These Are Items You'll Desperately Need When SHTF - Page 2 of 2

Unfortunately, it’s virtually impossible to think of each and every situation we could face during an unexpected crisis like a natural disaster or civil unrest. However, we can do our best to collect these items below to increase our chances of survival.

Bleach

Need a quick way to disinfect water so you can safely drink? What happens if your septic tank overflows and you’re left with contaminated waste everywhere? One simple and effective way to fix both these problems is by using bleach. One caveat to the Bleach: store bought liquid bleach (Clorox or Purex) begins to degrade the moment it is manufactured. I’ve seen lots of different expiration dates, but they all run from 6 months to 2 years. I have stocked up on Calcium Hypochlorite. Just make sure it does not have algaecides or clarifiers in it which are said to make you sick. It comes in a powdered form which you mix as needed (1 tsp to 2 gallons of water to make the solution). This solution will then degrade just like bleach, but if you have the powder, you can keep making it for years.

Lighters and Matches

Sure you can make fire without them, but it’s hard: really hard. Unless you have apt practice in the fire-making field, stock up on these as much as possible. Spare wicks and flints for your gas-fueled lighters wouldn’t be a bad idea either.

Painkillers

Get some reasonably strong over-the-counter pain meds, and make sure you have enough to last you if the SHTF. Though painkillers have expiration dates, they don’t really expire. They get weaker instead, so don’t be afraid to stockpile pain meds just because of the expiration date. Try to mix and match since many painkillers like Ibuprofen (Advil) and Acetominophen (Tylenol) have different uses, and can even be take simultaneously.

Alcohol

There are many reasons why alcohol is an excellent resource. The top two are obvious: its physical impact on us when we consume it, and its ability to disinfect wounds. Whether you’re personally into drinking alcohol or not, you’re going to regret not having enough alcohol when the SHTF. After all, think of all the people who would be willing to trade almost anything for a bottle of their favorite whisky.

Screws, Nails and Building Materials

Nails and screws are essential hardware materials. They go fast and are a giant pain to make from scratch.

Water containers

Seems simple now, but if things go wrong, one of the hardest things to usually find is a good canteen or water jug. Put enough back for yourself, but put more back for trade.

Survival information

Survival information is valuable, and in a time when it is desperately needed, being able to have a few copies of condensed information on-hand and barter-ready will be very valuable, indeed. Type up and print a dozen copies of general information that others may not readily have.

Vinegar

Vinegar is a prepper’s ‘multitask-er’.

Cure athletes foot. Apply directly to the affected skin.

Sore throat remedy by mixing one tablespoon of vinegar with one glass of water. Gargle once an hour, then swallow the mixture.

Relief for colds by mixing one-quarter cup Apple Cider Vinegar with one-quarter cup honey. Take one tablespoon six to eight times daily.

Relieve itching by soaking a cotton ball or gauze pad with the vinegar. Dab onto the itchy area, for example, from a mosquito bite and it will help relieve the itching.

Use in laundry to cut soap.

Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards by wiping with full strength vinegar.

Marinating meat in vinegar kills bacteria and tenderizes the meat.

Batteries

Even more useful than the candles are the flashlights. So, having a good stock of batteries will be of great help. An excellent prep would be to have some extra rechargeable batteries with a solar charger.

Soap

Without basic sanitation, you’re going to get sick fast, and ill is something you definitely don’t want to be when medicine is in short supply and you need as much energy and strength as you can possibly have. Try to stock up on soap that’s anti-bacterial.

Don’t get Crystal Drano. It contains other ingredients that are not good in soap. You want 100% potassium hydroxide (otherwise known as lye). There are many good how-to books on soap making and general day-to-day life, but doing it all yourself. I like the one that was written by Carla Emery (ISBN 0-912365-95-1).

Tampons & pads

They’re essential to a good survival pack, and not just for the obvious reason! They indispensable for bandages, good for emergency water filtering, and can be used as tinder to start a good fire. They’re also better than a lot of other methods for stopping a nosebleed that won’t quit.

Multivitamins

Regardless of what happens, you can’t always ensure you are getting what you need, and if living off the land is your last recourse or you are surviving off whatever you could salt or smoke in fall for winter you will run short of your bodies need.