Tuesday, March 6, 2007

How To Survive A Hurricane

Nature can wreak havoc to a community in the form of an earthquake, a tornado, a wildfire or even a hurricane. There is nothing anyone can do to stop this from happening. The best thing to do is to prepare for the worst and get ready to evacuate to higher ground if necessary.
When a disturbance is first detected on the radar screen, the weather forecaster will announce the possible areas where the hurricane might hit. This can change in a matter of hours so stay tuned to the news using your television or radio. Those who are frequently hit by hurricanes annually usually know what to do when a warning is issued.
The people will stock up on emergency supplies such as food and water as well as batteries for the flashlight and the radio.If the power is likely to be knocked out, another thing to get is a generator. This means buying enough gas to keep it running until electricity has been restored. If the stores are closed, or if there is no food on the shelves, it is time to improvise. The bathtub must be cleaned and filled with water so that the people can simply boil it later on to have water to drink .Also fill up the other containers in the house since it may take days before water will come on again. The hurricane may pack winds up to 100+miles per hour that can cause cars, pieces of metal or wood to crash into the home.
Damage can be avoided by securing the house with permanent storm shutters or boarding up the windows with five-eighth inch plywood that can easily be installed then removed and stored in the home for future use. If it becomes a category 4 or 5 hurricane, residents are advised to evacuate the home. Some clothes, food and water must be packed immediately making it possible to drive to safer ground.
The hurricane may pass within a few hours and it is only after it has gone that a person can come out and assess how much damage it has left behind. If no one is hurt, that is the best news; because a home can be repaired but the loss of a loved one can never be replaced

Tips On How To Survive When Lost In The Wilderness

Despite the invention of machines such as cellular phones and the global positioning system or GPS, people are still getting lost in the wilderness. This proves that modern technology can’t always help in some sticky situations.
Here are some tips for those who get lost and have no idea how to get home.
1. Stay put and wait for help to arrive. Friends and family will most likely notice something is wrong when the person has not made it back after some time. This is when a search and rescue mission is initiated by others.
2. If the area where the individual is located is not visible due to the rough terrain, try to move into a clearer area. A person can use his/her clothes, a mirror or some rocks as markers, making it easier for rescuers to find the location from the air or when using a pair of binoculars.
3. Try to stay dry because the weather could get cold and anyone who is wet is at risk of developing hypothermia.
4. A person can also suffer from dehydration if the body does not absorb any water. If there is a nearby stream a person can replenish the lost liquids and maintain normal blood pressure.
5. The weather changes rapidly in the wilderness. Find shelter in a cave or under a tree. Breaking some branches or gathering some old wood can be used to make a makeshift shelter.
6. If the person is injured, it is best to apply first aid. A handkerchief, belt and a stick can be made into a sling or a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
7. The challenging part of surviving the wilderness without any supplies is looking for food to eat. If there are some bushes and trees in the area, a person can check if it is bearing fruits or berries. Some insects such as crickets may also be consumed since studies have shown these creatures have nutrients that are good for the body.
It is hard to appreciate nature when the individual has to survive under such extreme circumstances. If these happen, adapt and improvise because this is the only way to survive.