Dear Reader,

When I was a kid, "emergency preparedness" was knowing to stop, drop, and roll if my clothes caught fire—and to call the police, ambulance, or fire department should real disaster strike. But today, I don't think a day goes by that we're not reminded on TV or in the newspaper that we can't just rely on the government.

One of the most recent examples was Katrina. When I saw the photos coming out of places like New Orleans, I couldn't believe the destruction those people had to endure. That disaster hit home for a lot of us, making us realize just how quickly chaos and panic can disrupt our daily lives.

I don't want to be a doomsayer in any sense of the word, but I'm a realist. And in this day and age I feel strongly that you need to be aware of steps you can take to make sure you and your family can survive a catastrophe—whether a power outage, natural disaster, or any other emergency.

The most important thing you can do is to create an emergency kit so all the essentials you need are in one place. I've put mine in a waterproof duffel so it's dry and ready to use at home—and I can grab it and take it with me should I need to evacuate in a hurry.

Some of the essentials you want to include in your kit are:

• Several boxes of new, clean, white trash bags and chlorine bleach (a quart in an unbreakable container). If you know in advance that a crisis is looming, you can place the trash bags in buckets or trash cans and fill them with water. With a water supply that is essentially clear, you can add regular chlorine bleach to disinfect it—one teaspoon will treat five gallons, or 16 drops for one gallon.
  
• A stash of non-perishable food, such as sardines and nutrition bars.
  
• A hand-cranked emergency radio—along with flashlights and rechargeable batteries, which can be used in the event of phone and/or power outages.
  
• A standard first aid kit, with bandages, scissors, antiseptic wipes, et cetera.
  
• A water-proof, wind-proof emergency blanket—preferably one that's designed to help reflect your body heat back to you should the heat go out.

  Plus, there are other survival secrets few people know about—but they could save you in an emergency. For burns, the pulp of the papaya fruit makes an excellent burn dressing. Just mash the pulp of the papaya and apply it directly to the burn.

  Honey is also one of nature's most miraculous dressings for open wounds and burns. Just apply approximately one ounce of honey on a 4-inch square dressing pad directly to the wound. Then, place a second, dry dressing on top of the first dressing and secure with adhesive tape.

  To stop bleeding, even from a serious gash, there's an excellent product called QR Powder, which is available at many mass-market retailers. (This is similar to a product I used to recommend called Bleed-X, but that company sells only to the military now.) Just sprinkle the contents of one packet (or more as needed) onto the injury and apply pressure.

  I also recommend keeping a week's worth of any essential medications and supplements on hand. Put all family documents—such as birth certificates and insurance information—in a portable waterproof container. And create a list of cell phone numbers and other contacts you would need in case of an emergency.

  Many people believe a disaster could never happen to them—but it can. Think of all of the things I've mentioned in this dispatch as "cheap insurance." I hope you'll never have to use them, but if you do, they could literally save your life.

  Until next time,
  
  Dr. David Williams