Would You Buy a Hunting Knife from a Battery Store?

While this question may at first seem absurd – what possible connection can be found between these two products? – it is the reality of BatteriesInAFlash.com’s 2013 major project.  Throughout the last couple years, we have all noticed a series of worsening, bizarre weather and natural disasters.  Since when did tornadoes hit Pennsylvania?  Earthquakes in Haiti?  Even fresher in our minds is the shock of Hurricane Sandy striking New England in late October.  Would anyone expect a tropical storm to bring so much snow to hard struck areas?  The Northeast of the United States is still not fully recovered from the disaster.

Seeing this surge of catastrophe’s awakened a new concern for BIAF’s owners Mike Dinelli and Avel Ureno.  We want to help our customers prepare for the unexpected storms and disasters that may face any one of us at any time.  For years we have already been selling flashlights, battery- and solar- powered lanterns, as well as Portable Backup Power systems and inverters.  Even that isn’t enough for us to feel like we’ve done everything for our customer’s safety.  To this end, we have opened an entirely new Focus On Survival eBay web store.  The goal is to provide people with everything needed to be prepared for an emergency, as well as other, fun outdoor equipment.

According to the American Red Cross, an emergency preparedness kit should “contain items that enable you to provide comfort for everyday scrapes or treat life-threatening emergencies.”  Their website also includes a list of the suggested items that should be kept in a to-go pack to sustain you for three days.

• Water:  1 gallon of water per day per person.  It might also be a good idea to get a water filter or the chemicals used for this process in order to replenish water supplies.
• Food:  Pack lightweight, non-perishable, nutritious food.  If you choose canned foods, do not forget a can opener.  Some other ideas are MRE’s, ramen noodles, and instant oatmeal.  Remember to calculate food preparation into the amount of water you set aside.
• Medications:  Be sure to include a week’s supply of both prescription and over-the-counter medications in case you cannot get to the store or pharmacy.  It might also be a good idea to get a basic First Aid kit to treat injuries or allergic reactions.
• Radio:  Keep a battery powered or hand-crank radio in your kit to stay informed throughout the disaster, especially one that gets NOAA weather alerts.
• Personal Documents:  Ensure that you have copies of all important documents with you, including ID, passport, birth certificate, and insurance policies.  Also keep a list of family phone numbers and addresses and a detailed map of the surrounding areas with highlighted evacuation routes.
• Money:  Following a disaster, banks and ATMs may be closed.  Keep small bills and change on hand to buy necessary supplies.
• Clothing:  Keep an extra set of warm clothes and sturdy shoes to evacuate if needed.
• Tools:  Keep an adjustable wrench in your preparedness kit to turn off your gas if necessary.  Other tools needed may be a can opener, plastic sheeting, garbage bags, and duct tape.

This list is not entirely complete.  Some people may need more equipment than stated, and others may choose to skip some suggestions.  Remember to include pets in the plan, as they are man’s best friend, and we definitely want to see them on the other side of any disaster.  To read exactly what the American Red Cross wrote about Emergency Preparedness Kits, click here.

With these points in mind, we have opened up a new category on our website called Survival Gear.  Here you can find the new products we offer to help protect you and your families, such as waterproof storage containers, compasses, hunting knives, and multi-function tools like Swiss Tech pocket knives.  In the near future we hope to have prearranged kits for purchase with as many of the suggested products as possible.  So let us know:  would you buy a hunting knife from a battery store?