#41

For those of you who like scientific things and especially earthquakes, there is a web site that is provided by the USGS and it has lots of fascinating information. In the following link, it shows earthquakes that have happened in the last hour in red, blue for any others today and yellow for the last week in the U.S. including the islands and Alaska.

As I am looking at it now, 786 instances are showing for the past week in our great land. It shows a fairly strong one reported by the news services between Salina and Green River and two just west of us in Eastern Nevada during the past week. Most are small shakers. Here is the link. From here you can go to other fun lists on the web site. Look at the Real-time Worldwide for a global display. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/

If you think you felt an Earthquake, you can even get online and report it and be a part of a worldwide response system that gives up-to-date data on Earth movement and makes it available to anyone, anywhere in the world within seconds of its occurrence! USGS will follow with actual data from its web of seismograph stations with the intensity and the exact location of the Earthquake.

I guess this has no connection to preparedness, but who do you think is the official timekeeper of the United States? If you guessed the U.S. Navy, you are right! Here is a web site that will show you the exact time in any part of the country. http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/simpletime.html

And, now back to great ideas from the studio audience: Fenton Moss suggests that if your water is shut off or not available, you are still going to get dirty; maybe even more so. How much of your water supply would you use up taking a shower like you do now? Probably more than 400 percent (and how are you going to heat and pressurize it to give you that therapeutic wash down you usually take?) Well, Bro Moss suggests that while in the service, they had to bathe in the amount of water that would fill a helmet! Well, he suggests that everyone have a 3 gallon pressure weed sprayer and use that for a shower. Get wet, soap, and rinse off. That easy and have enough water left for another 2 showers or maybe more. Thanks Bro. Moss for that idea. Please use a clean one!

Many of you may be a little intimidated by the computer generation and all of the references I keep making to the Internet. I don’t want to leave you behind by doing this and so if there is something you want to know that we have discussed in this insert, please do not be embarrassed to ask. I have posted a brochure on the ward bulletin board which is from the Department of Homeland Security with ideas for ‘Older Americans.’ Behind the second page is a sign up sheet for personal copies of the brochure. Please sign up and I will see that you get a full sized copy for your own use.

For those of you who have internet access, there is an interactive plan maker that guides you through the development of an emergency plan, then prints it out for sharing with family and friends, so that communication during an emergency will be facilitated. You may also decide to not do it on-line in which case, they have provided a worksheet for Excel and Word. http://ready.adcouncil.org/beprepared/fep/index.jsp

The web site for the Homeland Security and FEMA that helps us be ready for a disaster or emergency is appropriately called, “Ready America” the byline is, “Prepare, Plan, & Stay Informed.” That should be our motto too.

Finally, as I remarked a few months ago and as the revised church publication “All is Safely Gathered In,” states, we need to have enough supplies set aside for ourselves and our neighbors. I would think that this might cause some varied responses in our hearts and minds as we consider taking something that has been a real sacrifice for us and be prepared to share it with someone who has had the same instructions we have had and for whatever reason, have not put sufficient away for their needs. We also need to be ready to share equally with members of other faiths. I suggest that you resolve this issue in our own minds before the time comes to be confronted by it. I also suggest that this might be the time to become informed about what educational materials are available from the Church and from “Ready America,” and start being pro-active with your extended family, friends and neighbors. The more we all get aboard on this effort, the easier it will be for all of us when a real emergency arrives. I will discuss more on printed resources next week.

gv3grant@gmail.com 435 628-2739 http://rupreparedgv3.blogspot.com

#40

It has been almost a year since we started this insert. It seems time to update our lists of things to have on hand if an emergency should come. It may seem like there are just about as many lists as there are imaginations of what could happen. Each of you will have peculiar needs as well, so it is very important to look at all of the lists and adapt them to your family. As soon as you think of something that has not shown up on any list but that is important to you, add it to your pack and update your list.

It is time also to rotate the food and clothing items and any other perishables in your packs. Make sure you check batteries and if they are installed in radios or flashlights, take them out and make sure they are not leaking. Be sure to have an extra set outside of the radio or flashlight and test them to make sure they are fully charged. If the batteries have leaked, take them out and toss them. You may not need to discard the flashlight or radio or other appliance. Try carefully wiping out any white powdery oxide stuff with a cloth soaked in bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and water. Careful not to get water into the electronic compartments. After cleaning, you can clean the contacts with a typing eraser to remove anything that would interfere with a good connection to the battery.

Cell phones are going to be a great resource to have when a large scale emergency happens. Remember however, that there may not be power to charge your batteries. How frustrating that would be to have this device but have a dead battery and a need to contact family inside or outside of a disaster area. You might consider watching for solar chargers for your important devices. Solar cell phone chargers are available for prices ranging from $20 to more than $100 and are just beginning to come on the market. Not all phones are supported yet but keep watching the market.

Records are the other thing you need to think about as you prepare your emergency response. In the lists on the back, I have a section on what you need to have with you if you have to leave the home. There is another side to records that I will spend another week on and that has to do with photos, family history records both digital and hard copy and other family treasures.

‘Thumbdrive’ (computer/photos/genealogy) scanned documents (important papers from above)

Personal Hygiene (teeth/hair/body/feminine)

Extra keys (work/cars/house)

Wallet ($50+cash / CC/ temple ID)

Lightsticks(3)/Flashlight/batteries

Emergency blanket/poncho/Kleenex

Evacuation Plan (places/maps/addresses)

Entertainment (cards/games/book/drawing)

Favorite Toy/blanket (child)

Emergency Food (3+ days)

Water Bottles (4) + bottle filter

Pocket Knife/matches (adult)

First Aid Kit/Moleskin/work gloves/N95 masks

Id’s/photos (/family photo)

Consecrated oil

Gum, 12 piece pack

lotion/sunblock/chapstick/brush/large trash bags and ties

*Important papers: Documents: Put your important papers, records and documents in grab and go bag. (Keep extra set in freezer will protect in case of fire)

Bank Account Numbers Passports, Birth, Death, Marriage Certificates Social Security Numbers, Charge Card Accounts and Contact Numbers, Stocks and Bonds, Deeds, Contracts, and Loan Wills, House and Life Insurance Policies, Baptism & Priesthood Cert., Family History-memory stick, Car Titles, Phone numbers/address of family/friends, Photos (on CD/mem.stick), Computer files, mem. stick Medical Info (shots, doctors, Prescription numbers and other relevant information for refils)

OK, There are some terms like mem. Stick, thumb drive and CD that you may not recognize. These are ways to store computer documents and can store large amounts of documents & pictures in a very small unit, but you need a computer to get access to them again. Get your favorite computer genius to explain all this.

gv3grant@gmail.com 435 628-2739 http://rupreparedgv3.blogspot.com

If you have to evacuate your home in a hurry, know what order you will take the things you have time to retrieve and a plan the evacuation. Many of you are all to familiar with that scenario both from personal experience or just helping someone else. Have you ever stood at the door and just knew you were forgetting something? These lists will help.

Preparedness # 35

Preparedness#35–Flu Update & Tin Can Ice Cream

As you may have guessed by the articles in the newspaper and TV etc. the flu season starts on October 4^th this year. (Who decides these dates? Does this mean we can’t get the flu sooner, yea and the Hurricane season too!) Anyway, here is the latest from the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta on how to keep the flu under control. Utah is listed as having ‘sporadic outbreaks which is normal for this time of year. Other states like Arizona for example have significant problems with this flu already. (next door)

Five Tips For Keeping Kids [young and old] Flu Free

Tip 1: Make sure your children get a seasonal flu vaccine and the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. This week, Secretary Sebelius announced the H1N1 vaccine will be ready in early October. But the seasonal flu vaccine is available right now! The best way to protect against the flu – seasonal or 2009 H1N1 – is to get vaccinated. Children older than 6 months are a priority group for the H1N1 vaccine, which means they will be among the first to get the vaccine when it’s available. For more information about the H1N1 vaccine, visit http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination.

Tip 2: Encourage healthy hygiene in your home. Remind your kids to wash their hands and to cover their mouths with a tissue or shirt sleeve when they cough. Also, encourage them not to share drinks or eating utensils with their friends. For more guidance on hygiene tips for flu prevention, visit www.cdc.gov/cleanhands and http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/covercough.htm.

Tip 3: Make an effort to keep your kids’ play areas and toys clean. Use sanitizing wipes to wipe down toys, video games, and the computer. Visit http://nrckids.org for more information on cleaning in early childhood settings.

Tip 4: We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again - if your child has a fever or displays symptoms of the flu, including body aches, sore throat, headache or a cough, keep your child home from school.

Tip 5: Regularly visit www.flu.gov this flu season for the latest news about the flu and the vaccine, and for more tips to keep your family healthy this flu season.

To read the CDC’s Child Care and Early Childhood Guidance, visit http://www.flu.gov/professional/school/childguidance.html.

As promised, I have another way to use the empty gallon storage cans from the dry pack cannery or other sources. (This is my excuse for this being appropriate for the insert.) You will need a plastic snap on lid which you should have gotten with your order. If not, borrow or….. you will probably find it worth it to get a few extra.

Tin Can Ice cream

1/2 cup Milk
1/2 cup Half and Half – (add a little more if the milk is skim or 1%)
1/4 cup Sugar
1/4 tsp. Vanilla Extract
Nuts or Fruit, as desired – We used frozen peaches(thawed) and peach yogurt

(I add a small container or 2 of yogurt in the flavor of the fruit added.)
1. Combine ingredients in a one quart Zip Loc Freezer bag.

2. Place inside a number 10 (gallon) food storage can like you get from the dry pack cannery.
3. Hold the bag upright in the middle of the can and Pack with crushed ice. Pour 1/2 cup rock salt evenly over ice. (Ice maker ice cubes work OK)
4. Place a tight fitting lid on the number 10 can. Tape with masking tape or Duct tape. (It is possible for the lid to come off and the contents to spill.)
5. Roll the can back and forth on a table or the floor or on the grass at the park or front lawn for about 15 minutes.

You may feel the bag inside rattling around like a thud in which case it has frozen solid and is ready to open. If you open and the ice cream is not firm, add a little more ice and a little more salt and roll some more. Don’t pour the salty water on the grass or plants or it will look like you had a very large dog visit your garden and it will last a long time!

It will be interesting to see what variations you come up with. M&Ms, gummy bears, okra? We will try Splenda instead of sugar and some other fruits. Let me know what works. Is this stretching preparedness? Nola and I reasoned that if we could dry whipping cream that there might be a reason for doing this! It’s fun and tasty and has no air or extra chemicals!

gv3grant@gmail.com 435 628-2739 http://rupreparedgv3.blogspot.com 9/20/09

Preparedness#34–Creative Storage Ideas 09/13/09

This week, just for fun I have searched for some ideas for making better use of space for storage and using no.10 gallon cans. Most of us are short on storage space for our emergency supplies but could be surprised what can be ‘stashed,’ with some creative thinking and some ideas from others who have already discovered some ways. Frankly, some of these ideas could look like they were created by ‘the ‘loving hands of home,’ and not really add to the décor of our homes. However, with some care, some of these and other ideas could really look good and provide a place for more of the emergency storage we need.. Remember too that when you are hungry, you may wish you had compromised a bit on ‘the look’ and been a little more obedient about storage. Here are some ideas that I found on the Internet for space and organization:

“Try bed risers and put them under beds, desk, bookcase, table legs so they are raised and have extra space underneath!

Blankets, curtains and sweaters can be stored between your mattress and box springs. All these items are best if stored flat and pressed. They never get lost, are always available and are wrinkle free when needed. [They stay relatively clean as well.]

1. Use screw-top, glass [or plastic] jars of various sizes for refrigerator storage. They're sanitary, do not stain, and you can tell at a glance how much of what remains to be used up!
2. Mount screw-in wooden knobs on a length of board, paint it, hang it with 2 or 3 large picture hooks to a wall at child height to encourage kids to "store" bathrobes, towels, jackets and such up off the chairs and floor!
3. Mount a number of ordinary curtain rods one over the other and you'll have a place to hang a library of magazines (by their spines), folded towels, or tablecloths and bureau linens. Of course you can paint the rods to compliment the room's decor.
   - Nett of NH

“My kitchen provides a few extra storage spaces: The space between my kitchen range and the counter is used for storing narrow items. Right now some of my carpentry tools are stashed there. I can also store my portable window screens there. The cabinets have an inset along the top that is about 2" deep. There extra kitchen linens are kept fresh in a plastic bag plus other flat items fit well.

Look for narrow spaces behind furniture and appliances. Often a few inches are lurking there unused. Don't overlook space underneath steps.” ~Charlotte

“Purchase one of those big, plastic trash cans (with the lids that snap on)... the kind you use to store trash, outdoors... take the lid off and place a piece of round plywood (or wood) on top; place a sheet/table cloth over the wood piece... and there you have it: a VERY LARGE storage container AND a side table. If you go to the snow, use the lid for a snow pan.

We have already talked about using a gallon can for a stove, but you can also put gallon ‘Zip Loc’ bags in them with the top folded over the edge and fill with liquid. If you have tried to do that without a support, you know what a good idea this is.

Above ideas come from: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf000519.tip.html

Someone mentioned a way to use a gallon can for an emergency car heater with a roll of TP and alcohol. Does anyone know about that? Sounds interesting for trips north in the winter, to include in the auto emergency kit.

Personally, I like baby food bottles for spare parts in the garage; especially the larger bottles. Just screw the lids to a 2X2 (all 4 sides) put nails into the ends and support with a bracket under a shelf and you have a rotating screw, nail and small part storage system. Make sure you have the same number of bottles on each of the 4 sides so it balances.

Next week I will share a recipe and process for Tin Can Ice Cream. Every kid should have their own personal kit! Some other recipes will also be included.

If you are not allowed to store liquid fuel where you live, consider storing charcoal. Make sure that it is allowed as well but it is quite important you have some type of fuel. I will be doing some more experimenting with Solar ovens etc. but in the mean time I would not plan on solar ovens taking care of all your heat needs. Charcoal is easy to store, does not deteriorate over time and is a very efficient fuel You may even find it on sale this fall. If you don’t have one, watch now for close out prices from camping and outdoor stores for Dutch Ovens. A few pieces of charcoal on the top and bottom of a dutch oven can cook an entire meal. Some of the meals are nothing short of spectacularl.

If any of you have ideas inspired by today’s comments, please share them with us

gv3grant@gmail.com 435 628-2739 http://rupreparedgv3.blogspot.com

Preparedness#33–A Zion People or ‘Which way does your tent door face’ 9/06/09

Preparedness#33–A Zion People or ‘Which way does your tent door face’ 9/06/09

One of my favorite lessons in the Old Testament is the lesson on the division of land between Abraham, the great patriarch and his special nephew Lot. History has taught us the ultimate fate of the two men but at the time that they moved into the new land that the Lord had given them, Abraham turned to Lot and asked him which of the land he wanted. The choices were rich fertile land nourished buy the water of a great river or the deseret land adjacent to it.

Lot chose the fertile land that was sure to yeild great wealth an prosperity. Abraham took what seemed to be waste land and baren of the plant life so abundant on Lot’s choice land.

The land that Lot chose included the great cities of Sodom and Gamorah. Knowing the type of things going on there, Lot and his family decided to pitch their tents far away in the grazing lands from the cities but faced the tent doors toward the cities just to keep an curious eye on the ‘goings on.’

Abraham, on the other hand, moved to his new desert home and built and altar. It was the closest thing to God he could create since he lacked the means or the time to build a temple. It was his sacred place. He then gave thanks for the new land the Lord had given him, blessed it to the good of his family and his ability to serve the Lord. Some would say he got a less than optimum start in the new place. He seems to never have been resentful of Lot’s choice to take the best and not divide it with some good and some bad evenly between them but made the most of what he was given.

After he gave thanks to the Lord for his ‘gift,’ he set up his tent with the door facing the alter he had just built and used to worship. To make a long story short, most of you know what finally happened to each man an his family. Lot and his family finally moved to Sodom, his wife turned to salt for not quite leaving Sodom in her heart, Lot and his family deteriorated spiritually.

Abraham, on the other hand became exceedingly wealthy, and became the patriarch through which the Covenant of all the blessings of the gospel/Priesthood were given – not only to him and his family, but all the worthy families and individuals on this Earth. What a man he must have been. I know it wasn’t just where he faced his tent door by accident that caused his blessing; it was that he was the kind of man that understood the principle and for good reason built and worshiped at the alter – then, pitched his tent toward the object of their worship to remind them daily of who they were and what they should be about. Lots choice had the same effect but with a different object and an opposite outcome!

So, as you examine your PREPARATION, which way have you ‘pitched’ your tent door. Is the majority of your involvement on a day to day schedule oriented to the big city on the plain with bright lights, the colorful entertainment and the ‘exciting’ entertainment of ‘Babylon’ or is your tent door facing the Temple with worldly persuits aimed at supporting your ability to give life to that existence of those who humbly live for and follow the Savior.

Those who follow the Savior, learn a new way. A way that we discussed last fall that was so succesful that Enoch and his people became so efficient at obedience that the whole city was taken up to heaven because it became heaven on earth. It became a Zion people. Their secret: They became a people that were pure in heart.- D&C 97:21

Today, I think that you spirits that are here are so sensitive that you know instinctively that you are the Lord’s chosen spirits to carry off the most important work the world has known. The great and small from the history of mankind are watching from the ‘other side’ to see if we will follow our individual mandate or blessing to fulfill the ‘measure of our creation’ and do the great work we were sent to do. Some of us, being the clever individuals we are seem to be trying to build our ‘tents with the door facing the big city AND the Temple hoping to be able to enjoy the ‘blessings’ of both at the same time.

The Lord makes it clear how impossible this is in Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Look up Mammon if you need a definition. )

Elder David R. Stone in April 2006 General Conference said the following: “In his first epistle, John writes: "I have written unto you . . . because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world" (1 John 2:14–15).

We do not need to adopt the standards, the mores, and the morals of Babylon. We can create Zion in the midst of Babylon. We can have our own standards for music and literature and dance and film and language. We can have our own standards for dress and deportment, for politeness and respect. We can live in accordance with the Lord's moral laws. We can limit how much of Babylon we allow into our homes by the media of communication.

We can live as a Zion people, if we wish to. Will it be hard? Of course it will, for the waves of Babylonian culture crash incessantly against our shores. Will it take courage? Of course it will.”

So then, which way is our tent door facing and are we willing to be pure in heart?

gv3grant@gmail.com 435 628-2739 http://rupreparedgv3.blogspot.com

Preparedness#32–New Booklet 8/16/09

The church has just reprinted the ‘Safely Gathered In’ booklet and made some modifications to it. We need to know what it says and review it so that we know we are in the ‘right way.’

MESSAGE FROM THE FIRST PRESIDENCY

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance,

for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to “prepare every needful thing” (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others. We encourage Church members worldwide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings.

We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your

savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into

debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve. We realize that some of you may not have financial resources or

space for such storage. Some of you may be prohibited by law from storing large amounts of food. We encourage you to store as much as

circumstances allow. May the Lord bless you in your home storage efforts.

The First Presidency

THE BASICS OF FAMILY HOME STORAGE

THREE-MONTH SUPPLY

Build a small supply of food that is part of your

normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a

few extra items each week to build a one-week supply

of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply

until it is sufficient for three months. These items

should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage.

DRINKING WATER

Store drinking water for circumstances in which the

water supply may be polluted or disrupted.

If water comes directly from a good, pretreated

source then no additional purification is needed;

otherwise, pretreat water before use. Store water in

sturdy, leak-proof, breakage-resistant containers.

Consider using plastic bottles commonly used for

juices and soda.

Keep water containers away from heat sources and

direct sunlight.

FINANCIAL RESERVE

Establish a financial reserve by saving a little money

each week and gradually increasing it to a reasonable

amount (see All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances

guide).

LONGER-TERM SUPPLY

For longer-term needs, and where permitted, gradually

build a supply of food that will last a long time

and that you can use to stay alive, such as wheat,

white rice, and beans.

These items can last 30 years or more when properly

packaged and stored in a cool, dry place. A portion of

these items may be rotated in your three-month supply

This is the end of the church publication. I added the bold type to the message from the First Presidency for emphasis. Are our hearts and hands ready?

gv3grant@gmail.com 435 628-2739 http://rupreparedgv3.blogspot.com

Swine flu and Emergency preparedness

Preparedness #27 – Flu update 7/19/09
Woody Allen: "Life is full of misery, loneliness, and suffering--and it's all over much too soon."

Here are some dates for dry-pack canning: (I will have some sample order sheets available next week.
The first is Aug 11 Tuesday from 4 - 6 PM.
The second is Wednesday Sept 23 from 4 - 6 PM

I have been on the weekly email list for the Center for Disease Control for the last 6 months and have been watching the progress of the H1N1 flu virus. It was declared a ‘pandemic’ a few weeks ago but only because of the speed of spread of the virus, not the severity of it.
This graph was updated to June 6th and since then, the number of reported cases has more than doubled to almost 41,000 in just 5 weeks; Indicating that the line on the right has continued to rise sharply.

It is probable that it will continue to spread rapidly. Some have suggested that the best way to handle it is to find someone with the virus and expose oneself and ‘get it over with.’ There hasn’t been a report on who is at greatest risk yet, but it is obvious that those over 65 years of age and have already weakened systems from existing health problems are especially at risk.

This is a lot of extra stuff this week but I felt it is time to give some information on what to do about this flu problem. It is possible that local governments will take greater precautions later if necessary to stop the wide-spread movement of the virus. Keep informed!

As always, make sure you have at least 3 weeks of everything you will need without going to the store. You may not be ‘quarantined’ or forbidden from going, but the more exposure you get, the greater the chances of sickness.

We have been making a lot of suggestions for storage that include food and medicines, but this week, you need to decide what to do for toiletries. Especially ‘bath tissue’ (politically correctly said). Imagine? This is something that can be stored in attics without floors on top of insulation since it is light and well covered.

It would if some of you who are working in heath care organizations would ask how we go about getting extra medications that the Division of Homeland Security suggests we have in our emergency supply. Please let me know if you find out how to get the insurance industry to cooperate.

Not everyone has to get the flu. Here are some recommendations from the

World Health Organization:
Updated 11 June 2009
What can I do to protect myself from catching influenza A(H1N1)?
The main route of transmission of the new influenza A(H1N1) virus seems to be similar to seasonal influenza, via droplets that are expelled by speaking, sneezing or coughing. You can prevent getting infected by avoiding close contact with people who show influenza-like symptoms (trying to maintain a distance of about 1 metre if possible) and taking the following measures:
avoid touching your mouth and nose;
clean hands thoroughly with soap and water, or cleanse them with an alcohol-based hand rub on a regular basis (especially if touching the mouth and nose, or surfaces that are potentially contaminated);
avoid close contact with people who might be ill;
reduce the time spent in crowded settings if possible;
improve airflow in your living space by opening windows;
practise good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active.
What about using a mask? What does WHO recommend?
If you are not sick you do not have to wear a mask.
If you are caring for a sick person, you can wear a mask when you are in close contact with the ill person and dispose of it immediately after contact, and cleanse your hands thoroughly afterwards. If you are sick and must travel or be around others, cover your mouth and nose.
Using a mask correctly in all situations is essential. Incorrect use actually increases the chance of spreading infection.
How do I know if I have influenza A(H1N1)?
You will not be able to tell the difference between seasonal flu and influenza A(H1N1) without medical help. Typical symptoms to watch for are similar to seasonal viruses and include fever, cough, headache, body aches, sore throat and runny nose. Only your medical practitioner and local health authority can confirm a case of influenza A(H1N1).
What should I do if I think I have the illness?
If you feel unwell, have high fever, cough or sore throat:
stay at home and keep away from work, school or crowds;
rest and take plenty of fluids;
cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing and, if using tissues, make sure you dispose of them carefully. Clean your hands immediately after with soap and water or cleanse them with an alcohol-based hand rub;
if you do not have a tissue close by when you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth as much as possible with the crook of your elbow;
use a mask to help you contain the spread of droplets when you are around others, but be sure to do so correctly;
inform family and friends about your illness and try to avoid contact with other people;
If possible, contact a health professional before traveling to a health facility to discuss whether a medical examination is necessary.
Should I take an antiviral now just in case I catch the new virus?
No. You should only take an antiviral, such as oseltamivir or zanamivir, if your health care provider advises you to do so. Individuals should not buy medicines to prevent or fight this new influenza without a prescription, and they should exercise caution in buying antivirals over the Internet.

Warning on purchase of antivirals without a prescription [pdf 35kb] http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/drugalerts/Alert_122_Antivirals.pdf

What about breastfeeding? Should I stop if I am ill? No, not unless your health care provider advises it. Studies on other influenza infections show that breastfeeding is most likely protective for babies - it passes on helpful maternal immunities and lowers the risk of respiratory disease. Breastfeeding provides the best overall nutrition for babies and increases their defense factors to fight illness.
When should someone seek medical care?
A person should seek medical care if they experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or if a fever continues more than three days. For parents with a young child who is ill, seek medical care if a child has fast or labored breathing, continuing fever or convulsions (seizures).
Supportive care at home - resting, drinking plenty of fluids and using a pain reliever for aches - is adequate for recovery in most cases. (A non-aspirin pain reliever should be used by children and young adults because of the risk of Reye's syndrome.)
Should I go to work if I have the flu but am feeling OK?
No. Whether you have influenza A(H1N1) or a seasonal influenza, you should stay home and away from work through the duration of your symptoms. This is a precaution that can protect your work colleagues and others.
Can I travel?
If you are feeling unwell or have symptoms of influenza, you should not travel. If you have any doubts about your health, you should check with your health care provider.
End of WHO report.

gv3grant@gmail.com 435 628-2739 http://rupreparedgv3.blogspot.com

#29 –
New resource guide 8/01/09

Remember the dry pack cannery opportunity. Please get a copy of the order sheet from the library and decide what you want. Please let me know if you plan to go and approximately how many cans you plan to use. (don’t need to know what.) Date: Tuesday, August 11 at 4 to 6 PM, Heads up for a new emergency preparedness guide coming in the mail this week. It is written for our specific area by the Southwest Utah Public Health Department and has information specific to emergencies in our area. It looks like the picture at the left. Government agencies have learned from recent disasters that communities that have prepared citizens can respond much faster than well prepared government agencies. Duh! This pamphlet focuses on Family Preparedness. Please take time to read it with your family and check it against what you have already done. After you have read it, use it as a workbook to guide you to family readiness. If you want an extra copy you can pick one up or you can download the guide at:

http://www.swuhealth.org/Forms/cdep/family_preparedness_guide_SWUPHD.pdf

I have reviewed the booklet and it has a great list of items for a 72 hour kit, a car emergency kit, a work sheet for family plan and phone numbers as well as government agency numbers and web sites. It also discusses the most likely emergencies for our area and what can be done to prepare and what to do during the emergency. Good stuff all in one place! Update on the flu: The Center for Disease Control issued this statement yesterday and contains the following quote: “CDC is concerned that the new H1N1 flu virus could result in a particularly severe flu season this year. Vaccines are the best tool we have to prevent influenza. CDC hopes that people will start to go out and get vaccinated against seasonal influenza as soon as vaccines become available at their doctor’s offices and in their communities (this may be as early as August for some). The seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against novel H1N1 influenza. However a novel H1N1 vaccine is currently in production and may be ready for the public in the fall. The novel H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine – it is intended to be used along-side seasonal flu vaccine. Here is a switch; the age group last specified for priority in getting the immunizations is the 65 and older group. Seems that these folk are the least likely to get the ‘Swine Flu!’ You can look at the current CDC report by going to this link:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm

It occurred to me as I prepared this material that our families are aware of our beliefs as much or more by what we do than by what we say or teach. If we are making a concerted effort to be prepared and share the experiences with our family, they will be taught obedience in a general way and in a specific way by observing us. Many of us belong to families that are struggling because of the economy and are having a hard time putting things into storage. Many of us have become accustomed to purchasing items for storage when many times we could figure out a way to ‘make’ what we need. Some times we discard the same items that we need to use for our emergency supply. One example is a tin can stove that uses the same cans that we will be filling in our next dry pack canning assignment. All you need In addition to the gallon can, is some cardboard, a tuna can, wax and a little aluminum foil. When we are obedient and clever, we teach more than obedience, we teach resourcefulness and self reliance just for starters. You can see the article with complete instructions for the stove and, a tin can breakfast.

http://www.meridianmagazine.com/enjoying/090723tincan.html

If you have preparedness ideas or solutions that are creative and fun and can be a part of a family night activity please let me know so I can pass them along. One last thing: A few years ago I contributed to a book that was published by the ‘Tightwad Gazette.’ They had a weekly newsletter with ideas on how to save money and not be tempted by every ‘wind’ of advertisement in the media. I found that it is still on the Internet as are many others like them. If you want some fun ideas for saving money and making do with what you have, there are some good ideas in these web sites. The Tightwad Gazette can be found at:

http://www.tightwad.com/index.htm

They also have a list of links to other similar sites. gv3grant@gmail.com 435 628-2739 http://rupreparedgv3.blogspot.com

Preparedness #24 Power’s out! -6/14/09

Well, here is some interesting news: In this past spring, someone gained access to fiber optic cables in San Jose, California and cut four or five of them. The cut was made on cables 8-10 feet underground in an unsecured manhole and as a result, terminated service to cell phone customers, internet access and only 52,000 residential telephone customers. The outage also disrupted 911 service and it took 15 hours to get that part of the system working again.

One day before that happened, the Wall street Journal reported that intruders had gained ‘administrative’ access (in other words, they can do anything they want to the programs and operations) of the United States electrical grid. These intruders reported to be from China, Russia and other countries have embedded software into these power systems which could insure their access to the systems even if the software engineers found and secured access in the ways that the intruders were originally able to enter the systems. What bothers me is that they haven’t tried to do anything yet, just secure an option to enter later if they ‘needed’ to infiltrate it for reasons of sabatouge or war.

I have to tell you that I usually turn a skeptical ear to this kind of stuff, but I made my living working on computer systems and managing their operations. I was the Director of Information systems for the City of Flagstaff and had direct access to all of their computerized systems. I know that we then, and to some degree now, are not ready for sophisticated intruders into our essential services. You will notice that most cities are gradually building enclosed water storage reservoirs and you may suspect that there is a program of water quality testing going on almost around the clock. But, it is my strong conviction that we are not prepared for a planned and carefully executed attack on any of our essential services that we take for granted. Be it water, power, communications, and even natural gas, we are going to be in trouble. We are trusting and naive and we leave everything open!

It wouldn’t take very many well placed subversives to disrupt these services for essentially the whole country and we would not have any way to communicate except by short wave radio and that would be overtaxed in such a condition. All air travel would cease and flights in progress could be compromised.

Brothers and sisters, maybe none of this will happen but we do know that BIG disruptions can happen and do happen. The communications problem in San Jose did happen. A few years ago much of the North East United

States and South Eastern Canada went without power for days. If we were to have an Earthquake, it could be months before water lines and gas lines could be repaired. You think that this is a California problem? Get online to the internet and look at the State of Utah geological reports on the number of active faults in the Washington County area. This is real stuff!

I was at the Dry Pack Cannery of the church last Saturday and the missionary couple in charge of the operation said that interest in food storage and preparedness has significantly dropped off lately. Many canning dates had not been honored and many more cancelled. We had the canner in the ward and had announced it in this bulletin and only 3 people used it.

What are we thinking?! Have we figured out how nothing is going to happen so we have more time? When I went on my mission in 1961, then Elder Joseph Feilding Smith stood up and said that anything that hadn’t happened that needed to happen before the Second Coming, could happen in 2 weeks! I say that any disaster that hasn’t happened could happen within the hour. Don’t get complaisent. Get it done! Then enjoy the serenity of knowing you are prepared.

One of the things we have not discussed yet is the need to have clean clothes. Laundry detergent will last almost indefinately if kept dry and sealed. This will sound funny but you can make a clothes washer by having a (new – do you think) toiled plunger and one of the orange buckets from Home Depot with a lid. Make a hole in the lid the size of the plunger handle and put clothes, water and a small amount of soap in the bucket, put the plunger in the bucket and the lid threaded down over the handle and seal it. Then, simply push and pull the plunger up and down to wash and rinse the clothes!

Yea, it was a close one, but we did talk of one technique. The thing is, each one of us has different levels of need for each of the services that could be disrupted. That means that each one of us needs to sit down as a family, or? (home or visiting teacher), and make a plan of what we will do if any of our services fail – For whatever reason.
Be sure to be thorough: if you have gas for water heating and cooking, do they require electricity to ignite and keep the valves open? Could that be a ‘gottcha’? Think carefully of everything.

If you have a medical need for electricity, make sure the City has you on their list. They may be able to deliver a short term power supply for you. JUST GET PREPARED. Try to think of everything. THIS IS REAL; GET TO IT!

gv3grant@gmail.com 435 628-2739 http://rupreparedgv3.blogspot.com