Survive on a deserted island

 

EXPLAIN WHY YOU PICKED WHAT YOU DID

There is no right answer and every answer can be challenged.

Remember the Rule of 3 as you choose what you would want.

Here are some reasons why you might choose each item.

1.  Tarp - provides shelter, catches water, could be a sail for the raft, could serve as a signal flag
2.  Sunscreen - helps you avoid severe sunburn, possible illness and infection
3.  Toilet Paper - Pick this because you are full of .... actually it could be tinder for starting a fire
4.  Cooking Pot - cooking food, boiling, distilling or storing water
5.  iPod - loneliness can be severe and hearing music could save your sanity
6.  Boots - taking care of your feet is important, especially if you need to walk a great distance
7. Handsaw - build shelter, cut fire wood
8. Flare gun - signal for help, starting fire or possibly self defense
9. Raft - sail away, shelter, capture water, bedding
10. Flashlight - signal for help, light
11. Insect Repellent - avoid illness from bug bites for a while
12. Hammock - sleep in, carry supplies and use as a fish net or sun screen
13. Compass - navigation on the island or if trying to sail to land
14. Mirror - signal for help, check for parasites
15. Vitamins - nutritional supplement while on a poor diet could help maintain your health
16. Water Purifier - make water biologically safe to drink for a while, but will not remove salt
17. Fishing Rod - Food, recreation, extending your reach to hook and catch things.
18. Rope - build shelter, trap food, make fishing lines
19. Hunting Rifle - protection & food, assuming you have ammo.
20. Weed - die relaxed
21. First Aid Kit - maintain your health and have a number of tools like emergency blanket
22. Tent - shelter, insect protection, capture water for drinking or act as a sail for the raft
23. Knife - often one of the first things selected to cut wood, make tools, cut food, protection
24. Matches - build fire to cook and boil water until they run out
25. Vollyball - Flotation device, recreation to maintain sanity and remember Wilson on Castaway

 Here are some suggestions:

 

1)  If I'm in the Atlantic where islands are close to shore, I pick the Raft, Tent, Fishing Rod and Flare Gun.  The raft will catch water, the tent provide shelter and act as a sail, the fishing rod will provide food and the Flare will signal someone.

2)  I'm in the Pacific where islands can be extremely far from the mainland, forget the raft and plan on staying a long time.  Take the Knife, Pot (water), Tent (shelter) and Fishing Rod for food.

 

For additional information see the following links:      
Blog Table of Contents

Survival Pack (Security Patrol or Bug Out pack)
Wilderness Survival Pack (Video)
Wilderness Survival
Alone Survival Show Pack Contents 
Alone Season 2 Pack Contents
Alone Season 3 Pack List
Edible Wild Plants
Greenbriar (catbriar)
Cattails
Dandelion
Chickweed & Hackberries

Antibiotics

 In 1199, King Richard the Lionhearted was struck by an arrow in his left shoulder. Today we would classify this is a minor injury, but with out antibiotics, it proved fatal for the King. As recent as the nineteenth century, doctors still amputated limbs for minor injuries because of their fear of gangrene.

So I think it is safe to say that Antibiotics are a MAJOR life saver.

The problem with many antibiotics is the shelf life is so short, but there are some that are reportedly good for up to 10 years after the expiration date, if stored in the refrigerator.

Some of the best all around antibiotics are available from pet supplies. If you buy them for Dogs it requires a prescription from a Vet, but if you get this same one for “fish” it does not.  Herre are the best from my research (see disclaimer at bottom of the page).

1. Cefalexin also spelled Cephalexin is a broad spectrum multi-purpose antibiotic costing $30 to $50 per 100 for 250/500mg respectively or about 40 cents each making these the lowest cost option. Common brand names include Keflex and Ceporex. Cefalexin can treat certain bacterial infections, including those of the middle ear, bone and joint, skin, and urinary tract. It may also be used for certain types of pneumonia, strep throat, and to prevent bacterial endocarditis
2. Amoxicillin is the most common antibotic. Vetdepot.com sells FishMox 250 mg at $14.27 for 30 tablets which is about 50 cents each.  At this cost, having a few in case the SHTF might be advisable.  This is a slightly higher price per tablet, but the lowest investment cost due to the small bottle (30 cnt).  So this might be my first purchase  if on a tight budget.
3. Sulfamethoxazole, Trimethoprin, SMZ/TMP, aka Bactrim aka Fish Sulfa is used for urinary tract infections, MRSA skin infections, travelers' diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, and cholera, among others. It may be used both to treat and prevent pneumocystis pneumonia in people with HIV/AIDS.  This is an expensive product at over $1.00 per 960mg capsule.

All of these above are reportedly usable for up to 10 years refrigerated but Tetracycline shelf life is firm with what is listed on the label. The good point of Tetracycline is that the price for on hundred 500mg tablets is only about $10 from the VetDepot making them appear to be the lowest cost option at 10 cents each.  But since you must replace them each year, the 10 year cost is $1 each.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_antibiotics

Antibiotics by class

Generic name	Brand names	Common uses[3]	Possible side effects[3]	Mechanism of action
Aminoglycosides
Amikacin	Amikin	Infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Effective against Aerobic bacteria (not obligate/facultative anaerobes) and tularemia. All aminoglycosides are ineffective when taken orally as the stomach will digest the drug before it goes into the bloodstream. However aminoglycosides are effective in Intravenous, intramuscular and topical forms.	Hearing loss Vertigo Kidney damage	Binding to the bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit (some work by binding to the 50S subunit), inhibiting the translocation of the peptidyl-tRNA from the A-site to the P-site and also causing misreading of mRNA, leaving the bacterium unable to synthesize proteins vital to its growth.
Gentamicin	Garamycin
Kanamycin	Kantrex
Neomycin	Neo-Fradin[4]
Netilmicin	Netromycin
Tobramycin	Nebcin
Paromomycin	Humatin
Streptomycin		Tuberculosis
Spectinomycin(Bs)	Trobicin	Gonorrhea
Ansamycins
Geldanamycin		Experimental, as antitumor antibiotics
Herbimycin
Rifaximin	Xifaxan	Traveler's diarrhea caused by E. coli
Carbacephem
Loracarbef	Lorabid	Discontinued		prevents bacterial cell division by inhibiting cell wall synthesis.
Carbapenems
Ertapenem	Invanz	Bactericidal for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms and therefore useful for empiric broad-spectrum antibacterial coverage. (Notes: MRSA resistance to this class. All are active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa except ertapenem.)	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea Seizures Headache Rash and allergic reactions	Inhibition of cell wall synthesis
Doripenem	Doribax
Imipenem/Cilastatin	Primaxin
Meropenem	Merrem
Cephalosporins (First generation)
Cefadroxil	Duricef	Good coverage against Gram-positive infections.	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea (if alcohol taken concurrently) Allergic reactions	Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Cefazolin	Ancef
Cefalotin or Cefalothin	Keflin (discontinued)
Cefalexin	Keflex
Cephalosporins (Second generation)
Cefaclor	Distaclor	Less Gram-positive cover, improved Gram-negative cover.	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea (if alcohol taken concurrently) Allergic reactions	Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Cefamandole	Mandol (discontinued)
Cefoxitin	Mefoxin (discontinued)
Cefprozil	Cefzil
Cefuroxime	Ceftin, Zinnat (UK)
Cephalosporins (Third generation)
Cefixime (antagonistic with Chloramphenicol)[5]	Cefspan (Fujisawa)	Improved coverage of Gram-negative organisms, except Pseudomonas. Reduced Gram-positive cover. But still not cover Mycoplasma and Chlamydia	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea (if alcohol taken concurrently) Allergic reactions	Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Cefdinir	Omnicef, Cefdiel
Cefditoren	Spectracef, Meiact
Cefoperazone [Unlike most third-generation agents, cefoperazone is active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa], combination Cefoperazone with Sulbactam makes more effective antibiotic, because Sulbactam avoid degeneration of Cefoperazone	Cefobid (discontinued)
Cefotaxime	Claforan
Cefpodoxime	Vantin
Ceftazidime (Unlike most third-generation agents, ceftazidime is active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but less active against Staphylococci and Streptococci compare to other 3rd generation of cephalosporins)	Fortaz
Ceftibuten	Cedax
Ceftizoxime	Cefizox (discontinued)
Ceftriaxone (IV and IM, not orally, effective also for syphilis and uncomplicated gonorrhea)	Rocephin
Cephalosporins (Fourth generation)
Cefepime	Maxipime	Covers pseudomonal infections.	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea (if alcohol taken concurrently) Allergic reactions	Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Cephalosporins (Fifth generation)
Ceftaroline fosamil	Teflaro	Used to treat MRSA	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Allergic reaction	Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Ceftobiprole	Zeftera	Used to treat MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and enterococci	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea (if alcohol taken concurrently) Allergic reactions	Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Glycopeptides
Teicoplanin	Targocid (UK)	Active against aerobic and anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria including MRSA; Vancomycin is used orally for the treatment of C. difficile colitis		Inhibits peptidoglycan synthesis.
Vancomycin	Vancocin
Telavancin	Vibativ
Dalbavancin	Dalvance
Oritavancin	Orbactiv
Lincosamides(Bs)
Clindamycin	Cleocin	Serious staph-, pneumo-, and streptococcal infections in penicillin-allergic patients, also anaerobic infections; clindamycin topically for acne	Possible C. difficile-related pseudomembranous enterocolitis	Binds to 50S subunit of bacterial ribosomal RNA thereby inhibiting protein synthesis.
Lincomycin	Lincocin
Lipopeptide
Daptomycin	Cubicin	Gram-positive organisms, but is inhibited by pulmonary surfactant so less effective against pneumonias		Binds to the membrane and cause rapid depolarization, resulting in a loss of membrane potential leading to inhibition of protein, DNA and RNA synthesis.
Macrolides(Bs)
Azithromycin	Zithromax, Sumamed, Xithrone	Streptococcal infections, syphilis, upper respiratory tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections, mycoplasmal infections, Lyme disease	Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (especially at higher doses) Prolonged cardiac QT interval (especially erythromycin) Hearing loss (especially at higher doses) Jaundice	Inhibition of bacterial protein biosynthesis by binding reversibly to the subunit 50S of the bacterial ribosome, thereby inhibiting translocation of peptidyl tRNA.
Clarithromycin	Biaxin
Dirithromycin	Dynabac (discontinued)
Erythromycin	Erythocin, Erythroped
Roxithromycin
Troleandomycin	Tao (discontinued)
Telithromycin	Ketek	Pneumonia	Visual Disturbance, Liver Toxicity.[6]
Spiramycin	Rovamycine	Mouth infections
Monobactams
Aztreonam	Azactam	Gram-negative bacteria		Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Nitrofurans
Furazolidone	Furoxone	Bacterial or protozoal diarrhea or enteritis
Nitrofurantoin(Bs)	Macrodantin, Macrobid	Urinary tract infections
Oxazolidinones(Bs)
Linezolid	Zyvox	VRSA	Thrombocytopenia Peripheral neuropathy Serotonin Syndrome	Protein synthesis inhibitor; prevents the initiation step
Posizolid	Phase II clinical trials
Radezolid	Phase II clinical trials
Torezolid	Phase II clinical trials
Penicillins
Amoxicillin	Novamox, Amoxil	Wide range of infections; penicillin used for streptococcal infections, syphilis, and Lyme disease	Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Allergy with serious anaphylactic reactions Brain and kidney damage (rare)	Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.
Ampicillin	Principen (discontinued)
Azlocillin
Carbenicillin	Geocillin (discontinued)
Cloxacillin	Tegopen (discontinued)
Dicloxacillin	Dynapen (discontinued)
Flucloxacillin	Floxapen (Sold to European generics Actavis Group)
Mezlocillin	Mezlin (discontinued)
Methicillin	Staphcillin (discontinued)
Nafcillin	Unipen (discontinued)
Oxacillin	Prostaphlin (discontinued)
Penicillin G	Pentids (discontinued)
Penicillin V	Veetids (Pen-Vee-K) (discontinued)
Piperacillin	Pipracil (discontinued)
Penicillin G	Pfizerpen
Temocillin	Negaban (UK) (discontinued)
Ticarcillin	Ticar (discontinued)
Penicillin combinations
Amoxicillin/clavulanate	Augmentin	Both Amoxicillin/clavulanate and Ampicillin/sulbactam are effective against non-recurrent acute otitis media.[7] Amoxicillin/clavulanate is one of the few oral antibiotics effective against skin and soft tissue infections. Not to be given to children less than 40 kilograms in weight; for children heavier, the dosage is same as adults, twice daily.[8]		The second component reduces the effectiveness of some forms of bacterial resistance to the first component
Ampicillin/sulbactam	Unasyn
Piperacillin/tazobactam	Zosyn
Ticarcillin/clavulanate	Timentin
Polypeptides
Bacitracin		Eye, ear or bladder infections; usually applied directly to the eye or inhaled into the lungs; rarely given by injection, although the use of intravenous colistin is experiencing a resurgence due to the emergence of multi drug resistant organisms.	Kidney and nerve damage (when given by injection)	Inhibits isoprenyl pyrophosphate, a molecule that carries the building blocks of the peptidoglycan bacterial cell wall outside of the inner membrane[9]
Colistin	Coly-Mycin-S			Interact with the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane and cytoplasmic membrane, displacing bacterial counterions, which destabilizes the outer membrane. Act like a detergent against the cytoplasmic membrane, which alters its permeability. Polymyxin B and E are bactericidal even in an isosmotic solution.
Polymyxin B
Quinolones/Fluoroquinolone
Ciprofloxacin	Cipro, Ciproxin, Ciprobay	Urinary tract infections, bacterial prostatitis, community-acquired pneumonia, bacterial diarrhea, mycoplasmal infections, gonorrhea	Nausea (rare), irreversible damage to central nervous system (uncommon), tendinosis (rare)	Inhibits the bacterial DNA gyrase or the topoisomerase IV enzyme, thereby inhibiting DNA replication and transcription.
Enoxacin	Penetrex
Gatifloxacin	Tequin
Gemifloxacin	Factive[10]
Levofloxacin	Levaquin
Lomefloxacin	Maxaquin
Moxifloxacin	Avelox
Nalidixic acid	NegGram
Norfloxacin	Noroxin
Ofloxacin	Floxin (discontinued), Ocuflox
Trovafloxacin	Trovan	Withdrawn
Grepafloxacin	Raxar	Withdrawn
Sparfloxacin	Zagam	Withdrawn
Temafloxacin	Omniflox	Withdrawn
Sulfonamides(Bs)
Mafenide	Sulfamylon	Urinary tract infections (except sulfacetamide, used for eye infections, and mafenide and silver sulfadiazine, used topically for burns)	Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea Allergy (including skin rashes) Crystals in urine Kidney failure Decrease in white blood cell count Sensitivity to sunlight	Folate synthesis inhibition. They are competitive inhibitors of the enzyme dihydropteroate synthetase, DHPS. DHPS catalyses the conversion of PABA (para-aminobenzoate) to dihydropteroate, a key step in folate synthesis. Folate is necessary for the cell to synthesize nucleic acids (nucleic acids are essential building blocks of DNA and RNA), and in its absence cells cannot divide.
Sulfacetamide	Sulamyd, Bleph-10
Sulfadiazine	Micro-Sulfon
Silver sulfadiazine	Silvadene
Sulfadimethoxine	Di-Methox, Albon
Sulfamethizole	Thiosulfil Forte
Sulfamethoxazole	Gantanol
Sulfanilimide (archaic)
Sulfasalazine	Azulfidine
Sulfisoxazole	Gantrisin
Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (Co-trimoxazole) (TMP-SMX)	Bactrim, Septra
Sulfonamidochrysoidine (archaic)	Prontosil
Tetracyclines(Bs)
Demeclocycline	Declomycin	Syphilis, chlamydial infections, Lyme disease, mycoplasmal infections, acne rickettsial infections, malaria[note 1]	Gastrointestinal upset Sensitivity to sunlight Potential toxicity to mother and fetus during pregnancy Enamel hypoplasia (staining of teeth; potentially permanent) transient depression of bone growth	Inhibits the binding of aminoacyl-tRNA to the mRNA-ribosome complex. They do so mainly by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit in the mRNA translation complex. But Tetracycline cannot be taken together with all dairy products, aluminium, iron and zinc minerals.
Doxycycline	Vibramycin
Minocycline	Minocin
Oxytetracycline	Terramycin
Tetracycline	Sumycin, Achromycin V, Steclin
Drugs against mycobacteria
Clofazimine	Lamprene	Antileprotic
Dapsone	Avlosulfon	Antileprotic
Capreomycin	Capastat	Antituberculosis
Cycloserine	Seromycin	Antituberculosis, urinary tract infections
Ethambutol(Bs)	Myambutol	Antituberculosis
Ethionamide	Trecator	Antituberculosis		Inhibits peptide synthesis
Isoniazid	I.N.H.	Antituberculosis
Pyrazinamide	Aldinamide	Antituberculosis
Rifampicin (Rifampin in US)	Rifadin, Rimactane	mostly Gram-positive and mycobacteria	Reddish-orange sweat, tears, and urine	Binds to the β subunit of RNA polymerase to inhibit transcription
Rifabutin	Mycobutin	Mycobacterium avium complex	Rash, discolored urine, GI symptoms
Rifapentine	Priftin	Antituberculosis
Streptomycin		Antituberculosis	Neurotoxicity, ototoxicity	As other aminoglycosides
Others
Arsphenamine	Salvarsan	Spirochaetal infections (obsolete)
Chloramphenicol(Bs)	Chloromycetin	Meningitis, MRSA, topical use, or for low-cost internal treatment. Historic: typhus, cholera. Gram-negative, Gram-positive, anaerobes	Rarely: aplastic anemia.	Inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S subunit of the ribosome
Fosfomycin	Monurol, Monuril	Acute cystitis in women	This antibiotic is not recommended for children and 75 up of age	Inactivates enolpyruvyl transferase, thereby blocking cell wall synthesis
Fusidic acid	Fucidin
Metronidazole	Flagyl	Infections caused by anaerobic bacteria; also amoebiasis, trichomoniasis, giardiasis	Discolored urine, headache, metallic taste, nausea; alcohol is contraindicated	Produces toxic free radicals that disrupt DNA and proteins. This non-specific mechanism is responsible for its activity against a variety of bacteria, amoebae, and protozoa.
Mupirocin	Bactroban	Ointment for impetigo, cream for infected cuts		Inhibits isoleucine t-RNA synthetase (IleRS) causing inhibition of protein synthesis
Platensimycin
Quinupristin/Dalfopristin	Synercid
Thiamphenicol		Gram-negative, Gram-positive, anaerobes. Widely used in veterinary medicine.	Rash. Lacks known anemic side-effects.	A chloramphenicol analog. May inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S subunit of the ribosome
Tigecycline(Bs)	Tigacyl	Slowly Intravenous. Indicated for complicated skin/skin structure infections, soft tissues infections and complicated intra-abdominal infections. Effective for gram positive and negative and also anaerob antibiotics, against multi-resistant antibiotics bacteries such as Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Acinetobacter baumannii, but not effective for Pseudomonas spp. and Proteus spp.	Teeth discoloration and same side effects as tetracycline. Not to be given for children and pregnant or lactate women. Relatively safe and no need dose adjusted when be given for mild to moderate liver function or renal patients	Similar structure with tetracycline, but 5 times stronger, big volume distribution and long half-time in the body
Tinidazole	Tindamax Fasigyn	Protozoal infections	Upset stomach, bitter taste, and itchiness
Trimethoprim(Bs)	Proloprim, Trimpex	Urinary tract infections
Generic Name	Brand Names	Common Uses[3]	Possible Side Effects[3]	Mechanism of action

DISCLAIMER - I AM NOT A DOCTOR BUT DID THIS RESEARCH FOR MY ON NEEDS AND CHOSE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU HOWEVER I ACCEPT NO LIABILITY FOR ANY PROBLEMS FROM USING THIS INFORMATION.

For additional information see the following links: 
Blog Table of Contents;

What Should I Do After Having To Defend Myself?

Whenever a critical event happens, we seldom rise to the occasion. Instead, we fall back on our training. While it’s common sense to train our skills at the range, seldom do we practice what to do after the bang! as much as we practice what to do before the bang! With this in mind, here is a five-point mental training list of what you should do if you ever have to use your firearm in self-defense.

To continue reading, click HERE. 





For additional information see the following links: 
Blog Table of Contents;

Step by Step Prepper Plan

We can't afford to go out and buy everything we need at once, so we must develop a Step by Step Prepper Plan that can be used by anyone. Here is that plan:

Establish a Prepper Budget and stick to it. Suppose you start with a lump sum of $400 and then budget $50 per week.  Regardless of what your budget is, set the money (cash) aside until you have enough for your next Prepper Purchase.  Our plan will follow the Rule of 3 till bare minimum needs are met, then continue to reach advanced preparedness. As you read, you will see a number of recommended links (like this Rule of 3) with additional recommended reading that goes in to more detail.

1. Have a gun.  Learn gun safety and take a class if you don't know how to shoot one. Save/share a copy of the gun safety rules, so you can teach others. If you are asking why a gun is the first item, read the link titled Rule of 3 or the Dark Perspective. For help on gun selection see the following links: Beginner Prepper Plan, item #1 & 2; The Best Gun; Best Handgun Selection Criteria.  I prefer a name brand AR-15 with a thermal scope, a Glock 17 (9mm) and a stainless steel Ruger 10/22 as shown on the Beginner Prepper Plan. At the same time, at no cost, you can be putting some security plans in place. Here are some suggested links for this: Urban Security Plan; Group Security Drills; Red Flag Warnings; Blog Table of Contents.  Train others in your family/group to use the gun.
2. Get at least 100 rounds of ammo.  See the link: The right amount of Ammo.
3. Water is one of the most over looked preparations.  So you must store water, locate back up sources and have several means of making it safe to drink.  The following link:  Emergency Water, has everything you need to know about water.  The first step is building a reserve of water; something like this below is a good start.  If not this, then cases of bottled water. Savings your household jugs and storing water in the is a no cost source of water stores.
   
   
4. Emergency Cash is important.  Set aside enough for a few weeks worth of groceries.  Nothing larger than a $20 bill.  Some cash in coins is good for vending machines.
   
5. Silver could be essential to buying needed supplies if paper dollars become worthless.  Spend your next two months of budget buying US Silver Eagles, then spend one more months of budget buying some pre 1964 US Quarters and Dimes. Barter and Salvaging will be the other options for acquiring supplies.
   
6. Food is next, but unfortunately, many people want to start here and skip the previous steps.  A manual can opener (or two) is the first thing you need to buy.  After that, then buy one of these food rotation systems.
   
    
   Above is the largest (275 cans), and a smaller one below (60 cans), with many sizes in between. Sixty (60) cans equates to about a 30 day supply of vegetables for 1 person based on an 8 ounce serving for lunch and dinner of 2 vegetables.  275 cans will feed a family of 4 vegetables for over a month.
   
7. Our next step is to Build your Food Stores the right way with the can goods we normally eat. Start out by buying extra can goods each time you go to the grocery store with your prepping budget money. The link (above) will guide you. At the same time, you must have a way to cook and prepare your food in a disaster that resulted in a Power Blackout. Once your can goods are stocked up, then we will talk about long term survival foods.  At the same time, at no cost, you can be learning about Wilderness Survival and Edible Plants.
8. Before we move to long term foods, buy a large first aid kit, a tube of triple antibiotic cream, a bottle of alcohol and hydrogen peroxide for disinfectants. Also keep a bottle of acetaminophen, ibuprofen and cold/flu medicine. These are things you should have in your home anyway.
9. Communications are important because what you don't know CAN hurt you in a disaster.
10. Long Term Foods - Budget and add a few cans of long term dried foods monthly, starting with some #10 cans. I recommend that you join the Thrive Life Q program.  Here you can set a budget and a list of foods and each month, they send your budgeted amount of food from your list.  My first items would include 3 cans of instant beans, 3 cans of instant rice and 3 cans of instant oatmeal.  This will cost a little over $100 and provide two people enough food for 30 days.  These 25 to 30-year shelf life foods are in addition to your 1-2 year shelf life supply of regular can goods. 
    
     
    
    
    Get the 30 day supply above (or more depending on the size of your family) and add one can of instant milk for the family, possibly a few cans of your favorite vegetables.  After this, start with one pail per month of these same dried foods as shown below.  Round out your order to meet your budget with a few more #10 cans of pasta, wheat, vegetables and fruit.  
    
    
    
    This adds a 90 day supply of food for two people and costs less than $250.  If you are set up on the Q as recommended above, each month you will automatically be receiving another shipment of food to supplement your supplies.  Even if it is only one pail or can per month, get signed up as this will build up a good supply of food over time.
     
11.  Next step, improve security, because now you have a lot that is worth stealing. I suggest you start out by adding more ammo. Then I recommend having about 8 of these solar powered yard lights that use AA batteries.  They will light up the yard so you can see anyone approaching at night during a power outage.You can carry them in the house each evening to provide light or to harvest and use the rechargeable batteries in your radio(s).
12. Acquire more ammo. How much is enough ammo?  Bottom line is you can't have too much.  In a serious event with more than 50% casualties, there will be guns laying around, but no ammo for them.  A Bow and Arrow make a good back up for when the ammo runs out and it is a quite hunting tool. 
13. Buy a Military 3-day Assault Pack and stock it as shown in our Survival Pack post.
14. Buy another round of silver coins.
15. At this point, you are fairly well supplied and could last a year, but still not an advanced Prepper. But what if you need to survive for many years?  In this case, you must have Heirloom Seeds (& tools) to plant a Garden, you must Salvage for Supplies and Barter with others.  
16. Group Security - To survive this long, you must be part of a group that works together as there will be far more severe events that you need to be prepared for than just having enough food. Highly populated areas will get ugly fast.  Even the rural areas will see mass hoards of people migrating out of the cities.  Your biggest threat will be large groups of starving desperate people with guns that will do what ever is necessary to eat and feed their children. Many people foolishly think they will take to the woods to survive using their Wilderness Survival Skills, but there is only enough wild game for every American to have a few pounds of meat per year. Others have lots of guns and ammo and simply plan to take what they need to survive. You will need group security plans, with Rules of Engagement, like those found in the Prepper Handbook.
17. An even bigger threat may be our "Government" coming to seize your supplies, or even worse, Foreign Assistance coming to "help" us, and make us do things their way going forward.  They would like to see our US Constitution become a thing of the past, especially the Second Amendment, which is the only obstacle to them easily taking over completely. When you think about this, you realize the need for hidden caches of supplies, including weapons and ammo. Now we are talking about Advanced Preparations.

For additional information see the following links: 
Blog Table of Contents;
Riot & Looting Preparations Terrorist Attack - Best Preparations

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