Friday, December 2, 2022

Winter Preps For 2022/23

By Tim Gamble

Winter 2022/23 is here, and with it comes winter's own set of challenges and concerns. Here is a quick review of Winter Preps you should consider.*

Winter First Aid

Winter has its own set of potential first aid concerns, I highly recommend you review the article I posted a couple of days ago on Winter First Aid (link is to my article on this website). In it, I discuss The Anatomy of Body Heat (and how to maintain your core temperature), the Symptoms & Treatment of both Frostnip and Frostbite, Hypothermia Signs and Treatment, First Aid Courses and a handbook recommendation.  

Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter
  • Inspect your tires and make sure they are in good shape.
  • Don't forget to inspect your spare tire! Make sure you have all the tools you need to change a tire. 
  • Inspect your wiper blades. Change them if needed.
  • Make sure the anti-freeze level is appropriate for your location (a local mechanic can help you with that if you don't know).
  • Inspect/test your battery, especially if it is more than four years old.
  • Check all fluids and catch up on any routine maintenance to prevent breakdowns (see my article Prepper Auto Maintenance Schedule).  

Make sure you have an emergency kit in your vehicle
, including items such as some food and water, first aid kit, flashlight, extra batteries, extra motor oil, and jumper cables or battery starter. For winter, include extra gloves and head/neck coverings (such as a wool toboggan or a full Balaclava). A warm blanket is also a good idea, as is a way to recharge your cell your phone.

NOTE:
Many folks get the shortest jumper cables possible in order to save a couple of bucks (if they have jumper cables at all). However, its not always possible to park both vehicles that close together. Jumper cables are not that expensive, so go ahead an spend a few extra bucks to get a set that will be long enough to actually be useful. I have a 16-foot set of jumper cables in both my vehicles. 

Other Winter Survival Tips
  • Inspect/clean your chimney and wood stove pipes.
  • If you use firewood, make sure you have enough to last you all winter.
  • Don't let fallen leaves pile up against your home (fire hazard).
  • Clean out gutters after the leaves stop falling (safety issue).
  • Turn off and/or cover outside faucets and watering systems.
  • Make sure your home food and water storage are topped off in case winter storms leave you homebound for a period of time. Same goes for any medications you take.
  • Keep your gas tank topped off. Running out-of-gas is not a good idea in freezing weather.
  • Update your bug-out bag for winter: include dry socks & underwear, gloves, head/neck coverings, poncho, emergency or reflector blanket, and make sure you have plenty of matches, lighters, and/or fire starters. 
  • A cold weather sleeping bag/system is highly recommended for winter months. 

Special Considerations for Winter 2022/2023

Various supply chain problems, potential strikes, higher gas and energy prices, high inflation, massive illegal immigration, underfunded (and understaffed) police departments, rising crime, RSV outbreaks, nursing shortages - the list of domestic problems we face this winter is quite long.  And I have said nothing of the long list of international problems that exist. These problems will not only continue, but likely will get worse over the course of this winter. In fact, things could get much worse this winter. 

Food needs to be a top priority. As many others are saying, "stock food to the rafters." Food is only going to increase in price this winter, and grocery store shelves are already starting to look a little skimpy. Buy now. Same goes for other types of supplies you use regularly: cleaning supplies, personal hygiene supplies, paper goods, OTC medications, vitamins and supplements, batteries, and even shoes and clothes. 

Counterpoint: Some analysts are stating that there is a glut of clothing on the market currently, and that after the Christmas season we will see stores sharply mark-down clothing to sell off their excess inventory. It may be worthwhile to put off clothing purchases in order to get these savings. 


Think about security. Crime, including violent crime, is rising across the country. Police departments are underfunded and understaffed. Woke District Attorneys across the country are incredibly soft on crime. And the ongoing influx of illegal immigrants and unvetted refuges will only make matters worse. The new reality is that you have to be responsible for your own security and that of your family. 

Get your concealed-carry permit if it is legal in your area, and carry! Take a good self-defense shooting course (shooting under stress at a moving target that shoots back at you is vastly different from leisurely shooting a fixed target at the gun range). Your local gun shop should be able to tell you where to get training. I also suggest most people double or even triple the amount of ammo you have on-hand. You may want to consider learning how to reload, and stock up on reloading supplies. 

Everyone in your family or group, regardless of their age, should also take a non-lethal self-defense course. A good self-defense course won't just cover the physical aspects of self-defense, but also give tips and advice on avoiding dangerous situations in the first place.


Security isn't just about guns & ammo, but also about hardening your home, security doors, dead-bolt locks, exterior home lighting, avoiding bad areas of town, practicing situational awareness, exercising commonsense, and many other things less exciting, yet probably more important, than guns.
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1 comment:

  1. Tim, great read as usual! Helps to keep the thought processes going. About the OODA loop. It is a military term. They say it takes about 220 milliseconds. How fast is that?! (Not Half Fast But Real Fast)
    -Following you on Twitter now-

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