0 Riverwalker’s Top Ten Alternate Uses for Lip Balm

There are numerous items that we frequently use in our everyday lives that frequently have multiple uses. Many of these uses aren’t readily apparent but can be a big help in a crisis or an emergency when your resources may be limited. One extremely handy everyday item that most people carry is lip balm . That small little tube can do a lot more than keep your lips moisturized.

                                                      

Most lip balms are a petroleum-based product that also includes additional beneficial ingredients. It’s also a small enough item to be carried in your pocket, your purse or your first aid kit. Here are a few alternate uses for lip balm.

Top Ten Alternate Uses for Lip Balm

1. Treat minor cuts and scrapes on the skin with a thin coating of lip balm.

2. Use as a lubricant for stubborn zippers on your gear or equipment bags.

3. Rub on a cotton ball or gauze pad to make an expedient firestarter.

4. Insert a make-shift wick to make an expedient candle for emergencies.

5. Rub on other exposed areas like the ears to protect them from the cold.

6. Coat your shoe or boot laces to keep them secure and prevent untying.

7. Use to coat irritated skin areas on your feet before a blister can form.

8. Use to waterproof and seal damaged or exposed seams on tents.

9. Coat your knife blade to protect it from excess moisture in wet conditions.

10. Use a chunk of lip balm to seal a rifle barrel to keep out debris or moisture.

This is by no means all the uses for lip balm that are possible and you shouldn’t limit your resources by thinking in finite terms.

Got an alternate use for lip balm?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Detail: Riverwalker’s Top Ten Alternate Uses for Lip Balm

0 Prepping on a Budget - Affordable Items for Preppers - Emergency Supplies - The First Aid Kit

The vast majority of minor medical emergencies can be handled with a simple First Aid Kit.  Minor medical problems if left ignored can lead to even more serious problems and quite often can be avoided if you have a minimum of first aid supplies on hand.

First Aid Kits come in all sizes and shapes and most are quite affordable in price. Practical first aid kits can be found with an average price of less than $20. If you have the time and the inclination, you can even assemble a quality First Aid Kit for even less money that will give you the needed supplies to handle a wide variety of minor medical problems. Many times all you may need is a band-aid and some anti-biotic cream to handle a minor emergency.

The affordability of most first aid kits makes them an essential item for your preparedness supplies. Pocket first aid kits that cost about a $1 or small first aid kits for under $10 can be added to your backpack, BOB or carried in the console or glove compartment of your vehicle. This allows you a wide range of options to keep first aid supplies available for when the need arises. A larger and more extensive first aid kit can be kept in your home or at your bug out location that will give you even better and more extensive coverage for those minor medical emergencies that always seem to happen at the most inconvenient time.

Don’t get caught short when a minor medical emergency comes up. Keep first aid supplies handy and avoid more serious problems that could arise if minor injuries are left untreated. For less than $20, you can generally keep a decent amount of first aid supplies on hand without ruining your budget.

Got band-aids?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Detail: Prepping on a Budget - Affordable Items for Preppers - Emergency Supplies - The First Aid Kit

0 Beyond the Basics - The Dedicated First Aid Kit

Each and every day we are all at serious risk of being injured in an accident or developing some form of incapacitating illness. Whether you are traveling in your car, relaxing at home or busy at work, there is always the distinct possibility that you, a member of your family or a friend will require some form of first aid. One of the ways you can prepare for this eventuality is to have a dedicated first aid kit.

Having a home first aid kit is an essential part of being prepared for those small emergencies that can happen everyday. Having a dedicated first aid kit can help you be even better prepared. It is also important to remember that first aid is exactly what it says. It is the first aid an individual receives when sick or injured and prior to receiving proper medical treatment by a qualified professional. It is emergency care that is in the best interest of the sick or injured person that is applied using common sense decisions based on your level of first aid training.

Having a dedicated first aid kit is a fairly simple goal to accomplish. Most everyone has a home first aid kit which usually manages to stay right where you put it. This is a good thing because everyone in the family should know exactly where it’s at all times so that it can be accessed quickly when needed. This is why having a dedicated first aid kit is so important because it will save you time in an emergency. Having dedicated first aid kits in certain designated areas can make the difference in preventing a minor emergency from becoming an event that could be life threatening. 

Do you have a first aid kit in your garage or workshop? They have first aid kits in most workplaces and your garage at home shouldn’t be the exception. Most commercial vehicles are required to carry a first aid kit. Do you keep one in your vehicle? If you are traveling on the open road and find yourself in the middle of nowhere, you don’t want to find yourself suddenly in need of a good first aid kit.

Do you have specialized first aid kits available? One that everyone should consider is a good first aid kit that is dedicated to the treatment of burns. Burns are one of the more common injuries that can happen at home. Having extra first aid kits that are kept in designated areas can help you respond more efficiently to a person’s needs when first aid is required.

Proper first aid managementrequires you not only have good first aid kits but the proper training as well. Having the right tools and equipment won’t help you if don’t know how to utilize them properly and efficiently. In fact, the lack of proper training could create a situation where your help may actually be detrimental to the efforts of those persons attempting to render first aid in an emergency.

Sometimes you need more than a band-aid.

Image source: http://www.firstaidmanagement.com.au/first-aid-kits.html

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Detail: Beyond the Basics - The Dedicated First Aid Kit