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HomePosts Tagged "Hygiene"

In cases of emergency and situations, in which the only thing you can think of is survival, personal hygiene first aid is something you need to have previously prepared. To stay clean and keep your hygiene on the necessary level, here are some useful advices, you can apply to make your survival easier and less painful. The most important ingredient you need to have is water. How to be prepared to stay alive and have the necessary water for drinking, washing and cleaning is a problem, which isn’t easily resolved. If you have the necessary materials to keep your body clean, you can use water only for drinking and save it as much as possible for staying alive.

If you have some essential tools, packed with you, your survival in hurricanes, disasters and emergency situations won’t be that hard. Keeping a fire starting kit, some napkins, soap, wet wipes, towels and enough quantity of water for drinking, is very important. If you have access to some water resource, no matter if the water may be salty or inappropriate for drinking, with some matches and distillation (video below) you can boil it and make it usable for hygiene and drinking. Water from oceans and seas, which is salty and polluted can’t be only boiled, disinfected and used for drinking unless you remove the salt first by distillation.

You can store your water for drinking in plastic bottles, but each year they need to be refilled with fresh water. One gallon for each person a day is the necessary quantity for survival, according to some research. In this quantity is included the water you will use for drinking, cleaning, washing and etc. The sterilized water can also be used, as it has five years shelf live. You can also sterilize your water using some purification tablets and other sources for water disinfection.

Keeping a roll of gauze, wet wipes, clean cloths is also important. These items will help you keep your hygiene on a considerably good level. Keep with you a few packs of aspirin, pills used for painkillers and various purposes, antibiotics for emergency situations, toilet rolls, medical tape. All these pills and items are important for your survival and personal hygiene first aid. A sharp pocket knife or other cutting knife and scissors are also important tools, you will definitely need at some point of your survival.


Baking soda can be used for many purposes and is a useful product  you should keep. If you don’t have shampoos and soap, in emergencies, baking soda can be used as a substitute for disinfecting your scalp, some wounds and infections. If you keep enough rubbing alcohol you can use it for cleaning wounds, skin infections, irritations and different other purposes. It is also an essential part of your personal hygiene first aid.

If you don’t have enough water to take a shower and clean your body, you can search for some natural brooklet or any natural source of water, even the sea or ocean. The water needs to be boiled to kill all microbes and bacteria it has, if you want to use it for drinking. This can be done through the use of matches and some wood. If you don’t have enough water for washing and cleaning, you can use your wet wipes to disinfect your body. All infections and bites from insects and animals on your skin, can be stopped with a clean cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol. If you don’t have such clean the wounds with soap and water.

To survive in emergency situations like floods, earthquake, hurricane and others, you need to have a prepared first aid kit. Toilet paper, wet wipes, pills, soap and bottles with water are essential for survival. Keeping your personal hygiene on the necessary level, which includes washing your hands, taking a shower, dental hygiene and wound disinfection and care, is very important. Cleaning your hands before and after preparing of the food, before eating, after going to the toilet, after touching rubbish, before disinfecting wounds and in other such occasions is of utter importance. If you don’t take care of the your personal hygiene, you risk getting infected with some disease or illness and make your  survival tougher.

Bathing and cleaning  of your hands should be done only with clean water. If you don’t have purified water or access to some natural source of water, you may inflict more damage on yourself, washing and bathing with contaminated water. You can take care of wounds and infections, cleaning them with soap and water or rubbing alcohol if you have such. After irrigating the wound, it should be covered with a clean cloth to be kept protected from further contamination. Washing your hands with running water and soap is the best way to disinfect them and keep them protected from bacteria. If you don’t have soap and running water, wet wipes can be used instead. Washing your hands is very important, because all microbes and bacteria are spread with hands, especially when eating.

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In cases of emergency and situations, in which the only thing you can think of is survival, personal hygiene first aid is something you need to have previously prepared. To

So I’ve hit a breaking point; I finally ran out of the razor blades that I bought in bulk  last year and took a quick trip to Sam’s Club.

Only this time I lost it, I don’t know what it was that hit me but as I stood there scratching the razor burn from the last shave with my “ultra high tech razor with five blades for the smoothest shave you’ll ever get”;  I just could not bring myself to shell out 40 dollars for razor blades.

I’d had it!

I was through!

I was growing a beard!

Well two weeks later, a combination of severe itching and a wife that is not a fan of the  “Grizzly Adams” look  sent me high tailing it back to the store.

But to be honest I had never planned on keeping the beard, and had been trying to figure out a more efficient and cost effective way to manage my facial hair.

And then it hit me, I found a way to stock up on supplies that are useful to me now, will be useful to me later, last a very long time, and will save me money in the process.

And it something that was completely normal just a few generations ago but is now seen is more of a novelty than a functional ( and better) alternative.

I’m talking about wet shaving

Sounds silly right?

My wife thought so too at first, but then we did the math.

A pack of my normal razors cost $38.98 for 16 blades; that’s  $2.44 per blade and each cartridge lasts me two shaves; so that’s $1.22 per shave.

A pack of double bladed razors for my safety razor runs $2.48 for 10 blades; which is $..25 per blade;  after testing I can  comfortably say that I get one shave per blade. ( and you can buy them even cheaper in bulk)

The math alone makes this a completely logical investment, as long as you learn how to use it properly.

Also, manufacturers are hyping up the “more blades equal a better shave B.S.”, pretty soon we’ll all end up with razors like this…:

I have been wet shaving with a safety razor and boars hair brush (the image to the right) for about a month now and couldn’t be happier with the results.

Yesterday I actually went back and shaved with my old razor and I think it is safe to say that I am now a life long fan of wet shaving and will be ditching my disposable.

With that being said, there are a few pro’s and con’s you should know about if you are interested reviving this lost art.

The Good:

A better shave; even with one blade I noticed that my skin was much less irritated that when using my normal 5 blade model.

Economical; the double edge blades are much more economical than the cartridges.

Shelf Life; Did you ever stop to think that your razors have a shelf life?  Most of the fancy razors have lubricating strips and  rubber pieces that can go bad over time.

Multiple uses; these double bladed razors are ultra sharp and can be used for more than just shaving your face, unlike their cartridge cousins (minus a few prison modifications of course).

Nostalgia; something about holding one of these reminds me of watching my Papa shave when I was young and makes me feel connected ( this is more of a personal pro but some of you may feel the same).

The Bad:

Shock factor:  The initial cost of a handle can be very expensive, but unlike modern razors, these are meant to last a lifetime.  I purchased my razor from a beauty supply store for around 12.00 just for testing purposes and while it seems to be pretty sturdy, I will soon be  switching over to a Safety Razor  from Merkur. The only problem is picking which one I want.  A good handle can cost you anywhere from $20-$100 and the sets that include the brush, stand, and lather cup, start at around $60 and go upwards of $200.  BUT if you buy a good razor it is something that you will be able to pass down for generations.

Time: Shaving used to be an art. Now it is a pain in the rear.  To properly wet shave you need to set aside time  so if you don’t think that you can set aside a good 15-30 minutes for a thorough shave, you might want to keep at the hack and slash method. ( see below for the technique that I use)

Learning curve:  Properly learning the technique to a wet shave is  not something you pick up overnight. There is a definite learning curve  that I am still trying to get over.

More chance to cut yourself: You are much more likely to cut yourself with a one of these butterfly type safety razors than with a cartridge, Not necessarily because the blade is more dangerous but because they are far less forgiving than a modern razor.

The Bottom Line

Wet shaving may not be for everyone, but it is a great skill to have.  The two main things  you need to concern yourself with are the initial cost of purchasing the supplies and whether or not you are willing to dedicate the time required to do a full shave.

You can stock up on razor blades now and even buy a few extra cheap razor handles to keep stashed away. That way you can have them for your personal use now and as a bartering tool after TSHTF.  Never under estimate the face value of a clean shave.  If you want to get started and skip going the cheapest route I would suggest getting this kit (it is probably the one I am going to end up with):

P.S. Like I said earlier there is a technique and finesse that you need to learn in order to be successful with this type of shave

The Technique

Prep your beard. If you want a clean shave, you need to prep your beard adequately. The goal during beard prep is to soften your whiskers so shaving is easier and causes less irritation. The best way to soften your beard is to to shave right when you get out of the shower. The hot water from your shower should hydrate and soften your beard enough for shaving. If you haven’t showered, at least wet your beard with some hot water. A hot towel is a great way to soften your beard.

Lather up. Take a small dollop (about the size of nickel) of your shave cream and place it in a mug. Take your brush that you’ve pre-soaked with water and swirl the cream around until you get a nice thick lather. Apply the lather with your brush in swirling motions. When your face is nice and covered, take a few strokes to smooth everything out.

The shave. Unlike shaving with cartridge razors, shaving with a safety razor actually requires some skill and technique. Once mastered, though, you should be shaving effectively in no time. The four keys to a successful shave with a safety razor are 1) use as little pressure as possible; 2) angle the blade as far away from your face as possible; 3) shave with the grain; and 4) go for beard reduction, not beard removal. This will take some getting used to if you have used cartridges your entire life.

You don’t need to use pressure because the weight of the safety razor is sufficient to cut your beard. If you press down, you’ll end up hacking up your face. To help counter the tendency to apply pressure, try holding the razor by the tip of the handle.

Angling your razor is probably the trickiest part. The proper angle is somewhere around 30 and 45 degrees. To get the proper razor angle, put the top of the razor head directly on your cheek, with the handle parallel with the floor. Now slowly lower the handle until the blade can cut your whisker. Practice on your arm if you’re not comfortable practicing on your face.

While shaving against the grain can get you that smooth feel, you risk slicing up your face and causing ingrown hairs. When you’re first starting out, shave with the grain of your beard. If you lather up and pass the razor more than once over your face, you’re guaranteed to get a smooth finish.

The goal with shaving should be gradual beard reduction, not beard removal in one deft swoop. Most men try to get rid of their beard in once pass of the razor. This hack-and-go technique is what causes the majority of skin irritations. If you want to avoid skin irritation, lather up and pass your razor over your face several times. Your face will thank you.

Post-shave. Rinse your face off with some cold water to close your pores. Treat your face to a nice aftershave. There are several to choose from, so pick the one you like best. Aftershave helps reduce any irritation that may have occurred and will leave your skin looking healthy.

There is much more to a shave than just the technique.

Anyone else practice wet shaving?

Or if you have a suggestion for a good razor handle model, leave me a comment and let me know!

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So I’ve hit a breaking point; I finally ran out of the razor blades that I bought in bulk  last year and took a quick trip to Sam’s Club. Only this

 

I recently read an article about what a woman learned from a weekend of surviving on stored water. Basically she learned to have her kids share their bath water and to store more so she could take longer showers and more baths.

In a disaster we all know water is going to be very precious. Water is also one of the hardest things to store. Now is the time to think about ways to get the most out of every drop. I want to stay clean but if it comes down to it and in a disaster we all know it will I’d rather have more for drinking and less for washing.

I have had many instances of not having access to running water. I live in a mobile home and my piping is PVC pipe. One day my brother accidentally ran over it with the lawnmower. Fortunately I am friends with a plumber and he would fix it for free. Unfortunately I had to wait 3 days. I’m 5 feet 6 inches tall and I can wash and rinse everything using only 2 liters of water. I wasn’t even being careful just too lazy to get an extra 2 two liter bottle.

Squeezing the last drop out of your water during a disaster

Here is what I did. Stand inside a plastic tote. Use a red solo cup etc. Pour water on head slowly and massage into hair, trying not to let any water run-off. If you have long hair, pile it loosely in a bun on top of your head and hold in place with one hand. Pour water slowly to allow your hair time to absorb it. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

If washing a second time to get your hair clean you only need to rinse about half of the soap out. Be careful not to use too much soap because the more soap you use the more water it will take to rinse. Use cup to scoop water from tote to get body wet and wash. You can also just use a wet wash rag. Using this method you don’t have to get your skin wet first. Use water from tote to start rinse. Finish with cup to rinse with clean water. Using this method you can use 2 liters or less of water. Practice now and learn how little water you can get clean with.

You can brush your teeth with very little water. Put toothpaste on toothbrush. Take a small sip to wet mouth. I have also used mouthwash for this step. Spit out on toothbrush to wet paste. Brush like normal and rinse with a sip of two of water.

Grey water can be used by the next person and followed with clean for a rinse. It can be used to start to clean clothes and finally if possible to flush a toilet.

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A local pond might become your new bathing spot.

When washing your hands or dishes be careful to catch water for reuse. Better yet plan on having at least some disposable dishes and baby wipes for cleaning your hands.

After a disaster everything is going to change. Most people are used to showering every day but in the past most people bathed once a week. They did this when there was no air conditioning and many had labor intensive jobs. These next suggestions may seem gross to you but they are worth considering. Even if you think you have plenty of water and a perfect bug out plan. It is highly likely that during a disaster at least once you will have to go a few days without a shower or clean clothes.

Bring out the funk!

Texsport Jumbo Camp Shower, 5 Gal – For those who want to freshen up without access to running water. Good insurance policy.

You might want to get an ideal of how it I going to feel and start getting used to it. Try going a few days without a shower to get used to it. I’m not suggesting no hygiene at all. Go ahead use deodorant. Use a baby wipe to clean up. Just forgo an actual shower. I have managed to get to 10 days before I was told I smelled. It helps that I work from home. For those of you that work with people outside of your family try skipping your Thursday night or Friday morning shower and waiting till Sunday night or Monday morning to shower. If you are used to wearing clean clothes every day try wearing the same outfit for several days.

For personal food storage I generally see the advice to store what you eat and to eat what you store. In theory that sounds good. However, during a disaster everything is going to become harder. I want life to be as easy as possible during this time so I store several things I don’t normally eat.

Some examples are canned tuna, canned ham and canned chicken. I have eaten these in the past and tried all of the brands I store. I don’t eat them regularly because it is cost prohibitive to do so. I store them because in a disaster it is likely to be the only meat available to me and my family

I store instant potatoes even though I don’t like them. I’ll eat them if I have to and I don’t expect to have access to regular potatoes. I have instant gravy to make cooking and eating faster and easier. I have canned beans because it takes so much water to cook beans. Precooked rice pouches will reduce cook time and water usage. For as long as it lasts bagged cereal requires no cooking, no additional water to cook and no water to wash dishes. It also doesn’t weigh much. My local Walmart frequently has Malt o Meal 11 ounce bags for a dollar. Picky eaters should practice expanding the foods they eat.

I also have food I would only eat if I had to. I didn’t buy most of this food and what I did buy was on sale. My local HEB always has meal deals where you get free items if you purchase something. I get even the foods I don’t like and save them. These are the foods that will be out in my visible food storage. That way when people come to loot my house or steal from me they can see and steal those. Hopefully this will satisfy them and they won’t look or look as hard for my hidden food. Some things are best kept private but I will say I have put considerable thought into places and ways I can hide my preps. I am under no illusions that no one will come and take things from me. I actually expect to have things stolen.

My plan is to not cook anything for at least 30 days. I may heat up a can of soup or fix instant potatoes but that’s about it. I don’t want people smelling my food. This will also reduce water usage. Little to no water will be needed to cook. Little to no water will be needed to clean up after eating.

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  I recently read an article about what a woman learned from a weekend of surviving on stored water. Basically she learned to have her kids share their bath water and