ASSESS: Your family "emergency preparedness"

Thanks, poncho, that is such great info!

The sterno is a good idea, too. I think they sell that stuff at Sam's Club. Might make great gifts for people we love. Ya never know when things might come in handy. Even with bad ice storms.

Other survival item not on above lists: TP & alcohol

I saw a wind-up radio (no batteries required) in Lowe's today.

 

Thanks LadyEagle. I don't know if fire starting/making tools were included in the list but they are very important! Don't forget to add them to any emergency/survival kits!!

I've come across some great ideas on these and will make a post on them shortly. If you haven't caught on yet, I like things that will work without fail and can be had on the cheap and easily improvised notice the emphasis on cheap?!

 

not this country boy.

 

"Skull and crossbones -- Poison -- Denatured alcohol -- Warning. This fluid contains. wood alcohol, and if inhaled or swallowed may cause blindness or death

 

and that was the warning for denatured

 

methanol?

Poncho ... cheap? Deadly? yep!

 

Blindness and death? I'm trying to survive, not die! Think I'll stick to the sterno.

 

Those words Ethanol and Methanol should immediately be connected with the word poison in every persons mind. Both will absorb through the skin (even from clothing). A tablespoon of Methanol spilled on you can kill you ...

Bugs and Gas - and I still remember it!
Smoke on target was MORE FUN!

and Napalm sticks ...

 

fromtheright

When all you city boys start to break down - stay AWAY from us country boys!

We will survive! Country boys against City boys ...

 

Yeah, denatured alcohol is poison and shouldn't be used in these stoves without proper ventilation or consumed. I have used mine in the house in front of an open window and under a tarp and haven't suffered any adverse affects. I don't recommend sticking your nose in a bottle of it though. Any of my suggestions or anyone elses should be used in a safe and sane way, including first reading the directions and heeding all warnings prior to use.

You don't like things that work without fail and can be easily improvised El_Guerro? If it's the cheap part that bothers you, take heart you can spend all the money you want on any type of survival gear you can find. That's the end users option.

BTW, gasoline is poison and you probably have inhaled more of that already just by filling up your tank than you ever will inhale alcohol using one of these stoves.

I've used denatured alcohol in my glazing work to clean aluminum and prime the surface prior to caulking got it on my skin in my clothes and inside my truck for 16 years. And here I am typing away with all my digits and most of mental faculties intact. And so have all the other glaziers that I have met in that time frame. So, I think your being alittle over reactive here brother.

 

Cheap is good

Safe is better

Just stay behing the working ends ... they don't discriminate against city boys ...

 

I guess I'm an end user, LOL.

 

Just the facts ma'am ... just the facts

Sgt Friday

 

Okay, "country boy", Canisteo NY located in the finger lakes region is about as country as country can get. But thanks for the laughs anyways.

 

Well this country boy must call it a night soon ... 6 am is getting awfully early nowadays

 

And dark.

SKIN CONTACT: Only hazardous with prolonged contact. Wash immediately with plenty of water for at least 20 minutes. Thoroughly clean contaminated clothing and shoes before re-use. Seek medical attention.

SOURCE MSDS

So I guess your facts were a bit um, over emphasized?

 

I just want to add that the food in my freezers was still good after 5 hours without electricity.

This happened last week. I don't know about the freezer that is a part of the refrig, but I thought that the one unit freezers would hold food for about 24 hours. I'm going to check my
freezer instruction book.

 

Now compare the MSDS of denatured alcohol to that of gasoline and diesel fuel another link HERE. Gasoline and diesel fuel both seem to be more dangerous than denatured alcohol.
But, I'll bet you don't think twice about using either of these products long term in your everyday life.

Some interesting history of alcohol used as fuel.

 

You might want to rethink giving Sterno out as a gift LadyEagle. I looked up the MSDS on it and found out it contains denatured alcohol. ( poison ) It can kill you!!

From the MSDS: General use a gelled alcohol food warming fuel. Fuel is SDA-3A (ethyl alcohol denatured with methyl alcohol[also known as Methanol; Wood alcohol; Columbian spirits; Carbinol])

Avoid at all costs!!! A single drop can kill you from five miles away!!!


Sterno MSDS

Also I'm now rethinking my posting of other hazardous materials that may be contained in the use of fire starting and making tools and gadgets (like vaseline a known killer and dangerous substance that contains petroleum distillates). Fire is very dangerous and though can be made from cheap, foolproof and readily available materials should be avoided at all costs. Fire can kill you!!!