Emergency Essentials

“Helping People Prepare…for over 20 years." - Emergency Essentials

One catalog that I like to shop from for food storage and supplies is "Emergency Essentials". (website http://www.beprepared.com/). It reminds me of the fun I had as a kid looking at the old Sears Wish Book. I recommend signing up for a free monthly catalog and then looking at their monthly "Group Special". These "Specials" give low prices and free shipping within the continental US for orders of 12-20 of select items. For example the July group items are "Whole Egg Powder" (min 12), "Instant Mashed Potatoes" (min 12), and Leather Gloves (min 20). When my wife was the Emergency Coordinator for our church she would bundle orders from other families to reach the minimum order size.

One reason I'm discussing Emergency Essentials is that they have launched a new blog, http://www.preparednesspantry.blogspot.com/. I was hoping it would be informative about food storage but mostly what I see are daily/monthly sales and product pitches. The only educational article I found there was How Long Does Dehydrated or Freeze-dried Food Last After Opening?

Bottom Line

The http://www.beprepared.com/ website is a great resource with recipes, preparedness articles, 72-hour kit lists, and more. Check out the tabs at the top of the web page for topics. I'm not yet convinced that the new blog will be a great resource - perhaps they'll improve with practice.

Personal Day

"The time has come," the Walrus said,"To talk of many things: Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--Of cabbages--and kings--And why the sea is boiling hot--And whether pigs have wings." - Lewis Carroll

Several times in my life people have said I look like Bill Gates. Too bad my career in computing programming was not as successful financially. I've also been called a geek many times. In defense I've never used a pocket protector (but have lost some shirts to ink pens overflowing)!

There is a video by Weird Al Yankovic that I find hillarious but also scary for accurately capturing my lifestyle. It's called "White and Nerdy". www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp6eswhgOKk

Chess team, yes
Collect comics, yes
Star Wars, yes (movies, not the collectibles)
Stephen Hawkings, yes
Math equations and Calculus for fun, yes
Pascal (yes), Java (yes), Klingon (no)
Star Trek, yes
MC Escher, yes
Pi (7 places)
Renaissance Fair, yes
D&D, yes
Mine sweeper, yes
Ping Pong, yes
Monty Python and the Holy Grail, yes
Bowling, yes
Donny Osmond!

Bottom Line
July 28 will be the one year anniversary of this blog. Please let me know if you find it helpful and worth continuing. Given the lack of comments and readership I may cut back to weekly updates.

Extreme Heat

“Some people change their ways when they see the light; others when they feel the heat”-Caroline Schoeder

My friends and colleagues in New York have been grumbling about the lack of “summer”. We’ve had weeks of rainy days and cool temperatures with rare glimpses of sun. So it was somewhat shocking to have a “hot” day earlier this week with 91 Fahrenheit.

Some may adore summer heat but it is also a potential killer (175 Americans die of heat exposure in a normal year. 1,250 died in the heat wave of 1980.) With extreme cold you can protect yourself with layers of coats, gloves, scarves, etc. But you can only strip so far (without getting arrested) in extreme heat. Here are some recommendations to avoid Dehydration, Heat Exhaustion, and Hyperthermia(Heat Stroke).

• Stay hydrated by drinking more fluids
  This is not as easy as it sounds. First off, fluids with caffeine, alcohol, or sugar will dry you out. So this eliminates ice coffee, ice teas (unless herbal), most sodas, and all alcoholic drinks. Second, the drink should not be icy cold – this can cause stomach cramps. Third, you need to remember to drink regularly even if not thirsty. Forth, your doctor may place a limit on how much you may drink; for example if you’re taking water pills to lower your blood pressure.
  
• Find cool places to hang out
  If you don’t have an air conditioner then seek out other “cool” places during extreme heat. My wife and I will go grocery shopping and linger in the frozen food aisles examining all products closely. We’ll get some exercise walking in an air-conditioned mall. Or catch up on magazine reading at our library. Or eat out (we immediately walked out of one restaurant when we realized their A/C was broke). Or go for a long drive in our air-conditioned car. During heat emergencies the Red Cross may open “cool” down shelters that you can sleep at. Electric fans won’t help when the air is hotter than your body (98.6 F). When the air is high 90 and above you’re just blowing heat at your body and making things worse.
  
• Take precautions when outside
  Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and a wide brimmed hat. Wear sunscreen and seek out shade. Move slowly and stop frequently to rest and cool down.

Bottom Line

Be creative when the going gets hot. Take cold showers or baths. I like to wrap up an ice cube and apply it to the back of my neck letting the melt water run down my back. Wet your hair or shirt or a hat. Stay out of the sun as much as possible.

Recommended Links:

www.sanjoseca.gov/pdf/HeatAlert07/Heat_Wave_Safety_Tips.pdf
www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heat_guide.asp
For Athletes: www.athleticadvisor.com/Injuries/General_Inj/heat_safety_tips.htm

Bruises

“I have no idea what my body feels like when it's not bruised, sore of stiff...” - Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

While researching cuts yesterday, I came across many interesting facts about bruises on FamilyEducation.com. With both cuts and bruises, blood vessels have been damaged and are leaking. But because bruises (and their potential partner, swelling) don't break through the skin, there is a difference in first aid treatment.

First Aid for a Bruise

1. Immediately apply an ice pack to the bruise to reduce swelling. You can make an ice pack by wrapping ice cubes in a cloth or clean towel.


2. Elevate the bruised area so that it is higher than the heart to keep blood from “pooling” in the affected area.


3. Keep the bruise elevated for approximately 15 minutes if the wound is minor. Keep a large bruise elevated for at least an hour. If the bruise is severe or it covers a large portion of the body, seek medical help.


4. If the bruise doesn't appear to be getting any better after 24 hours, see your physician.

Bottom Line

Seek prompt medical help if there is any swelling around the bruise, especially if it occurs at a joint. This can signal danger to nerves, muscles, and bones, all of which require a trained physician's attention.

Heavy internal bleeding is serious and can be fatal. Go to a hospital if you see these symptoms of internal bleeding or shock from blood loss:

• Major swelling at the injury site
• Major or immediate black and blue marks at the wound
• Pale, clammy skin
• Chills
• Cold hands and feet
• Dilated pupils
• Rapid, weak pulse

Scrapes & Cuts

“Only those who get into scrapes with their eyes open can find the safe way out”-Logan Pearsall Smith

When children play or ride bikes, it is inevitable that they will fall and scrape a leg, knee, elbow, etc. Usually the crying will be worse than the actual injury. Most minor cuts and scrapes don't require a trip to the emergency room but proper care at home is essential to avoid infection or other complications. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Stop the bleeding
   If the blood flow is heavy or spurting (indicating a deep cut), see a doctor immediately. If the cut is more than ¼ inch deep, is gaping, has jagged edges, or has fat or muscle sticking out, go to a hospital.
   Minor cuts will stop bleeding own their own within a few minutes. If bleeding continues then apply pressure with a clean cloth for 10-20 minutes. Do not lift the cloth early and peek. This may pull off any scab that is forming. If light bleeding continues after 20 minutes, seek medical assistance.
2. Clean the wound
   Rinse out the wound with clear water. Since soap can irritate raw flesh, apply soap to the skin around the wound but keep it out of the actual wound. If dirt, rocks, grass or other debris remains in the wound after washing, use tweezers cleaned with alcohol to gently remove the particles. DO NOT dig with the tweezers as this may push items deeper into the wound or restart bleeding. If debris remains embedded in the wound after cleaning, see your doctor.
3. Apply an Antibacterial Cream
   Antibiotic ointments like Neosporin and Polysporin help keep the wound moist and prevent infection. Some people are allergic to antibiotics so stop using ointment if a rash appears. First aid books today are split on whether to apply hydrogen peroxide or iodine. These can kill the cells trying to heal the injury and may cause scarring. In my experience, hydrogen peroxide prevents scars from cat scratches. Cat claws are very dirty and a mild infection is guaranteed if the scratch is not thoroughly cleaned.
4. Cover the wound
   Apply a clean bandage to keep the open wound clean and prevent infection or reinjury.
5. Replace the dressing
   Replace the bandage daily or if it gets wet or dirty.
6. Remove the bandage once a scab has formed
   Skin heals best in open air and light. Keep the bandage on only long enough for the body to create a solid scab or seal over the wound so nothing gets inside.
7. Get a tetanus shot
   Doctors recommend a tetanus shot every 10 years. If the wound is deep, a puncture, or caused by a dirty/rusty object and the last shot was more than five years ago, your doctor may recommend a tetanus shot booster. Get the booster within 48 hours of the injury.

Bottom Line

The steps above should suffice for minor cuts and scrapes. Continue to check the wound daily for signs of infection, such as redness, increased pain, pus, warmth, or swelling. See a doctor if an infection develops.

With a minor cut, psychology may matter more then physiology. Stay calm and assure your child that all will be well once the wound is clean. Be comforting but please don’t kiss the “boo-boo” or blow on it. This adds germs to the wound.

Actions have consequences

America is a land of taxation that was founded to avoid taxation.~Laurence J. Peter

As I wrote on July 4, many (most?) of our state and federal congressional leaders have no real business experience. When expenses rise the solution to balancing the budget is rarely ‘spend less’. Instead the answer is more often ‘raise taxes’ or make the rich pay more. But politicians forget that money is mobile. The wealthy can move and businesses can relocate to another state or overseas if local conditions become unfavorable.

The Wall Street Journal looks at an attempt by Maryland to “soak the rich” which resulted in “Millionaires Go Missing”

Politicians in Annapolis created a millionaire tax bracket, raising the top marginal income-tax rate to 6.25%. And because cities such as Baltimore and Bethesda also impose income taxes, the state-local tax rate can go as high as 9.45%. Governor Martin O'Malley … declared that these richest 0.3% of filers were "willing and able to pay their fair share." The Baltimore Sun predicted the rich would "grin and bear it."

One year later, nobody's grinning. One-third of the millionaires have disappeared from Maryland tax rolls. [Down to 2000 from 3000 filers] … On those missing returns, the government collects 6.25% of nothing. Instead of the state coffers gaining the extra $106 million the politicians predicted, millionaires [combined] paid $100 million less in taxes than they did last year -- even at higher rates.

The WSJ in “Soak the Rich, Lose the Rich” notes that California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York and Oregon are also trying to raise taxes on the wealthy. The rich respond by moving:

We found that from 1998 to 2007, more than 1,100 people every day including Sundays and holidays moved from the nine highest income-tax states such as California, New Jersey, New York and Ohio and relocated mostly to the nine tax-haven states with no income tax, including Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire and Texas. We also found that over these same years the no-income tax states created 89% more jobs and had 32% faster personal income growth than their high-tax counterparts.

Do low-tax states lack key services. No, they just budget better.

[New Hampshire] the Live Free or Die State has no income or sales tax, yet it has high-quality schools and excellent public services. Students in New Hampshire public schools achieve the fourth-highest test scores in the nation -- even though the state spends about $1,000 a year less per resident on state and local government than the average state and, incredibly, $5,000 less per person than New York. And on the other side of the ledger, California in 2007 had the highest-paid classroom teachers in the nation, and yet the Golden State had the second-lowest test scores.

Bottom Line

Some states have learned this lesson. Maine just reduced state taxes in the hope of drawing people to it.

Other states are still in the dark. North Carolina just passed a bill to tax online sales. In response Amazon has shut down the affiliate program in NC.

Don't drive through flood waters

“We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Almost half of all flash flood deaths happen inside vehicles because drivers think they can drive through “shallow” water. Just six inches of moving water is deep enough to knock people off their feet and for small cars to loose control. One foot of water can carry away the average car. Two feet of water will float most vehicles including SUVs and pickup trucks.

The video here shows how quickly moving water can destroy a road. Fast forward through the first minute. By minute two the road is collapsing. If the water level were higher and covered the road after the collapse, you’d have no idea that a piece of the road was gone if you tried to drive thorough it.

Flooded River Destroys Road In Minutes

Bottom Line

For more information on driving through flood waters, check out
www.cararticles.co.uk/uk-water-flood-driving-advice.html

If your car stalls or begins to drift while driving through water, do not stay in the car. Get out immediately. If your car becomes submerged you may have to wait for the car to fill with water before you’re able to open the car door. (Water is heavier than air and pushes against the car doors.) Don’t panic, hold your breath, and swim out.

If you are swept into moving floodwater, float on your back and try to point your feet downstream and protect your head from collisions.

Lightning Myths

“There are only three things that can kill a farmer: lightning, rolling over in a tractor, and old age.”-Bill Bryson

According to the National Weather Service, “lightning kills on average more than 70 people and injures at least 300 each year in the U.S. Most people assume they will never get hit and yet they pour money into lotteries where your chance of winning is less likely than your odds of being struck by lightning. So the “Hey, you never know” lottery philosophy needs to be applied to lightning too.

Much about lightning that people think they know is false. Here are some common myths:

• Lightning never hits the same place twice
  False. The top of the Empire State Building is hit a hundred times a year.
  
• I’m safe if there’s blue-sky overhead
  False. Lightning can easily travel more than three miles from the thundercloud. 10-15 miles is rare but can happen. So distant clouds can be a local concern. Don’t wait for rain to stop a sports game. If you see dark, angry clouds approaching, call the game.
  
• A car is safe from lightning because of the rubber tires
  False. After traveling several miles through air, lightning will laugh at two feet of rubber. It is the metal body of the car that directs lightning around you and keeps you safe. This also means that fiberglass cars, bikes, motorcycles, and open cabin tractors will NOT keep you safe. Likewise rubber sneakers or a rubber rain jacket offer NO protection.
  
• Lightning is attracted to metal or take off anything metal
  False. Metal does not act as a lightning magnet; bolts are just as happy to hit trees and stony mountains. HOWEVER, when lightning does strike, it can travel over 100 yards through metal fences, cars, bleachers, etc.
  
• You can become electrified by touching a lightning victim.
  False. Humans are not batteries and do not store electricity. Give CPR immediately.
  
• Trees will protect you from lightning
  False. Anything tall attracts lightning and being under a tree is the second leading place for lightning deaths.
  
• I’m safe from lightning inside my house
  Yes, But… A lightning strike on the house can cause current to run through phone wires, electrical cords, metal window frames, water pipes (even plastic), etc. Stay away from windows and away from phones and appliances.
  
• A surge protector or UPS will protect my computer against lightning strikes
  False. A surge protector is great for normal, everyday spikes in electricity but lightning is off the scale. The only sure way to protect computers, TVs, etc during a storm is to unplug them.
  
• If lightning is about to strike you outdoors, lie flat on the ground
  False. Lightning can travel over 100 feet though the ground so you maximize your exposure by lying flat. Instead use the ‘Lightning Crouch’ – feet together, crouch low, head tucked, ears covered. You want to be low down with minimal ground contact.
  
• Lighting won’t strike water
  False. Lightning can strike water so boaters and swimmers are not safe in a storm.
  
• Stand near a tall object so the lightning will strike it instead of you.
  False. Lightning is very fickle. It prefers tall objects but it can and does strike anything it wants to. Even if the tall object is hit, you can still be fried if within 100 feet of the strike.
  
• Most lightning injuries occur to golfers
  False. Common victims include postal workers on foot, telephone repairmen, farmers in large fields, joggers, hikers, campers and of course, golfers.
  
• A lightning strike is always fatal
  False. A strike will instantly kill 20% to 30% of the time. Sometimes the heart is stopped and immediate CPR is needed. Sometimes lightning just flashes over the outside of a victim, blowing off the clothes but leaving few external signs of injury and few, if any, burns.

Bottom Line

This myth list is for information only. There is still much about lightning that is not understood. No guarantee of lightning safety is stated or implied.

Resources
www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/pdfs/LightningMyths-1.pdf
www.uic.edu/labs/lightninginjury/ltnfacts.htm
www.wvlightning.com/lmyths.shtml
www.essortment.com/hobbies/lightningthunde_scqd.htm

Constipation

“How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on” – unknown

According to MedicineNet.com, normal constipation is defined as fewer than three bowel movements per week. Severe constipation is less than one bowel movement per week. There is no medical reason to have a bowel movement every day. In fact going without a bowel movement for two or three days usually results in more mental distress than physical discomfort.

A frequently overlooked cause of constipation is medications. Narcotic pain meds (like Tylenol #3), antidepressants, anticonvulsants, iron supplements, Calcium channel blockers and antacids with aluminum can slow the bowels. Another cause is too little hydrating liquids in your diet. Alcohol and caffeine pull water out of your body so think of coffee, tea, and soda as negative fluids. Calcium can harden stools so drink milk in moderation and avoid huge quantities of cheese, ice cream, etc.

Lack of exercise and prolonged bed rest can slow the passage of food through the bowels and cause constipation. The day after my wife had surgery, the nurses made her walk up and down the hallway to get the intestines restarted. She was not allowed to leave the hospital until a bowel movement was made.

Ironically the best way to avoid constipation is MORE fiber in the diet. Many types of fiber bind to water and help retain water within the intestine. Fiber adds bulk (volume) to the stool and the water softens the stool. Natural fibers can be found in fruit, vegetables and whole grains. At least five servings of fruits and vegetables are recommended. If this is not enough, there are fiber supplements (like Metamucil) you can buy at grocery stores and pharmacies.

One side effect of fiber is gas. Since each person is unique in how their digestive system will react to different types of fiber, you should experiment to see what works for you. Try different sources of fiber one at a time; starting with a low dose and increasing the dose every week until your bowels return to normal or troublesome flatulence interferes. (Fiber does not work overnight.) If gas or bloating occurs, either reduce the dose of fiber or switch to a different fiber.

If fiber is not working for you, check out MedicineNet’s description of laxatives, enemas, drugs, etc – their use and side effects. Prunes are a safe and natural laxative but cause gas or cramps with some people. Long term, continuous use of some laxatives can harm the colon and actually cause constipation.

Bottom Line

It is important to distinguish recent onset constipation from recurring, long duration constipation. If you’re suddenly constipated with no prior history, then see a doctor to rule out serious medical illnesses like tumors or cancer of the colon. If you experience constipation with rectal bleeding, abdominal pain and cramps, nausea and vomiting, or involuntary loss of weight then see a doctor.

Happy Independence Day

There's the country of America, which you have to defend, but there's also the idea of America. America is more than just a country, it's an idea. An idea that's supposed to be contagious.-Bono

I love America and am very proud of the accomplishments of our country. We've had a glorious 233 years. But I am also worried about America's future. Our founders created a constitution to limit the powers of national government and to prevent abuse. But in the past 100 years the federal government has chipped away at its restrictions and collected vast authority that was never intended. We also suffer from a permanent elected class (thanks to Gerrymandered districts) that are largely immune from censor and an ever growing civil service bureaucracy. People who blow the whistle are fired like the current Inspector General. People who protest are belittled or ignored: Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) Runs from Constituents

One problem with our congress today is that many of the elected have no experience in the real world. They are elected young (with no experience but politics) and then stay for decades. These are the people who then make the laws controlling business and the economy based upon the requests of paid lobbyists or upon social ideals about how things "should" work.

Philip K. Howard raised the following concerns in The Atlantic:

Year after year, Congress makes laws but almost never repeals them. Washington is like a huge monument to legacy costs. Laws from the Depression will send tens of billions in unnecessary subsidies this year to farmers, organized labor and other groups thought to be in need–80 years ago. Bloat is also notorious–it’s nearly impossible to fire anyone under civil service laws, so layers of middle management have grown exponentially. Professor Paul Light found 32 levels in some agencies (compared to 5 levels in most well-run enterprises). All this accumulated law–about 300,000 pages of federal statutes and regulations–operates as a form of central planning. It bogs people down in bureaucracy.

Bottom Line

Watch this video for an example of government grown out of control.

See also: The Spirit of ‘76: The Cancer of Congressional Corruption Betrays Our Founders’ Sacrifice.