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Although nature never sleeps, public health reporting from government agencies and news sources tend to slow markedly over the holidays. Many science journals don't publish much in the second half of December, and things often don't return to `normal' until the second week of January.
While blogging topics may be in short supply this week and next, I'm fairly confident a few of my readers are still scrambling for last minute gift ideas, or stocking stuffers, for this holiday season.
Each fall, during and just after National Preparedness Month, I make the case for buying preparedness items for holiday gift giving, with my most recent appeal in November (see The Gift of Preparedness 2024).
In that blog you’ll find both low cost `stocking stuffers’ along with some bigger ticket items like solar panels, battery banks, and FRS and crank radios.
With time running short, and most of our wallets running thin, I thought I’d run through my list of under $25 preparedness gift ideas. Most should be easy to find on the shelves, even at this late date.
A good place to look are the sporting goods section of big box stores, in home improvement centers, or discount stores like Big Lots.
NOTE: Products mentioned here are to provide a general idea of the type of gift, and should not be viewed as an endorsement of one brand over another.
Batteries, and battery chargers make terrific preparedness gifts. Just about everyone uses AA or AAA batteries, and you can either buy a decent quantity of disposable batteries, or go `green’ with a handful of rechargeable batteries and a charger for under $25.
When the lights go out, nothing beats having a few good LED flashlights or lanterns. And each year they get brighter, and cheaper. Most run between $5 and $10, and that beats the heck out of cursing the darkness.
A couple of years ago I bought several water filtration systems, one to keep and a couple to give to prepping buddies. LifeStraw ® weighs just 2 ounces, and this personal water filter will reportedly filter 1000 liters down to .2 microns. Not bad for around $20.
I've also added the Sawyer Mini-Filter to my preps, again about $20.
Emergency cook stoves can be had for under $20. A 1 burner propane camp stove costs about $15, add a couple of 1 pound propane cylinders (about $5 each) and you can cook for a family for a week. Other options include `Sterno' or `canned heat' stoves, which run under $10 (plus fuel).
At about $4 each, magnesium fire starters each year make excellent stocking stuffers.
Something as simple, and as utilitarian, as a multi-function `Swiss’ army knife or a `Multi-tool’ makes a great preparedness gifts.
For emergency electrical power, I found an 80 watt cigarette lighter inverter for my car. It can power a small laptop, and has a USB charger port as well. Under $20.
And for under $10, you can pick up a cigarette lighter USB charger, that can top off your phone or mobile device.
There are a lot of combination AM/FM Weather ALERT radios available for under $25, many have alternate power options (solar, hand crank, AA batteries, etc.). Every home and business should have at least one emergency alert radio.
This year - with flu steadily rising, COVID still hanging on, and the specter of bird flu in the wings - safety goggles, a box of vinyl or nitrile gloves, or a box of facemasks (or N95 masks) should be in everyone’s emergency kit as well.
There are, of course, many other gift possibilities. As we discussed last September in #NatlPrep: Prolonged Grid Down Preparedness, most disasters boil down to unscheduled camping - for days, or sometimes weeks - in your home, in a community shelter, or possibly even in your backyard.
This year - with flu steadily rising, COVID still hanging on, and the specter of bird flu in the wings - safety goggles, a box of vinyl or nitrile gloves, or a box of facemasks (or N95 masks) should be in everyone’s emergency kit as well.
There are, of course, many other gift possibilities. As we discussed last September in #NatlPrep: Prolonged Grid Down Preparedness, most disasters boil down to unscheduled camping - for days, or sometimes weeks - in your home, in a community shelter, or possibly even in your backyard.
Anything that would make that easier, or safer, makes a good preparedness item.
While I can’t predict what the new year will bring - if 2025 turns out anything like 2024 - there's a pretty good chance that there are going to be plenty of people who will wish they had most – if not all – of these items on hand before the next disaster strikes.
Because, during any emergency, the advantage always goes to those who were prepared.