Week One-Thinking

Welcome,

Today, I am starting a weekly blog on getting started in emergency preparedness. I will not be taking any questions before, during, or after. The main reason for this policy is I will not be there when you are trying to survive, so you will need to figure it out on your own or work with someone who is there.

Quickstart:

Turn off your tv and go for a walk, for at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week, in your neighborhood. No, you don't have to wave to your neighbors, yet. But if they wave, wave back.

Blog Post:

In survival, there is a rule. The rule is called the "3 to 5 Rule of Dying." It goes something like this:

You will Die within

3 to 5 seconds without thinking
3 to 5 minutes without breathing
3 to 5 hours without shelter
3 to 5 days without drinking
3 to 5 weeks without eating

Notice "Thinking" is the first item on the list. It is the most important. Don't believe me just read the Darwin Awards.

So you need to be thinking as you start preparing to survive and coming up with how you are going to handle the numerous situations/problems you will be facing, as you get ready.

Now with that said, there are many, many, many people expressing their opinion on how to survive. James M. Dakins, James W. Rawles, Mayberry, Joe, and Andrew Zarowny are just a few. They all have their opinions. Because they have been getting ready longer then you, doesn't mean they are right. This includes me. You have to decide what is going to work for you.

With that said let us get started.

The first thing you want to do is to make a threat analysis. The "Threat Analysis FAQ" leads you through the process of discovering and documenting the threats to your continued survival. Basically, you write down all the bad stuff that could happen to you.

Take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. Next, write down every bad thing that could happen to you and your family on the left side. Some things you might write, in no particular order, are a house fire, laid-off, car accident, flood, hurricane, tornado, home invasion, windstorm, earthquake, sewer back-up, ... . Don't get discouraged. Keep listing.

Now on the right side of the line, you want to prioritize them, from greatest threat to the least likely to happen to you and your family. After you complete your list, go to the "Threat Analysis FAQ" and "Getting Informed." Read both.

Before you go, let me tell you a story.

There was a young man and he wanted to go and seek his fortune. He asked his father what he should do.

The father said, "Son, every morning walk in the direction of the rising sun. At noon, eat your lunch and rest for an hour. Then get up and walk in the direction of the setting sun."

The next morning, his mother and father hugged him and bid him farewell. He did as his father had advised, walking all morning and stopping for lunch, even resting under a shady tree. After his rest, the son got up and followed the setting sun, arriving home just in time for dinner.

A little surprised, he was welcomed home by his family.

At the dinner table, he asked his father why he had given him such bad advice.

His dad replied, "Not everyone will give you good advice."

Original at: http://gsiep.blogspot.com/2008/06/week-one.html