You need to know the critical steps and  how to avoid risking your own life in the process of rescuing someone from a fall through the ice.

If someone falls through ice and you’re the only one who can save the victim, don’t rush to them. Don’t go near the edge of where they are because chances are you’ll fall through as well.

How to Rescue Someone Who Falls Through Ice

1. Shout to the victim and get help by dialing 911. Hopefully you have a phone and a good cell phone connection.

2. Reach for the victim only if you can do it from shore. If not, extend a jumper cable, rope, ladder, or something that will float to the victim. Note, if the person starts to pull you in, release your grip on the object and start over.

One important tip … if a rope is tossed to the victim, have them tie it around themselves in case they’re too weak by the cold ice to grab a hold of it.

3. If you can, find a light boat to push across the ice to the victim. Be sure it’s pushed to the edge of the hole, get into the boat, and pull the victim over the bow.

A good piece of advice is to attach some rope to the boat so that others can help pull you and the person who fell through the ice to safety.

All other rescue techniques should be performed before attempting to venture on the ice to rescue a victim.

If the situation is too dangerous, call 911 and repeatedly reassure the victim that help is on the way. Encourage them to fight to survive. It’s vital you adhere to these safety techniques so the dire situation doesn’t result in two deaths.

You want to be prepared to guide your family to safety if you need to bug out, but sometimes pets are family too. If you have a dog that never leaves your side, you need to plan for how to bring it along if you need to get away fast.

Since dogs are the most likely pet you’ll take with you, this guide focuses on what you should do to prepare moving them out.

Bug Out Bag

If you have a large dog, there are dog bug out bags they can wear that enables them to carry some — or all — of the weight of their own supplies. This is preferable for large breed dogs, as they can support more weight. It’s recommended trying this pack out on your dog well in advance to ensure that your dog can handle the weight.

Take your dog to the mountains or the park with the bag at a weight you plan to have him or her to practice carrying it in the event of an emergency.

Food

Preppers are recommended to have a of 72-hour supply of food. In preparing your pet for the bug out, have the same amount. If your dog will help by packing things around, add a little extra.

Throwing in some favorite snacks is a nice addition, too. It’s good for animals to have their spirits lifted as well in these situations.

Water

While you need to pack some water for your dog, they won’t require the same amount you do. Preppers need around 3 gallons of water for drinking, hygiene, cooking, and cleaning.

Pack a liter of water for the dog (same as a human) and make sure you have a filter in your pack to filter or disinfect water along the way.

Health

Dogs are generally healthy if they’re well taken care of. If you have an older dog, they may be on medications that need to be packed as well. Be sure to take a simple first aid kit for your dog. Also, if you’ll be traveling on rough terrain in a bug  out, you need to make sure your dog’s paws are healthy because like humans, if the feet go out, they won’t be able to go any further.

If there any sharp edges along the way, there are dog shoes that protect their feet. Check pet supply stores for quality paw protection gear.

Leash and Collar

Yes, this is an obvious choice, but it’s recommended to have a nylon 6 or 10-foot leash instead of a retractable leash. This is a good type of leash to have while hiking through the woods or when the dog wants to do his/her business.

You’ll want something simpler, stronger, and less prone to breaking; that is a nylon leash. A 10-foot leash will allow the dog to walk in front of you a little further, which eases fatigue when going over terrain.

Noise Discipline

If you’re trying to keep quiet and don’t want the jingling of metal on metal from your dog’s tags on its collar, tape the noisy parts of the collar together so it doesn’t make noise. Another alternative is to remove the noisy parts of the collar and keep in the dog bug out bag.

No matter how you decide to prepare your dog for a long bug out trip, be sure to talk with a veterinarian experienced in hiking and camping with animals before you try it. Dogs require constant attention to remina in good health, so be sure you’re ready to provide what they need.

Are you ready to move beyond stacking cans on shelves? If you’re serious about survival, you might want to think about keeping some livestock for when things get ugly.

Certain animals are better than others in providing vital food and other items we all need. It requires a balance of maintenance and yield, and it’s wise to know what animals heave the best payoff.

 5 Best Livestock Animals for Preppers

1. Chickens.

Poultry is good for laying a lot of eggs for very little work. You have to keep up on maintaining their coop or they won’t lay in the same place, however. You must also collect eggs daily and keep the coop closed off from predators. You need to be mindful of disease concerns, worms, lice, and mites. Chickens are great for free-ranging and organic eggs — which is in high demand. Extra eggs can be sold for good money.

2. Goats.

Goats are well-adapted animals that provide meat, milk, and fleece. They love grazing and are good for keeping the weeds away, but make sure they don’t destroy anything left in the open. Goats can be good escape artists, too. So, be certain they’re well-contained. Some labor goes into having goats; they need to be milked twice a day. When it comes to their health, goats are prone to mineral deficiencies and internal parasites. Goats are also a great source to make cheese, soaps, and yogurts.

3.  Sheep.

Sheep are a good livestock animal to have because they graze well and provide lambs, milk, wool, and meat. The downfall is they are like goats in that they escape easily — so great fencing is a must. Sheep are also very prone to diseases like blowfly strike, foot rot, and various other health ailments. Sheep offer a lot for preppers in spite of the challenges they pose. Other benefits of owning sheep are they have lambs, meat going for competitive prices, and milk to make cheese.

4. Rabbits.

Rabbits are cheap, quiet, easy to handle, good for meat production, and breed well. The only real disadvantage to owning rabbits is they don’t make you any extra money since it’s low in price. If you own these animals, keep them in a dry place and protect them from extreme temperatures and predators. Rabbits can get ear mites and colds. If chickens are on the same property, keep them separate since the same diseases can harm them.

5. Pigs.

Pigs eat almost anything and fatten up easily. They’re an easy livestock animal for preppers to have on-hand. A con of owning pigs is they wreck good grass if they aren’t ranged or contained well in a paddock. They require shelter at farrowing and mud baths for skin. Pigs need feed daily if they aren’t ranged. The main disease concern for pigs is mastisis after farrowing. Ham and bacon isn’t only delicious, it sells for a premium and is easy to sell!

No matter what you choose, be sure you talk with professionals experienced in keeping and maintaining livestock before you move forward. Keeping livestock healthy and productive requires a tremendous amount of effort and knowledge, but the reward can be lifelong food and materials.

Surviving winter’s worst requires a combination of common sense, adequate preparation, and innovative use of everyday items.

Here are some strategies for surviving the biggest blizzard Old Man Winter can dish out.

What to Buy When  Blizzard is Approaching

  • Buy a variety of items at the store. Think about bottled water, juice, granola bars, nuts, and other packaged foods that last for long periods of time. Don’t waste time with non-essential items.
  • Make a huge dish or two of a food that provides a big dose of calories and carbohydrates, like lasagna or heavy casseroles. Slice them into pieces and place them in the freezer.
  • Buy salt for your sidewalks and driveway. Cat litter is an acceptable substitute if ice-melting products aren’t available.
  • Buy a reliable shovel. Then buy a back up for that one.

What Do Do When The Snow is Piling Up Outside

  • Keep up with the downfall by shoveling and sprinkling salt on your sidewalks and driveway. This makes clean-up easier and keeps you ready for an emergency evacuation.
  • Keep your vehicles clear of snow and ice by tending to them every few hours. Cover car windows and windshields with a large tarp that can be removed to save time.
  • Help out your neighbors. Doing them a favor of clearing their property might pay off if you’re unable to get to your own at some point.

What to Do in the Blizzard’s Aftermath

  • Move snow from critical areas like your driveway, sidewalks and gutters to less important area. Always have a clear route to and from your door.
  • Wear clothing that will protect you from the wet and cold weather but also has room to move. Avoid cotton materials that can get sweaty and keep you cold.
  • Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the blizzard’s white out aftermath. Sun reflects off of snow and ice and can cause damage.

With the right preparation and some common sense, you’ll be able to ride out a winter storm and have easy access to everything you need.

 

Simple canning basics for preppers will aid in making the process less intimidating. Canning is easy once you get the hang of it.

What’s Canning and Why Do it?

Canning is a procedure that applies high heat to food in closed jars to prevent spoilage from air and other microorganisms that eat away at it over time.

The best foods to can are fresh fruits and vegetables that have reached their peak stage of ripeness. Use only top quality ingredients when canning.

Be certain that all fruits and veggies are completely cleaned and scrubbed of excess dirt and chemicals before starting the process.

Important Do’s and Don’ts of Canning

Use a water bath canning process for high-acid foods, fruit juices, jams, jellies and other fruit spreads. It’s also the process for foods like tomatoes with added acid, pickles, relishes and chutneys, sauces, vinegar, and condiments. This canning process reaches a critical temperature of 212°F that’s crucial for killing dangerous bacteria.

For low-acid foods like vegetables, soups, stews, meats, poultry, ragouts, and seafood with pH values higher than 4.6, use a pressure canner. That will help the foods get hot enough (around 240°F ) to kill nasty bacteria.

Don’t vary the recipes for canning. Use recipes that give exact instructions on supplies used, ingredients needed, time, temperatures, and quantities, then follow them exactly.

Take your time with the process. It can take practice to master the exact techniques. Fill the water-warmed jar with food you want to can — leaving the recommended space at the top. Next, remove airflow bubbles by slipping a nonmetallic spatula between the jar and food. Press gently on the food to release trapped air. Do the same thing around the circumference of the jar.

Cleanliness is paramount when canning foods. Keep your work area spotless by using a clean, damp cloth to tidy the counter and jars.

Be sure to wipe the rim and threads of the canning jars with a clean, damp cloth. Center the heated lid on the jar. Screw the band down evenly and tightly until you feel some resistance.

Use high quality canning equipment. Strong towels, a jar lifter, quality canners, lids, and bands that seal tightly.

Don’t use any canning equipment that looks old, slightly broken, or unclean.

Never recheck the lids or re-tighten the bands for a seal while the jars are still hot. This is done after 24 hours.

Ensure the lids are securely sealed by pressing the center. Remove bands and clean the jars for storage only after you’ve double checked for a secure seal.

Don’t store your foods anywhere that has wide temperature swings or light penetration. Store them in a cool,dark, and dry place.

Congratulations! You now have canning basics for preppers and will have fresh food whenever you want it. In addition to having delicious food around in case of an emergency, this is a great alternative to buying store-bought foods … and it saves money!

It’s important to note that for best quality, you should consume canned foods within one year.

Concealed carry becomes a little more strategic during the winter season. All spring, summer, and fall season was a far simpler when you wore less clothing and were ready for anything in the event you needed to rapidly reach for your weapon.

The Distraction of Winter Weather
Cumbersome clothing and weather becomes a slight obstacle in defending yourself during winter. Using umbrellas, being covered in hoods, and wrapping yourself up tightly while dashing from a building to your car quickly compromises your alertness to danger. This is all the result of sleet, rain, ice, and snow.

When you’re trying to keep yourself balanced on ice or avoiding stepping into water puddles, you’re mind is as much on trying to get from point A to B as it is for your protection.

Maintain a sense of peripheral vision at all times. With hoods and other articles of winter gear that blocks your view, it puts you in a vulnerable position.

Plan Ahead for Cold Weather
How many times do you catch yourself putting your hands in your coat pockets? This is another thing working against you in event that someone confronts you unexpectedly. While it’s normal to place your hands in your pockets in freezing temperatures, it’s not a safe thing to do carrying concealed. You need your hands free to draw your handgun quickly.

You may want to consider getting gloves that aren’t too bulky when it comes to retrieving your firearm and being ready to shoot. Note that you must be efficient in wearing the exact same gloves you’ve mastered shooting before getting to this point.

Practice Makes Perfect
If you haven’t practiced drawing your gun with all the additional clothing on for winter before the season began, you may want to start immediately. Over the summer, you probably had on just a t-shirt. You’d lift your shirt to expose the firearm then draw it from the holster.

Now a winter jacket is added to the mix and your draw will change somewhat. For instance, if the jacket is unzipped, the motion is to sweep it to the side and away from your gun before lifting up your shirt to access it. This is an additional step, which means practicing during the winter months is vital.

Taking these preventative steps will help you a lot in the safety department. The takeaway is to not get distracted with winter clothing blocking your view and know how to maneuver within your attire safely to draw a firearm.

Preparing for unexpected power outages during winter is important so you’ll be better prepared for those long, cold hours of going without the modern conveniences we’ve all grown accustomed to.

What should you do to better equip yourself in the event that your electricity suddenly goes out?

Stock your home with essentials throughout the whole winter because it’s not just power outages that are likely to happen this time of year. Ice storms, heavy winds, or blizzards emerge as well.

It’s a good idea to have what you need when these circumstances arise. The main things you need to have around is extra food and water. Think of items you can eat that doesn’t require heating, like peanut butter, nuts, granola bars, chips, etc.

Fill at least a few 1 gallon containers full of water so that you have this to keep you and your family hydrated.

Have several flashlights and batteries on hand. Candles pose the threat of fire and aren’t the best source of extra supplies for emergency preparedness. Part of survival is having things that will last …  and candles won’t last that long.

If you don’t have a battery-powered radio, purchase one. When access to a television isn’t an option, a small radio that will keep you informed is a good alternative. You can be apprised of any warnings, evacuation orders, or status updates on power outages.

Lastly, to prepare for an unexpected power outage, buy a car cell phone charger. It’s vital to keep phone fully charged. The phone can be charged by using the cigarette lighter or auxiliary plug in your car as a supplement source of power. Another good tip is to consider having an alternate landline phone for your home, which tends to be unaffected during power outages.

Follow these main tips in emergency preparedness and you’ll be far more comfortable while waiting for the electricity to come back on!

Are you well-stocked as part of your emergency preparedness strategy? The key for preppers is having a good supply of food, water, and other essentials on-hand in the event a catastrophic event presents itself. Do you have what you need?

Do you have food that is both nutritious and easy to work with?
When you’re doing your inventory, be sure that you have a mixture of foods that are flavorful and easy to work with. Check the nutritional facts to be sure they contain a variety of essential nutrients. Choose foods that don’t require extensive or special preparation.

  • White or brown rice is filling and full of vitamins and calories.
  • Items like beans, sugar, salt, flour, and oats are good base ingredients that make the foundation of a variety of dishes.
  • Canned goods like fruit and vegetables have a long shelf life and don’t require extensive preparation.
  • Peanut butter is full of protein and calories. It can also double as a sweet sugary treat.
  • Powdered drink mixes and multivitamins are easy ways to make sure you’re getting required nutrition in a quick form.

Do you have enough food for your specific needs?
It’s not enough to just have food stored away. You’ll need a plan and a menu for distributing foods equally and making it last over a period of at least 2 weeks. Take some time to consider who may be with you and their unique nutritional needs.

  • Store items like beans, rice and flour in large quantities, probably over 5 pounds of each. They last a long time, but are used for many things.
  • Canned goods are perishable once they’re opened. Have enough to use each can as a one-time meal.
  • Test your inventory by doing a trial run. Try to spend a weekend cooking only from your storage. You’ll notice the small things you probably forgot.

Do you have emergency supplies that fit your needs?
There are some supplies that are universal. Most you can find in the sporting goods section of a big department store. Take care to go with quality items, even though you’ll (hopefully) never need them. You’ll be glad you have top-quality goods when the time comes.

  • 5 gallon water containers. When you get home, fill it with tap water.
  • Buy a minimum of 250 rounds of ammunition for your main defense weapon. Add a cleaning kit to keep the firearm functioning properly and to battle degradation over time.
  • Pick up a good quality LED flashlight for your emergency preparedness inventory. Throw in some extra batteries and a bulb. In addition to that, get two boxes of wooden matches and several multi-purpose lighters. Be certain to date, use, and rotate. It’s a first in, first out process.

You’ll find these to be useful tools in aiding you to be prepared for the unexpected. Evaluate your inventory and do trial runs regularly to be sure everything is in order and up-to-date.

Winter weather can cause flash floods that make roads you thought you knew take on a new, and very deadly, risk.

Trevor Thorlakson, 16, didn’t notice the water until it was too late when he was driving on a rural road in in Gerald, Missouri. He and a friend were crossing a bridge when trouble began.

Trevor said that the creek was about 20 or 30-feet below, so he didn’t think that the water would’ve been over the road. After two straight days of torrential rains, the creek was flooded after water covered part of the bridge. The teen reveals that he didn’t see the water — which was about waist-high — before his car got submerged.

It was a nerve-racking moment, but the teen didn’t panic. Instead, he used smart survival skills in order to get himself and his friend out of the harrowing situation. He said that he and his friend stayed in the car as it floated. Eventually it stopped. The two managed to call 911.

Rescue crews found the pair clinging to the top of the car. They reached the teens by boat; both were uninjured.

His harrowing survival story should wake drivers up to the dangers of bridges and quickly rising creeks or rivers. The swift current makes these waterways unpredictable.Take note of weather conditions before getting on the road and tell someone what route you’ll be taking.

If you find yourself in a submerged car, don’t panic. In this scenario the car floated along with the current but every situation will be different. Attempt to get to the highest point possible and use a flashlight or bright clothing to remain visible to rescue personnel.

If you’re not sure about the depth of the flooded roadway, don’t try to test it. Water can move quickly and depth can be unpredictable. It’s tempting to speed through it, but it could end up causing you much more trouble than it’s worth.

Don’t get stranded out in the cold. Winter is here. The cold winds and snow are beautiful but deadly if you’re not prepared. Here’s how to get ready for anything Old Man Winter can throw at you.

The two main places people are at the most are in their homes or cars. You must have the right tools at your disposal in the event of a winter weather emergency. The worst can happen when you least expect it.

Ride out Winter Storms at Home
One of the biggest survival tips is having enough food and supplies. Winter is the time of year to always be prepared in case of a blizzard, ice storm, or other turbulent storms that sweep through.

Be certain to have fully charged cell phones in case electricity goes out. Have functioning chargers and a good stock of batteries on-hand for flashlights and radios. Don’t forget to have smoke detectors in good working order as well. Be certain there’s plenty of water around and that you have an emergency heating source. Lastly, it’s smart to have a fire extinguisher at home.

Prepare Your Car for Treacherous Roads
When traveling in your car, you never know when a winter emergency will arise. Sometimes things will be going along just fine until a rapid cold front changes everything in the way of a weather pattern. This makes roads treacherous and unpredictable. If something happens, you’re in the middle of nowhere and on your own. Depending on help isn’t the way to think in a dire situation. This is where self-preservation must kick in.

Having a fully charged cell phone is one of the top survival tips when going out. Call friends and give them an estimated time of arrival so someone has an idea as to when they should hunt you up if you don’t show up when expected. Have a full tank of gas and emergency fuel with you.

Other winter survival tips for cars is to have warm blankets and extra food and water. In case you’re stranded, you want to be cover up and not go hungry.

Preparing for emergencies is what winter survival tips are all about. These valuable tools may save your life.