2 Keys to Summer Fun: How to Prepare
Each Memorial Day, we honor our fallen heroes.
This national holiday is also the start of the summer travel season. With that in mind, we thought we’d share a few brief tips with you all.
If you're planning on getting away for a little summer fun - whether near or far - you'll want to read on.
See, it's very important to take the preparedness mindset on the road with you. When you prepare accordingly, you'll get the most out of your summer fun - and stay safe and healthy.
Preparing for summer fun? Just like preparing for a crisis.
Fun. It's not something a lot of folks associate with the "prepper" stereotype.
Well, you and I both know that almost all of us in the preparedness community are not shut-ins living off in the mountains somewhere.
Just like everyone else, we enjoy getting away from home for new adventures, relaxing and having fun.
However, as participants in the preparedness lifestyle, we never want to be caught unprepared – even while having fun – by the unexpected.
Now, you shouldn't feel obligated to saddle yourself with tons of emergency gear (that would not be fun).
Just focus on the essentials. should you run into a crisis during your vacation, you’ll be ready. If not, great – that’s what the vacation is for.
So, here are the two essential things you should focus on.
Water Filtration
We all know how essential water is for survival.
When traveling, there are greater risks associated with drinking contaminated water.
In fact, there's a catch-all term given to bacterial or viral infections contracted while traveling: Traveler's Diarrhea (or TD for short). This also goes by "Montezuma's Revenge" and "Delhi Belly."
That's why it's especially important to bring water filtration with you when traveling internationally or to remote regions. It is estimated that TD affects 40-60% of travelers from industrialized nations who visit developing countries. While TD isn't usually life-threatening, the symptoms can easily take all the fun out of a nice trip.
Almost anywhere you travel - even in the U.S. - drinking water from a new source can cause discomfort.
You can avoid all of these things by carrying a water filtration system with you every time you travel.
Carrying a filter also lightens the load on hiking or camping trips because carrying in all the water you need is very heavy.
At My Patriot Supply, we carry a brand that developed not one but two powerful filtration systems that are perfect for travel.
First, The Alexapure Go is our go-to sports bottle filter. It can filter up to 300 gallons, giving you safe, clean water everywhere from the gym to 3rd-world restaurants. Kids can take on school field trips, hikes, camping outings and more. If you're planning on being active this summer, take the Go everywhere you go! To learn more about the Go, click here.
Second, we have the Survival Spring by Alexapure. This pocket-sized water filter can also filter up to 300 gallons. What's special about the Survival Spring is its super-slim compact design.
You can drink through the straw-like device, directly from any freshwater source. This makes the Survival Spring a top choice for ultralight backpackers and international travelers. To learn more about the Survival Spring, click here.
The next essential item for summer travel should be just as obvious as water:
Backup Food
By now, most of you know how important it is to have ample emergency food storage on hand at home.
But, it's always good to have emergency food you can take with you while traveling.
Consider this: many popular travel destinations are prone to extreme weather and natural disasters - hurricanes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and earthquakes just to name a few.
Imagine being in Hawaii right now with Kilauea threatening the entire Big Island. Or on the Atlantic seaboard as a hurricane threatens. Or somewhere out West as a wildfire engulfs the landscape.
Now, this illustrates an obvious point – plan your trips accordingly. However, just because a region is disaster-prone does not mean we should avoid the fun of visiting their entirely. We just might want to take a few more precautions. Do our research. Go at a time when disasters are less likely, if possible.
Yet, in the event of one of these disasters, it's always a good idea to have at least a few days of food on hand. Even better, a week or two's worth of food.
You could be cut off from the nearest town or market and you'll need nourishment to fall back on.
This is why we ensure all of our short-term emergency food supplies are lightweight and compact and can easily be stored in a suitcase, carry-on, even a purse.
Our lightweight food is also popular choice among lovers of the outdoors. Less pack weight means more fun on the trail, boat or at the cabin.
The part that everyone loves? The taste. Here are some of our “fan-favorites:”
What’s your favorite recipe? Share in the comments section below.
I hope these tips on preparing for summer travel find you well and ready to experience the world while you relax. It's easy to take the preparedness mindset on the road with you when you have the right knowledge and the right supplies.
Traveling or staying - keep safe out there, friends!
In Liberty,
Grant Miller
Preparedness Advisor, My Patriot Supply
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