Holiday Safety Tips
The holiday season is upon us and that means many of us are headed home to spend quality time with family, friends, and loved ones.
No matter your location, it cannot be denied that this is a beautiful time of year. However, just because it’s the holiday season doesn’t mean emergencies can’t occur without warning. So, it’s again tremendously important to take precautionary measures should the unexpected happen.
Keep Everyone Warm
Everyone likes to be warm, pets included!
As the months get colder and the days get shorter, be sure to have a strong supply of winter essentials like blankets, water-proof candles, coats, and sweaters. Be sure to add them to your home and car prep kits to help you conserve heat during the harsh winter months.
Stay Safe on the Road
Do you have an emergency preparation kit for your car? We sure hope so! For the many unexpected things that can happen while on the road, it's critical to have an up-to-date emergency prep kit at all times.
The 4 Person Premium Disaster Preparedness Survival Kit from First My Family is a perfect option for families looking to stay safe on the road. Should an emergency situation arise while out-and-about, this survival kit comes fully-equipped with 72 hours of survival and first aid supplies.
Running out of gas? Stuck in the snow? Plan ahead and stay prepared.
Great supplies may not be enough to stay fully prepared. Keep a list of emergency contact numbers in your vehicle should you need to call a tow truck, friend, or other emergency contacts.
Check Holiday Lighting
One of the things that can be easily overlooked is safety when it comes to our beloved holiday decorations. Make sure each connection is secure and kept at a safe distance away from small children and pets.
Additionally, keep an eye on the number of plugs you have from each outlet; overloading your outlets has the potential to cause a major fire emergency.
Lastly, if you are burning candles, keep them away from flammable objects like trees, decorations and gifts. Be sure to also use items like hot-pad holders and never leave your home without out putting your candles out completely.
Play Safe: Holiday Toy Safety
It is important to be safe when playing with toys this holiday season since there are many small, detachable parts that can be swallowed. Make sure to keep all toys away from small children and infants and/or monitor children when the toys are in use.
Also, we all know opening packages during the holidays can be a difficult task. Toys are often packaged tightly, prompting us to use sharp objects to open them. Take extra precaution when attempting to open all packages. Keep sharp objects away from children and do not allow them to open toys without adult supervision.
Be Prepared in Any Moment
Emergencies can occur at any time and in any moment, including the holiday season. Gather your family for a few moments to address your evacuation and safety plan for your home. Take the time now to prepare your family, and remember: there's no such thing and being too prepared!
Wishing you and your family a safe and happy holday season!
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!