tools: May 2010 Archives

I've got a DIY for a simple bucket toilet listed elsewhere on this site, but don't underestimate the power of comfort in a time of crisis or need.

The Luggable Loo bucket toilet lid is perhaps one of the best $12 bills you may spend while prepping.

Anyone who has been on an extended camping or backpacking trip can appreciate the simple joy of returning from the woods to a comfy commode.

Sadly, when the shit goes down, so will your shitter. Picking up a pre-fab seat for your bucket toilet will make the daily act of bagging into the bucket a bit more bearable. Additionally, it's easier to clean and sanitize a plastic seat than one that's been improvised from 2 x 4's.

Human feces can carry and foster all manners of pathogens, including e. coli, cryptosporidium, and salmonella. Lacking the ease of care and availability of antibiotics, these and other diseases will be reinvigorated and begin claiming lives.

Keeping a lid on sanitation in your personal RECESS is the first step to protecting yourself and your loved ones from the threat.

Lightweight emergency heat blankets are a great asset to any kit or pack. Often called space blankets, these inexpensive Mylar sheets can be used as insulation, a wind break, a groundsheet, fire reflector, or an emergency rain poncho.

Unlike, traditional insulation, the space blanket has no loft to serve as an air trap. Instead, this thin polyester film very efficiently reflects heat back toward your body.

Unpack it and wrap it around yourself in an emergency. It will immediately begin to reflect your body heat. The Mylar won't breathe, so any sweat or condensation created between your body and the blanket will be trapped. This can be dangerous in the winter, so be very careful not to overheat.

If used in conjunction with an open fire, the space blanket will reflect heat from fire back toward you. Mylar melts easily, so take care to keep the space blanket at a safe distance.

Pack a few, they're cheap and infinitely versatile.