Preparedness
Freezer Failure Survival: Keep Your Food Investment Safe

Experiencing a freezer malfunction can be a daunting situation, potentially leading to the loss of a significant investment in food, time, and money. Understanding how to manage this type of emergency is crucial, and the best time to prepare for it is before it happens.
Freezers can stop working for a variety of reasons, such as mechanical issues, power outages, or human error. When you discover that your freezer is no longer functioning, the first step is to keep the door closed. This simple action can prevent food from thawing for 15 to 20 hours in a well-stocked freezer.
To address the issue, start by identifying the cause. It could be as simple as a blown fuse, a broken electrical circuit, or an accidental disconnection. In these cases, restoring normal operation should be your priority, followed by checking the food for signs of thawing.
In the event of a power outage, contact your utility company to determine how long the power will be out. If the problem is mechanical, consult your freezer’s instruction manual to see if there’s a quick fix you can perform. If not, find out how soon a repair technician can service your appliance.
If it seems unlikely that your freezer will be operational within a day, consider relocating your frozen goods to another working freezer. Friends or neighbors might have available space, or you could explore local freezing facilities.
When transferring food, use insulated boxes or wrap the items in thick layers of newspaper and blankets. Once removed from the freezer, transport the food to a functioning freezer as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, unplug your freezer, defrost it according to the manual, and clean it thoroughly. While it’s not in use, keep the door slightly ajar to allow air circulation, ensuring it’s propped open to prevent accidents.
Should alternative freezer space be unavailable, dry ice can be a viable option to keep your food frozen. Look in the yellow pages under “Dry Ice” or “Carbonic Gas” for local suppliers. Remember, dry ice is extremely cold, so handle it with heavy gloves to avoid burns. Let the supplier cut the ice into manageable pieces and wrap them in newspaper for you.
For a 20-cubic foot freezer, a 50-pound block of dry ice can preserve solidly frozen food for 36 hours. In a half-full 10-cubic foot freezer, 25 pounds should maintain freezing temperatures for two to three days. Place heavy cardboard over the food in each compartment and position the dry ice on top. Keep the freezer closed but unlocked, and only open it to replace the dry ice or when the freezer is operational again.
To enhance insulation, cover the freezer with blankets or quilts, and add crumpled newspaper or other insulating materials between the cabinet and the coverings. Ensure these coverings do not obstruct the air vents, as unexpected power restoration will require ventilation.
Dry ice emits carbon dioxide gas, which needs an escape route. It evaporates without leaving liquid, but you might notice an off-odor upon reopening the freezer. This smell is carbonic acid, a harmless byproduct of dry ice and moisture interaction. Simply leave the door open for a few minutes to dissipate the odor.
In winter, you can use snow and ice for temporary storage. Line a plastic garbage can with a clean bag, place the frozen food inside, secure the bag, and tightly close the lid. Bury the can in snow to keep the contents frozen for four to five days.
Finally, if some food has thawed, assess its condition and determine whether it can be safely refrozen or should be used immediately.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Preparedness
Boost Home Security with These Essential Strategies

In recent times, there’s been a noticeable increase in crime rates, partly due to the diminishing police presence in some areas. This has left many homeowners seeking effective ways to bolster their home security. Whether you’re in a neighborhood affected by unrest or simply want to enhance your safety, here are five strategies to improve the security of your home.
First and foremost, doors are the primary access points for any home and often the initial target for burglars. To safeguard against unwanted intrusions, it is crucial to keep your doors locked at all times, even when you’re inside. Enhancing your door security with peepholes, deadbolts, and security chains can provide additional layers of protection.
“Multiple locking mechanisms make it more difficult for an intruder to kick the door open.” Incorporating hinge bolts can further fortify your doors, providing that extra degree of security.
Another often-overlooked method of securing your doors involves verifying the identity of anyone who knocks or rings the doorbell. Some intruders rely on the element of surprise, waiting for homeowners to open the door for them instead of forcing their way in.
For those new to the concept of preparedness, it’s essential to explore various strategies to protect your home from potential threats. Even experienced preppers can benefit from revisiting and reinforcing these basic security measures.
By implementing these strategies, you can significantly enhance your home’s security and ensure peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Preparedness
Master Wilderness Survival Skills Before It’s Too Late

In the unpredictable world of wilderness survival, understanding and mastering critical skills can mean the difference between life and death. Among the most vital principles is the “survival rule of threes,” which emphasizes that you cannot survive for more than three minutes without breathable air, three hours without shelter in extreme conditions, three days without water, and three weeks without food. While exceptions exist, these guidelines generally hold true and form the foundation of survival strategy.
When unexpectedly caught in a wilderness scenario, the skills you prioritize will depend significantly on your immediate circumstances. For instance, if you sustain an injury, first aid becomes paramount. In a sweltering environment, locating and purifying water is crucial, whereas in cold, wet conditions, constructing a shelter should be your first move.
Possessing the Ten C’s of Survival can significantly enhance your preparedness for emergencies, even during a brief day hike. A well-constructed survival shelter offers protection from harsh environmental elements, which is sometimes more vital than other necessities.
Humans are ill-equipped for prolonged exposure to extreme conditions. In a desert, direct sunlight can lead to rapid dehydration, while in the frozen tundra, hypothermia can set in within minutes. Even in temperate regions, being rain-soaked can be dangerous. Therefore, a shelter provides not only protection from the elements but also a degree of safety from predators.
Numerous resources are available to learn how to create shelters without tools. For instance, TA Outdoors offers a comprehensive guide, and Survival Lily demonstrates five types of emergency shelters using natural materials. However, having a survival kit, including a tarp and cordage, can make constructing a shelter quicker and less labor-intensive. The Gray Bearded Green Beret provides excellent instruction on setting up a tarp shelter swiftly.
Although the rule of threes suggests you can survive without water for three days, extremely hot conditions and physical exertion can shorten this window. Dehydration also impairs cognitive function, beginning the moment you find yourself lost or injured. Thus, continually finding, purifying, filtering, and drinking water is essential when in survival mode.
Two primary methods exist for purifying water: boiling it for ten minutes or using a filter. Boiling requires a container, while filtering is best done with a commercial filter like the Sawyer Mini. In the absence of a commercial filter, you can improvise one to remove some impurities.
Fire-starting is another crucial skill that demands practice in diverse situations. Without man-made tools such as waterproof matches or a ferro rod, you must rely on found items. A helpful video demonstrates multiple fire-starting techniques without matches, providing valuable knowledge to store in your mental library.
The size of the fire you build depends on its purpose. For warmth overnight, a long fire with a reflector may be necessary, while boiling water requires a smaller fire.
Being lost in the wilderness is daunting but not insurmountable. With the right skills and mindset, survival is achievable.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Preparedness
Master Survival Cooking Skills for Your Next Outdoor Adventure

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you’re without traditional cooking tools like pots or pans, knowing a variety of primitive cooking techniques can be a lifesaver. These methods not only enhance your survival skills but also add a unique twist to your outdoor adventures.
One of the most straightforward and widely recognized primitive cooking techniques is cooking on a spit. This method involves skewering chunks of meat or vegetables on a stick, constructing a frame to support the stick, and rotating it occasionally for even cooking. It’s a simple yet effective way to prepare food over an open flame.
For a makeshift griddle, consider using a flat rock. Find a large, flat stone, and after rinsing it off, let it dry near the fire. Once your fire has burned down to glowing coals, place the stone on top to heat it. This method works similarly to cooking on a pan, but be cautious to prevent your food from falling into the fire.
Ash cooking is another technique that mirrors tin-foil cooking but uses leaves instead of aluminum foil. This method is particularly useful for cooking fish. After building a fire and letting it die down to hot coals, wrap your food in large, non-toxic leaves like banana or grape leaves. Place the wrapped food on the coals and cover it with additional hot coals to cook from both sides.
Rock boiling is ideal for heating liquids. It’s crucial to avoid using wet rocks, as they can explode when heated. Once you have a fire going, heat clean, dry stones and then place them into the liquid you wish to heat. This technique is excellent for making soups or boiling water to make it safer for drinking.
Pit cooking, or using an earth oven, is one of the oldest cooking methods. Dig a pit that can accommodate your meal, along with rocks and vegetation. Line the pit with charcoal, light it, and let it get very hot before dying down. Place your food, wrapped in green leaves, over the coals and cover it with earth. This method requires patience, as even small meals take hours to cook, but it is a tried-and-true method used in many cultures, especially in Polynesia.
Mastering these primitive cooking skills not only prepares you for unexpected situations but also adds a touch of adventure to your next camping trip. As you experiment with these techniques, remember the wise words: “Bon Appetite!”
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
-
Tactical1 year ago
70-Year-Old Fends Off Intruder with Lead-Powered Message
-
Tactical1 year ago
Vape Shop Employee Confronts Armed Crooks, Sends Them Running
-
Preparedness12 months ago
Ex-Ballerina’s Guilty Verdict Sends Tremors Through Gun-Owner Community
-
Preparedness10 months ago
Good Samaritan Saves Trooper in Harrowing Interstate Confrontation
-
Tactical1 year ago
Midnight SUV Theft Interrupted by Armed Homeowner’s Retaliation
-
Survival Stories2 years ago
Emily’s 30-Day Experience of Being Stranded on a Desert Island
-
Preparedness11 months ago
Arizona Engineer’s Headless Body Found in Desert: Friend Charged
-
Preparedness10 months ago
Boy Saves Dad from Bear Attack with One Perfect Shot