Preppers and Pinterest

Pinterest is a treasure trove of useful tips, DIY projects, hacks, and info for frugal preppers. And it's--well--really cool and inspiring, too. There are some pretty amazing things out there. Check out our boards and follow whatever speaks to your inner prepper!

New First Aid Kit on the Way

That's right! One nifty first aid kit wasn't enough for us. We're building another for your preparedness pleasure. The new kit will make a début in all its tiny splendor at a gun show next weekend. Did I say tiny? Oops! Almost let the cat out of the bag! Or the bandaids out of the tin... or something. 

Just had to share the this delightful, shiny news, but I think I'd better go before I give the whole thing away...

The SAM® Splint

The SAM Splint (tactical grey version included in The Ammo Can First Aid Kit) is an amazing tool perfect for splinting Sam. Whoever he is. If no Sam is available, feel free to splint anything else that is handy. This thing is bendable, foldable, and even roll-able until you put one of three curves into it. Then it becomes absolutely rigid for splinting! Check out this video to see its uses.

(Did you sit there wondering if that guy's name was Sam? Yeah, I kinda wondered that too.)

Printable Wallet-sized Medical Info Card

So, maybe you're all nice and medically prepared. You know what to do if someone in your family has a medical emergency and there are no doctors available. You're all set! Except when you're the one who has a problem and the people trying to help you aren't sure what to do. They don't know if you're diabetic or allergic... or just given to random naps.

This handy little download covers all your basic medical info in case of emergency: emergency contacts, chronic conditions, prescription and over-the-counter meds, allergy record, immunization record, and space for extra notes. Give those people a starting point and you might just be able to wake up and tell them what to do next.

http://www.freeprintablemedicalforms.com/preview/Wallet-sized_Medical_Information_Card

North American Rescue® EMT Trauma Shears

These EMT Trauma Shears (included in The Ammo Can First Aid Kit) are tough--like, really tough. Watch this guy use them to cut through a penny! (Oh, yeah, also notice how cool they look in non-reflective black?)


This is the part where we say, "Don't try this at home." And if you do (like we just told you not to) don't bother claiming that we said you could... 'cause we didn't. Right here is where. ;)

Homemade Water Lense

Did you know you could use water to burn through wood or heat up a skillet? Sound kind of backwards, but watch this!

"This is a solar water lens that is almost 30 inches in diameter and can burn through wood quickly. It delivers a very large powerful focal point that is only useful around noon in the summertime when the sun is directly overhead. The material is crystal clear vinyl shower curtain. This lens concentrates about 500 watts of solar heat energy to a focal point of 1 inch optimal with a 3-6 inch scatter."

This is the part where we say, "Don't try this at home." And if you do (like we just told you not to) don't bother claiming that we said you could... 'cause we didn't. Right here is where. ;)

Iraq Vet's Assessment of The Ammo Can First Aid Kit

"It is an excellently stocked kit and a good deal... As an Iraq vet, I know the value and effectiveness of your kit."

Only $95 + S&H

DIY Waterproof Matches

"A match is a tool for starting a fire under controlled conditions. A typical modern match is made of a small wooden stick or stiff paper. One end is coated with a material that can be ignited by frictional heat generated by striking the match against a suitable surface." Concise Oxford Dictionary (10 ed.). London: Oxford University Press. 1999.

Waterproof matches are an excellent addition to any emergency kit but can be rather expensive to stock up on. For the frugal prepper, the good news is you can apparently waterproof regular matches right in your own kitchen. (We have not tried this, and can't be responsible for the outcome if you do. In other words, waterproof at your own risk.)

Check out instructions for using turpentine, nail polish, a candle, or paraffin here. (Important to note: from what I've read, you should use the softwood strike anywhere matches, not the book matches pictured with the tutorial.) This article tells how to use shellac and also gives a great tip for letting them dry.

The Israeli Battle Dressing

This is one of the most important things we've included in The Ammo Can First Aid Kit. Check out this video to see all the great applications for just versatile bandage!

DIY Almost-Free Fire-Starters

Sometimes it bothers me to have to throw things away. I look at my potato peelings and think, "There's got to be something useful I could do with this. If only I had goats or chickens or a compost pile!" (Alas for suburbia.) I get the same feeling about dryer lint. As a matter of fact, I did a Google search on spinning the stuff into yarn... just to see. If you own an ultra-efficient new dryer, you may not have quickly accumulating quantities of lint, but you should still have enough to potentially save your life. Imagine yourself stuck out in the cold and wet. You're hungry and trying to get a fire started... dryer lint to the rescue!

Making dryer lint fire-starters has to be one of the most frugal DIY prepping projects ever. Free lint, free toilet paper tubes, almost free wax or petroleum jelly--the exact supplies depend on the method you're using. Basically, you either pack a toilet paper tube with lint and seal the ends with wax, or you roll petroleum jelly and lint into little balls.

Check out these tips and follow the links to the complete instructions. This is a quick project, but if you don't have time at the moment, at least stick some lint in a Ziploc baggy and pop it in your pack. If you end up needing to start a fire before you get around to this project, you will sure be glad you have such flammable, dry tinder.

Waterproof Dryer Lint Fire-Starter

"Using only household items you can make a 1 oz waterproof fire-starter that burns for 15 minutes."

How to Make a Fire Starter out of Dryer Lint

"While any kind of dryer lint will work, lint from polyester or nylon blends do smell and produce excess smoke. It's best to use lint collected from cotton, wool, or linen fabrics. I prefer using lint collected from our towels and wool blankets."

The Best Fire-Starter Money Can't Buy: PET Balls

"Petroleum jelly can be a fuel extender for many different materials including cotton balls, cattail down, milkweed down, dried grasses, etc… I always carry a tube of CARMEX Lip balm in my pack for this reason.  CARMEX is a petroleum based lip balm and can be mixed with a variety of tinder to make excellent fire starters." (The comments on this page are also very informative.)

Combine some of these with a Blast Match and/or some waterproof matches, and you're ready to go!