it because it was like she could go “shopping” in her own home and I thought it was cool that we had all of this food. My friends on the other hand thought it was a little crazy. Times have definitely changed.

I want to talk to you about how we can get the best value out of our food storage investment. I believe in keeping it simple. With our current economy we need to stretch every dollar to take care of our families. So, let’s keep it simple and focus on the following topics:

• Defining short term and long term food storage
• What should I get first?
• Filling out your food storage: identifying gaps and filling them.

Short term food storage

Divide your food storage into two categories: short term and long term. Almost everybody has some amount of short term food storage. Short term food storage is food that will store for 2 years or less. Typically, this is food that you purchased at your local grocer and already have in your pantry. It includes items such as canned food, dry prepared foods and cooking basics. Pretty much everything in your pantry will store for at least 2 years. This constitutes your short term food storage.

You should have at least a 2 week supply of short term food storage. This food you rotate regularly because you are eating it every day. Most of the mistakes people make with their short term food storage are a result of confusing long term food storage with short term food storage. Here are the common mistakes people make with their short term food storage or food in their pantry:

1.       They don’t buy what they eat – People end up buying what is on sale and not considering what their family actually eats. With your short term food items, it is especially important to make sure you buy food that your family will eat because it doesn’t store for very long. If you don’t use a lot of Cream of Celery soup when you cook, then don’t go out and buy a couple of cases of it. It is money that you could be using in other areas of your food storage.

2.       They buy too much of one thing – Nalley Chili or Pasta Roni is on sale so you go out and buy cases of the stuff only to have it sit on your shelf for years. Be careful not to overbuy. Give yourself variety.

3.       They don’t know what they have – Keep your short term food storage organized so you can see what you have. It is easy to make mistake #2 if you don’t know what is in the pantry.

So, bottom line with short term food storage is:

• Have at least a 2 week supply of food
• Buy what you eat
• Don’t buy too much of one thing
• Keep it organized

Long term food storage

There is a phrase that I really believe in when it comes to life and food storage: “Know Thyself”. In order to get the most out of our food storage, we need to know how we use our food on a daily basis. If you rarely or never cook food from scratch, then you should take that into consideration when you store food. Some people can turn a bowl of flour into something delicious and some people (like me!) can’t. So, be honest with yourself on how you cook and how you would cook during an emergency. Don’t try to store food like your neighbor does, if you don’t cook like your neighbor does.

With that in mind, here are points to remember with your long term food storage:

• Store food based on how you cook – a 50 lb. bag of wheat is great, but you have to know how to turn it into food. That is why I really like the freeze-dried prepared meals like Mountain House and Saratoga Farms.
• Store food with the longest shelf life possible – To get the most out of your food storage investment, you will need to buy foods that will store for the longest time possible. Look at your food storage as an annual cost. If you spend 1,000 on food that will store for 10 years, your annual cost is $100/year. If you spend the same amount on food that will store for 30 years, your annual cost is $33/year. A big savings. It also means you have to rotate your food a lot less. Which means you will be able to use the food when you need it.
• Store a variety of foods – You should have prepared meals (like Mountain House) and fruits, vegetables and other staples (like Saratoga Farms) in all varieties in your long term food storage. The more variety, the better the nutrition will be and the healthier your food storage will be.
• Work towards at least a 3 month supply for everyone in your family – Having a 3 month supply of long term food storage will give you a good buffer against whatever emergency you may face. After you have built it up to that point, than move to 6 months, then 9 months and then a year.
• Store foods that are easy to prepare – Simplicity goes a long way in your food storage. Don’t store complicated foods or meals. You don’t know what resources will be available to you when you will need to use the food. That is another reason I like Saratoga Farms and Mountain House. You just add hot water and stir. No cooking is required.

Next time we will talk about how to get started with your food storage.

It can be a lot of work preparing your family for an emergency situation, but after a disaster occurs is often when the real work begins. Not only will you have to repair and clear out your own home, but many of the facilities that help you survive will require a lot of work, too. Hospitals, grocery stores, home improvement stores, businesses, schools and even roads will all need a lot of people and a lot of help to be cleaned up and prepared to assist your community.

Here are a couple ways you can find out how to get involved before
or after an emergency if you have access to the internet or a phone. Any of the services listed will provide you with information on how you can administer help for people in your community or assist in cleaning-up and rebuilding the areas that need it most.

One of the quickest ways to find a way to volunteer in your area is by either by calling 1-800-VOLUNTEER (1-800-865-868-337), or by visiting their website at 1-800-volunteer.org. Whether you’ve just survived a disaster or you weren’t affected but want to help this is one of the quickest, most reliable ways to find current opportunities to serve. Through 1-800-Volunteer you have the options to find out about disaster recovery opportunities, to learn about the ‘hands on’ network, and also upcoming events. You’ll also have the opportunity to speak with a live operator if you call.

The American Red Cross is also a reliable resource to go to when looking to be prepared with knowledge and experience for helping in an emergency. The American Red Cross Advantage program offers convenient classes that can be scheduled at a local facility or American Red Cross chapter at a time that works for you. Through the Red Cross programs you can help comfort victims affected by a disaster or even teach a pet first-aid class. Whether you are interested in community services, international services, disaster services or any of the other lines of services in the Red Cross, you’ll find something that you can help with. These programs offer training for first-aid, CPR, caregiving,
disaster education, donating, giving blood and more. To find out how to contact someone in your area go to redcross.org, and enter your zip code in the area on the far left. After you do this a phone number will be provided or you can e-mail someone or visit the site that is specifically for your area.

The last site we chose to list is Volunteers of America at voa.org. On the homepage, click on the green tab on the right that’s labeled “Get involved”. This tab will bring you to a page that lists every state and at least one specific site that will provide you with
information on how to get involved in your area. When you click on your specific site you will come to a page that lists volunteer
opportunities and details close to you. On the Right hand side you will also be provided with information on how to contact the volunteer coordinator in your area. This site lists service opportunities to serve not only according an emergency, but opportunities to help the
homeless and needy as well.

There are many wonderful, reliable organizations one can refer to in order to find out how to help when a disaster occurs. These that are listed are just three that we chose out of many. They are not affiliated with The Ready Store in any way, but we support them in their cause and want to provide you with a way to help your community if the situation calls.

In addition to being a beaming source of entertainment for raves and caves, the light sticks are an excellent item to use in a 72-hr-kit or just as an extra source of light when camping or when the power goes out. They require no batteries or electricity and are waterproof, nexpensive, and easily disposable.

Light sticks (often referred to as “glow sticks”) are the safest source of lighting after a natural disaster because they do not require electricity, eliminating the possibility of fires from sparks, and they don’t use batteries, making them safe to use in explosive environments. (The chemical contents are also non-toxic and non-flammable.) Light sticks are even used by military forces as alight source or light markers.

This source of light for the public typically provides anywhere from 5 hours to 24 hours of light before the glow fades out. The time you get from your light stick should be indicated on the package. Light sticks are also offered in many different colors and lengths.

Light sticks are very safe products, but there are some things to know depending on your plans for using them. The warmer it is, the brighter it will glow until the chemical reaction runs out, however if you are able to freeze your light stick it will prolong the amount of time it glows. They should be stored in a cold, dry, place, and if you somehow get the chemicals on your clothes, (which would only happen if the plastic casing was punctured, which is very difficult to do), it can stain.

I especially like to use light sticks with children. They are great to have around when the power goes out and your kids need a “nightlight” to help them to not be scared. I have also used them for the same purpose when I go camping. In a dark room, it is amazing how much light they actually produce. I recommend that you have light sticks in your home, your car, your 72 hour kits and your shelter in place supplies.

In the event of a nuclear accident, radioactive iodine could be released into the air and absorbed by the thyroid, damaging it and potentially killing you. This deadly chemical from nuclear warfare can remain in the air for several days, so it’s best to be prepared. IOSAT is a small tablet that contains potassium iodide(a safe preventative counter-reactor to iodine). When Potassium Iodide is taken, it floods the thyroid with a stabilized iodine, preventing 99% percent of the damage caused by radioactive nuclear fallout, such as thyroid cancer and other complications.

IOSAT is the only potassium iodide tablet that is FDA approved. It also has a guaranteed 7 year shelf life, as compared to 4-5 year shelf
life in other non-FDA approved tablets.

IOSAT is safe for all members of your family to take in a radiation emergency-even your dog or cat! It should be taken 30 minutes prior to exposure, and only when public health officials tell you. Defense experts recommend keeping a supply on hand for each family member,
considering deadly radioactive chemicals can remain in the air for several days.

The recommended dosage is as follows: Adults and children 1 year of age or older: One (1) tablet once a day. Babies under 1 year of age: One-half (1/2) tablet once a day. Crush for infants and small children. For dogs 25-30 lbs, one-quarter (1/4) tablet once a day. A 10 lb dog/cat would take 1/8 tablet daily. Crush and put it in their food, and be sure to consult with your Veterinarian to be sure your pet hasno allergies or problems with potassium.

It is easy to think that this kind of emergency could never happen here, but we must be prepared for all disasters, and IOSAT is a simple,
inexpensive way to protect your family in a radiation emergency. As a final note, beware of unapproved potassium iodide and iodate illegally
sold for emergencies.