WARMTH

I love this product! I opened one up 2 Sundays ago at about 3:15pm to show to the RS sisters at the 3:40 meeting. I passed it around, it was warm, and I told everyone it was not too hot because it was old. I stand corrected. yes, it was kind of old... a year old...maybe 2...but it got hotter and hotter after I came home from church! I kept it with me...even at 9pm at night it was so nice and hot. Even at 11:00 it still was active...not as hot as 9pm, but still very warm and comforting. Truckers wear these in their shirt pockets. Women can tuck them in their bras. Just holding one between your hands is nice. You simply rip open the package, take out the pouch and shake it. The pouch is made of some kind of fiber that lets the air in to mix with the powdery ingredients inside and this activates it to produce heat. There are 2 sizes. Don't buy the small hand warmers... they are too tiny...buy the bigger pack. Keep them in you car's glove compartment so you can find them easily. They will be a comfort to you if you are stranded in a car in cold weather!
Using hot hands with a blanket is the best thing to do if you end up spending many hours in your car.Warm hats, gloves, scarves: keep extras in your car. Actually, mittens are warmer than gloves.

Is Your Car Ready For Winter?

To Winterize Your Car, Attend to the Following:

1. Battery and ignition system should be in top condition and battery terminals clean.

2. Ensure antifreze levels are sufficient to avoid freezing.

3. Ensure the heater and defroster work properly.

4. Check and repair windshield wiper equipment, ensure proper washer fluid level.

(Our son recommends bringing an extra gallon of wiper fluid along in case of heavy blizzard.)

5. Ensure the thermostat works properly.

6. Check lights and flashing hazards for serviceability.

7. Check for leaks and crimped pipes in the exhaust system: repair or replace as necessary. carbon monoxide is deadly and usually gives no warning.

8. Check brakes for wear and fluid levels.

9. Check oil for level and weight. Heavier oils congeal more at low temperatures and do not lubricate as well.

10. Consider snow tires, snow tires with studs, or chains.

11. Replace fuel and air filters. Keep water out of system by using additives and maintaining a full tank of gas.

A Possibility For You

Hi ! I just wanted you to picture yourself driving in the snow....if you cannot, maybe this video will help...(Elvis fans will enjoy this!)

Scenario #2 You are Stranded In Your Car

"Tis the season!
It is November...and fast approaching December and W I N T E R !

Here in the high desert we have had snow and we have had roads closed and people stranded.

Scenario #2 is
You are Stranded in Your Car
Snowing or not...it will be cold...and you need to be ready.
You may be driving along fine and then something happens and your car won't go.

You may be on a lonely road...you will have to keep warm to survive!

IF A BLIZZARD TRAPS YOU IN THE CAR OR IF YOU AR STRANDED IN VERY COLD WEATHER, KEEP THESE GUIDELINES IN MIND:

1. Pull off the highway. Turn on hazard lights and hang a distress flag from antenna or window (This is where a brightly colored bandanna comes in handy!)

2. Remain in your vehicle where rescuers are most likely to find you. Do not set out on foot

unless you can see a building close by where you know you can take shelter. Be careful. If it is snowing, distances are distorted by blowing snow. A building may seem close, but be too far to walk in deep snow.

3. Run the engine and heater about 10 minutes each hour to keep warm. When the engine is running, open an upwind window slightly for ventilation. This will protect you from carbon monoxide poisoning. Periodically clear snow from the exhaust pipe.

4. Exercise to maintain body heat (isometric exercises,etc) but avoid overexertion. In extreme cold, use road maps, seat covers, floor mats for insulation if you do not have blankets. Huddle with passengers and use your coat for a blanket.

5. Take turns sleeping. One person should be awake at all times to look for rescue crews.

6. Drink fluids to avoid dehydration.

7. Be careful not to waste battery power. Balance Electrical energy needs-the use of lights, heat, and radio-with supply.

8. Turn on the inside light at night so work crews or rescuers can see you.

9. If stranded in a remote area, stomp large block letters in an open area spelling out HELP or SOS and line with rocks or tree limbs to attract the attention of rescue personnel who may be surveying the area by airplane.

10. Leave the car and proceed on foot-if necessary- once the blizzard passes.

Scenario #1 No Water Flows From Your Tap

5 years ago, in our Relief Society, I began a project with the aim to teach and inspire the sisters of our ward to be prepared in the event of an emergency scenario.

I am now going to re-visit those scenarios (I had posted most of them on an old blog:www.survivalmode.blog.com) which you can still go to.

The first scenario.....




Scenario #1

You have no usable water flowing from your faucets.



This can happen if the city’s water pipes break during a big earthquake, or something can just happen in your neighborhood that wipes out your water supply. Or somehow the city’s water supply can become harmful.

Do not take a shower in bad water, by the way.

We prepare for this scenario best by purchasing bottled water in the amount of one gallon a day per person in your family for 2 weeks. If this is too much, do as much as you can…for 4- 5 days, for example. I find that having water in one gallon containers such as you purchase at the grocery store is a very handy way to obtain, and to use emergency water.

Since you won’t be able to flush your toilets, you need to have on hand packages of those white 13 gallon kitchen trash bags. You lift the lid of your toilet and place an opened 13 gallon trash bag down in your toilet, letting the sides of the bag flow out over the rim of the toilet and then put the seat down and the toilet is ready to use. Then you tie up the bag of human waste and dispose of it somewhere. Go potty in comfort… No need to squat over a bucket!

Some folks like to store extra water in those big blue 55 gallon water barrels (which I wrote about in a separate post previous to this one.) You can use the water in your water heater, also.

One of the best things you can do is to have a water filtration system. I use the Seychelle system ...please see my post on that.

Blue Water Barrels and Accessories

This is the 55 gallon Water Barrel that is offered on many preparedness sites and range in price from $55 to $75. The arizonabarrels.com sells them for $18 !

Our ward is now able to buy them for $15 from a special dealer. You do need other equipment, though. Hence, this post. Please read on. Thank you.

I was able to get the screwed on caps off with my fingers, but only because they were not screwed on tight. I highly recommend getting one Bung wrench as they are called...This one sells for $6.95 at beprepared.com.
You need to fill your barrel with water with a food grade hose...available at Walmarts. Regular hoses have lead in them and are not to be used for drinking.
This is a pump for you to use to get the water out of your barrel.