Purifying Water During an Emergency

This story is posted on the exact date and time that a tree fell on our home during hurricane Matthew. I decided on that day, that emergency preparations should start now and be ongoing. One never knows when a disaster will strike.

Purifying Water During an Emergency

The treatments described below work only to remove bacteria or viruses from water. If you suspect the water is unsafe because of chemicals, oils, poisonous substances, sewage or other contaminants, do not drink the water. Don't drink water that is dark colored, has an odor or contains solid materials.

Storing Water Safely

• The best source of drinking water during an emergency is water you have stored with your emergency supplies.
• Store one gallon of water per person per day--enough for at least three days.
• Store-bought, factory-sealed bottled water is best. Check for an expiration date and replace as needed. 
• If you choose to fill your own water containers:
• Collect the water from a safe supply.
• Store water in thoroughly washed plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. You can also purchase food-grade plastic buckets or drums.
• Seal water containers tightly, label with date, and store in a cool, dark place.
• Replace water every six months.
• Never reuse a container that held toxic substances such as pesticides, chemicals or oil.

Purifying By Boiling

If your tap water is unsafe, boiling is the best method to kill disease-causing organisms.

If tap water is unavailable, the following may be considered as potential water sources. Water taken from these sources should be boiled before drinking.:

• Rainwater
• Lakes
• Rivers and streams
• Natural springs
• Ponds

Caution: Many Chemical Pollutants Will Not Be Removed By Boiling.

• Cloudy water should be filtered before boiling. Filter cloudy water using coffee filters, paper towels, cheesecloth or a cotton plug in a funnel. 
• Bring the water to a rolling boil for at least one full minute.
• Let the water cool before drinking.

Purifying By Adding Liquid Chlorine Bleach

Add two drops of household bleach per gallon to maintain water quality while in storage.

Place the water in a clean container. Add the amount of bleach according to the table below.

Mix thoroughly and let stand for at least 60 minutes before drinking.

Treating Water With Household Bleach Containing 5.25-8.25 Percent Chlorine

Volume of Water to be Treated Bleach Solution to Add

For 1 quart (0.946 L) of water, use 5 drops (0.25 mL) of bleach.

For 1/2 gallon (1.89 L) of water, use 10 drops (0.5 mL) of bleach.

For 1 gallon (3.79 L) of water, use 1/4 teaspoon (1.23 mL) of bleach.

For 5 gallons (18.9 L) of water, use 1 teaspoon (4.92 mL) of bleach.

For 10 gallons (37.9 L) of water, use 2 teaspoons (9.86 mL) of bleach.

• Treat water by adding liquid household bleach, such as Clorox or Purex.
• Household bleach is typically between 5.25 percent and 8.25 percent chlorine. Read the label.
• Avoid using bleaches that contain perfumes, dyes and other additives. Be sure to read the label.
• Cloudy water should be filtered before adding bleach.

Caution: Bleach will not kill some disease-causing organisms commonly found in surface water. Bleach will not remove chemical pollutants.

Source: Washington State Department of Health, 2013, Link here.

If I Were a Goat

I like to leave Sandy a note in the morning.  This is what I wrote today, some of my more thoughtful, contemplative work.

Dear Sandy,  If I were a boat, I'd float you a note.
Regarding this acquaintance of mine,
named Gus the goat, who has a crush on you.
He's baaa-shful :)

I love you Sweetheart.  Have a good Monday.

Testing of Our New Rocket Stove

Back in January I was introduced to the Rocket Stove.  It is a hand made, economical, very efficient cooking and heating tool. The principles were described by Dr. Larry Winiarski from Aprovecho in 1982 and stoves based on this design won Ashden Awards in both 2005 and 2006. Interest in rocket stoves has led to the development of rocket mass heaters and other innovations. Source and photo (left) by Wikipedia, Rocket Stove.  They are available to purchase, but can easily be built with local materials at a fraction of the cost. I don't want to under emphasize the value of how little wood this stove uses.  It has allowed people in remote African and South American countries to use small sticks, leaves and grass to cook and heat for their families and not have to wander into dangerous remote areas to collect large amounts of firewood.

I built mine with materials purchased a the local home center, some scrap 4 inch PVC pipe, cut at a 45 degree angle and an old 5 gallon bucket.  I spent about $30, for materials enough to build two stoves. I followed the instructions from Gene Lonergan on YouTube when I made the stove. I mixed my Cement/Perlite mixture at 8:1 by volume using an empty coffee can and a wheel barrow. If I did it again, I would use 6:1, decreasing its thermal conductivity a bit and increasing its mass and structural stability.  As is, the weight of my stove is about 6 lbs, and as you can see from the photo (right), is light enough to sit on a glass table without worrying about breakage.  Also notice that it is the shape of a 5 gallon bucket.

Cooking with the stove.  For free, I was able to get gas stove grates from the local scrap yard to place on top of the stove, and underneath the cooking surface to allow for adequate air flow.  With the handful of dried sticks shown, Sandy and I were able to cook a meal of Blackend fish in the cast iron skillet.

One thing I need to add is this is not a coal burning fire!  Just the opposite.  It is a voracious wood burner, but in very small amounts.  It is best to use longer sticks than the ones I used, so as to be able to feed them into the fire.  We kept stoking the fire to provide a continual hot fire throughout the cooking process, and when the meal was done we stopped the wood feed.  After that, the fire was virtually out in 10 minutes.  At no time did the table or sides of the Rocket Stove come even close to warm to the touch.  The insulating properties of the volcanic Perlite responded as predicted.

For survivalists, naturalists and those interested in inexpensive sustainable energy tools and resources, the Rocket Stove is a Top 10 innovation in my opinion!

Working With Prison Inmates

I've been working for Florida Department of Corrections since October 2012, in Transition, Security and now Education. Following, are some thoughts on what I have experienced. My writing may seem to soften or humanize the inmates in the prison setting, but I am looking at the big picture as I write this. Some of the inmates have done some truly horrific things, all of them some really bad things, or they wouldn't be in prison!   Just last week, one of my best Inmate Teaching Assistants put himself into Protective Management because he got beat up and his watch stolen. This past weekend three inmates from my institution went to the hospital due to stabbing related incidents.  This isn't secret news I'm sharing, it was on the front page of the Daytona papers.

Also be sure, I intend no disrespect to the officers, or administration in this post.  They do the best that they can to protect all inmates, security, civilian staff and the public. The image above is from California (see photo credit below, used with permission), but it is a likeness of my institution.

Working With Prison Inmates
Working in the prison system has caused me to realize
the value of the individual in God’s eyes.
The rough exterior of the inmates is usually a facade,
to mask the guilt, pain and shame of crimes they've committed.
If one looks beyond the sea of blue clothing
and into the eyes of the individuals,
you’ll see they may have been acquitted as criminals by God,
but not by the state and usually not by themselves.

Re-Entry, transition and betterment are the clichés of the system,
but it does not address the needs of the victims;
not excluding the scars left on the families of those incarcerated,
when their sons attempt to become exonerated, by fulfilling their obligation to the courts.

It is our job as corrections staff to uphold safety and order,
while at the same time maintain a border of impartiality and professionalism.
Care, but not too much. Custody, but doing so humanely. Control, but not degrading.
All the time crusading, for maintaining the dignity of the individual,
the organization we represent, and the One who called us to this important position.

Photo Credit Link Many thanks to the CA Department of Corrections.. 

This post is written only from my opinion and experience.  In no way does it express the policies, procedures and management policies of the Florida Department of Corrections or the State of Florida.

How to get a Concealed Weapons Permit in Florida.

Even though this article is written for Floridians, the process and points I make are very similar in other states.  What ever your reasons are for getting a Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) are your own, but more and more I see people getting one because our current political climate is making people think this right will be taken away.  This is a right that law abiding citizens have, and just because you carry a concealed weapon, does not mean you have the right to use it.  The laws around this are very strict, and somewhat complicated.  Educate yourself.

In Florida CWP licensing is a Florida Department of Agriculture responsibility.  Normally I like to hyperlink the website, but since this has been changing lately I'll point you in the right direction.  The site is http://www.FreshFromFlorida.com/, and you need to go to the Division of Licensing, where all the forms and instructions can be downloaded.  They used to mail out packets, but I think that's been discontinued.  Here is a condensed version of the process. 

Fees to expect:
License fee: $70
Fingerprint fees: $42 (may be less)
Passport photo: $10
Training fees: Free to $150 depending on type

1. Read the Chapter 790, of the Florida Statutes and see if it is for you. alternate link here
2. Download the application and instructions here.  The application must be signed in front of a Notary.
3. Get your finger prints taken at a local police or sheriff's office.  If you submit the traditional fingerprint card with your application, it will cost you $42 more.  If you have law enforcement electronically send in your prints, they will charge you a fee, but it is less and will speed up the process for you.  The overall cost of this is about the same, but it is a real time saver.
4. Have your passport photo taken, you will need to submit this with the application.  Be sure to read the application instructions about this.
5. You will need to submit a "training certificate".  The rest of this story addresses this training requirement.

I (and others) teach many firearms classes, but the two most people are interested in are FWC Hunter Safety, held normally once a month (8 to 16 hours), NRA First Steps Pistol Orientation (3-4 hours) and NRA Basic Pistol (8-10 hours).  The only way you can have a course last only an hour or two is if you come in with previous, near expert knowledge.

The Florida CWP requirement for training is "You must be able to demonstrate competency with a firearm.", which is a very broad statement, and often misinterpreted.  Some less than honest instructors are willing to take your money under the guise of Concealed Weapons Permit Training.  Buyer beware, know the requirement.  Below is text copied from FL DACS - Question 6, Application Instructions:

Florida law requires you to submit proof of competency with a firearm in order to qualify for a concealed weapon license. A copy of a CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION or similar document from any of the following courses or classes is acceptable:

• any hunter education or hunter safety course approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or a similar agency in another state;
• any National Rifle Association firearms safety or training course;
• any firearms safety or training course or class available to the general public offered by a law enforcement agency, junior college, college, or private or public institution or organization or firearms training school, utilizing instructors certified by the National Rifle Association, the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, or the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;
• any law enforcement firearms safety or training course or class offered for security officers, investigators, special deputies, or any division or subdivision of law enforcement or security enforcement;
• any firearms training or safety course or class conducted by a state-certified instructor or by an instructor certified by the National Rifle Association.

The copy of the training certificate/document must be clear and legible. The certificate/document must include your name, your instructor’s name, your instructor’s qualifications/credentials (National Rifle Association instructor, law enforcement firearms instructor, Class “K” Firearms Instructor licensed by the State of Florida, etc.), and your instructor’s license/certification number.
---------------------
FL FWC Hunter Safety classes can be found here.
NRA Training Programs can be found here.
NRA Courses near you can be found here.

Hunter Safety is about a 12 hour class and $10 (sometimes free) and my NRA class is 3 hours and $60 per person.  I have significant family discounts.  There are many other good classes that can qualify you for your application, but the important thing is that you feel confident in safe firearms handling, and you are aware of the laws that apply to your new permit.  Neither of my classes deal with CWP laws to a significant degree, because FWC nor the NRA wish to carry that liability of giving legal advice.  To get the advice you need for legal purposes, read the law and consult law enforcement and / or an attorney.

Final note - I hope this process will prompt you to practice your firearm safety and skills for a long time, and it will not be something you get and then forget.  Use this opportunity to meet people at a local shooting range or gun club.  I think you'll find shooting sports and the people you meet to be fun and rewarding.  Also, when you go through this process share it with your family, especially your children.

The Risk Management Worm Assessment

Picture the most beautiful apple you have ever seen.  Mine would be a big, juicy Red Delicious!

Before anyone (smart) bites into an apple, they always check it for worms. Sometimes it will look wonderful, but something not so wonderful will be just right under the skin.  This is the same with your risk management plan.  We examine our program, like we are examining our apple for worms!  We want to make sure they're good before we start.

We should see if our program has the following:

• I have a risk management plan documented for my program
• A first aid kit 
• A list of medically trained volunteers for use at our youth activities
• Current health forms for members
• Current screening information for adults
• Program is fully covered by accident and liability insurance
• Incident forms are completed within 24 hours of mishap
• We have an emergency plan for all major activities
• Volunteers are trained in risk management
• All instructor credentials are up-to-date
• Activity/range rules are posted in clear view

Does your program have any worms?  Does anything need to be addressed before you continue?  An Ounce of Prevention is Worth A Pound of Cure!  Plan ahead NOW to have a safe environment and reduce the risk for you, your kids, your volunteers and your program.  You won't regret it!

Youth Shooting Sports, A Risky Business (Risk Management)

Even though my primary thoughts when writing this are geared toward the shooting sports, it is virtually the same for adults leading youth in any training, activity or exercise.  Risk is the chance of loss or injury.  In managing that risk, we can either assume, reduce, avoid or transfer it.

When we assume the risk we recognize your specific duties by liability, and there are 2 types of liability, criminal (duties toward community) and civil (duties toward individuals).  Within civil there is contractual and tort  (negligence).

We have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for our program, recognizing and controlling potential hazards.  We also are responsible for conducting activities in a .  Remember that those words, reasonable and prudent manner.  That's why it is so imperative that we follow the guidelines we've been given in our training from our organization, as well as the umbrella organization who wrote the curriculum for our training, like the National Rifle Association.

When leading our activities, our specific duties are to:

• Follow your instructors manual when teaching your discipline
• Properly plan ahead
• Provide adequate instruction
• Explain the risks to youth and parents
• Monitor for injury or incapacity
• Provide safe equipment
• Have a plan for emergencies
• Keep records
• Provide close supervision

We are also responsible for developing a Risk Management Plan, or using one that has been provided by our sponsoring organization.  A good plan will include the following points: Goals, Staffing/ Supervision, Insurance, Record Keeping System, Emergency procedures, Equipment Handling/ Inspections, Facility Inspection and perhaps more.  If you are sponsored by a government organization, more than likely they will require you to follow an Affirmative Action, providing equal access to all.

I have just touched the tip of the iceberg with risk management in this short article.  The very best source for protecting yourself and your participants will be your sponsoring organization.  Any quality organization will have all their ducks in a row on this topic.  For further information and a good sample plan for 4-H, which could be adapted to any youth organization is from the University of Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports program, and U of N 4-H Risk Management Plan. It expands upon what I have written today.