I was recently reading a newsletter and as it opened, the first headline was “Health News”.  It grabbed my attention so quickly that I thought I would share it in this blog.

After traveling around, introducing My Life in a Box at workshops, and talking to so many people about emergency issues,  and building their Get Away Bag, I realize more and more how vital it is to plan for food and water during emergencies and disasters so that you can shelter in place if you needed to.

During natural disasters, drinking water is vital.  It feeds the body, fuels our cells and keeps us going.  If you stay in your home during an emergency or disaster, fill your bath tub, and use the water in your hot water heater as a water source.  If you have a swimming pool, you are all set!  If you are at home or away from home, here are some great tips on preparing water.

BOIL – BOIL – BOIL    Short of using a very high-quality water filter, this is the most reliable method for killing microbes and parasites. Bring water to a rolling boil and keep it simmering for at least several minutes. Add one minute of boiling to the initial 10 minutes for every 1,000 feet above sea level. Cover the pot to shorten boiling time and conserve fuel.

LIQUID UNSCENTED BLEACH
Here’s how: (Store these directions with your emergency bottle of bleach.) First let water stand until particles settle. Pour the clear water into an uncontaminated container and add Regular bleach per the chart listed below.  Mix well. Wait 30 min. Water should have a slight bleach odor. If not, repeat dose.  Wait 15 min. Sniff again. Keep an eyedropper taped to your emergency bottle of  bleach, since purifying small amounts of water requires only a few drops.

Ratio of Bleach to Water for Purification

• 2 drops of regular bleach per quart of water
• 8 drops of regular bleach per gallon of water
• 1/2 teaspoon regular bleach per five gallons of water
• If water is cloudy, double the recommended dosages of bleach