PATIENT INFORMATION

Modern media have made our world seem small. News about events around the world reaches us in minutes. We learn of hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, industrial accidents and terrorist attacks immediately. TV teaches us
that any disaster brings chaos to people and their environments.

As a person with diabetes, your daily routine involves schedules and planning. An emergency can seriously affect your health. It may be difficult to cope with a disaster when it occurs. You and your family should plan and prepare beforehand even if the event is loss of electricity for a few hours. The first 72 hours following a disaster are the most critical for families. This is the time when you are most likely to be alone. For this reason, it is essential for you and your family to have a disaster plan and kit which should provide for all your family’s basic needs during these first hours.

BE PREPARED LIST

You should safely store the following medical supplies or have them readily available:

0 Copy of your emergency information and medical list

0 Extra copies of prescriptions

0 Insulin or pills (include all medications that you take daily including over the counter medications)

0 Syringes

0 Alcohol swabs

0 Cotton balls & tissues

0 A meter to measure blood sugar

0 Blood sugar diary

0 Insulin pump supplies (if on insulin pump)

0 Strips for your meter

0 Urine ketone testing strips

0 Lancing device and lancets

0 Quick acting carbohydrate (for example, glucose tablets, orange juice, etc.)

0 Longer lasting carbohydrate sources (for example, cheese and crackers)

0 Glucagon Emergency Kit (if on insulin)

0 Empty hard plastic detergent bottle with cap to dispose used lancets and syringes

Other supplies:

Flashlight with extra batteries Pad/pencil Whistle/noisemaker Matches / candles Extra pair of glasses First-aid kit
Female sanitary supplies Copy of health insurance cards Heavy work gloves Important family documents Tools Water
Food Clothing and bedding

Radio with extra batteries Cell phone

Make sure you have enough supplies for 2 weeks.

These supplies should be checked at least every 2 – 3 months.

Watch for expiration dates.

HELPFUL HINTS ABOUT INSULIN, PENS, SYRINGES

o Insulin may be stored at room temperature (59° – 86°F) for 28 days.

o Insulin pens in use can be stored at room temperature according to manufacturer’s directions.

o Insulin should not be exposed to excessive light, heat or cold.

o Regular and Lantus insulins should be clear.

o NPH, Lente, Ultralente, 75/25, 50/50, and 70/30 insulins should be uniformly cloudy before rotating.

o Insulin that clumps or sticks to the sides of the bottle should not be used.

o Although reuse of your insulin syringes is not generally recommended, in life and death situations, you have to alter this policy. Do not share your insulin syringes with other people.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

• Stress can cause a rise in your blood sugar.
• Erratic mealtimes can cause changes in your blood sugar.
• Excessive work to repair damage caused by the disaster (without stopping for snacks) can lower your blood sugar.
• Excessive exercise when your blood sugar is over 250mg can cause your blood sugar to go higher.
• Wear protective clothing and sturdy shoes.
• Check your feet daily for an irritation, infection, open sores or blisters. Disaster debris can increase your risk for injury. Heat, cold, excessive dampness and inability to change footwear can lead to infection, especially if your blood sugar is high. Never go without shoes.

HOT WEATHER TIPS

• Stay indoors in air-conditioned or fan cooled comfort.

• Avoid exercising outside.

• Wear light colored cotton clothing.

• Remain well hydrated (water, diet drinks).

• Avoid salt tablets unless prescribed by your physician.

• Seek emergency treatment if you feel: Fatigue, weakness, abdominal cramps Decreased urination, fever, confusion.

You should wear diabetes identification

AT ALL TIMES

FOOD ITEMS TO BE STORED

1 large box unopened crackers (saltines)

1 jar peanut butter

1 small box powdered milk (use within 6 months)

1 gallon or more of water per day per person for at least one week

2 6-pack packages cheese and crackers or 1 jar soft cheese

1 pkg. dry, unsweetened cereal

6 cans regular soda

6 cans diet soda

6-pack canned orange or apple juice

6 pack parmalat milk

6 cans “lite” or water packed fruit

1 spoon, fork and knife per person

Disposable cups

4 packages of glucose tablets or small hard candies for low blood sugar

1 can tuna, salmon, chicken, nuts per person

These supplies should be checked and replaced yearly.

FOOD CONSIDERATIONS DURING A DISASTER

1. Food and water supply may be limited and/or contaminated. Do not eat food you think may be contaminated. It may be necessary to boil water for 10 minutes before use.
2. Drink plenty of water.
3. Maintain your meal plan to the best of your ability. Your plan should include a variety of meat/meat substitutes (i.e., peanut butter, dried beans, eggs), milk/milk products, fruits, vegetables, cereal, grains.
4. Limit sugar/sugar-containing foods. These foods include:

• Jellies, jams, molasses

• Honey

• Syrups (fruits canned in sugar syrup, pancake syrup)

• Tonic (dietetic tonics with less than one calorie per ounce are allowed)

• Frosted cake

• Presweetened or sugar-coated cereals

• Pie, pastry, Danish pastry, doughnuts

• Chocolate

• Custards, pudding, sherbet, ice cream

• Gelatin

• Soda

• Cookies, brownies

5. Monitor your blood sugars frequently and record in diary.

LIMIT SWEETS

FOOD CONSIDERATIONS DURING A DISASTER

6. When reading labels, limit products with these sugar-containing ingredients:

• Sugar

• Corn syrup

• Dextrose

• Sucrose

• Corn sweeteners

• Honey

• Molasses

• Brown sugar

• Fruit syrup

7. Avoid greasy, fried foods.
8. Try to eat meals and snacks at the same time every day. Avoid periods of hunger and overindulgence. The quantity and frequency of your food intake should remain similar day-to-day depending upon your activity level.
9. Increase food and water intake during periods of increased exertion or physical activity by either eating between-meal snacks before activity or by eating additional food with meals.
10. Carry a fast source of sugar with you at all times:

• 3 glucose tablets

• 1 small box of raisins

• 6-7 small hard sugar candies

SICK DAY RULES DURING A DISASTER

1. Always take your insulin or pills on time or close to it. Never omit your insulin unless your doctor has told you otherwise. Insulin is still good if there is no refrigeration. A used or unused bottle of insulin may be kept at room temperature (59° - 86°F) for 28 days. Discard unrefrigerated insulin after 28 days.
2. Keep an extra bottle of each type of insulin you use on hand at all times.
3. Eat within 15 min. or no later than ½ hour after taking your insulin
(depending on insulin type) or diabetes medicine. Try to eat on time.
4. Never skip a meal. If you cannot eat solid food because of nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, sip regular coke, eat hard candies, fruit or regular soft drinks instead of following your usual meal plan.

5. Most Important:

• Do not let yourself get dehydrated.

• Drink plenty of liquids.

• In between meal times, sip diet soda.

(This will not replace food, but can help you be hydrated.)

6. Rest.

7. Check your blood sugar. Notify your doctor if your blood sugar average is over 240mg or if you are ill for 2 days.

8. Test your urine for ketones when:

• Your blood sugar average is over 240mg.

• You are vomiting

• You have symptoms of high blood sugar (increased thirst or hunger than usual, quick weight loss, increased urination, very tired, stomach pain, breathing fast or fruity breath smell).

SICK DAY RULES DURING A DISASTER

9. Call your doctor if your ketone test is moderate or high and/or if you have symptoms of high blood sugar (as listed in number 8). You may need more than your usual amount of insulin on a sick day. Your doctor can guide you in this. If you need medical assistance / or are out of all medications, food, and cannot reach your doctor, immediately:

• Go to the nearest hospital; or

• Contact the police; or

• Contact the American Red Cross; or

• Go to an Emergency Medical Center

(Ashes from hard wood trees works best, and don't use ashes from treated wood)

1. Make lye water out of ash. You can boil 2-3 spoons of ash (clean white/grey fluffy ash) with water and then filter it with a coffee filter. Lye water is a great cleaning agent and sanitizer for clothes, floors, windows, silverware, plates, and even rust in marble.You can also make lye by adding the fluffy white ash in a cheesecloth.  In a bucket with holes on its base, you add the cheesecloth and ash, and hang it somewhere high. Add the water. Underneath, place another clean bucket to collect the lye. The lye has a brownish color, so you remove the bucket when clean water starts to sip through. Test the lye by adding a fresh egg in the liquid. If the egg floats, the lye is good to go, if not, repeat the process.-For use in soap making.

   2. A paste made out of ash and water, can remove stains from furniture.

   3. If we want to remove a stain from clothes the moment they happen, we add a bit of ash and after about five minutes, we rub it with the crumb of a bread (not the crust, the soft white bit).

   4. Ash is a great odor repellent, just add a bit over the area that smells. eg, kitty litter.

   5. You can remove odors from a fridge, by adding a plate of charcoal ash inside. Change the charcoal over, until the smell is gone.

   6. You can use it to brush your teeth. (recipe here)

   7. You can wash your hair with lye soap  and rinse with vinegar. This is especially good for oily hair.

   8. Lye is used in many foods and sweets. Like grape must pudding (moustalevria),  honey cookies (melomakarona), and in bread. It makes bread fluffy and prevents it from crumbling. Lye is also good for the cleansing of the intestines.

   9. Ash was used for many years in farming. It recycles the natural nutrients back into the earth. It can be used as compost but does not include Nitrogen. It aids in the increase of the earths PH level which in return, aids in the growth of the plants. (But because of the ongoing increase of the PH level, not all veg and fruit thrive from it. eg potatoes).

   10. It strengthens plants that love calcium, such as tomatoes, vineyards, beans, spinach, peas, avocados, garlic etc. Even rose bushes. You can add 1/4 cup ash before planting.

   11. One spoon ash per 1000L of water, strengthens underwater plants.

   12.It prevents plants from frost in winter, if you add a layer of ash over them.

   13. Animals hate ash. You can rid your garden of insects and various parasites, such as slugs and snails.

   14. You can rid yourself of ants. If you throw some ash in their colony, they will be forced to relocate, as they can’t move the ash.

   15. Spread some ash in the corners of the house, or dark spots of your cellar etc. For as long as there is ash, no mice/rats, cockroaches or insects approach.

   16. It repels lice, ticks and fleas off animals. You make a thick paste of ash and vinegar and spread over the fur. It’s messy, but it works.

   17.  It repels clothes moths. You can add some ash on your stored clothes, and simply shake it off when you need to use them. You can leave them for years this way, and nothing will happen to them.

   18.  Lye is used to make soap (potassium hydroxide). It’s a bit of a lengthy process, but its worth it.

   19. Ash is used for “immortal eggs”. In a recipe used in the Middle East, they preserve eggs in a mix of clay, ash, salt, lime and rice rind for many months.

   20. Sodium Carbonate, can be made out of ash. It is known to be an excellent product, used as household cleaner. Boil water and ash, until it evaporates. The remaining substance is your Sodium Carbonate (Soda).

   21. Ash contains salt, and can therefore melt ice.

   22. The charcoal collected within the ash, can be used as a filter.

   23. You can use charcoal to filter blurry wine.

   24. You can use charcoal to filter water before drinking.

   25. Charcoal in metal containers can be used to remove humidity in cellars, cupboards and under sinks.

   26. You can put a fire out quickly by throwing ash over it.

   27. In the older days, they used to preserve seeds in large clay containers, by adding a thick layer of ash over them. This prevented insects from destroying their produce.

   28. It can be used in wounds, to kill bacteria and aid in faster healing. Melting hand made soap in lye water and rinsing a wound with it without rinsing over it with clean water.

   29. No fridge? No worries! You can preserve your fruits and vegetables for many days, even years, by digging a hole in the ground and filling it with ash. Add your veg and fruit, ensuring enough space between them, so that they do not touch each other, or the muddy ground. Seal the hole with a piece of wood, and you let it be.

   30. In the olden days, to preserve the fresh rennet, they added it in a bone animal horn, filled it with ash, sealed it with mud and hanged it from a tree. This ensured the rennet lasted for many many years.

Thanks go to Hank (From APN) who is the Author of this article. http://humblelore.wordpress.com/2013/03/18/30-uses-for-wood-ashes-you-never-thought-of/

I think as Americans, we are blessed in being able to afford to buy items in bulk. But, at the same time I think we should learn about budgeting what we consume, along with some alternatives.

Are you willing or prepared to develop a ‘bartering surplus’ within the use of your everyday shopping habits?

I recently read an article on APN News about Sari-Sari stores. It occurred to me that we have the ability to develop similar ‘markets’ through our own everyday purchases. Sari-Sari’s are small community convenience stores (in a word) often found in the villages throughout the Philippines.

Preppers here in the U.S. often talk about purchasing food and supplies in bulk from warehouse stores like Costco, Sam’s Club, etc..  That's actually not a bad idea, but ONLY if you are disciplined enough to plan your meals and usage of your supplies, and not consuming any more than you actually need.

This stresses the importance of establishing thoughtful, regular food planning and meal preparations based on what we are accustomed to eating or would normally consume. Thus, allowing us that extra supply for emergency storage.

Well, what if we set aside a portion of what we purchase, and package it into smaller individual sizes? This could afford us the opportunity to maintain our own personal emergency storage, and begin to build a bartering system.

For example, a 25lb bag of rice is easy to come by today. But, in the future, who knows? Keeping 5lb for our regular use seems adequate. Most people don’t eat rice at every day, and since its volume doubles when cooked we really don’t tend to need very much dried rice for a single meal. By storing 10# for our coffer, we still have 10# left available to seal/store/package, into much smaller units. A 1/2 lb package (One Cup), doubles when cooked, into 2 Cups. Each of those smaller units now becomes a valuable bartering tool. We now have 20 smaller units available to work with.

Think beyond food items, as well. There are many, many items we use daily that can be separated and stored individually.

• Laundry detergent (Tide has individual 1”x1” packets, in sets of 3 for about $1, or so)
• Lighters
• Flashlights
• Batteries
• Bouillon cubes
• Diapers
• Toilet paper
• Flour
• Bars of soap
• First aid items, many come in individual use packs (peroxide, alcohol, Neosporin etc.),
• Spices (salt and pepper packages, like from fast food places)
• I have seen on Amazon.com, multitudes of food items available in restaurant packaging intended for individual use (also good for less waste, when opened). Many are very inexpensive and worth the thought when considering reducing the load of our Go Bags.
• Cigarettes, split up the pack and seal them.
• (Some say small bottles of alcohol… Sprits – I don’t care for this idea but, to each, his own).

This list can go on-and-on. I believe this mode of thinking may take us one step beyond where we currently are. There may be something that someone needs, and vice-verse.

I personally draw the line at Ammo… You are not getting, what you can use against me!!

During the recent Tornadoes that effected the Coal City region, this is exactly what we did. In providing smaller package items for the families that needed supplies, they were not burdened with how to store them (for example 25# of rice).

Would I recommend “Hanging A Shingle”, NO! However, there are families of preppers developing that will be relying on one another for their survival. This can become a life saving or longevity tool for all of us, within the prepping communities.

This also leads into groups collectively making purchases at Bulk stores and splitting purchases amongst one another, both, the items and their costs. This would be another good way to develop our emergency supplies.

I hope this gives rise to a newer way of thinking for some, as, we do not know what the future holds for us. Each person’s idea of  SHTF means something different, and perhaps this will give rise to ‘thinking outside the box”.

-Lisa Pappas  -  April 2, 2014