Are you a member of a private, open or have your own gun range? If you shoot regularly at a primitive gun range—one without shelter, a clubhouse or designated shooting bays, there are ways to make your day at the range safer and more comfortable with these five tips.
Over the last 30 days, I shared a tip each day to help you prepare for spring storms and the stinging heat of summer. There are tips for all outdoor enthusiasts from shooters, campers and hikers to preppers and survivalists. Some of the tips are fun, like staying safe during a day at the lake. Some are serious, such as preparing for hurricane season. It is my hope that you have found them all to be informative and practical. In case you have missed any, here is a list of all 30 daily tips.
There are an estimated 3 to 4 million lakes in the United States. One study even found that lake destinations were the number one spot for travel in 2012. This does not surprise me. Lakes offer plenty of recreational activities at an extremely low price. These natural bodies of water come with risks. Most drownings are due to unexpected exposure to the water. For children ages 1 to 4, drowning is the leading cause of death. Even adults who know how to swim are at risk for drowning. Most drownings are preventable. A day at the lake can be fun, safe and accident-free if you always follow these 15 safety tips.
I hope that you have plenty of non-perishable food stored for a potential power outage, but that does not necessarily mean you have to throw out your refrigerated items right away. Using two terra cotta pots, sand, water and a cotton cloth or towel, you can make an evaporative refrigeration system called a Zeer Pot.
National Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 25-31, which gives you plenty of time and no excuses not to be prepared. The Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1, while the Eastern Pacific hurricane season starts May 15. Both seasons end on November 30. Hurricanes cause heavy rainfall, flooding, tornados, rip currents and high, damaging winds. Depending on the severity of the hurricane—measured in categories one to five on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale—city officials might make evacuation mandatory. If you live in a hurricane-prone area, keep trees and shrubbery trimmed. When a hurricane watch or warning alert comes through your NOAA emergency weather alert radio, put your bug-out or bug-in plan in place. Whether you choose to leave or stay, you need a plan and supplies for both.
Injuries from burns increase during the summer due to outdoor cooking, campfires, candles, oil-burning lanterns and torches, and fireworks. On average, over 10,000 Americans seek medical attention for burns from fireworks a year. Additionally, in 2011, fireworks caused a reported 17,800 fires. There are four degrees of burns. This classification system is based on how bad the burn is depending on the location on the body, how big the burn and the depth. Learn how to treat them in this basic first aid guide to burns.
Knowing how to start a fire can possibly save your life. It is one of the most essential survivor skills one should know if they are serious about learning how to survive in an emergency or disaster. Here are five really good reasons for knowing how to start a fire.
Most heat-related injuries and deaths occur because people have lack of access to adequate air conditioning. Remember from yesterday’s post, when it is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter, electric fans do not help cool the body. Today, make sure your AC unit is in tip-top shape and ready for the upcoming summer months.
Heat over exposure causes hyperthermia and in turn, heat-related illnesses. Hyperthermia is when our bodies cannot regulate our body temperature in extreme heat. This includes heat cramps, heat rash, heat fatigue, heat syncope, sunburn, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion. Our bodies cool themselves when it is hot through sweating, but sometimes sweating is not enough. Sometimes, especially when it is very humid, our sweat does not evaporate fast enough and does not allow heat to escape. This is when we can suffer from a heat-related illness.
The terms hotheaded and blood boiling may be more literal than you think. Numerous studies have shown that higher temperatures negatively affect our mood. Heat can make us irritable, impatient, physically uncomfortable, aggressive and even violent. In fact, violent assault numbers—intent to do physical harm against another person—rise during the hotter months. The hotter it gets, the more aggressive we feel. As responsible gun owners and carriers, it is imperative we remain cool, calm and collected.