4 Things You May Need to Know During a Crisis

For some, the list of things they do not know how to do, but may be required to do during a crisis can be quite long. For others, some of the tasks are old hat. Where you live, how you were raised and even your occupation influences everything.

Those that live in cities would not be required, or expected to know how to do certain things that may come secondhand to those living on a farm. Conversely, those living in the country may not know how to do certain things that those living in the city take for granted. 

However, once the SHTF we are all in it together, and there will be certain tasks that will have to get done regardless of where you live, and to survive, you may need to know how to accomplish what may end up being life saving tasks.

The following may seem to be a ridiculous article to some people, because the tasks listed are something that most men and women of a certain age have had to do, or still do on a regular basis.

Today only 69 percent of 19 year olds have a driver’s license. Individuals are driving less, apparently there is less incentive to own a vehicle if you live in a city. In 1983, for example, almost 90 percent of 19 year olds had a driver’s license.

Research shows that about 15.3 percent of the U.S. population aged 18 to 39 now gets by without a driver’s license (Plumer, 2013).

The recession had reduced homeownership, so more people are living in apartments, and thus, the upkeep is done by someone else, so there is no need for apartment dwellers to know how to do certain things.

1.) Operate a Chainsaw

A good number of you are already thinking, who doesn’t know how to operate a chainsaw. Well did you know how to operate one before someone taught you how? You cannot assume that others have had the same training, have the same background, or skill level as you, so yes there are some that have no idea how to operate a chainsaw.

There is the gas and oil mixture, the starting, the safe operation so you don’t cut a leg off, and then the maintenance such as chain sharpening. To operate a chainsaw takes some level of training.

You may need to cut firewood, clear downed trees, and limbs from roadways, and you may have to cut into damaged structures for rescue operations. Knowing how to safely and effectively use a chainsaw will be a valuable skill, no matter where you live.

2.) Drive a Standard Transmission

At one time you had to special order a vehicle with an automatic transmission. Standard transmissions were, well the standard years ago. Everyone knew how to drive a car with three on the column or four on the floor. Today, however, it’s a different story and a surprising number of drivers have never driven a “stick shift”. It takes practice, and during a crisis your means of transportation may be limited, so learn how, so when the times comes you can use your new found skill and are not hampered by your lack of skills.

3.) Change the Oil in Your Vehicle

Along with changing the oil you need to know how to check the oil and then add oil. Again, a number of people simply do not know how to check their oil, add oil, or change the oil in their vehicles. The quick lube places dot the landscape in and around communities and towns and the price is right, so it is not worthwhile for most people to even bother doing it themselves.

During a crisis you will have to know how to check all the fluid levels, and add if needed. Oil has to be checked to make sure it is not low. Otherwise, engine damage could occur and oil will break down overtime, reducing its effectiveness as a lubricant, so it has to be changed on a regular basis. You may be the only that can do it.

4.) Can You Change a Tire?

A flat tire is like a broken leg, if you have either one you are not going far. In a crisis you may need to move quickly and the quickest way is by vehicle. Even if it only gets you few miles away from the disaster zone, because a few miles may be all you need, but if you cannot change a flat tire you are on foot.

You buy a new car, and the tires are in great shape, and besides you have roadside assistance like AAA or what the manufacturer provides for the first few years. AAA will tow the car to the nearest drive thru service center, Wal-Mart, or local car dealership or may even change the flat for you beside the highway as you text work you will be late.

For a few bucks you are back on the road. No worries right, you don’t need to know how, because it’s cheaper to have it done than to fuss with all the work needed to change a flat by yourself in your work clothes no less.

Do you even know where the jack, jack handle, and spare tire are located? Spares are hidden in newer cars and it may take some maneuvering to get them loose. Some even have a locking mechanism on the spare, do you have the key. You may need the jack handle so you can crank the spare down from its nesting place under the back of the vehicle, did you know this.

In Conclusion

The above is by no means the only tasks that you may be called upon to do during a crisis. The only reason they are listed is because people tend to look at the big picture when planning for a major crisis.

Some envision big happenings like gun battles, Martial Law, rogue military units rounding up people, FEMA internment camps, zombies wandering loose, nuclear wastelands, and the list goes on.

All of these things may happen, but in the meantime, you will be struggling hour by hour, day by day with the simplest of things. You will struggle with the simple things because you took them for granted. Someone else always cleared the roadways of limbs, always delivered the firewood for your fireplace, and the Quick lubes had you in and out in less than 30 minutes, but now that has all changed.

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Source: prepforshtf.com