Post Apocalyptic Obsession - Must-Haves In Any Stash
Fiction is, well…fiction. But I find that even from a work of doomsday / post apocalyptic fiction I can gather thoughts and ideas to add to my obsession; some of which I store away to ponder and investigate at a later time. And then there are real people, like Cody Lundin, out to educate people. I love both, and so I thought I would make a list of some items that I have gathered in my literary scavenger hunt that seem to be surprisingly helpful.
Panic kicks in and crowds rush to clear the shelves of local grocery stores when threats of snow storms hit the airwaves. Imagine the panic that would ensue following an unexpected world wide event. An asteroid is heading straight for North America, the super-virus infects 90% of the world’s population, the sun fries all electronics. What would you race to the store to grab? Every item you chose could be vital to your survival, and that of your loved ones. “Knowledge weighs nothing.”
Honey has been a part of civilization for thousands of years; we even have a Mesolithic rock painting depicting hunters collecting honey from a hive as evidence. Aside from the obvious uses in cooking and baking, pure honey has multiple medicinal qualities. It is pretty common knowledge that vocalists use honey in a room temperature tea to coat the throat and relax the vocal cords. In like manner, honey in teas and tinctures can also be used to ease coughs and soothe stomach ulcers. What is even more amazing is the topical healing properties honey contains. After cleaning a burn or wound, honey can be used as an alternative to antibacterial ointment to both prevent and treat infections.
Note: honey should not be given to infants
Duct tape can be used in practically any situation when the whole world begins to literally fall apart. One is medical: using duct tape to close a large wound is better than trying to use superglue. There are abrasive chemical agents in superglue that will irritate open wounds.
Tampons are designed to be sterile and ultra absorbent, but did you realize they can be pulled apart and used to bandage a wound?
Sardines, packed in olive oil, may not be at the top of your list of yummies, but they are full of protein and fats, two important nutritional values. And then, with the oil left in the tin, you can make a lamp. Taking any string (like one from a tampon), completely soak the string, then hang one end over the edge and light it. This lamp can burn for hours. If you have luxury items such as bacon, the grease can be added to the sardine tin lamp.
Other canned meats are great to have around to keep variety in the daily rations. Adding a can of meat to some noodles like ramen can provide the necessary macronutrients for a body in survival mode.
“Attempting to continue regular hygiene habits will help prevent the spread of disease, increase morale, and offer a predictable routine, thereby reducing stress.”
- When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need To Survive When Disaster Strikes by Cody Lundin
Baking Soda is an incredible resource to have on hand; there are dozens of documented daily uses scattered across the Internet. However, there are some uses that can be super helpful when the world has gone crazy.
A dunk in the river can definitely feel good after a hard day of surviving, but mixing some baking soda into a bucket of clean water can both cleanse and deodorize those smelly, sweaty bits with a sponge bath. The same can be used to launder your clothes, eliminating smells and loosening stains with the use of a little agitation.
“The more you know, the less you need.
- Australian Aboriginal saying
Photo by www.wolf productions.com
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Rachel Storey
