Another guest article by Christie

How to Treat Water in a Survival Situation

Water is essential to our survival, and obviously the best course of action is having some stored in case of emergency. If you do happen to get caught in a survival situation with no available drinking water, here are a few simple tips to help strain and treat the water you have access to. If you are in doubt of the quality of ANY water source, it is best to treat it first using these methods.

Straining and Aeration

A recommended first step would be to run the water through a clean cotton cloth, such as a handkerchief. This filters out some of the larger particles (like dirt and tiny organisms). Microfibre cloths also work quite well for straining.

Aeration simply adds air to the water and reduces substances that affect the taste and smell of water. Partly fill a container with water and shake it vigorously.

Three Container System

According to the WELL Resource Center for Water Sanitation and Environmental Health, simply letting water sit in a container will also improve its quality. They recommend a three-container system. Container one stores newly collected water. After one day (24 hours), pour the water from container one into container two. Be careful to leave the particles or cloudy layers behind, which are at the bottom of the container one by now. Discard the rest of the water from container one, and then fill it again so that you are constantly repeating this cycle. The next day, pour the water from container two into container three. Once stored for two days, the water in container three can be used for drinking.

Disinfection

After straining the water, the most common way to disinfect the water is to boil it. There is some speculation about how long exactly to boil water in order to kill all the pathogens. The U.S. Center for Disease Control recommends boiling water for several minutes.

Another common method to disinfect water is to chemically treat it by adding chlorine or bleach to it. This method is a bit trickier as there are many different kinds of bleach. Household bleach has been known to lose its strength over time, whereas powdered chlorine can last 10 years without losing its strength. Ensure you use pure bleach, and not anything that has other additives (like laundry chemicals). For bleach that has 6-10% chlorine, you can use 3 to 4 drops per gallon of water. Let it sit for about thirty minutes, and then smell the water. You should faintly smell the chlorine. If you don’t smell it at all, repeat the procedure and then let it sit for another half hour. After a few hours, aerate the water by shaking the bottle vigorously, which helps reduce the smell and taste of chlorine.

For some extra resources, go to the Well Resource Center for Water Sanitation and Environmental Health’s website. Using the above methods will assist greatly in getting safe water for you and your family in any emergency situation.

Christine Brockman is a web writer, publisher and a survival fanatic. She enjoys the great outdoors; checking out the latest survival gear and camping with her family.

Guest Article by Christie

Surviving Winter: How to Stay Warm When the Power Fails

Are you in an area that relies on gas or electricity to provide warmth? Are you prepared to handle a survival situation if you were to lose that convenience? Here are some simple strategies to stay warm in an unheated home.

Think Ventilation

When in a cold house, most people search for and seal up the enclosure so that no cold air can enter. This is a grave mistake. You are in more danger of fire, lack of oxygen or carbon monoxide poisoning than you are of freezing to death in your home. Remember, you still need fresh air to breathe.

Select a room

Choose a smaller room for your emergency heat (think bathroom size). It is a good idea to pick a room that is not subject to regular winds, and gets a good amount of sun. Avoid rooms with large windows. A basement is also a great choice, as you are underground with insulated cement walls. Whatever room you choose, try and isolate a space from the rest of the house by closing all doors and perhaps erecting temporary cardboard or wood dividers.

Sources of Heat

Candles and wood burning fireplaces are great sources of warmth. Other sources of heat include gas or oil space heaters, or catalytic camp stoves. Have someone watch for fire whenever alternate heating sources are used. There should be someone designated to stay awake to stoke the fire or to make sure the ventilation is adequate. If they begin to feel tired or they get a headache, it may be a sign of poor ventilation. Keep firefighting materials ready, such as a chemical extinguisher, water, sand, blankets or tarps that keep fire from receiving oxygen.

If you do not have access to an alternative heat source, consider building a Dona Justa stove by removing window glass and replacing it with a metal sheet. Puncture a stove pipe through the sheet metal, and you will have a natural source of warmth.

Also remember that our bodies produce heat. Wear as many layers as you feel comfortable in to trap your body heat. Your bed may be the warmest place to be, so bring everyone in one room and sleep close together (including animals). Use heavy quilts and extra blankets for added warmth.

Trap the heat in by covering windows with thick blankets or plastic.

Food and Water

When your body is cold, it requires more energy to keep warm. Make sure to keep your fluids and calorie intake up so your body has enough to keep you going. As with any emergency preparation, it is important to have a survival kit for each family member that includes water and food to keep them sustained for at least 72 hours, if not more.

Planning ahead for emergencies is an essential part of surviving in cold weather. Using the tips above will help you plan out your strategy for dealing with a cold, powerless house.

Christine Brockman is a web writer, publisher and a survival fanatic. She enjoys the great outdoors; checking out the latest survival gear and camping with her family.