Most overlooked preps?

[Medic!]

Spare eyeglasses.

Very good.
Got me to thinking.



Spare hearing aids?

 

[Bob D]

Things for the kids to do/keep them occupied.

Also, things for the grown-ups to do to keep them occupied. Nobody is gonna be looking forward to that 400th game of monopoly by lantern light.

 

[Howard1955]

I've thought some about this, and it's very hard to identify "the overlooked".

The only thing I've come up with so far is the need for paper-making. Eventually, a family will run out of toilet paper. Having the know-how, and the proper equipment to make paper would be a great asset.

I've looked at paper-making kits online, and those might work.

 

[The Heretic]

Spare hearing aids?

I haven't worn mine in months since I have not had a job since March.

Not saying they are not useful - just not sure how useful.

Granted, I need them, but I think in a SHTF situation, I would be wearing hearing protection with microphones instead?

 

[P7M13]

It's the soy - not the meat.

Soy = moobs.

 

[P7M13]

Things for the kids to do/keep them occupied.

Also, things for the grown-ups to do to keep them occupied.

Dishes, cleaning, mending, reloading, gun & gear maintenance.

 

[The Heretic]

Dishes, cleaning, mending, reloading, gun & gear maintenance.

Firewood cutting, splitting and stacking

 

[Bob D]

If you can dedicate 100% of your waking hours to productive endeavors, I commend you. I'ma need a crossword or a jigsaw puzzle or SOMEthing occasionally

 

[Camelfilter]

I haven't worn mine in months since I have not had a job since March.

Not saying they are not useful - just not sure how useful.

Granted, I need them, but I think in a SHTF situation, I would be wearing hearing protection with microphones instead?

Curious if electronic earmuffs/hearing protection enhance hearing similar to hearing aids?

If they do, then perhaps some spare electronic earmuffs for folks whom also need hearing aids? Can be found on special & likely easier to source rechargeable batteries.

 

[jdub75]

Spare eyeglasses.

dang, good one!

 

[The Heretic]

Curious if electronic earmuffs/hearing protection enhance hearing similar to hearing aids?

Muffs are not tuned to specific frequencies that a person's hearing may be deficient in; generally muffs would probably amplify only a range of frequencies that would be the same for everyone, which may or may not match where that person's hearing is lacking.

Also, muffs might not be as efficient with regards to batteries as hearing aids would be. In my experience the batteries in my hearing aids last weeks, depending on how much I use them - but once activated they will be expended - they are not reusable, and their power will lower over time. These are zinc-air batteries; once the tab is removed they are activated and their shelf life is measured in weeks.

In general, hearing aids have advantages over muffs, but yes, I can hear things with muffs (that have amplified microphones) that I cannot hear without them and they seem more directional than my hearing aids. OTOH, they are not as comfortable over a period of time. Hearing aids, in general, are not designed hearing protection.

My hearing deficit is moderate, so I only wear my aids when I am dealing with people so I can understand their speech better - otherwise I don't bother as I find them somewhat uncomfortable over time (more than a few hours) - others may have a different experience. Since I live alone and rarely talk with people, I have not worn mine in months as I an now unemployed/retired.

 

[fredball]

Food & Medicine for dogs & cats or farm animals

 

[pigiron]

Liquor.

This. ^

Get whiskey in the half gallon bottles with handles. Whiskey was the coin of the realm in Colonial times.

 

[Nick Burkhardt]

Zerohedge

ZeroHedge - On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero

www.zerohedge.com

 

[RaceFan]

For the bug out bag...

Candy. A few Jolly Ranchers, Sweet Tarts, etc. Hard candy.

TP with 1/3 or 1/4 roll remaining, cardboard tube remove, vacuum sealed in food saver bag to flatten. One package per person to last a few days.

Folding hand shovel to dig hole in the ground.

Your regular favorite hard liquor. Airplane size.

Pack of playing cards. Two dice.

Plastic trash bags.

Water purification tablets.

Sewing kit.

Ear plugs.

Razor.

Soap.

Hand lotion.

Lip balm.

Sunscreen lotion.

Tooth brush, paste, floss.

Single edge razor blades.

Zip ties.

Googles (think volcanic ash cloud).

N95 dust mask.

Solar calculator.

INSTANT COFFEE!!!

 

[RaceFan]

Comp notebook.

Pens and pencils.

 

[spider]

Diet, Physical, Mental and Oral Health.

What would a specialist, dentist and a doctor be worth at this time?

Imagine all these type 2 diabetics running around prepping with MREs that will eventually kill them when they don't have enough insulin to get all that out of their systems.

Makes me think of what pharmacist would be on hand to offer their critique of how to prepare for this situation.

I know the easy answer, stay fit and hope you won the DNA gene pool and not be born into ailments.

 

[Wood Worker]

I just looked in our what if bag that we take on trips, that has extra toiletries, anti bacterial balms and Bandages in it and smiled when I saw there was still a box of pepto chewables and for the opposite end of the spectrum, a bottle of Colace tablets. Remember MRE's are sometimes Meals Refusing to Exit.

 

[CoastRange57]

Good idea to at least have the ply on hand in the event of a natural disaster which could shatter windows. Here, earthquake for the most part is the concern. High winds downing limbs & such thru windows. Etc maybe. Hurricanes, at least not a concern in our region.

If the concern is dirt bag people, and avoiding some type of "routine/expected" home invasion incursion in civil unrest, loss of rule of law? Not much boarding up windows is going to do.

Course it would depend on the property & if the folks can have enough live security to keep the dirtbag people away from the home 24/7.

So as an addition to multilayer? May help.

IMO.

Exactly. Most people seem to think that their home is some kind of armed fortress that is going to keep them safe while some boogaloo goon is dumping multiple rounds of .308 or better and eventually one or a dozen of those rounds will go through the Hardibacker siding, the strand board sheeting and sheet rock and connect with a human body.

So unless you have reinforced your walls with at least 1/4 plate steel your best bet is to keep them well at bay in the distance, far from throwing range of any kind of IEDs, or allowing them close enough to do damage with .223 or smaller rounds. Fields of fire. Sniper training.

 

[Defense Minister]

Thanks for the information share everyone. There are a few things here which can help me improve my preparedness. The one item I have to add to the list:

Laundry wringer