In this week’s mailbag we cover…
My solution to storing water…
Which space blanket I recommend using…
How to know if pepper spray is still pressurized…
Where I buy my military grade paracord…
How to stock up on prescriptions in case of an emergency…
And more!
Let’s dive in…
I personally like the Mountain House brand freeze dried foods… The problem is the water I need to store. Do you have a solution to store the water in one form or another?
– Joe M
Answer: I like storing water two ways. I like the 7-gallon Aquatainers. However, these are obviously heavy when full, so another option I like is the WaterBricks. These come in a 3.5 gallon size that are easier to move around and you can stack them on top of each other.
Do you recommend a space blanket for a bug out bag?
– Jerry S
Answer: Yes, definitely. I love space blankets and they don’t take up a lot of space at all in your bug out bag. Here’s the one I use.
I’ve worked at a maximum-security prison and been a cop for 20 years… What is something new you can teach me?
– Ian R
Answer: Well, what do you want to know? You clearly have a lot of knowledge and will have received a great deal of training over your career.
But, I bring the unique angle of “spy tactics and strategies” that most people don’t know. So, once I know what you need, I’ll be happy to help.
How can you know if an older pepper spray is still pressurized?
– Thomas K
Answer: The best thing to do is go by the expiration date on the can of pepper spray. Even if you’ve never used the pepper spray, once it’s reached the expiration date, I recommend replacing it with a new one just to be safe.
Pepper spray is too cheap to not replace when it expires. Of course, if you don’t want to do that, then you could do a test spray in a safe location.
Where do you buy your military grade paracord?
– Jerome P
Answer: I would check out either a place called Tough Grid or Atwood Rope. Now, the paracord they sell isn’t cheap, but they do sell the 550 paracord, which is what I recommend using. (This is the good paracord, not the cheap Chinese junk.)
Many people cannot buy their prescription medicine in advance because insurance companies monitor the orders and will not let you get a refill or a new prescription within a certain time after the last refill.
I have repeatedly run into this when trying to get a 90-day supply refilled less than 60 days after the last 90-day prescription was filled.
– Carl B
Answer: You are right that many insurance companies will have restrictions on the time frame of getting a refill. On the other hand, there are many folks who travel for months on end without being able to refill their prescriptions.
My point is, there are always circumstances where people might be unable to get their refills and will need them in advance. I would try contacting your insurance company and asking them what kind of documentation they need for an advance of medications.
In addition, if there is no other option, I would consider paying for your medications out of pocket, which may take awhile to save up for, but will be worth it during an emergency.
