Oddbean new post about login | logout VOTE FOR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY In the lead up to the US election I thought I'd do a little series of Every Day Carry (EDC) notes. Following the format of the basic survival needs and 5C's of survival, starting with: 0. You: As in Permaculture, with Zone 0 being your house and Zone 1 being outside that, your person is the first thing you need sorted out. Thus covers your personal mindset and health 1. Water: what you have and how you carry it. 2. Food: what you have, knowledge and skill to feed yourself. 3. Energy: usually thus would be fire, but today we also need electricity for many things. 4. Shelter: how you protect yourself from the elements. 5. Health: Sanitation and medicines. 6. Safety: defence, knowledge, skills, mindset. #prepping #Survivalism #preparedness #grownostr
EDC 0: Yourself The most important thing we take with us everyday is often overlooked. All the tech or stuff in the world won't make up for a lack of it. That thing is you, specifically your cognitive and physical health. Mental Preparedness - The willpower to survive, to get through hard times is essential. - Be an optimist. Block out the negative thoughts, see the positives, be grateful. - Be aware of events and people around you, be informed not alarmed. - Learn new survival skills, teach yourself constantly. Physical Preparedness - Get fit, stay fit. After your mind, your body is your best tool in getting you out of an emergency situation or helping others. Stay safe out there and Happy Halloween. #prepping #Preparedness #grownostr nostr:nevent1qqs29tlncam2yz7j4aqk65mur6ffeep0xxv0f8qqtruh0cn6n6zemvsppemhxue69uhkummn9ekx7mp0qgsg58x3w7rvlq3sxj8exk736aa2er9nu5mcwxulxenu5jprvmv9vycrqsqqqqqpy4nhs8
EDC 2. Water As an 80's kid I know the desperation and taste of hot hose water, out of some randoms yard, on a hot day. But we shouldn't really ever get to that point. I find people don't drink enough and often don't carry any with them. If you live somewhere hot, as I do, you can get in serious trouble in only a few hours without water. - Always carry water with you. I use a 1L stainless steel water bottle. Why metal? You can boil water in it if you have to. - Carry a secondary collapsible plastic or silicone bottle in your bag or where you work. - Have extra water in your car or where you work. - Have a way to boil water, matches, lighter and/or flint and steel (see energy later), and a way to filter or purify water, purification tablets or drops are cheap and easy to carry. - Know where local sources of water are. If the power is out the taps won't work, how will you get water? #prepping #survivalism #homesteading #grownostr #preparedness nostr:nevent1qqs29tlncam2yz7j4aqk65mur6ffeep0xxv0f8qqtruh0cn6n6zemvspzamhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68ytnzv9hxgtczyz9pe5thsm8cyvp537f4h5wh02kgevl9x7r3h8ekvl9ysgmxmptpxqcyqqqqqqg9lv5k2
EDC 2. Food - Carry some protein bars, nuts or similar things you like for emergencies. I always find the kids will get hungry and that can save the day. Keep more and bulkier foods in your car for emergencies. - Learn about the edible plants in your area, try them out, make note of where you see them around you. - A small amount of fishing line and some hooks or lures take up little space, but if you live in areas with lots of water then they could be useful. - Have a cutting tool if some type (see Safety/Cutting Tool later). I use a Gerber Dime day to day at work etc, as knife laws are pretty strict in Australia. But, it's got pliers, wire cutters and a blade, covering lots of food prep, collection and fishing needs. #EDC #Prepping #Preparedness #homesteading #grownostr #Survivalism nostr:nevent1qqs29tlncam2yz7j4aqk65mur6ffeep0xxv0f8qqtruh0cn6n6zemvspzamhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68ytnzv9hxgtczyz9pe5thsm8cyvp537f4h5wh02kgevl9x7r3h8ekvl9ysgmxmptpxqcyqqqqqqg9lv5k2
EDC 3. Energy In the past this would have just been fire, but our energy needs, our technology has changed this. - Have a few ways to start a fire, lighter, matches, flint and steel. I carry a road flare in the car, it could be used to start a fire. - Always have your phone at least half charged, charge it when you're driving, keep a way to charge it in the car as well as with you in your bag. - Think about a powerbank, keep that topped up also. Mine also has a torch inbuilt. - A light source is also important. This can be a torch, your phone torch etc. But a nice solid metal torch is best, can be used to blind and as a little baton if needed. #EDC #prepping #preparedness #survivalism #grownostr #homesteading nostr:nevent1qqs29tlncam2yz7j4aqk65mur6ffeep0xxv0f8qqtruh0cn6n6zemvspzamhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68ytnzv9hxgtczyz9pe5thsm8cyvp537f4h5wh02kgevl9x7r3h8ekvl9ysgmxmptpxqcyqqqqqqg9lv5k2
EDC 4. Shelter One area that people seem to be blissfully unprepared when leaving the house, to my annoyance. I'm also going to start with two items that are not usually talked about, that are often overlooked. To paraphrase a Nordic saying, there's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. - Take a long-sleeve jumper, jersey, hoodie or light jacket with you, even if it's warm. It may not stay that way, weather can change. If it's warm or hot you can protect yourself from the sun if outside for extended periods in an emergency. - Wear shoes!!! Or at least pack a light pair of trainers in your bag, car or desk. Flip flops (thongs in Australia) are useless in an emergency and will let you down. - Carry a plastic poncho or emergency blanket, they are tiny, light but very useful. - A handkerchief or bandanna in your pocket could be used as a bandage, to protect your head from the sun or to cover your mouth in a fire or chemical event. #EDC #Prepping #preparedness #survivalism #homesteading #grownostr nostr:nevent1qqs29tlncam2yz7j4aqk65mur6ffeep0xxv0f8qqtruh0cn6n6zemvspzamhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68ytnzv9hxgtczyz9pe5thsm8cyvp537f4h5wh02kgevl9x7r3h8ekvl9ysgmxmptpxqcyqqqqqqg9lv5k2
EDC 5. Health and Sanitation People made fun of toilet paper horders during covid, but struggled to find enough themselves. Safe in my pre-covid tp castle I opined that in a dire or depressing situation, the luxury of not having to wipe your ass with your hand was very important. - Carry tissues or toilet paper with you everywhere you go. A little pack of tissues will fit in your pocket, a half roll of tp is light and will fit in your bag. - Have a way to source, filter and purify water (see Water and Energy) - Have some basic medical supplies. Bandages, band aids, any medicines you need, location specific supplies. For me that may be a snakebite kit, as snakes are a likely risk daily for me. - Teach yourself about local medicinal plants, Plantain, willow bark, for example, are everywhere. - Lastly, avoid the need for the above. Get fit, know your local dangers and risks, avoid doing stupid things in stupid places with stupid people (see EDC 0.). #EDC #Prepping #Preparedness #survivalism #homesteading #grownostr nostr:nevent1qqs29tlncam2yz7j4aqk65mur6ffeep0xxv0f8qqtruh0cn6n6zemvspz9mhxue69uhkummnw3ezuamfdejj7q3q3gwdzauxe7prqdy0jddar4m64jxt8efhsude7dn8efyzxekc2cfsxpqqqqqqz0yys4k