FROSTBITE
Not bundling up enough in extreme
temperatures can lead to trouble, espe-
cially if it is windy. The first signs of frost-
bite are often redness and tingling in the
toes, fingers, nose, or ears. As the inner
layers of tissue start to freeze, the skin
becomes numb and hard. People with
poor circulation are especially at risk. If
you think you’ve been affected but can’t
get to a doctor, follow these directions:- Immerse the skin in warm water.
You want the water to be between
100°F and 108°F. The tissue should
thaw in 15 to 30 minutes. If you
don’t have a thermometer, you can
test the water with an uninjured
part of your body to make sure
it’s warm but not too hot to stay
immersed in.- Be gentle. You will likely experi-
ence swelling, blisters, and severe
pain—all signs that the skin is warm-
ing up. Air-dry the area; don’t towel
dry or rub. - Dress the wound.Coat one side of
a cotton bandage or a piece of gauze
with an antibiotic cream such as Sil-
vadene or Neosporin. Attach it loosely
to avoid restricting blood flow. - Take pain medication. Ibuprofen
will reduce pain and inflammation.
The End of Civilization
GOOD: Get out of
Dodge. Similar to “bug
out,” which means to
evacuate your home.BOV: Bug-out vehicle.
The car, bus, van, mo-
tor home, or bike you
will use to get away
from the emergency, or
GOOD (see above).Golden horde: The
masses of panicked
people who are moving
in on the area you are
bugging out to.GDE: Grid-down event.
A large-scale shutdown
of the electrical grid.
Also called an off-the-
grid event (OTGE).INCH bag: I’m-never-
coming-home bag.TEOTWAWKI: The
end of the world as
we know it. A massive
disaster, catastrophe,
or cataclysm that will
alter the way survivors
live afterward.YOYO: You’re on your
own. Self-explanatory.Preppers, aka survivalists who are passionate about preparing for
disaster, have a secret code all their own:Reader’s Digest