There are a number of situations for which you may need to alter the “standard” preparedness information you read or learn. Not every piece of survival advice applies to every family or each individual, and some can even be dangerous in certain situations. Here’s a list of 7 of the more common “kinks in the plan” you may need to consider in your preparations. Remember these don’t just apply to you, but to those you will be caring for also, especially your family members.
1. Food allergies or inability to process certain foods. This includes things like gluten intolerance and nut allergies. I know a guy who cannot eat green peas or corn. It causes all kinds of gastrointestinal distress, so guess what’s not in his extended food plan.
2. Medical needs. Is there a medication you need to take every day? Specific foods you have to eat to keep your body functioning? Are you or someone you love on oxygen? Diabetic? Take medical needs into consideration when you are making your emergency plans.
3. Mobility issues. Crutches? Wheelchair? Make sure there’s a plan in place for emergencies if you have specific limitations on where you are able to go and how you need to get there.
4. Pregnancy. Expectant mothers need extra food, more frequent meals, and proper vitamins to keep those babies growing right. Do you get sick much when pregnant? Crave specific foods? And the ability to do strenuous work (like cleaning up after a disaster) could be pretty limited from a pregnant lady. Remember guys, this list applies to your family–you’ll likely be the one having to pick up the slack here. ;)
5. Infants. Babies require a lot. They need specific foods for proper nutrition and growth. They are more susceptible to illness and they need protection from the elements in a way that adults don’t. Oh, and they need diapers. Lots and lots of diapers. I know that’s just a short list, but you get the idea.
6. Toddlers/small children. These little folks need some special care in your preparedness plans also. They’ll need parents/guardians who can help them remain calm. They’ll only eat certain foods (if they are your kids, you’ll probably know their favorites) and don’t understand that if you don’t eat you don’t live, so may be willing to not eat your magical food storage creation because it is strange or different. They also need protection from the elements similar to babies. And you may have diaper needs here or potty training regressions in an emergency situation also.
7. Elderly. A lot of elder care will fall into the medical/mobility sections, but they can also have problems after a disaster with food changes and will to survive. If you care for an elderly person, make sure to figure their special needs into your emergency plan.
So there are some of the more common special situations that you’ll want to consider when you’re making your survival plan. I know we just touched lightly on each of these–we’ll probably discuss them in more detail in another post. And you may have other issues you will need to deal with. What are your family’s special preparedness considerations?
Keep preparing! Angela
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Hi Angela
You have written an important and timely posting. When it comes to being prepared in my family group, there is only myself and my son who take this seriously. This means that we have to consider needs ranging from several newborns, diabetics, several with hypertension and my 90 year old father. It is a huge responsibility and I admit we dont have all the answers yet regarding needed medications.
Keep up the good work.
Terry
Great post. There are a lot of folks that store a ton of food without regard to their normal eating habits. We have vowed to store only what we eat, and so for, it has worked well for us from a dietary standpoint, as well as from a financial one. At the end of the day, it only makes sense. Storing stuff you've never eaten seems strange to me.
There is a whole new world associated with kids – be they babies or toddlers. We're very familiar with both at the moment! Not so familiar with older folks, but it is a good point that I'd not considered before.
Cheers,
Mark
Good tips!!!
Nice concise post with great preparedness tips. Certainly these things are important to think about before hand so you can be ready. Thanks for sharing!
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My elderly mother once made a comment that no special care should be made for her if disaster struck, since she was old and useless. (She fears we will risk our lives to go get her, or care for her.)
I had to point out to her that she was useful. She was raised on a self-reliant farm and was a teen during the depression. She knows things her city-bred children and grandchildren haven't a clue on. She knows how to make candles and trim a lantern. She knows how to harness a horse and gather wild yeast.
She's very old now and when she's gone so much knowledge and experience will go with her. Just an example how important every member of your family is. Everyone needs to consider everyone.
When it comes to emergency preparedness, most people I talk to think that nothing will ever happen to them- I constantly hear “why should I bother". In today’s world it sounds crazy to talk about storing food. Why bother when restaurants, convenient stores and grocery stores are open 24 hours a day, 7days a week? We have grown up in the age of consumerism and take for granted there will always be food on the shelves. Well, what if there is a national emergency? Or if the unions repeat what happened in France – and stop delivery trucks in protest. What if our government keeps spending and hyper inflation occurs? Just look what happened in Boston! http://survivalist-hub.blogspot.com/. Why not be prepared just in case? It drives me NUTS when people have their heads in the sand!! But I know I am not nuts.
As a father of 3 small children, I have always tried to protect and provide for all their immediate and future necessities. I could not come home and tell my kids there was no food on the shelves. Now, I can sleep in peace having purchased years of emergency food! I love having the peace of mind, the feeling of being empowered– that my family and I are covered with the necessary emergency food, and survival supplies for the next 20 years at TODAY'S prices for what ever comes our way. For more information, go to blog http://survivalist-hub.blogspot.com/. For other survival products go to http://www.gearupcenter.com.
An old post, but i’m going to comment anyway. Specifically on #6. I was raised by my grandparents. They had old fashioned rules. One of which was you eat what’s on the table or you don’t eat. That simple. I use that with my children, I don’t tolerate that nonsense, we have food allergies & intolerances and it is hard enough to make a meal without letting my children rule the kitchen. There are no picky eaters in my house, I have children ages 18 M, 2,3, and 6, and they all eat what I make. This is a good thing, if we ever have a food shortage or have to leave (and survive on mre’s, granola bars, and/or foraging) there will never be an issue. Our grandparents (my grandparents survived the great depression and the dust bowl, she was from Kansas) came from a time when food was scare & self sufficiency was the only way to live, we should be taking a few more notes from their books.