Once you have your food and water storage in place it’s time to start thinking about other concerns.  Do you take any regular medications?  Would you be able to do without them in an emergency situation?  Most people on medications would not be able to go without it.   Make sure you have a plan to maintain your health in an emergency.

You may want to talk to your doctor about how to maintain an emergency supply of medication.  But how do you store your meds safely?  How do you ensure your meds will last and long as possible?  Medications don’t have the shelf life that freeze dried food does.  They expire quickly.  Make sure you are rotating through them consistently.

Like most people, you probably store your medications in the bathroom. But this popular spot is actually one of the worst places to keep medicine. Bathroom cabinets tend to be warm and humid, an environment that speeds up the process of a drug breaking down.

Heat and humidity especially affects tablets and capsules. Unnecessary exposure to heat and moisture can cause them to lose their potency prior to their labeled expiration date. For example, a warm, muggy environment can cause aspirin tablets to break down into acetic acid (vinegar) and salicylic acid, both of which are potential stomach irritants.

Keep medicines in a cool, dry place and out of a child’s reach.

If you must keep them in the bathroom, always keep the containers tightly closed. Never repackage them. If medicines are to be stored in a kitchen, store them away from the stove, sink, and any heat-releasing appliances.

In rare cases, medicine that is improperly stored can actually become toxic. To prevent danger, follow these tips:

• Always store drugs out of the reach of children.
• Don’t leave the cotton plug in a medication bottle. Doing so can draw moisture into the container.
• Check the expiration date each time you take a drug. Throw out and replace any medications that are out of date.
• Never use a medication that has changed color, consistency, or odor, regardless of the expiration date. Throw away capsules or tablets that stick together, are harder or softer than normal, or cracked or chipped.
• Ask your pharmacist about any specific storage instructions.

Travelers need to follow additional tips for safe storage of their medications:

• Before leaving home, list all your medications, as well as the name and number of your pharmacist and doctor.
• Pack your medicine in a carry-on bag instead of a checked suitcase.
• Bring an extra supply with you in case your return is delayed.
• Never leave medicines in an automobile, where heat can rapidly destroy the drug.
• Watch time changes. Set a separate watch to your usual time so you can remember when to take any medication.

More information on travel tips and safe storage of medicines is available through the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists at www.safemedication.com.

* Information taken from this article on drugs.com

With a taste so fresh, you won’t believe it came in a can! These freeze-dried fruits are picked at the peak of flavor and freshness, then freeze-dried to lock in flavor, freshness and texture. With a 30 year shelf life they are a delicious addition to your food storage.

Great in your favorite recipes, desserts, in smoothies or as a delicious topping. They can also be eaten right out of the can for a healthy, tasty snack. All of the fruits are all-natural with no added ingredients.

• No cooking or preparation! Just add water.
• #10 can provides rugged durability.
• 100% Freeze-Dried food highest quality and shelf life available.
• Up to a 30 Year Shelf-Life!
• Trusted gourmet quality from the Saratoga Farms™ brand!

If you would like a chance to win one, please click the link below to start a unique online ReadyParty!

CLICK HERE TO START YOUR VERY OWN ONLINE READYPARTY!

Everyday when we get in our cars we are directed by different road signs.  These road signs help us to arrive safely to our destination.  They also help us work together with other drivers, ensuring the safety of most people on the roads.  However, there are many who choose not to obey the signs and rules of driving.  Many of these people still get to their destination safely.  However, they dramatically increase the chance of getting into an accident.  They are not only risking hurting themselves, but putting others at risk, too.

Life in general is much like driving.  There are road signs in life that can help us if we will follow them.  Most of these signs are not actual signs made of wood and metal.  These signs can come in the form of good advice from those who love us.  They can also come as we pay attention to what is going on in our world and keep up to date with the news and other media.

We should pay attention to signs such as:

• “Live within your means“
• “Don’t go into Debt”
• “Prepare for a rainy day“
• “Create an emergency plan“
• “Store Food, Water, and Supplies“
• “Keep a 72-Hr-Kit“

While it’s true that you may never need to use your food storage, why take the risk?  Life is full of surprises.  Life is full of things that are beyond our control, so why not look forward and prepare, now, for the worst while hoping for the best?  Why not use your will control where you can?  You can’t control the weather, stock market, or the ground beneath you, but you can control your ability to respond to bad weather, falling stocks, or even falling rocks.

It’s time to look at your situation and ask yourself “what if”.  What if you lost your job?  What if a tornado came?  What if I or a family member became seriously ill?  What if there was a hurricane?  Don’t do this with an attitude of fear, but with an attitude of resolve that you will be ready for what ever could possibly come your way.  You can’t control that speeding drunk driver, but you can give yourself plenty of time and distance between you and the car in front of you.

Now is the time to be wise.  It’s times to take all the advice you have learned and apply it.  You’ll be happy you did.  Don’t be scared.  Be Ready!

Congratulations Melissa!  You have just won our MRE Entree Variety Pack – CASE of 24!

We are still waiting for a picture and bio from Melissa, however it will be coming soon.  Thank you to all who subscribed to the YouTube Channel and have participated in this weeks contest.

These contests have been a huge success and we’ve had so much fun giving away prizes that help The Ready Nation get prepared for disasters!

There is so much more to do to help America get ready.  Please help us get the word out and tell your friends, family, and neighbors about us.

Thank you so much!

There are many ways to contact someone at The Ready Store.  If you find that one method is proving to be unsuccessful, pick another from the list.  As long as your attempts are within office hours, (which are Mon-Fri, 8a-5p MST), you will always be able to get a hold of someone, quickly.

You can contact us by…

Phone- You can call in at 1-800-773-5331, or at our local number, which is 1-801-553-7088.

Fax- Our fax number is 1-801-553-9322.  (Faxes are generally used for business or government orders and is not an appropriate way to submit civilian orders.)

E-mail- There is a link at the bottom of our main page which says, ‘contact us‘.  Clicking on this will bring you to a directory which lists the specific e-mail addresses for the departments you’d need to contact.  (Apart from calling and live-chat, sending the e-mail to the appropriate representative is the best way to get the information you’re needing.)

Mail- If you need to contact us by mail you can send a letter to 14557 S 790 W, Unit B, Bluffdale, UT 84065.

Live Chat- This is the newest method of communication at The Ready Store.  If you’d like to chat live with a representative just click on the link in the upper right hand corner that is a picture of a girl with her headset on.  This will open a new box where you list your name and what your specific inquiry is about, then click ‘Start Chat’.  This will send you to a live chat with a representative at The Ready Store.  (If it is after office hours, your message will be sent to the customer service rep’s e-mail, and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.)

WEEKLY GIVEAWAY: MRE Entree Variety Pack – CASE of 24

Our Variety Pack Case of 24 Meals Ready to Eat entrees is great way to store tasty, nutritious food for long periods. Each entree will store for a minimum of 5 years and can be stored for up to 10 years if kept in a cool, dry location. Each case of 24 comes with 4-6 different flavors of entrees. Hurry! These entrees always sell out fast. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get FRESH MRE entrees!

● No cooking or preparation required!

● Aluminum pouch provides durability and slim profile.

● Up to a 10 Year Shelf-Life!

● Trusted quality from military contracted manufacturer!

If you would like a chance to win one, please subcribe and leave a quick comment stating your full name, on Jeff Davis’ New suburban survivorman YOUTUBE Channel!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO JEFF’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL!

When looking for an Emergency Cooking system that is easy to use & reliable in the case of an emergency many people could feel over whelmed with the many different options there are.  There is liquid fuel, gas powered, or solid bricks of fuel. So to ease your searching for your Emergency Cooking supplies here are your Ready Store Top Five Emergency Cooking Systems:

#5 Flat Fold Stove with 24 Fuel Tablets

Ideal for your 72 hour kit this Flat folding stove is a portable stove that folds flat for easy storage. With it being our most inexpensive cooking system, (under $10), that makes it an amazing investment for your 72 hour kits. Simply fold out your stove out, light your fuel tablets and Voilà you’re ready to cook.

#4 MSR Pocket Rocket Stove

#3 Titanium Triad XE Multi-Fuel Stove

The Vargo Titanium Triad XE is a dual-fuel (alcohol/fuel tab) stove & I love this because you do not have to be dependent on just one fuel source. The Ex is also light weight just like the Pocket Rocket Stove, but the XE, being made with titanium, will insure that it will not break or get damaged. When burning with denatured alcohol you must understand that if you’re at an altitude over 11,000 feet or if the temperature is under 20 degrees F. it will not burn as well so that is when fuel tablets would be the recommended fuel source.

#2 JetBoil Personal Cooking System – Black

And the one you have been waiting for…………

#1 MSR Reactor™ Emergency Stove

The state-of-the-art cookware and revolutionary stove design combine to create the fastest, most fuel efficient stove system ever! There are five strong buying points that makes this Emergency Stove #1 in my book.

1) Unrivaled Boil Time – Boil 1 liter of water in just 3 minutes, this is a must for your Freeze Dried Foods.

2) Maximum Efficiency – Tri-sectional clip protects flame in light wind gusts, so no worries if your flame is out or not.

3) Unmatched Wind Protection – Total protection in even the windiest conditions, so stand back & relax while it cooks your meal.

4) Integrated System – State-of-the-art stove and high-efficiency pot are combined into one.

5) Simple, lightening-fast operation - No need for priming, pressurizing or maintenance.

Congratulations Pete!  You have won our Berry Sampler!

Pete’s Reaction:

I’ve never won anything in my life!  Thank you so much!

Thank you Pete and thank you to all who participated this week. Be sure to check the blog on Friday for the new contest.

We appreciate all who created their own ReadyParty and we hope it was a success for you!

Please help get the word out about us to your family and friends  in order to help get America ready! As always, if there is anything we can do to help, please let us know.

The other day I received an email from a Mrs. Jacqueline who, like many of us, is concerned about where the economy is taking us and how to be prepared. “Where do I start?” was her main question. Remember, you can survive only 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food, so shelter, water and food are your priorities. Here are the top 5 things seniors should consider when building emergency supplies.

1. Grab-n-Go Supplies: In case you need to evacuate, be sure to have the right supplies. These should be light weight, convenient, small, and self-contained. You should have your basic needs covered for at least 72 hours, this is generally the time it takes for outside help to arrive. I recommend our 72 hr kits, which will provide you with everything you need in a grab-n-go situation.

1. Shelter-in-Place: If it is safe to stay in your home during emergency, this provides you with the best shelter and a lot more resources. You should have a supply of shelf-stable food, which will last 20 years or more. Freeze-dried food is best, with a 30+ year shelf life and requires only hot water to prepare. You may not have electricity or heat, so be sure to have an emergency stove and alternative light sources, like our 115 hour Ready-Candle, light sticks, and crank-powered flashlights.

1. Clean Water: You should have 1 gallon of water per person a day for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and hygiene. Store water in 5-gallon stackable containers for ease of use and use water preserver, which will give it a 5 year storage life. Water pouches are best for grab-n-go supplies, like your 72 hour kit. I recommend having a portable water filter, such as our MSR MiniWorks Micro Filter. It is our easiest filter to use, and filters 2000 liters at a liter a minute.

1. Medical: Be sure to have a hearty supply of all your medications. In an emergency, you may not be able to get a refill on medications that are vital. Our friend Mrs. Jacqueline gets her medication in a 3 month supply. If you aren’t already doing this, check with your doctor and pharmacy to see if it is possible. If you have diabetes, and other special needs, be sure to have a long term supply of the necessary items. Also, don’t forget to have a first aid kit handy.

1. Special Equipment: If you are on oxygen, a respirator, or any other device, I recommend investing in a generator to keep these running in an emergency, and extra portable oxygen tanks, as these are very important. Also, an emergency radio with weather band is recommended to stay updated during emergency on weather conditions and to hear instruction from local officials.

This should cover your most basic of needs in an emergency, I hope this list helps. For more information or questions on how to get prepared, please contact us either by phone or email.