'Buy' Water At Home

Before I drove to my local 'Never Undersold' recreation retailer this morning to stock up on water I did a little math:

On sale for $24.99, 1 case of 96 U.S. Coast Guard approved Emergency Purified Drinking Water pouches (4.25 fl oz. each) with a shelf life of five years = 408 fl oz or 3.1875 gallons (128 fl oz = 1 gallon).  Price per gallon = $7.84 at this 'Never Undersold' retailer.  

Our local water department charges $0.96 per 1,000 gallons.  Price per gallon = $0.00096. 

Which means, if my math is right, for the same price I can buy:

1 gallon of water from my local recreation retailer     (travel expenses not included)

OR

8,167 gallons of water from the water department    (expense of traveling to my kitchen=free)


This week I'll be looking into containers to fill from home and other inexpensive options.

Weekly 72-Hour Kit Projects

WEEK THREE:  Visit your nearest thrift store and find a sturdy backpack for each 72-hour kit.
WEEK TWO:  Add $10 cash in small bills to each 72-hour kit.
WEEK ONE:  Place closed-toed, slip on shoes next to or underneath your bed.

Get Your Feet Wet : HYDRATION and Preventing Dehydration

The short of hydration (and avoiding dehydration) is your body needs water to work and to keep you alive.  There are many different 'calculators' available for reaching the amount of water you need to stay hydrated but proper dehydration depends on a person's age, body weight, activity level, altitude, climate and temperature, the amount of alcohol they consume and whether or not they are ill, pregnant, or nursing.  We feel knowing what to watch for will be more useful to you in an emergency than your calculated percentage of dehydration.  


LOOK TO THE WEE
Dark yellow urine first thing in the morning is normal because it is concentrated on account of you going several hours without anything to drink.  As you go about the day you are properly hydrated if your urine is clear to light yellow.  The darker the urine the more water you need.  Certain vegetables and fruits can change the color or smell of your urine, so keep in mind the other symptoms of dehydration.  


A few of the SYMPTOMS of dehydration:
Though we look to many sources to establish the facts, this information should not be used during a medical emergency to diagnose or treat a condition.  Please contact a licensed physician with any and all symptoms for proper care or call 911 if you suspect dehydration in a child.  This information is intended to introduce you to some of the symptoms of dehydration to help you spot them quickly and seek proper medical attention.  Generally the symptoms below become worse as dehydration progresses, but symptoms and the severity of dehydration may vary from person to person. 

• Increased thirst to extreme thirst
• Cravings for sugar and/or salt to loss of appetite
• Dry mouth/dry tongue, sticky mouth/sticky saliva, dry lips
• Redness in the cheeks
• You urinate less/less often and/or it is darker.  Dark amber/brown urine, or little to none in 12+ hours is cause for concern. 
• Constipation
• Irritability
• Headache
• Dizziness/light-headedness 
• Nausea or vomiting
• No tears
• Skin is cool to the touch to cold and clammy, or hot and dry
• Chills
• Rapid breathing, heartbeat, or pulse
• Cramps
• Weakness or the inability to stand or walk
• Confusion
• Decreased energy or abnormal drowsiness to loss of consciousness
• Rapid weight loss
• Seizures

PREVENT DEHYDRATION
Never ration water.  Drink the amount you need today and try to find more for tomorrow.  If water is available and you are showing any symptom(s) of dehydration, even if you have had the 'assigned' amount of water to drink for the day, drink the amount you need to stay healthy today.


Give a person showing a symptom/symptoms of dehydration give them more water to drink - in small amounts - regularly.  Our bodies need time to absorb the water we drink.  If more water does not seem to help you should seek medical attention immediately.


In hot or humid weather you will need to drink more water to lower your body temperature and replace what you lost through sweating.  Stay cool, do your best to avoid being outside during the hottest hours of the day, and keep your activity level low.

72 Hours of WATER

Your 72-hour kit :  WATER and How Much


=  3 gallons per person (minimum). 
Consider storing more for personal hygiene.


After all of our research we recommend storing 1st, as much water as you can and 2nd, at least 1 gallon per person, per day which brings us to our minimum total of 3 gallons per person, for a 72 hour (or 3 day) supply.  

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) also advises you store 1 gallon (at least 1/2 gallon for drinking) per person, per day.

American Red Cross  advises you store 2 quarts (1/2 gallon) per person, per day.

Never ration water.  Drink the amount you need today and try to find more for tomorrow.

Remember to plan for pets and consider:
Children, the elderly, the ill, and nursing mothers need more water.  


You will also need more water as your activity level and the temperature rises.  In Arizona's dry, hot climate it is recommended you store 3 gallons per person, per day for example.