5 Things You Should Know About Self-Defense

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In this day and age, one can never know when something untoward might happen. It seems that even the most advanced countries still have their shares of criminals.

One thing you can do to avoid being a victim is to learn self-defense. Here are some tips you can try if you want to learn how to defend yourself.

 

  1. Being aware of your surroundings is the first thing you should learn – the first line of self-defense you can employ is to be aware. You need to be alert and pay attention. You’ll be surprised at how many incidents can be avoided if people will just be aware of their surroundings. What bad guys like to do is surprise people who are distracted. Stop looking at your phone all the time, look and listen to everything around you. If you’ve watched animal documentaries that show hunters getting their prey, there is always the element of surprise, so lessen that element of surprise by always looking around.

 

  1. You need to make sure that you are working out to improve your physical fitness – if you want to employ self-defense techniques when needed, it’s important to realize that if you are not physically fit, then you might actually be endangering yourself. You don’t need to go to the gym. Make sure you do cardio exercises to get your heart healthy. If you have dumbbells, use them so that can increase your upper body strength.

 

Self Defense

 

  1. You must also be eating a healthy diet – getting regular exercise is always coupled with a healthy diet. Try to stay away from fatty and processed food, and lessen your intake of white rice and sweets, especially if you are just starting to get physically active. You want to have a good endurance, especially if you want to take up some form of martial arts as a step in your quest to know more about self-defense.  

 

  1. Get professional instructions if you want to know more – if you want to know more than just the basics, there are actually several martial arts or self-defense classes you can take to further add to your skills. But remember that it takes commitment to do so. You will need to be disciplined as it will require a lot of time, effort. Especially if you are not very sporty, to begin with, learning a new skill such as jiu jitsu or taekwondo or krav maga might take its toll on your body. But if you are determined to know how to protect yourself in this day and age, then you will not mind all the pain and sacrifice while you are learning.

 

  1. Invest in a self-defense weapon – you may also want to buy a weapon that can help you when it comes to self-defense. But make sure that in choosing a weapon for self-defense, you will have done a lot of research and also acquired the proper skills necessary to handle said weapons.

 

The Best Way to Purchase Outdoor Gear

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For many people not used to purchasing outdoor gear, it can be quite overwhelming finding the best equipment and the best deals available in the market. You surely do not want to fall into the trap of buying gear that is too expensive only to find better quality at a better price sold somewhere else; This is why you need to know some of the best ways to get an outdoor gear with minimal risks.

Here are a few of the best ways of purchasing an outdoor gear.  

1. Shop online for Best deals  

With the internet available and readily available, shopping for gears should be effortless. You can find all the outdoor gears nowadays and even exclusive discounts at online shops. Sites like Amazon and eBay have a wide range of shops selling all kinds of equipment for winter and summer seasons, and all you need is an internet connection to search for them.

2. Shop End-of-Season Sales for Winter Gear

At the end of winter season, most skin shops close and open up camps for summer activities such as bicycle riding. It is the perfect time for you to shop for winter gears like skies, snowboards and others from these shops as they will try to get rid of these items and will end up selling them at very low prices to get rid of the bulky items. A great way of having a good deal with the shops is getting to know the employees or owners, and this can save you a lot of money.  

3. Purchase used Rental Gear

If you are interested in finding serviceable and reliable gear, you do not have to buy the latest equipment on the market. Of course, the latest gear will be a little more expensive, but you can visit gear rental shops where you can find items that the shops are trying to sell at the end of the rental season. These items you will find them at very low prices. However, it is crucial that you perform a thorough check on the gear before purchasing them.  

4. Ask your friend to accompany you to the shop

It is a good idea to have someone with you when going to purchase outdoor gear especially if it is your first time. Your friend might have a better idea that will help you a long way into your purchase. Also if you have a friend who works at gear shops, they will be able to help you and advise you on the different type of gears accordingly. Some shops also offer special deals to their employees’ friends and family.  

5. Get a Job at an Outdoor Shop

Getting a job at an outdoor shop will help you get exclusive discounts from the shop. It will work great for you especially if you are passionate about the outdoor gears. Many shops have great offers for their employees, and most people fill up their garages efficiently using these offers.  

The best way to purchase outdoor gears is being patient and checking out for the best offers in the market. If you are planning to make a trip, then it is best that you plan earlier and get the gear early enough before the trip. Using the above tips, you should be able to secure great deals from outdoor shops and also online shops that will save you some cash, and you will even get quality gears at the same time.

Prepare For World’s End [infographic guide]

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It's better if you are prepared

How To Survive Hypothermia [infographic]

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Will Money Still Rule the World After the Apocalypse?

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Charles Darwin was once quoted as saying: “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” As much as we would like to accurately predict the future, there really is no way of telling when the Apocalypse will occur. There have been countless predictions involving the Apocalypse, none of which have been accurate thus far, obviously. According to the World Bible Society, the world will end on or before the year 2021, but once again, only time will tell.

photo credit: Sam Rupsa

While we all hope that disaster will not strike in our lifetimes, it is best to always be prepared for the worst.  There is a lot to consider when preparing for a possible Apocalypse such as knowing where to go, having basic survival kits on hand as well as whether to stockpile cash in advance or not.  Money plays a tremendously important role in our current lives but will it be of as much, if any value, after disaster strikes? The following are all possibilities to consider in a post-apocalyptic world:

Prepare for the birth of a new currency

Regardless of how we personally envision the Apocalypse to play out, chances are good that new currencies will be established post-apocalypse. Many preppers are of the opinion that cash will remain king if a crisis like a natural disaster occurs, although debit and credit cards will become worthless. We may have to seek entirely new ways to establish and manage our finances. While there is a general consensus amongst some that gold will become the standard currency across the world, others argue that it will not be of much use after all thanks to income influences.

According to a guide published by Forbes, if a disaster is of such magnitude that it renders the currencies of developed nations’ worthless, gold will more than likely become useless as well due to being a luxury, and incomes will be plummeting drastically. In all likelihood, an entirely new currency will be created as it will just be easier than trying to revive a pre-apocalyptic one, making it pointless to try and hoard money for a ‘rainy day’.

Bartering could return with a bang

The return of a very natural bartering economy is very possible after the Apocalypse and one which a lot of preppers are looking forward to.  In its simplest form, bartering entails exchanging your own goods and services for goods and services you would like to acquire from someone else. There are a lot of seemingly basic items that will be extremely popular in terms of bartering in a post-apocalyptic world. Food and water will undoubtedly be in huge demand, especially as it is very possible that all farmlands may be rendered useless for an extended period of time. Medical supplies such as antibiotics, disinfectants, bandages, ointments, painkillers and blood stop powder will also be very valuable as will salt, liquor, pet food, any fire-making equipment and ammunition. Even if you happen to lose all your worldly possessions in the Apocalypse, you can always barter with services such as medical skills, child minding, fishing, pottery and animal husbandry.

If we could foresee the future it would be decisively easier to prepare for the Apocalypse. We would also be able to make an educated decision on whether to stockpile money while we can, or splurge it all at the first sign of disaster, before it is rendered completely worthless. If the world’s currencies lose all value, as it is expected to do by many, it might prove to be of more value to hoard medicinal supplies, canned good and bottled water than actual cold, hard cash.

5 Reasons You Should Replace Your Social Security Card Right Away If It Is Lost or Stolen

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Financial Survival, Protect Your SSN

If you lose your social security card or have a feeling that it has been stolen, take necessary actions to replace it immediately. Your social security number is probably one of the most important form of identification you have from the government.

When stolen, someone can use your social security number to purchase property or even transact your financial accounts. In addition, criminals can use your social security card to commit crimes or even sell it to an illegal immigrant. A social security card has a number of benefits to the card holder.

Replace your card to be able to open a bank account. If your social security card is stolen, you wouldn’t be able to memorize that number for a long time. Getting a card replacement is safer especially if you want to open a bank account. Some banks require you give them your number while others ask for the card.

On average, $15 billion is stolen from Americans every year. Most, if not all, fraudulent transactions have been linked to lost or misplaced cards that weren’t replaced or reported immediately. Therefore, banks ask for other documents such as your social security card or number to help minimize identity theft.

  1. Prevent Fraud

Your social security card has both your social security number and your full names. The two pieces of information are enough for a fraudster to steal money from your bank account or engage in identity theft. With the information on your social security card, a criminal can easily access your finances.

Criminals can also open accounts, get healthcare, file fraudulent tax returns and a lot more, using your lost or stolen card. If you discover that your card has been stolen, the first thing you should do is take immediate action to protect yourself and finances from theft and fraud.

  1. Get a Passport

A passport is an important travel document. Many times you want to get out of the country for vacations or even a business meeting. When applying for a passport, you need to prove your identity. One document that can help you prove you are the person applying for a passport is the social security card.

A social security card makes it easier for your application to be approved to get a passport. So, in case you lose your card, replace it immediately.

  1. Health Insurance

Insurers need your social security number to provide you with a health insurance cover. In certain cases, insurance companies need your social security card for security reasons. You cannot afford to miss health insurance because you don’t have a social security card.

You are aware of the benefits of having health insurance cover, especially when you or your family member becomes ill and cannot afford to pay medical bills.

  1. A New Job

New employers definitely ask for social security cards for the purposes of identity and tax compliance. If your card is lost or stolen, it’s better to replace it immediately, especially if you are expecting a new job. You wouldn’t want to slow the process of starting your job.

  1. Credit Card Application

Financial institutions might also ask for your card including a copy of it to prevent fraudulent actions. Moreover, they use your social security number to verify if you are creditworthy.

Whether your card is lost, stolen or you’ve simply never applied for one, you need the card for various reasons. Make sure your card is always kept in a safe place and if possible, only walk around with a copy to help you access your number if need be.

You won’t just reduce the risk of losing your card, but also get to bring it with you only when you know you intend to use it.

Do you want to replace social security card? Contact us to find out how we can help you get replacement card ASAP.

 

 

What’s In Your Bag? Preppers Share How They Pack Their Bug Out Bags

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Bill 

The Prepper Journal

What's in your bugout bag? YearZeroSurvival

 

When you travel, what top 3 survival items do you bring besides the common stuff everybody brings?

I am addressing this from the point that there is no commercial airline travel involved. They make it nearly impossible to “carry” on-board anything, even bottled water, though you would be surprised what you can pack in checked baggage. Check the regulations as opposed to the rumors.

I never travel without at least a tactical knife, fire starter and a compact Mylar blanket. If I have a weapon, which I do almost always, then an extra 100 rounds of ammo, always. For the obvious reasons and for barter.

Most useless: cell phone without a solar charger – you can’t always find a working plug. additional electronic devices and, believe it or not, the “wrong” shoes.

How do you bring things with you?

I have a dedicated backpack – compartments. Duffel bags require too much time rummaging around for things. My current backpack is Swiss Army. I organize the compartments by #1 – self defense, #2 – survival, #3 – extras – since normally #3 has a laptop and a tablet and chargers, in a SHTF scenario these would be discarded for more of the basics in #’s 1 and 2.

What are your top tips for other traveling preppers?

Be situation aware. Look at people. Look at the people around you. Engage them in conversations if possible to further understand their current mindset. NEVER risk yourself by doing something stupid – do not try and sneak anything past TSA, ever. Keep your head in emergencies, people will seek out those that do.

Preppers get wrong – they do not take into consideration the Golden Horde. Every new prepper has a plan to head for the mountains, desert, etc. But if you are close to an urban area so will the thousands and millions of others. The best plan is to make preparations to hunker down in place and let events unfold – not with a tornado bearing down on you or a Cat 5 Hurricane when you live in New Orleans below sea level behind levee’s that were build 3 lifetimes ago. But it is usually the best option as a first reaction.

ALSO – more people are injured after weather events than during weather events. It is the aftermath of the situation that you also have to give equal consideration to. Downed power lines, wild animals and desperate people.

 

Thomas Xavier

More Than Just Surviving

What would you pack in your bugout bag? YearZeroSurvival

When you travel, what top 3 survival items do you bring besides the common stuff everybody brings?

I bring:

  • Imodium – Traveller’s diarrhea is a legitimately dangerous thing to have in emergency situations (diarrhea = dehydration) and also consider the fact that you can also have pretty bad bowel problems as a consequence of adrenaline, fear, or stress.
  • Medicated foot powder with piroctone olamine (because if you’re going to be walking for hours and hours in less than ideal situations, you don’t to have issues with bacterial infections – obviously cleaning would be ideal, but when you can’t, foot powder.
  • Chewing gum – The ability to trick your mind into thinking you’re getting a calorie intake and/or distract you when trekking long distances under duress seems like a solid idea relative to its size.

How do you bring things with you?

Honestly, the brand and/or style of bag is irrelevant because people are difference and have different taste. Personally, I’d go for the Hazard 4 stuff, because it’s bombproof and light. I have 3 of them, my favourite being the Grayman Patrol. Super solid and discrete. Plenty of room, but if in doubt, use packing cubes.

What are your top tips for other traveling preppers?

Be mindful of legalities if you ever stray beyond borders or even States. The knife laws in the UK, for example, are bordering insane relative to what you can expect in America. Your mindset should suit your environment with regards to gear.

6 More Preppers Share Their Bugout Bag Items [source]

 

 

5 Valuable Tips for Surviving a Natural Disaster

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Have you or any of your loved ones ever been caught in a natural disaster? Natural disasters can occur in many different forms including hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, landslides, and flash floods among others. Whatever form it may take, a natural disaster has disruptive and destructive effects in any individual’s normal life. The following tips can help you and your loved ones to overcome some of the problems you may face during a natural disaster.

 

  • Make enough family preparation

Preparation is the best way to keep one at ease in the event of an emergency. Take time to discuss with your family what they wish to carry to remain calm when a natural disaster occurs. Give your children time to share what they would not like to leave behind when evacuating. Give them few ideas on how to go about in the crisis to ensure their safety. Discuss the news from the meteorological department with your family to enhance your preparedness.

 

  • Prepare a survival kit

It is difficult to tell the duration that a natural disaster may last. Some can take few hours while others may take several days to last. Equip your survival kit with enough supplies that can last you for at least three days. Include important items such as food, blankets and water. Consider the number of people who will need to use the kit to avoid depleting the supplies long before the emergency is over. Ensure that you carry a kit that can zip up when evacuating.

 

  • Give attention to medications

If you have any condition that requires medical attention, remember to take care of it. Carry your spectacles or hearing aids with you. Many people face medication problems whenever an emergency occurs. Ensure you have enough pills to last you for few days if the disaster lasts for days. Even when you think you are fine carry some painkillers and antibiotics in case need arises. The pressure and confusion that you and your loved ones may face during a natural disaster may make it necessary to take some painkillers.

 

  • Avoid using elevators

In case you get caught in a natural disaster while in the tenth floor, let the elevator be your last option. Disasters increase the chance of power failure. You can easily be trapped in an elevator once there is power failure. Staircases will take more time to reach the ground floor but they are much safer during a disaster. Don’t put yourself in more confusion by getting stuck in the elevator.

 

  • Be cautious when moving around

Natural disasters such as earthquakes bring along aftershocks. When moving to evacuation areas, be careful of any possible falling objects and debris. Watch out for unstable grounds when walking. If you have health problems such as poor vision, you are advised to stay where you are until the rescue comes. Moving around will expose you to more risks of being hit by falling objects such as broken grasses or debris from buildings. The only safe place to move to is a certified evacuation center.

 

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Leona is part of the content and community team at Specialty Fuel Services – providers of emergency fuel continuation services, in locations affected by catastrophic events.