The Importance of potable water in your survival plans.

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How Important is Potable Water for Emergency Preparedness?

Throughout history, clean drinking water has been one of the most valuable resource known to man and at the core of man’s survival. There are many areas of the world without access to sufficient potable water or rely on water sources that are contaminated with toxins, suspended solids, pathogens, or disease vectors.

Drinking contaminated water or using it to cook can lead to chronic illnesses including everything from diarrhea and Typhoid to Malaria and Guinea worm; which are major causes of suffering and unnecessary death around the world. Reducing waterborne diseases by protecting and cleaning water sources has become a major goal for public health officials, particularly in developing countries. In the United States and Canada, a natural disaster or harsh weather could easily deprive large areas of the country of clean drinking water. Are you prepared to protect your family in the case of an emergency?

Hikingware.com has a full line of ProPur water filtering systems and water filter accessories for home use. Just one of these water filtration systems can save your life and the lives of your loved ones by filtering contaminated water or water from questionable sources through the process of reverse osmosis.

Propur Traveler Water Filter

Things to keep in mind when it comes to the importance and availability of potable water:
• You may be asking yourself, “What is potable water?”, but the answer is fairly simple. Potable water has been filtered, cleaned, or treated to meet the standards for drinking water, meaning that it is reasonably clear of contaminants and harmful bacteria. This makes the water safe for drinking and cooking. Water purified via reverse osmosis, distilled, or UV filtration and water treated within municipal water systems all qualify as potable water.
• Most non-potable water will be raw water from ground wells, springs, ground water, rivers, or lakes that is not treated. It is not safe to drink, as there are unknown contaminants in untested water. It is possible for non-potable water to taste normal, but carry serious health risks.
• It is common to worry about getting sick after drinking tap water, particularly because of news stories, such as those related to the Legionella outbreaks. Some people will choose to install a water purification system or simply drink bottled water.
• Bottled water can be an expensive item to purchase and it can actually be dirtier than tap water, depending on where you live and the bottled water you buy. Keep your family safe by making sure that the company supplying the water is part of the IBWA (International Bottled Water Association), as this ensures that they live up to the rigorous testing requirements for clean drinking water. Every year the IBWA sends inspectors to visit each of their companies, ensuring that the water produced by the plant is potable and safe.
• You can also spare yourself the additional cost of bottled water by having a private lab or your local health authorities test your tap water. If you discover contaminants, then simply purchase a unit that removes this specific contaminant.

How Does Potable Water Become Contaminated?

There are various contamination sources for water systems. The most common sources which lead to contamination include:
• Malfunctions in wastewater treatment systems (such as nearby septic systems)
• Sewer overflows
• Manufacturing processes
• Use practices on local land (such as concentrated animal feeding, livestock, pesticides, and fertilizers)
• Chemicals and minerals which occur naturally (such as uranium, radon, and arsenic)

750 million people currently lack access to clean water, and 840 thousand die each year from water-related illnesses. Make sure that you and your family are prepared for any emergency situation when you buy the Propur Water Filtration System today!

Choosing the Right Flashlight for Your Emergency Kit

Advances in LED (light-emitting diode) technology and battery efficiency have resulted in flashlights that are smaller, lighter and brighter than they were just a few years ago. These advances have made it easier and safer to store with your emergency preparedness kit. 

Hikingware.com suggests you choose your emergency flashlight(s) carefully; you may need to depend on them for up to several weeks at a time in a severe emergency.

SureFire G2 Nitrolon Flashlight

So what is the best LED flashlight for your survival kit? Here are some guidelines:

The key factors to compare when selecting a flashlight:

•   Light output

•   Battery type and run time

•   Size and weight

Flashlights range from under $20 to over $200, yet they may be the same size. What are the differences? Brightness is the biggest one. A pricier light is more powerful due to the use of an advanced bulb, battery and circuitry technology. A rechargeable battery can add to the cost, as can features such as strong impact- and water-resistance, effective heat dissipation and multiple lighting modes.

Light output is measured in lumens.  Beam intensity, distance and type all influence the effectiveness of a light in different applications. A flashlight’s light output can range from a modest 20 lumens (great for reading a book) to a terrain-scorching 3500 lumens.

Check the run time of your flashlight. How long does it take the light output to drop to 10% of the rated output on new batteries? Light output may gradually decrease over time, or remain largely constant and then suddenly decrease.

How impact-resistant is your flashlight? Flashlights are tested today by dropping them a few times onto a concrete floor from a stated height. Your flashlight rating should include that height. It’s worth noting that no flashlight is rated impact resistant from being run over or when used as a hammer!

How water-resistant is your flashlight? Can it remain submerged for up to a half hour; will it stand up to being used in the rain? Is the casing metal or plastic?

What kind of beam does your flashlight have? The lens reflector that surrounds a bulb influences how the light is dispersed. 

Nitrocore SRT7 LED Flashlight

The 3 Common Flashlight Beam Options:

Flood (or fixed): A single beam width. Good for general tasks in camp or while walking.

Spot (or focused): A single beam condensed into a spotlight to penetrate a long distance. This is best for route-finding or other fast-paced activity.

Adjustable: Beam width ranges from wide to focused, or any point in-between. This means, for example, a climber looking for the next pitch would use a spot beam; to study a map, a flood beam.

What type of battery does your flashlight have? The type and availability of replacement batteries is often a factor in selecting a flashlight.

The 3 Common Flashlight Battery Options:

Disposable: The most common battery sizes in use, AAA or AA, are readily available. CR123A is also a common choice, but is more expensive and can be harder to find. Their upside is a higher voltage output for a smaller size and weight, making it possible to have a brighter flashlight in a smaller, lighter package.  Flashlights using D cell batteries are still available if you want a baton-sized tool for security or a light that won’t get lost in a pocket.

Rechargeable: Built-in lithium-ion batteries can be recharged through a USB connection from a computer, AC or DC outlet or solar panel. The higher upfront cost is more than made up for by the low ongoing running cost, no need for disposable batteries and reduced waste.

Renewable: Flashlights with a built-in battery energized by a hand crank or solar panel are ideal for emergency kits.

Caution: Do not use lithium or lithium-ion batteries with any flashlight unless recommended by the manufacturer. You risk damaging a light by mismatching it with lithium batteries.

So which type of flashlight will you include in your emergency survival kit?