What I Did This Week To Prep 2/3/12

Reading, and writing my review of, The Doom and Bloom Survival Medicine Handbook this week took a lot of my time, so not as much other stuff got done.

Sarah and I did do a fair amount behind the scenes on the the blog site itself. Sarah does the technical side and I handle the personal networking aspects. Is this a prepper topic though? I believe it is – especially since our blog is about prepping. But any blog you write allows you to teach and learn; it also may have the potential to develop into a business and/or give you more personal independence. Sarah upgraded us from WordPress.COM to WordPress.ORG. WordPress.org is the WordPress software that must be self-hosted (we went with Host Gator for that) but allows for greater flexibility and expansion potential. I’ve been corresponding more with people in the online prepper community; strengthening relationships and starting new ones. We’re also bringing on a new monthly contributor to our blog (more on her next week). Along those same lines, we’re considering having a (different) guest blogger write a post for us each month. So if you–or anyone you know–are interested, send me an email or facebook message (my contact information can be found on the About Trace page).

Last month I wrote a post on the Gerber EAB Lite Utility Knife. There has been discussion on TSP Forum where several people complained about the clip easily breaking off the knife. I’ve carried mine, clipped to my pocket everyday, for several months now without any issues. But just to do some follow-up, I contacted Gerber’s Warranty Department (by email). I told them we have several EABs and expressed my concern about the clip weakness, and asked them for a couple extra clips to keep on hand. They, no questions or hassles, sent me three replacement clips – no charge for shipping or anything. In summary, it’s a good little knife, good customer service experience, and I haven’t had any issues with the clip.

Finally, after reading the Doom and Bloom book, I decided we need to continue actively working on our medical preps. Because of my background, knowledge, and willingness, I’m sure one of my primary roles in a collapse will be as the medic. I believe I need to do as much as I can now to prepare for that role. So, coincidentally, last week on the Doom and Bloom blog, Dr. Bones wrote, Over The Counter Drugs When You’re the Doctor, that included a thorough list of OTC drugs to stock up on. This week he wrote, Must Have Antibiotics, Antifungals, and Antivirals. So, we’ve earmarked some money for additional fish antibiotics (Antibiotics In Your Preps) and are going to stock up on more OTC meds when we go to Costco. How much is too much? Tough call. But they store for a long, long time (Expired, or Not Expired… That is the Question), they’re relatively cheap, they don’t take too much space to store and–in a collapse–they’re irreplaceable.

What did you do?

(Monday: Book Review: Where There Is No Doctor)