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Build a Kit – Wrench or Pliers – Week 12

Build a kit - wrench or pliers

Disaster or not, it’s always helpful to have a good wrench or pliers handy. However, there are so many types, it might be difficult to choose what would be best for our kit.

Pliers

Below are common features of pliers to choose between:

Fixed vs adjustable – fixed pliers only open to a set width while adjustable ones allow you to set a variety of widths.

Long, short, or curved noses – the type of nose will allow you to work in different size areas. For example, when I am doing electrical work I like to use need nose pliers. These have a long nose which makes it a lot easier to twist the electric wire in small areas.

Insulated vs non-insulated handles – insulated handles are helpful if you are doing electrical work.

Cutting edge vs no cutting edge – pliers with a cutting edge allow you to cut wire. This can be used for either electrical work or for other general uses involving tie wire.

The different types of pliers include the following:

  • Tongue and Groove or Channel
  • Crimper/Stripper
  • Cutting
  • Electrical Pliers
  • Trades Specialty
  • Locking
  • Needle Nose
  • Slip-Joint
  • Wire strippers

You can check out this link, Types of Pliers, at the Home Depot site to see photos of them and get more information about each type.

Wrench

Like pliers, there are many different types of wrenches. Some are designed for working with metric sized fasteners while others are for English sizes. Below are some of the more common types available:

Adjustable wrench – these can be opened or closed to adjust to different fastener sizes.

Combination – these some in specific sizes. Because of this, kits of combination wrenches of many sizes are a popular and common item.

Open-End Wrench – like the combination wrench, these come in specific sizes and in kits. However this type will have open ends rather than one open and one closed.

Ratchet Wrench – these are also similar to the combination wrench in that they come in specific sizes. The difference is one end will allow for tightening or loosening a fastener in tight areas.

Pipe Wrench – this type is often used for plumbing and is typically more robust and heavy than the types above. It has a large jaw that can be adjusted to fit different size pipes.

Hex Key / Allen Wrench – this wrench looks more like a narrow piece of metal with a cross section designed to fit inside the head of a fastener rather than around it like the types listed above.

You can check out the Lowe’s Wrench Buying Guide if you are interested in seeing the different types and getting more information about each.

We have many types of pliers and wrenches lying in drawers all over the house. So rather than buy a new one, I’m going to grab one from a drawer and put it in our kit. If we have enough extra I’ll probably put more than one type in the kit.

As a side note, throughout this series of posts about getting prepared, I may mention certain products, services, agencies, etc. At no time is it my intention to promote a specific product or service or agency. Each is mentioned only for informational purposes.  Of course as a government employee, I do receive a salary from the government for the time I work on my job, but I don’t receive any compensation from any commercial entities I mention or include in these posts.

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Build a kit – Garbage Bags – Week 11

Build a Kit - Garbage bags - week 11

It’s looking like this week should be an easy add to our kit. We will be buying garbage bags and moist towelettes and will just pick them up during our weekly grocery shopping trip. The only other option I would consider would be to buy contractor garbage bags rather than the type sold at our grocery store. But for now, I’m thinking I’ll just get whatever they have at the grocery store.

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Build a Kit – Dust Mask – Week 10

Build a kit - dust mask

We will be adding a dust mask to our preparedness kit this week. Having worked on different types of home improvements over the years, I already knew there were several types of masks available. I’ve used one like the mask in the photo above when I was sanding drywall. But when I was pregnant and painting, I used a different type that was more of a respirator so I could get a better seal and filter out any harmful vapors.

For our kit, I could grab the respirator we already have. But that will only take care of one person, and we have eight of us. So I’m going to buy something simpler than the respirator we already have, but more protective than the mask like the one in the photo. In researching what to get, I found the CDC has a listing of NIOSH-Approved Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators .  These are categorized based on how much and what type of filtering is provided by each. The site also lists certified brands.

After reviewing the different types and seeing what is available to me locally, I am leaning towards buying the 3M N95 Model 8511. But I’m going to wait to make my final selection once I get to the store, because I need to buy the M/L size, and I’m not sure if they will have that model in that size. I also need to buy at least one small size because we have a child.

As a side note, throughout this series of posts about getting prepared, I may mention certain products, services, agencies, etc. At no time is it my intention to promote a specific product or service or agency. Each is mentioned only for informational purposes.  Of course as a government employee, I do receive a salary from the government for the time I work on my job, but I don’t receive any compensation from any commercial entities I mention or include in these posts.

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Helping People Navigate Government Services

 

Navigating government services can sometimes feel like finding your way through a forest

Years ago a coworker who lived in a large city in the United States told me a story about how he needed to get a permit from the city’s building department to make improvements at his home. He said he tried for a very long time, but had no luck getting the permit in a timely manner. He felt his application had dropped into a black hole. According to him, many had the same experience. So much so that there are people who hang out at the city building offices in the hall who you can hire to advocate on your behalf with the city staff to review and issue your permit. They have a relationship with the staff and know well how to navigate the system. As soon as he hired one of these people, he got his permit.

I don’t have any personal knowledge of this situation so cannot verify my coworker’s story, although there seemed to be no reason for me not to believe it is true. Also, there have been studies showing it can be difficult for the average citizen to navigate government services or know how to work within the system to have their issues addressed in a timely manner. A few years back, GSA published this study, “Expectations and challenges, Informing the future of the Federal Front Door,” which looked at understanding the public’s overall experience interacting with government. The study revealed people primarily depend on their family and friends for help with navigating government services. They also don’t understand many of the processes involved with providing those services. While the study didn’t seem to ask if people understood which level of government delivers which services, I believe that can be an issue for people too. The study did report that sometimes people are also not sure if a service is provided by government or a private entity which leads to more misunderstanding.

So what can be done to improve people’s understanding of government services and how to best navigate the system? It seems in that one city, people have stepped in to help others, although they only do so for a fee. Instead of taking that approach, it made me wonder if it would be possible to take advantage of the knowledge and skills of retired government workers. If a non-profit organization was set up with retired government workers as members who are interested in volunteering their time, could this serve as a resource for people to turn to? There are a lot of retired folks who are looking for volunteering opportunities and the skills retired government workers bring are wide-ranging and at an advanced level.

While there is no such volunteer organization available now, I came across a site, CoachMeFree.com which seems like it could help out.  It’s a site for people who are willing to offer free coaching in a multitude of topics as well as a site for those looking for some free coaching. The site does suggest to coaches not to offer too many free sessions because if you are a professional coach, it can devalue your services. But I was thinking a lot of time average citizens who need help with government are usually only looking for help with one or two issues. So if you are an experienced government worker or one who is retired and looking for ways to help others understand and navigate government, this site might be a place where you can offer your expertise.

 

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Build a Kit – Buy a Whistle – Week 9

 

Build a Kit - Buy a Whistle

While initially I thought this would be an easy week since the goal is to buy a whistle, I started realizing, I’m not sure I know where whistles are even sold. Of course to find out I just went to Google and searched. It looks like Walmart sells standard silver whistles like the one shown in the photo. I can buy a group of four of them for only a few dollars.

What I didn’t realize is just how complicated whistles can be. There are many different types of advanced models which of course cost a little more than the standard whistle. As an example, here is a link to a whistle by FutureSteps at Amazon which includes the following features:

  • 105 Decibels
  • Lifetime Warranty
  • Low air flow required to activate
  • Can be used to deter coyotes

I guess I never really thought about it before, but having a whistle with me if I am hiking, running, or just off on my own is probably a good idea. We will buy one for the kit, and if I like it, I’m getting another one to just keep with me.

As a side note, throughout this series of posts about getting prepared, I may mention certain products, services, agencies, etc. At no time is it my intention to promote a specific product or service or agency. Each is mentioned only for informational purposes.  Of course as a government employee, I do receive a salary from the government for the time I work on my job, but I don’t receive any compensation from any commercial entities I mention or include in these posts.

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Build a Kit – First Aid Kit – Week 8

First Aid Kit

A first aid kit is always a good thing to have on hand. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a citizen preparedness guide: Are You Ready? with a checklist of suggested First Aid Supplies. They include:

  • Adhesive bandages, various sizes
  • 5” x 9” sterile dressing
  • Conforming roller gauze bandage
  • Triangular bandages
  • 3” x 3” sterile gauze pads
  • 4” x 4” sterile gauze pads
  • Roll 3” cohesive bandage
  • Germicidal hand wipes or waterless, alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Pairs large, medical grade,
  • non-latex gloves
  • Tongue depressor blades
  • Adhesive tape, 2” width
  • Antibacterial ointment
  • Cold pack
  • Scissors (small, personal)
  • Tweezers
  • Assorted sizes of safety pins
  • Cotton balls
  • Thermometer
  • Tube of petroleum jelly or other
  • lubricant
  • Sunscreen
  • CPR breathing barrier, such as a face shield
  • First aid manual
  • Aspirin and non-aspirin pain reliever
  • Anti-diarrhea medication
  • Antacid (for stomach upset)
  • Laxative
  • Vitamins
  • Prescriptions
  • Extra eyeglasses/contact lenses

The guide also suggests having on hand the following:

  • Washcloth and towel
  • Towelettes, soap, hand sanitizer
  • Tooth paste, toothbrushes
  • Shampoo, comb, and brush
  • Deodorants, sunscreen
  • Razor, shaving cream
  • Lip balm, insect repellent
  • Contact lens solutions
  • Mirror
  • Feminine supplies
  • Heavy-duty plastic garbage bags and ties
    for personal sanitation uses and toilet
    paper
  • Medium-sized plastic bucket with tight
    lid
  • Disinfectant and household chlorine
    bleach
  • A small shovel for digging a latrine
  • Toilet paper

I’m not going to suggest where to buy the best kit because there are just so many places to get one. I would suggest when shopping for one, have the list above handy, and based on your budget, pick one which you can afford which offers the most items in the list above.

Fortunately for our family, we bought a first aid kit last year when I was getting ready to travel outside the country. So for this item, we won’t need to purchase anything extra. And we can collect the other items like garbage bags from the extra things we have around the house.

Going forward, from time to time, we will need to go through the first aid kit to make sure we keep supplies up to date also since some have an expiration date.

 

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