12 Months of Prepping: Month Four

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If you were to ask a stranger what they were doing to prepare, chances are they would indicate that  they have a few cans of extra food and some bottled water in their pantry along with a couple of spare flashlights and maybe some batteries.  To be honest, those are the things that most people think of when it comes to being prepared.

You and I both know that if a disaster were to occur right now, those folks, out of ignorance or naiveté, would be cut off from the outside world.  They would be totally dependent on first and second responders, and then later the government, to help them with the most rudimentary basics in life.  Talk about the cost of inaction and failing to prepare!

Luckily, if you are reading this article you have taken steps to ensure that you are not put in a situation where you are on your own without the supplies and skills you need to get by in an emergency situation. You have learned that you can approach preparedness in an organized and logical manner and more important, you can proceed slowly but consistently to build up your preps, one month at a time.

If you have been following this series, you will know that in 12 Months of Prepping: Month 1, I talked about the Survival Mindset.  In Month 2, the pep-talk topic was “Why Prepare?” and in Month 3, we dealt with the need to identify risks specific to your family.

Today, in Month Four of Prepping, I address, among other things, prescription medicine, over-the-counter remedies, cash, pets and things you will need to stay warm.

MONTH 4 SUPPLIES & GEAR:

• 7 day supply of critical prescription medicines
• Over the counter remedies and essential oils
• $100 in small bills; more if you can afford it
• Pet supplies
• Infant supplies
• Extra storage containers

Something often overlooked when putting together emergency supplies is an adequate supply of critical prescription medications.   The reason meds are frequently overlooked  is that collecting extras is darn tough because most insurance policies tell you that they only allow a thirty day supply to begin with.

I have some ideas for getting around this; ideas that I use myself.  Here are two.

1.  Talk to your doctor and request a standalone prescription for a one or two week supply of your meds.  Take this prescription to a pharmacy different from your regular pharmacy and do not give them your insurance information.  Pay for these emergency meds out of pocket.

2.  Many insurance companies allow for a 90 day prescription on maintenance drugs. Be aware that they may not tell you this so ask.  They also allow the prescription to be refilled a few weeks before the 90 days is up. This is especially true of mail order pharmacies (Costco, drugstore.com and the like) since time is needed to both process the prescription and get it out to you.

Hint:  You do not need to be a member of Costco to use their pharmacy.  Their prices are great and they make it easy to order prescriptions online.

Over time, by pulling a few tabs from each new prescription, you can build up a decent supply of extras.  This sounds a bit tedious but as long as you order those new refills as soon as you can, it becomes an easy way to build up an emergency supply prescription meds.

Don’t be a wienie or a cheapskate about when it comes to life-saving prescription meds.  Critical medications are going to preserve your health and should not be considered a luxury.  Please find room in your budget to pay for extra medications out of pocket.

That said, wouldn’t it make better sense to stay fit and healthy in the first place?  You might want to read the article Prepper Preparedness: Personal Fitness and Health.

The Myth of Expiration Dates on Prescription Meds

Before leaving this topic, I would like to address the issue of expiration dates on prescriptions drugs.  Although I am not a healthcare professional, many studies have shown that non-refrigerated prescription drugs have a shelf life that is much longer than the pharmaceutical companies would want you to believe.

According to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide:

Most of what is known about drug expiration dates comes from a study conducted by the Food and Drug Administration at the request of the military. With a large and expensive stockpile of drugs, the military faced tossing out and replacing its drugs every few years. What they found from the study is 90% of more than 100 drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, were perfectly good to use even 15 years after the expiration date.

So the expiration date doesn’t really indicate a point at which the medication is no longer effective or has become unsafe to use. Medical authorities state expired drugs are safe to take, even those that expired years ago. A rare exception to this may be tetracycline, but the report on this is controversial among researchers. It’s true the effectiveness of a drug may decrease over time, but much of the original potency still remains even a decade after the expiration date.

Excluding nitroglycerin, insulin, and liquid antibiotics, most medications are as long-lasting as the ones tested by the military. Placing a medication in a cool place, such as a refrigerator, will help a drug remain potent for many years.

Is the expiration date a marketing ploy by drug manufacturers, to keep you restocking your medicine cabinet and their pockets regularly? You can look at it that way.

This is something to keep in mind as you go through drawers of supposedly outdated drugs.

Over-the-Counter Remedies & Essential Oils

In addition to your most critical prescription meds, you are going to want to review and add to the stash of over the counter remedies you set aside in month two.  Did you notice that I did not list any specifics?  The very best way to determine which OTC remedies to stock for an emergency is to open up your medicine cabinet and take a look at what you are currently using.

Chances are you will find a pain reliever such as aspirin or Tylenol plus an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen.  Beyond that, consider antacids and antihistamines and any anything else you currently use.  If you are not currently using something but think you might need it, purchase some now and give it a fair trial.  An emergency is not the time to experiment with new medications, whether a prescription drug or something available over the counter.

I don’t want to dwell too much on the specifics here because you know what you need more that I do.  But, and this is a big but, please consider the use of essential oils in lieu of pharmaceuticals, over the counter or not.

There are many essential oils with healing properties that, when stored in a cool dry area, will have an almost-infinite shelf life.  Five essential oils to consider for preparedness are lavender, peppermint, melaleuca (also known as tea tree), lemon, and rosemary.

Here are a few articles to help you learn more about using these essential oils in a survival situation.

The Miracle of Lavender Oil: 25 Amazing Uses for Survival
The Miracle of Peppermint Oil: 20 Practical Uses for Survival
The Miracle of Tea Tree Oil: 80 Amazing Uses for Survival
33 Awesome Uses of Lemon Essential Oil
The Powerful Healing Qualities of Rosemary Essential Oil

Cash and the Modern Day Cookie Jar

In great grandma’s day there was the cookie jar.  Yes, it was filled with delicious homemade sugar cookies but also, at the very bottom and hidden away, was some cash.  The cookie jar was there for a reason: it was there for that rainy day when something was needed and the weekly budget was shot.

In much the same way, you need to put aside at least $100 in small bills for those times when nothing but cash will do.  The need could be as simple as paying someone to help you remove a tree that has fallen on  your house during a storm or  it could be as catastrophic as all ATMs being shut down due to a computer virus hitting the bank you usually deal with.

Whatever your financial condition, try to build up a stockpile of at least $100 (and preferably a lot more) even if you have to do so at the rate of $5 per week.  To save money, eat pasta and peas for dinner (see Clara’s kitchen) or a bowl of hearty, homemade soup.  However you do it, please save up for an emergency.  It is important.

Pet Preparedness

The four-legged family members need supplies and gear as well.  During this fourth month, pick up some extra pet food as well as a spare collar and if appropriate, a leash or harness.  Also pack away some baggies or garbage bags for potty-cleanup purposes as well as disinfectant wipes.  Alternately, make up a batch of hand-sanitizing spray to keep with your pet supplies.

And finally, make sure that you have copies of your pet’s license information, microchip code, immunization records and other information that will be vital in the event you get separated or must leave your home.  If for some reason you need to move out of your home and into a shelter, having this information may make or break your ability to take your pet with you.

Get a Free Pet Safety Pack

I also recommend that you order a “Free Pet Safety Pack” from the ASPCA.  This kit includes an easy-to-use sticker that will let people and especially emergency personnel know that pets are inside your home.  The sticker will identify your pets to rescue workers, and will include the types and number of pets in your household, the name of your veterinarian, and your veterinarian’s phone number.

Tip:  If you do evacuate and take your pets with you, write “Evacuated” on the face of the sticker so that rescue workers can move on to help someone else.

Also, I realize that pets are not only of the four-legged, dog and cat variety.  If you have birds, gerbils, snakes, lizards or other pets, plan accordingly.  Spouses and significant others do not count as pets, however.

Don’t Forget the Teddy Bear

Supply-wise, the last thing we need to purchase this month are infant supplies such as baby bottles, formula and diapers.  This is pretty self-explanatory and if you have little ones, you know what you need.  If anything, go a bit overboard on supplies for your infant or toddler.  Remember, they are totally dependent on you and may be confused and upset by the turmoil around them.  Now that I think about it, a small teddy bear  is a good idea as well.

Now that we have taken care of the supplies and gear, what are the activities for this month?  As with every month, there is nothing too difficult, too strenuous, or too overwhelming.

MONTH 4 TASKS:

• Package your prescription medications in a storage container and date for annual rotation purposes
• Make a copy of your current prescriptions and keep them in a secure location so that can be filled, if needed, following the emergency event
• Pack up warm blankets, sleeping bags, socks and other cold weather items
• Review your storage area and put stray items in containers that are well marked

With the emphasis on prescription medications this month, I want to stress the importance of proper labeling.  This includes not only the name of the drug and dosage, but also the date it was packed for storage.