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How to Prepare for Emergencies

I have never been one to spend much time thinking about the bad things that might happen to me.  But I must admit I was impressed when on the 1^st Christmas after 9/11, my sister Kitty gave each of my family members an emergency survival kit.  She wanted to make sure that all of her loved ones would have everything they needed to survive in the event of a local or national emergency.

Or am I? After watching the coverage of the Hurricane Katrina disaster I have added one item to my survival kit which I am now convinced is essential – a pack of playing cards.

As I was hearing about people stranded for days on the tops of buildings and bridges, I kept thinking how unbearably bored they must have been. To be stranded for days with nothing to do but hope and wait has got to be one of the worst tortures imaginable.

Sure they were hungry, thirsty, hot, and scared. They needed all the essentials that my sister has thoughtfully assembled for me. But how did they bear the boredom? How did they survive hour after hour with nothing to do?  Did they make up games to keep each other occupied?  I hope so.

I have read that with all other things being equal, the difference between life and death in a survival situation is a person’s attitude. A positive mental attitude can save your life. So when you are assembling your survival kit, don’t forget the cards. It sure beats playing 20 questions.

(c) Jeanne Russell - All Rights reserved ====================================

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