Pet Preparedness Tips for Summer
According to recent statistics, about 77 Million people in the US include dogs as part of their extended family. Dogs are great companions for both indoors and outdoors activities. Whether it’s a trip to the beach, camping, hiking, or even just out to the park, pups love every second of being out-and-about. Taking dogs along during summer trips can be fun and memorable, but make sure to consider their safety and well-being during the sizzling summer months.
Our dogs can’t tell us when they are getting too hot, too tired, or are generally uncomfortable. This prompts the need for us to prepare for the many unforeseen emergencies that may occur when outdoors, for both you and they could be affected by them. Be aware of how to care for your pets during these long hot days, here are some tips on summer outdoor pet preparedness.
Water & Snacks
If you are outdoors all day you’re going to want to have some pet food on hand to give your dog a snack when they feel fatigued. Remember, just like humans get hungry from using up energy while outdoors, our dogs do too! It is also very important to give your dog access to plenty of water to drink during outdoor activities. Having a collapsable water bowl or plastic tupperware to fill with water for your pup is an easy way to help with their hydration, make sure that’s added to your Pet Prep Kit.
Keeping Cool
Of course, summertime means it is likely to be hot hot hot! While humans are able to wear summer clothing and go out for fresh air, our dogs are not able to take off their fur coats. So, it’s up to us to make sure they aren’t getting overheated. To keep help keep them cool, again, make sure they are getting plenty of water, and be sure to never ever leave them in a hot car (overheating happens very fast). Also, don’t be opposed to a little mid-day water spritz, if they are getting too hot, spray them lightly with some water since water helps to cool their internal body temperature. Lastly, keep a lookout: signs of heat exhaustion include heavy drooling, panting, very low energy, and little to no urination.
LED Light or Collar
Summer nights can be very relaxing for all family members, even pets. When outside during those summer BBQ’s or camping trips, it’s a good idea to attach an LED light to your dog’s collar so you can keep an eye on them when the sun has gone down. Remember that dogs love to explore and can get lost very easily especially if they don’t know the way home. Having a light on them will keep you from losing track of them in case they get distracted by any number of things. It also may be a good idea to keep an extra collar and LED light in your Pet Prep Kit.
Critter Control
If you are spending any time outdoors, keep in mind that you may be inevitably accompanied by uninvited animals, reptiles, and insects. The summer months bring dry, hot temperatures which happen to attract a plethora of critters. Consider getting a rattlesnake vaccine from your veterinarian, and keep plenty of insect repellent in your dog’s prep kit. Dogs love water activities, If your dog goes swimming in a beach or lake, you’ll want to make sure you dry your dog’s ears afterwards, especially if they’re floppy. Keep in mind that ear infections are very common in dogs, keeping ears dry is the first step in prevention. Lastly, always check for ticks after coming home from an outdoor trip. Even if your dog takes a flea and tick solution regularly, one could still latch on, so it’s important to make sure.
Summer is an amazing time to have lots of fun in the sun with the entire family, that includes our pets. Make sure everyone is safe and prepared!
The 2016 Ecuador Earthquake: The Importance of Preparedness
On April 16, 2016, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador leaving at least 659 people deceased and 27,732 people injured. Events like these remind us how serious and unexpected natural disasters can be, making proper emergency preparedness a top priority for families both large and small.
The fact of the matter is, despite where we live in the world, we are not immune to the many types of natural disasters that exist. The only true way to increase survival for you and your family is to take the steps necessary to be prepared for certain post-disaster circumstances.
Post-disaster circumstances:
Injury
Have a First Aid Kit included in all of your preparedness kits and make sure it includes enough supplies for each of your household members. Always include extra medication and update your kits often keeping in mind expiration dates.
Lack of food source
Your prep kit should include enough food and water to last each of your family members at least three days. Keep in mind nutritional needs for each person, and food allergies.
Lack of Electricity
We tend to rely on electricity quite a bit, but in the event of a natural disaster, electricity may be not up and running. Customize your prep kit to include extra batteries, glow sticks, and/or solar powered devices.
Remember- natural disasters cannot be avoided, but they can be prepared against. Let us help you begin your preparedness journey with a 4-person prep kit found here, stay safe!
Survival Lessons from Season 6 of The Walking Dead
Season 6 of the Walking Dead was a rollercoaster of emotions for all zombie-loving fans from across the nation. During these long months we witnessed some of our favorite characters face and overcome unimaginable survival odds leaving us to ask: “What would we do in this situation?”
It’s likely that you’ve uttered the same sentence with a friend, family member or loved one while watching the show, after all, the show’s characters are ordinary citizens of the world prior to the zombie outbreak.
As emergency and disaster preparedness pro’s and TWD fanatics, we took some survival notes on Season 6 of The Walking Dead to help you strengthen your skills in emergency prep, and increase your odds of survival. Take a look and stay safe:
Learn Key Skills
Learning skills in carpentry, masonry, gardening, and farming can prove to be extremely useful when building a survival shelter and living in remote areas for extended periods.
Learning CPR & First Aid can mean the difference between life and death; these skills can be used to help yourself and others during and after a disaster.
Learning to make your own ammunition may be put on the back-burner for some, but you may want to consider learning the skill now. After all, ammunition during a survival situation is key for protection.
- Helpful resources on CPR & First Aid from The American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr
- Helpful resources on ammunition from Off The Grid News: http://www.offthegridnews.com/self-defense/what-will-i-need-to-make-my-own-ammo/
Food & Water
Drinkable water is often hard to find and can be quite heavy to carry. Consider investing in a Lifestraw water filter so you’re able to filter filthy water into clean, safe drinking water (Lifestraw water filters take out more that 99% of bacteria).
Stockpile high-calorie, long-lasting foods and seeds for planting, we can think of more than a few moments during Season 6 where they were concerned about the food they stockpiled.
- Stockpiling tips from Skilled Survival: http://www.skilledsurvival.com/stockpiling-food-might-be-your-best-investment/
Customize Your Prep Kits
Every Emergency Prep kit should be customized to accommodate every member of your household. Special medications and supplies should be included in your kits (don’t forget: all of our FMF kits have enough room for extra survival supplies). Make sure to always include more than enough emergency medication that you know is critical to you and your entire family.
Emergency situations and natural disasters happen without warning, prepare accordingly to increase survival for you and your loved ones. From our family to yours, stay safe!
Emergency Response At Your Fingertips: 3 Must-Get Apps
These days there’s an app for just about everything, even for emergency preparedness. But with thousands of high-tech iPhone and Android applications to choose from, how do can you know which ones can actually be useful for you and your family during an emergency situation?
Our team did some research, browsed through some of the top-rated apps on the market and came up with 3 apps we believe every family should consider downloading as an additional step in emergency/disaster planning.
Check them out below and happy prepping!
- FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) app takes the number one spot. This comprehensive app includes:
- Alerts from the National Weather Service
- Disaster Reporter
- Custom emergency safety information
- Maps of disaster resources
- Safety tips
- Access to apply for federal disaster assistance.
- Information in Spanish
Download here: https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app
- Pocket First Aid & CPR.
Runner-up is the app from the American Heart Association. A few things this unique app offers:
- Detailed videos with life-saving information on how to respond in first aid situations like choking, CPR, seizures, cuts and wounds, and more.
- Device storage so a user can access information without cell phone reception
- ‘My Info’ tab to store family members’ medical information
Download here: http://appcomm.org/pocket-first-aid-cpr/
- Shelter Finder by American Red Cross
Last but certainly not least, this application maps shelter locations across the United States. In the event of a natural disaster, a user can choose a location and zoom into a local area to view nearby shelters and details like who’s managing the shelter, how many people are there, and of course, the specific shelter address and location. Another great feature is that if you’re looking to make a contribution, they make it possible to donate and help the American Red Cross give aid to those in need.
Download here: http://appcomm.org/shelter-finder-app-by-american-red-cross/
Stay safe, but most of all, stay prepared!
When It Comes To Prep, Don't Rely On Luck!
In the event of an emergency situation, we can’t all be lucky. In the words of Roman philosopher Seneca, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
So take it from Seneca and take the time to prepare now, so that if and when a natural disaster or emergency situation strikes, you can create the best luck possible.
3 Things you can do now to prepare for an emergency situation:
- VIP Database
Who are your VIP’s? Your list of very important people may extend past your immediate family members. Aside from having all of your family’s most recent personal and medical information written down, consider also including the contact information of a trusted neighbor, a trusted co-worker and a key person from your local police/fire department.
- Prep Kit
It’s not enough just to have purchased an emergency preparedness kit. Is it up to date? Is it customized to accommodate each family member’s specific needs? Make sure the items within your home and car prep kits are up to date, and are still working properly, and don’t forget to include items for pets.
- Plan and Rehearse
Time is a precious thing, especially during a natural disaster or emergency situation. Have a game plan on what to do during and after an emergency situation, and rehearse it every few months. Remember, having a plan can be key to keeping the entire family from panicking.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from First My Family, stay safe!
Winter Prep Checklist
Winter is officially here, are your prep kits up to date? Make sure your kits have what you and your family need to survive the cold winter months should an emergency or disaster take place. We created a checklist to help you as you customize your home and car preparedness kits, take a look and stay safe!
❏ Emergency Water
❏ Emergency Food
❏ LED Flashlight
❏ First aid kit
❏ Multi Use Pocket Knife
❏ Mylar Space Blankets
❏ Emergency Weather Ponchos
❏ Emergency Body Warmers
❏ Glow-sticks for emergency lighting
- The above items and more can be found inside of our 1, 2 and 4-Person Premium Disaster Preparedness Kit
Special needs/Elderly
❏ Medications and special items such as hearing aids (with extra batteries), glasses/contact lenses, canes etc.
Babies and Pets
❏ Baby supplies (formula, baby food, bottles, diapers, medicines etc.)
❏ Pet supplies ( pet food, collar/leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl, medicines etc.)
Outdoors/Weather
❏ Tools/supplies for securing your home in case of heavy winds
❏ Sand for flooding
❏ Warm coats, gloves/mittens, hats, boots, extra blankets and extra warm clothing for all household members
❏ Alternate heating methods (fireplaces or wood/coal-burning stoves)
More
❏ Extra batteries
❏ Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
❏ Sanitation/personal hygiene items
❏ Family and emergency contact information
❏ Copies of personal documents for all household members (medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
❏ Cell phone with chargers
❏ Extra cash
Remember to always add what is necessary for your family's specific needs. Stay warm and stay safe!