First-Aid Remedies: Straight From Your Kitchen

You don’t have to invest in a costly first aid kit to be prepared for a minor emergency. In fact, most people already have a wide variety of food ingredients in their kitchens that double as first aid remedies. Oatmeal, baking soda, vinegar, ice cubes, honey and milk are just a few items from the kitchen that can be used as treat minor ailment, and here's why!

Stop the Itch
Outdoor summer fun or work can lead to an itchy poison ivy or poison oak rash. Stop the itch and soothe the skin with plain oatmeal. Cook a small pot of old-fashioned oatmeal according to directions, adding no flavoring. Allow it to cool, then apply a thin layer of the oatmeal to the skin rash to stop the itch. To sooth all-over dry, itchy skin caused by sunburn or too much time spent in the salt water or chlorinated pool water, pour two cups of old-fashioned oatmeal into a tub of warm water and soak for 15 minutes.

Baking Soda Remedies
Got heartburn? Mix one-half teaspoon of baking soda in a small glass of water and drink to put out the fire. Bee sting or bug bite? Dip the tip of your finger in water, then dip it into baking soda and dab it onto any type of sting or bite to soothe the inflammation and stop the pain.

Vinegar
Vinegar is a disinfectant and will cleanse any minor wound, as well as rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Vinegar also kills nail fungus and promotes healing of minor cuts and scraps. Mix a few drops of white vinegar into baking soda to make a paste (mixture will foam) and spread onto large scraped areas or skin rashes for pain relief and to promote healing.

Ice Cubes
Every cook has (or will) burn their finger while cooking. An ice cube will cool the skin quickly after it has come into contact with a hot pot. Hold an ice cube on the burn for 15 seconds on, then 15 seconds off, until the pain subsides.

Honey
Raw, pure honey contains antibacterial properties and is great to coat, protect and promote healing of minor skin burns and abrasions. Apply a thin layer of honey to injured skin and cover with gauze to keep in place.
Honey also quiets a cough and soothes a sore throat. Swallow a spoonful of honey every hour or so to coat and soothe a sore, irritated throat and kill germs.

Cure Diaper Rash
An irritated baby’s bottom needs some quick first aid to stop the pain and crying. A little cow’s milk will soothe skin, stop the burn and promote healing. Gently wash the area with plain water to remove all urine, then soak a clean soft wash cloth in milk and gently place on the diaper rash area and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and let skin air-dry before re-diapering. Milk is a natural anti-inflammatory and will calm the inflammation on contact and begin to cure the diaper rash pronto.

Milk It!
The next time you get a heel blister from an ill-fitting shoe or a hand blister from a DIY project, soak a cotton ball in milk and hold it on the blister for 15 minutes to relieve the pain, prevent infection and promote healing.

Jose Jimenez writes all about natural health and home remedies. His recent work is on the best rn-bsn online programs in the US.

The Perfect First Aid Kit Suitable for Many Different Purposes

Note: Special thanks to Danielle McAnn for this blog post.


Every home should have a first aid kit, most people know this, but not many people actually have them. Even having the most basic of supplies in a household first aid kit could ward off tragedy, stopping a bad situation from becoming any worse. Situations like a bad cut could lead to drastic blood loss if not treated properly with the right supplies. To avoid this, it’s a good idea to buy a first aid kit or put one together yourself. Here are some of the basics to include in a good, all-purpose first aid kit:

- a first aid manual
- disposable gloves
- various adhesive and non-adhesive dressings
- adhesive tape
- assorted bandages (elastic, crepe, triangular)
- a splint
- antiseptic wipes and cream for burns and cuts
- saline solution
- scissors, tweezers and safety pins
- torch with batteries
- a face mask of some kind

Remember these are just the BASICS for a first aid kit, but there are so many other things you could add to make a more thorough kit, and it’s something to consider if you have young kids or someone in the family who works with dangerous tools as the risks are higher and more varied. In addition to being prepared with a first aid kit, you should also equip yourself with the right first aid knowledge, after all, the first aid kit is a little useless if you have no idea how to treat different injuries. Receiving training in first aid is relatively easy because there are so many places that offer short, concise courses, like First Aid Management. With the knowledge of how to treat allergic reaction, injuries, or even illness, you can reduce your medical costs and have the peace of mind that you know how to respond appropriately to an emergency situation.

CardSharp Credit Card Folding Knife (Budget EDC)

This is a quick look at the Cardshark folding knife. Purchased this for less than $10 on sale.

Some things I like about it:
Lightweight - weighs ~14gms
Fits perfectly in your wallet due to its credit card size dimensions.
Durable (so far) - I've carried this around in my wallet/pocket and so far no damage done to it.
Easy & safe to use - it has a lock for the blade so it doesn't accidentally flip on the open position. It turns into a knife in 4 motions - unlock safety, flip blade, fold smaller portion, fold large portion over that which clicks it into place.
Price (see above) - good for the budget conscious.

Some things I don't like about it:
There's only one actually - The final fold of the large portion to the smaller one doesn't always stay in place. After a couple of times, it pops open so you end up having to readjust your grip on the handle to keep it locked.

Here's a caveat: This knife might be awkward to handle for those who have really big hands.

For what it is, it's not too bad of an investment as far as having a knife with you for general purpose only.

Book review: When All Hell Breaks Loose by Cody Lundin

With topics such as starting fires, purifying water, finding/catching/preparing food, first-aid, shelter, hygiene, proper burial among many other covered. It’s a very thorough book, topic-wise. It was almost too overwhelming for a noob to read. It’s my own fault for trying to read it from beginning to end as it were fiction. This is more of a reference book really and should be read as such.

I love that it’s written in a straight-forward manner that any average civilian could understand – you don’t have to be a hard-core survivalist to comprehend any of its content. His overall tone is pretty laid-back and fun which made it a quick and easy read for the most part. It’s peppered with humorous illustrations throughout as well (which was sometimes distracting). The best part about this guide is how it’s not focused on buying cool camping and survival gear. The projects he mentions are usually low-budget or no-budget at all (you may already have the materials in your home).

I came across Cody Lundin’s name after scanning for books to review for this site – he has a survival show (available on Netflix) which I’ve been meaning to watch. If I’m going to learn from someone, it might as well be from an expert who lives, breathes, and teaches this way of life.

Tons of info here for those seeking out a starting point. I actually read the e-book version of this which is perfectly fine, but I think this is one of those books that would be better off sitting in your shelf as a reference.

You’d probably get more enjoyment and use out of this if your preparedness and survivalist skillset is in the beginner or intermediate. Also good for the casual read.

Definitely a great addition to any prepper library. 4 out of 5 stars.

Reasons Why Everybody Needs a First-Aid Kit

Note: This entry is a guest post by one of the cool people from GuestPostU.

First aid kits are important for everyone to have. Whether you are going camping, going on long bike rides, or just having one in your house or car. Being prepared for whatever strikes is so important, no matter your age or activities. First aid kits can help with burns, cuts, poisoning, and even broken limbs. When buying a first aid kit, it would be best to open it up, and get an idea of what it has. If there are items missing that may be handy for you, it would be best to add them. Also, if need be, put the first aid kit into a container that protects it from water.

Isolation
Having a first aid kit is important for anyone that goes on long trips far from civilization. This is because it may be difficult to find a doctor, or a store that has the items you need. Sometimes while camping it may be difficult to find aspirin or splints for an injury. Any camper or backpacker should certainly have a first aid kit.

Money
Having a first aid kit can be a large money saver, this is because a first aid kit can help avoid visits to doctors. Many small injuries and ailments can simply be fixed if you have the necessary medicine or first aid item. Emergency room visits can be expensive especially when hospitals or doctors are out of your insurance network. Having the necessary equipment will save you a lot of money.

Kids
If you have kids, or watch kids, they are going to get into trouble. Kids are always getting cut up, or getting into things they should not. Having a kit available can help fix the small problems they get into. Of course, large injuries may need a doctor to fix. But any small scrape or cut can be fixed by a first aid kit.

Liability
In this day and age, it is a good idea to of course, avoid liability. Having a first aid kid can help save lives. If people are injured at your house, having a first aid kit can fix them up. Sadly, in this day in age, many people sue homeowners when they get hurt at someones house.

Acts of Nature
Sometimes hurricanes or tornadoes or other natural disasters will hit. It is important to have some kind of kit to help in case of injury. This is because during a natural disaster, local and state government agencies may not be able to assist quickly. Not only that, but fixing small problems on your own can free them up so they can help people in life and death situations.

A first aid kit can be a life saver, the great thing is you can buy one or make your own. It is very important to make sure it has all you need for your specific needs. Many people who hike out in the wilderness may put more anti venom items in their kit. People with kids may want to look at putting more band-aids in their kit. It is important to open it up every few months to make sure nothing has expired. A first aid kid may truly be a life saver. Or at least get you out of an uncomfortable situation.



Retta Gilbert writes about safety, privacy & the importance of a criminal background check.
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Guest Post U
The University of Great Content

Inflatable, Water-Proof Solar Light - LuminAID

A couple of grad students from Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture founded Luminaid Labs and currently has a crowdsourcing fundraiser ongoing at IndieGoGo - 100% of funds will go to producing and distributing the LuminAID lights.

Some features:
Water-proof, inflatable, and packs flat

Coating:
Flexible, semi-transparent waterproof material (Photovoltaic film is laminated to polyethelenevinyl acetate plastic) with a printed dot matrix to diffuse light.

Charge time: 4-6 hours in sunlight
Low setting: 4 hours of lighting @ 35 lumens
High Setting: 6 hours @ 20 lumens
Batery is rechargeable up to 800 times.

Visit their IndieGoGo Page
LuminAID Labs

Emergency Kit for Winter Power Outage

With the early winter peeking its head here in the northeast, we're already getting some supplies stocked up as well as replenishing our emergency kit. With the possibility of extreme weather conditions, you just never know when a power outage will happen.

I still remember the record breaking snow accumulations from last year. The roads were completely impassable - hell, you can barely walk a few houses down. People were running out of places to dump the shoveled snow. Pipes were freezing and when the snow did start to melt the basement would flood. Fun times.

As for the emergency plan, of course, this'll vary depending on your situation as well as location. Either way here are some useful things to keep handy for the winter season with a power outage specifically in mind

• A battery or hand cranked powered radio (to keep track of weather reports, emergency information,) flashlights, and plenty of batteries.
• Plenty of extra blankets and towels (you can use the towels to seal up any drafts from windows and doors to keep heat in)
• Paper plates, plastic utensils - you won't have to use up stored water for cleanup
• Fill spare containers with water for washing, and plenty of bottled water – one gallon per person per day (Most emergency preparedness experts recommend having at least a three-day supply on hand.)
• non-perishable food items, along with a manual hand opener for canned food.
• first aid kit - always keep in mind any special medical & dietary needs of those in your household. 
• If you have a fireplace, be sure to have enough wood stocked up someplace safe from the elements
• a firestarter - you'd be surprised how easily you can forget the little things such as matches and lighters.
• a pack of cards / boardgame for entertainment (esp. if you have kids)
• Shovels and plenty of sidewalk salt (ice melter)
• Don't forget about supplies for your pets as well.

You can pretty much place most of these in a centralized location and the smaller items can be kept in a footlocker or a plastic bin where it's easily accessible.

During outage:

Dress for the season, wearing several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing, rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent

 

Avoid drinking coffee and/or alcohol - will promote dehydration & chills

Wear a hat since most body heat is lost through the top of the head

 

You can always use the snow as an extra temporary water source or to keep items from your fridge cold (place in ice chest/cooler)

Before an outage:

It's always good to anticipate potential problems so in addition to stocking up you might also want to

prepare one or two rooms to be your hub. By that I mean setting it up in a way that it's the most insulated spot in the house prior to any major snow storms. You can do this by hanging up thick drapes in front of the windows. You can even add additional weather stripping. Keep the area/s clutter free - easier to move furniture around and set up sleeping arrangements.

 

Know where your primary and secondary water valves are in case you have to shut it off. It's always a good idea to shut off the pipes that are leading out to external fixtures (back yard or side of the house). 

If your water supply could be affected (a well-water pump system), fill your bathtub and spare containers with water. Water in the bathtub should be used for sanitation purposes only, not as drinking water. Pouring a pail of water from the tub directly into the bowl can flush a toilet.

 

Set your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings (remember to reset them back to normal once power is restored). During an outage, do not open the refrigerator or freezer door. Food can stay cold in a full refrigerator for up to 24 hours, and in a well-packed freezer for 48 hours (24 hours if it is half-packed).

 

If you have medication that requires refrigeration (such as insulin), check with your pharmacist for guidance on proper storage during an extended outage.

 

Review the process for manually operating an electric garage door. (Not that you'll be able to pull the car out but it's still good to know how to do this.)

To prevent water pipes from freezing, keep faucets turned on slightly so that water drips from the tap

 

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Our experience with a winter power outage: Rural setting

Middle of a harsh winter in the hill country of Texas - it's not so much the accumulation of snow that was hazardous, it was the fact that everything outside had iced over.  Thankfully we had a wood-burning fireplace then and we stocked up on a lot of wood. 

You can never have enough firewood and kindling. 

The pipes didn't freeze but we were pretty much homebound for several days.

We ended up filling up some bins with water in case the pipes freeze. 

We had plenty of food so that wasn't an issue. 

The main issue was keeping warm. The house wasn't well insulated so keeping the heat in and the cold out was the challenge. We turned the family room as the main hub since the fireplace was there.

 

It took maybe 3-4 days until power was back on. 

So this year, since we're now in a metropolitan urban setting with no fireplace, our current emergency kit / plan reflects that. 

Hope that helps and be safe.