Survive in Dangerous Times

These days we find ourselves looking over our shoulders, into our surroundings that may seem threatening and ominous. Here are a few things to think about.

Steps

  1. Quit worrying. Always live for today, nobody knows when it will be their time to go, and if you spend all your time worrying--although it's hard not to--you're missing out on so many opportunities.
  2. Make sure you always tell your spouse, children, parents, etc. that you love them, especially when you're about to leave home for the day.
  3. Avoid unnecessary risks. In today's world, there are enough unavoidable risks without taking extra chances. Here are some examples.
    • Traveling:
      • Travel only when necessary. Driving, in itself, is often a dangerous activity.
      • Use familiar routes to your destination.
      • Keep your vehicle in good condition, and have plenty of fuel.
      • Avoid traveling late at night when people may be sharing the roadway in an impaired condition.
      • Avoid travel in inclement weather, such as snow, sleet, or flooding.
      • When traveling on a plane, train, bus, or other such vehicle, make sure to read all information pamphlets, and be aware of the nearest emergency exits. Try to be seated within 5 rows of an exit. Most plane survivors escape the plane in less than 90 seconds through blinding, choking smoke. Those who take longer often die.[citation needed] Count the rows to the exit so you can get there quickly with your eyes closed.
    • Medical:
      • Be careful with over the counter medications, especially if you are also taking prescription medicine. These can often cause unpredictable side effects.
      • Have a routine medical examination regularly.
      • Do self-examinations, for instance, for breast or testicular cancer. Men should check their breasts, also, since they can develop this disease also.
    • Work:
      • Use employer safety programs, like special training and certifications for risky activities.
      • Keep your safety equipment in good condition.
      • Stay alert and aware of the work environment.
  4. Stay safe at home. Use the appropriate home safety devices, and plan for situations when you may need to respond to a home emergency.
    • Keep fire, smoke, and carbon monoxide detectors in good operating condition. If they are battery operated, change batteries annually. If they are connected to your home electrical service, make sure they have a battery backup for protection during power outages. Change the batteries annually.
    • Keep your home itself safe. Make sure you never store poisonous chemicals or flammable materials in an unsafe manner, and for older homes, have your electrical system and furnace inspected.
    • Use safe equipment and practices when doing home maintenance projects or remodeling. People fall off ladders or roofs every year doing simple, common household tasks like cleaning gutters or repairing shingles.
    • If you are concerned about crime, consider the following:
      • Security systems. A burglar alarm with a direct call function can notify the local police if there is an intruder.
      • Have a weapon available for self defense. If you choose a firearm, make sure you have proper training and will be willing to use it if needed. Some people prefer a good, stout club like a baseball bat, especially where firearm ownership is regulated or prohibited.
      • Consider owning a dog. Dogs can be loyal companions and dependable intrusion alarms, and may dissuade a potential intruder by their presence.
      • Keep the outside of your home clear of potential hiding places for an intruder, and use outdoor lighting to allow you to observe the premises.
      • Install and use good quality locks and door hardware, including deadbolts, door viewers, and security chains.
  5. Be aware of news events and situations which may indicate risk from outside sources. This may be anything from a terrorist warning to a story about criminal activity in your neighborhood. Often, when a serial criminal is active in a city or community, everyone uses extra care in daily functions.
  6. Talk about, and coordinate with neighbors to communicate information about potential dangers. Neighborhood crime watch groups can contribute greatly to individual safety.
  7. Communicate travel plans and itineraries with your family. This will make it possible for them to notify authorities immediately if you are not where you should be at a given time. This has saved the lives of travelers who became lost in snowstorms, as well as people making a wilderness trek who became lost without sufficient survival gear.
  8. Do not take unnecessary risks with your health. We may consider "dangerous times" as the threat of terrorists or criminals, but with diseases like HIV, the real danger may be a biological event that can be prevented. Here are a few to consider:
    • Practice safe sex. This is not a lecture on monogamy, although that may be the safest practice. If you are sexually adventurous, use common sense and protection.
    • Eat healthy foods. Keep away from over-processed or chemically treated foods when possible.
    • Avoid abuse of drugs.
    • Limit alcohol to socially acceptable levels. There are arguments that some alcohol has health benefits, but heavy drinking can cause liver damage, and impaired judgment which can contribute to accidents.
    • Avoid stress. Research seems to suggest that stress can contribute to hypertension, poor sleep, and a decrease in alertness over time. We all experience stress, but as much as possible, situations which increase it should be avoided.
  9. Be aware of dangers in your own area. People on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico are familiar with the dangers of hurricanes, just as those in North Dakota understand how to prepare for and survive a blizzard. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and forest fires can have a terrible toll, and although they may be unavoidable, proper preparations can at least increase your chances of surviving them.
  10. Consider relocating if the environment you live in is just too dangerous to offer a satisfactory quality of life. This may be even more important if you have family to worry about. No one wants to raise children in a high-crime area, or where illicit drugs are commonplace.
  11. Avoid conflict. Cutting off another driver may result in a "road rage" incident, or starting an argument with a stranger at a sporting event may end up in mayhem. Try your best to get along with others, and if a situation seems bound to get nasty, leave immediately.
  12. Check your surroundings. If something doesn't seem right, find a police officer and report it, don't do anything about the situation yourself, police are well trained for situations like that.
  13. Prepare for emergencies. Have an emergency kit in your vehicle, home, and at work. Keep items you may need in your locality, like extra heavy clothes and blankets in cold climates.
  14. Keep a flashlight and pair of shoes near your bed so they can be easily used in the event of an emergency.
  15. Use emergency rechargeable night-light flashlights in your home near stairs or other potentially dangerous locations where darkness can intensify the risk. Some of these night-lights will stay on even in a power failure.

Tips

  • Keep up to date with the news. If you have no clue what's going on, you'll have a better chance of getting hurt or dying.
  • Terrorists aren't the only ones to watch out for, the world has turned into a dangerous place to live, and "living" is the only thing you can do to protect yourself.
  • Remember to always stay on the safe side. Stay hydrated and know all necessary numbers, etc. Know where to go, how to deal with, and who to tell in an emergency.

Things You'll Need

  • Two or more "Self Powered Radios" and two or more "Self Powered Flashlights", glow sticks. If it "hits the (proverbial) fan", you'll be better informed. Batteries will be sold out, candle use forbidden due to safety issues.
  • Have a cash reserve on hand and some silver or gold if you can afford it. All can be traded for "things you might need" in troubled times, but be very discrete with it. You don't want to "flash it about" or let everyone know.
  • The things you might need around your home will differ than the things you may need at work or traveling... Figure what you might need and plan and pack accordingly.
  • Home needs are in many cases more important because in dangerous times and in the case of Natural Disasters people tend to stay close to their homes unless told to evacuate. You should have the basic necessities to stay in your home for an extended period if need be. Those would be extra food and water, alternative lighting, cooking, and heating options such as candles, oil lamps, mini propane heaters and stoves along with the new mini LED lighting that will run an extended time on regular batteries. Most of these can be found at your local stores in the sporting goods section. Non Perishable foods such as can goods can keep for a while without going bad. Be sure to "rotate your stocks" to minimise chances of spoilage.

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