Preppers Getting More Attention

Newsweek has an article on modern day urban survivalists, aka preppers.

The article mentions people stocking up on food, first aid supplies and firearms.  I worry about the people getting massive first aid kits and firearms and not really knowing how to use them. It is one thing to read a first aid book or shoot at paper, it is another thing to apply the principals of first aid and/or defense when you have a massive dump of adrenalin in your system.

Some suggestions I have for people (and I need to follow), take annual red cross certifications in first aid (and if possible more in depth training) and take a firearms self-defense class (if you are planning to use a firearm for defense). If nothing else, obtain some books and DVDs on the subjects. The outdoor channels (Outdoor Channel and Sportsman’s Channel) have some excellent shows on defense training. I recommend The Best Defense, The Best Defense: Survival, and Personal Defense TV. Even reading a book or two can put you ahead of the curve.

If Katrina teaches us nothing else, it is that when there is a catastrophe we can’t depend on government to be there to help us.