Happy 4th Of July

Happy 4th of July! Yesterday we celebrated the day America won its independence from England in 1776. On that day, Charles Thompson and John Hancock were the first to sign the famous document, the Declaration of Independence, which led to the beginning of the Revolutionary War that would pave the way for America’s freedom. The United States has 331 million citizens and is growing every day. The 4th of July is a national celebration with parades and fabulous food. Here are some ways to take advantage of the sales for your prepping needs.

Grills

July is the beginning of National Grilling Month. They are also a valuable tool for a prepper, as this may be the only way you’d be able to cook after a disaster. 7 out of 10 adults own one grill of some kind. When shopping for a Doomsday Grill, you’ll want to keep two things in mind: fuel and size. The top three fuel types are propane, charcoal, and electric. Your best choice here would be a duel-fuel one that operates on both long shelf-life propane and easy-to-find charcoal. I would avoid electric ones for obvious reasons. For grill size, you’ll be going by the cooking surface. If you get one too small, then your family will go hungry, but if it’s too big, you’ll be wasting fuel warming it up to a safe cooking temperature. A two-burner with a 400-500 sq. inch cooking surface works best with a family of four.

Cookout Supplies

While on the subject of grills, no BBQ is complete without food. 81 million people will host one on the fourth, making it the number day for grilling. 6.8 billion pounds of cow will be converted into meat products like ground beef and steak, and 19 million pigs will become pork. Paper plates, disposable cups, and plastic utensils will go on sale to accommodate these parties, and they will be very beneficial in a blackout situation when water pumps stop running. Unopened condiments have an 18-month shelf-life and can make any bland food taste better. You can use plastic tablecloths in place of a tarp or drop cloth at a moment’s notice. Foil is a very versatile tool to keep on hand, and can be used for multiple things, like as an antenna for your walkie-talkie.

Coolers

Coolers are another important piece at every cookout. Every year we buy 40-50 million of them, making it a 621 million dollar industry. When not keeping your drinks refreshingly cool, coolers have many other uses for them. Their watertight seal makes them helpful when transferring water-sensitive equipment over flood waters. Their sturdy build allows them to double as raised garden beds, bait habitats, or a compost bin. Line it with a trash bag to turn it into a hydroponic garden so the BPA doesn’t leak into your food. Crush up a foam one to fill the bottom of a potted plant to make it lighter, and to save on fertilized bagged soil. The foam ones can also be cut and shaped into insoles for your work boots during the clean-up efforts.

Pool Party Supplies

Swimming is the fifth most popular activity in the world. 10.4 million people in the US own a pool. That’s 8% of households in the country. It’s because of these numbers that America is the number one in private pool ownership in the world. Despite popular rumors, it’s not safe to drink the pool water, however, it can still benefit you in the apocalypse. Loungers and floats can act as a mattress pad between your sleeping bag and the cold ground. Beach balls can be used as a medical device for people with back problems, or as a roller ball in physical therapy activities. You can use water balloons as water storage bags. Cut a slit into a pool noodle so it can slide under your door as a draft blocker in your seal-in room kit. Dive sticks are made from a hard plastic, similar to the type used in police batons. Keep one with you while traveling through dangerous territories.

Fireworks

No 4th of July celebration is complete without a fireworks show. According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, fireworks are a 662 billion dollar industry, with 10% of sales going towards big-name companies for professional shows. Other than looking pretty, fireworks do serve multiple survival uses. Smoke bombs and bottle rockets can be used to distract criminals and aid in your escape in a SERE situation. Poppers, be it Party Snaps or the champagne pull string ones, can be used for multiple security projects to alert you to nearby intruders. Sparklers may look boring, but they can be used to fight off animal intruders or as a crude light source. To enjoy fireworks, you’ll need to be able to light them off, so stores are going to be overstocked on lighters and matches for this reason.