Prepping 101 Holiday Edition: Travel Kits, Fire Safety & Gifts That Don't Suck

Prepping 101: The Holiday Edition - Safety, Gifts, and the Kit That Saves Christmas

By Bob Yeager

It is the week before Christmas, and the energy in the air is electric. We are all focused on family, food, and the perfect gift. But as a prepper and a father, my job is to make sure the joy of the season is not interrupted by a completely preventable emergency.

This week, we are tackling the three biggest risks of the holiday season: getting stranded on the road, kitchen fires, and giving gifts that are forgotten by New Year's.

This is the Prepping 101 Holiday Edition: practical, timely, and designed to increase your family's resilience while keeping the fun intact.

1. The 24-Hour Travel Kit for Christmas Visits

Most folks are driving or visiting family this week. The weather is unpredictable, and a simple breakdown can turn into a dangerous situation fast. Your goal is to build a "Don't Get Stranded" kit for your car that ensures comfort and safety for 24 hours, even if the engine dies.

The Kit That Prevents the Family Group Chat from Becoming a Rescue Mission.

This kit is about comfort and safety, especially if you have kids or elderly passengers.

•Warmth: Two wool blankets or four Mylar emergency blankets. Wool is heavy, but Mylar packs small and reflects 90% of body heat.

•Hydration: Four liters of water. Keep it in the car, but wrap it in a blanket to prevent freezing solid.

•Nutrition: High-calorie, non-perishable snacks like granola bars, dried fruit, and nuts. Enough for everyone for a full day.

•Light & Power: A reliable headlamp for each adult (hands-free is critical) and a fully charged power bank for your cell phone. Include a small pack of rechargeable AA/AAA batteries.

•Traction: A small folding shovel and a bag of sand or kitty litter. This is your low-tech traction control for getting unstuck from ice or snow.

•Communication: A whistle (three blasts is the universal signal for distress) and a bright piece of fabric to tie to your antenna or door if you need to signal for help.

2. Holiday Cooking Safety: The Fire Week

The kitchen is the Number 1 Battleground this week. More house fires occur on Thanksgiving and Christmas than any other days of the year, and cooking is the leading cause. We are going to focus on the two most common dangers: grease fires and smoke alarms.

Grease Fires and What Not To Do

A grease fire is a chemical fire, not a wood fire. Your instinct will be to use water. Do not use water. Water will vaporize instantly, turning the burning grease into a massive fireball that spreads the fire across your kitchen.

What To Do:

1.Turn Off the Heat: Immediately turn off the burner. Do not try to move the pot or pan.

2.Smother the Fire: Slide a metal lid over the pan to cut off the oxygen. If you do not have a lid, use a cookie sheet.

3.Use Baking Soda: If the fire is small and contained, pour a large amount of baking soda or salt on it. Never flour.

Extinguisher Basics (The P.A.S.S. Method)

Every home should have a fire extinguisher rated for kitchen fires (Class K or a multi-purpose ABC). Know how to use it:

•Pull the pin.

•Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire.

•Squeeze the handle.

•Sweep the nozzle from side to side.

Smoke Alarms and Rushing

Smoke alarms go off during cooking because of steam or minor smoke, and people get hurt rushing to silence them. They fall, they trip, or they forget the fire is still burning. If the alarm goes off, stop and assess the situation calmly. If it is just steam, open a window. If it is a real fire, follow the steps above. Do not let the noise rush you into a mistake.

3. "Gifts That Don't Suck" Under $25

This year, let us make a commitment: One gift per person that actually increases the family's resilience. You do not need to spend a fortune. You just need to be thoughtful.

Here are a few ideas for gifts under $25 that are genuinely useful:

•Wool Socks: A good pair of wool socks is a game-changer for warmth and comfort. They wick moisture and insulate even when wet.

•Mini First-Aid Kit: A small, personal kit for a backpack or glove box. Focus on bandages, antiseptic wipes, and pain relievers.

•Headlamp: A simple, bright headlamp is infinitely more useful than a flashlight. Look for one with a red light setting to preserve night vision.

•Ferro Rod: A simple ferrocerium rod is a fire-starting tool that will last a lifetime. It is a great gift for teaching fire-starting skills.

•Water Storage Bags: Collapsible, heavy-duty water storage bags (like those used for camping) are perfect for storing emergency water when a storm is coming.

•Mylar Blankets: You can buy a pack of four for under $10. They are small enough to fit in a stocking and are a literal lifesaver.

This holiday season, let us focus on what truly matters: the safety and self-reliance of our families. Merry Christmas, and stay safe out there.

Bob Yeager Prepping 101

P.S. Hey… It’s Bob again. James Bender and I would like to wish you the Merriest of Christmases ←— (that’s a real word!). The Final WayPoint Survival Newsletter before Christmas will come out on Tuesday morning. It’ll be chalked full of some special Holiday Hobo fun you won’t want to miss.

If you’re still in giving mode, my non-profit The Woodcraft and Wilderness Learning Trust is still raising funds to launch the Outdoor Hours Program in the spring and we’re a long way off from our goal to launch the program (I’m going to do it no matter if we raise the funds or not) but we need that giving spirit… any amount large or small will help and it’s tax deductible, simply save the receipt we send you and give it to your tax consultant in the spring.
https://givebutter.com/onehourkidsoutdoors