Let the sun shine!/

The Sarge has been researching solar power options. Let me just start off with small portable configurations. If your desire is large scale units contact me and we can go into your specific requirements.

First thing is to perform a energy audit to determine your wattage usage. small plug and play devices are best for this task. The one I recommend is called Kill-a Watt ( runs about $40.00). To use it is as easy as plugging it into a power outlet then plugging the appliance into the unit. Instructions are easy to understand and follow, allowing you to know what the appliance cost you to operate it.

Once your audit has been performed you can then determine how many watts your system should be. Keep in mind reducing you wattage usage is your first priority. We switched out from incandescent bulbs to led and cfl bulbs and dramatically reduced our usage. Some appliances will be unusable due to their higher amp requirements, ovens, A/C, furnace, and water heaters. Most portable configurations can't handle more than 20 amps.

Power usage management is critical to making the most out of your portable unit. How many panels, batteries, and type of inverter will depened on how well you are able to reduce and manage you power requirement. Small configurations can be easily transported if need be. The Powersource 1800 from mysolarbackup.com is the Sarge's choice for plug and play units. The price is not cheap at $1600.00 but for it's ease of use it would be perfect for Preppers who are not comfortable with electronics.

For those of you who want to build you own units your choices are restricted only by the money your willing to spend! You can buy low budget configurations for as little as $300.00 that put out about 45 watts (enough to run some lights, chargers, laptops, etc.) The more panels and batteries the more wattage you have. If your interested in building you own watch some the ones on you tube for some ideas and inspiration. Any questions or comments feel free to contact me


                                                                                   As always, The Sarge is on duty!

Prepare or Beware !!!

Once again disaster has struck and many are without basic services. As of the time of my posting 18,000 people are without power in the Joplin service area. The Home Depot and Walmart completely destroyed the hospital wiped out. over 2,000 buildings destroyed.

How many were prepared? More storms on the way. No way to prepare for every possible situation, but these latest events have demonstrated again the need to have some basic storage of water, food, first aid, and if at all possible a generator w/ fuel. Granted if your home is destroyed a generator is not going to be all that much of an asset, but you might use it with a neighbor or relative whose home was not destroyed. water and food will certainly be needed and possibly your first aid kit. Pictured above  is a pre-assembled 72 hr. two person basic travel kit.

Second pictured is a pre-assembled two person providence survival kit.
( Sarge's #1 recommended kit)

These kits also come in larger group sizes.

Remember non of this is to scare you, but to help get you prepared for anything, and there seems to be a lot of anythings lately.

I have priced the contents of these kits out as:
"do it yourself" or "purchase assembled" through Shelf Reliance, there is a great savings at least 50%.

Both are available at: www.yourthrivetosurvive.shelfreliance.com

Just having the basics allows you to move on to assist others in need instead of you needing assistance!
                      More to follow,         The Sarge is on Duty!!!

Putting it away

During your last briefing I gave some examples of what you might encounter during a disaster. the possibility to lose access to potable water and the need to purify non-potable water. Given examples were small packable units for individual or small group use. there are larger units available that will serve larger groups, once again the Sarge emphasizes KEEP IT SIMPLE!! You might only have what you can carry, Right?

Enough said on water treatment, lets move on to water storage. There are multiple large containers available from 1000 gallon cisterns, 55 gal. drums, etc. A couple water bricks ( each holds 3.5 gallons) stored in your vehicle, a couple in your closets, or under a bed next thing you know you have plenty of potable water in easy to manage containers!

We don't realize how much water we use each day for cooking, washing, flushing, and drinking. The U.S.G.S. lists individual use per day averages somewhere at 135 gals. Emergency consumption varies depending on climate, activity and age. Most studies say 2 qt. per day just for drinking.

Sarge recommends you do an audit of your own daily use then you will have a better idea of where to start.

Personal hydration bladders are a must!!! 2qt. are great they can easily fit into day packs or most come with thier own. choice depends on personal preference. The filters in my previous post are both compatible with most units. Keeping informed is essental! Whether  you stay or leave your location in order to have access and save water is dependent on the conditions you may encounter such as drought, flood, contamination, etc.

The Sarge can't say it enough BE PREPARED!!!

                                                  More to follow, The Sarge is on duty!

Have a drink

Water treatment and storage is a subject commonly taken for granted due to modern plumbing and city industrial treatment facilities. therein lies the problem as well, a disruption in electricity means loss of water.

Unfortunately Salmonella  outbreaks occur every year in this country. This week flooding is devastating thousands of people along the Mississippi river. Fresh water will be critical for those people in the coming days and the Sarge knows the sad truth that very few had prepared in advance for such a disaster.

What will they do now, wait for FEMA to rescue them? Are you kidding me!

If you don't have a means to treat and store potable water your in a deadly situation! Forget about hostiles attacking you, three days without water you'll be begging for a bullet!

If you think wal-mart is your water storage solution stop reading this immediately and go back to smoking your crack pipe!


Both of these filters will fit into a small pack or cargo pocket.
They have replaceable filters 

The Sarge highly recommends either of these! The Katadyn Hiker 
pictured to the right runs about $60.00 and filters 200 gallons and the Frontier Pro pictured below around $25.00 and filters 50 gallons.
Both can be purchased through "www.yourthrivetosurvive.com"


More to Follow...... the Sarge is on duty!!!
                                                            

GET INFORMED AND STAY INFORMED!!!!!

The Sarge is back at H.Q. 

My intention was to brief you on water treatment and storage, however a recent conversation with someone about my multiple news sources made me wonder what are you doing to stay informed? or should I say are you doing anything?

With the amount of information available and ease at which it can be accessed, we are without excuse to be the most informed generation that ever lived. Sadly I believe we are merely the most distracted! 

I was scoffed at recently for reading several foreign news sites. Call the Sarge crazy if you want, but you can't say that I don't know what the people in foreign countries are being told from their news! 

Would it not be prudent to know what's going on outside the U.S.  and just as important what the people in these countries are being told about  the U.S.? 

All news has it's bias to be sure, but I find it easier to to glean through when viewed from multiple angles. Not every country has the freedom that we have to access uncensored news as we do, As well not every news agency in the world has the freedom to report uncensored news.

If we live in such a information rich age and we don't take advantage of it, then we most certainly deserve what awaits the foolish. We will be controlled by those whom seek only what's in their best intrest not ours!!! 

Take a few minutes each day and instead of seeking entertainment, seek information....  More to follow.    

The Sarge is on duty!

Ok lets Talk first aid.

The basics of your first aid kit will depend on a few factors,is it a home kit or pack kit and how many are in your group.

The Sarge's order is to "Keep it Simple" we're not trying to outfit a M.A.S.H. unit.

 

The basic Home Kit as pictured here will meet any minor injury ( cost is about 10.00). You can tweak it with any thing else you may need according to any specific medical conditions ( like epi pens for allergic reactions, poison ivy cream, etc.) 

 The Pack Kit has most of the same items just fewer of them. you can find them ready to go( like pictured here) or make your own to suit the size of your group.  Just remember a PACK Kit will be all you have during a fluid situation( NO YOU CHUCK WAGON, IT DOES'NT  MEAN YOUR WET!) a fluid situation means your on the move.






The Sarge is an avid outdoors nut  so I've tried a number of kits and I've learned most of my injuries required nothing more than a cleaning and covering. I've treated several nasty serrations with nothing more than a cleaning, gauze and duct tape!( not necessarily recommended).

Our body will heal itself just fine if we keep the wound clean and covered. There may come a time when you or someone in your group suffers more severe trauma, The Sarge won't be there to hold your hand or wipe your nose, so" YOU" are responsible to educate yourselves on trauma care!

Look on our FB site for more on this subject, "Self Reliance Network"


There are hundreds of sites on the web that you can access, I suggest you do so ASAP!

The Sarge is on duty, more to follow

Get a Grip

So I hear all kinds talk from folks about the times we live in. The problem is few have taken the initiative to prepare themselves for these times. I was going to list some of the excuses(sorry, I mean reasons) why they have yet to prepare, but the bottom line is THERE IS NO EXCUSE!!! 

Seriously it cost nothing and takes very little time to at least write down a plan of action and a small list of essentials in case of emergency right? So for you procrastinators  let's review current events:

• The triple disaster in Japan, 
• The tornado outbreak and floods in the U.S.,
• Unrest in the middle east,
• I think is the biggest disaster waiting to fall on us is the emanate collapse of the dollar from the reserve currency. 

The Federal Reserve keeps printing money (quanative easing) like there's no tomorrow. As more is printed the less the dollar is worth, and of course the more things cost. I'm no expert but I think that's what they call inflation! I call it just plain wrong... So do we have a grip on reality? I would hope we could agree there is real need to prepare ourselves for an emergency. 

So let's get to the basics, first a plan. The Sarge recommends a 72 hour basic first aid kit water, food, flashlight, radio and personal defense. Let me emphasize this is just a starting point, many other factors need to be considered depending on group size, group ages, medical conditions, emergency or military training and so on. 

For those who think the government will be there to take care of you, consider Katrina! it took 5 days to get first responders in... many people waited weeks to get aid. don't wait ACT NOW!   

The Sarge is on duty! 

More to follow