Where you decide to purchase your first aid kit or gather your own supplies, it is important to have one with you at all times, or know where to find one. Keep one in your 72 hour kit, in your home, and in your car. Have your kids pack a small first aid kit in their back packs and definitely take them with you on all your outings whether it’s to the local city park or for a hike up the canyon.

Include any personal items such as medications and emergency phone numbers and other items prescribed or suggested by your own health-care provider. Check your supplies regularly to make sure batteries work and that any supplies or medications included have not expired. Replace any unused or out-of-date contents and restock any used items as needed.

Here is a list of items recommend by the American Red Cross to be included in a first aid kit for a family of four:
2 absorbent compress dressings, 5×9”
25 adhesive bandages of assorted sizes
1 roll of adhesive cloth tape
5 antibiotic ointment packets
5 antibiotic wipe packets
2 packets of aspirin
1 space blanket
1 breathing barrier
1 instant cold compress
2 pairs of non-latex gloves, size large
2 hydrocortisone ointment packets
Scissors
1 roller bandage, 3” wide
1 roller bandage, 4” wide
5 sterile gauze pads, 3×3”
5 sterile gauze pads, 4×4”
Oral thermometer, non-mercury and non-glass
2 triangular bandages
Tweezers
First aid instruction booklet

Rootstech 2015 Recap

March 30, 2015 / moonsoverdraper

RootsTech is the largest family history event in the world and is hosted byFamilySearch, a nonprofit organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The annual convention is open to anyone interested in discovering and sharing family connections, regardless of his or her experience in family history or technology.

Over several days, guests were offered more than 200 classes covering a variety of topics related to family history, including technology, social media, storytelling techniques, DNA testing, and others.

Guests also got their first look at powerful new tools that will make family history easier than ever. Innovators unveiled apps and devices that have not yet hit the market. Ancestry.com, My Heritage, Findmypast, and other groundbreaking companies were on hand to share techniques for discovering and sharing family connections.

Approximately 20,000 family history enthusiasts and beginners attended RootsTech 2015. It is safe to say that genealogy is growing in popularity. Anyone can do it—and everyone should try.

“Family history isn’t just about black and white pictures of people you may not know who lived a very long time ago. It’s about stories and making connections and finding strength. It’s about incredible decisions that somehow led to the life you are living this second,” Al Fox Carraway said. “It is about you and the impact you do and will have on so many people. What we do matters. It makes a profound difference.”

This year, RootsTech was held in February at the Salt Palace. If you did not know about it, or if you were unable to attend, you can watch several of the presentations at www.rootstech.org.

Spring Cleaning for your Yard

March 30, 2015March 30, 2015 / moonsoverdraper

Here are a few things you can start doing now to prepare for spring and summer yard work.

Clean your tools. Before tackling your garden or landscape, it’s important to clean and organize your tools and supplies. This is also a good time to replace any broken or worn out tools, remove rust and get those blades sharpened. Don’t forget to check your mower blades and trimmers.

Remove Dead Debris
Walk around your yard and remove anything that is dead such as leaves, branches and other winter debris. Rake up any thatch. This is allow nutrients and water to reach the roots of your lawn.

Treat Your Lawn
If you have any dead or barren patches in your grass, it’s a good idea to re-seed. Fertilize newly seeded grass with a high phosphorous fertiziler.

Prune and Trim
Trim dead limbs and branches and anything infected with plant disease. It’s a good idea to start pruning before plants and trees start to bloom. This is also the best time to shape any shrubs you may have since the shrubs are dormant.

Transplant of Necessary
This is the best time to transplant. When preparing to transplant, dig your plants out with caution. The roots should be kept damp at all times. Make sure to work compost into the topsoil or apply mulch.

Mulch Flowerbeds and Planters
Mulching will conserve moisture and reduce the time needed for weeding and watering. Keep mulch from contact with stems or trunks in order to avoid fungal infections.

Add Compost
Compost is generally made of garbage like coffee grounds, banana peels, citrus rinds, potato skins and apple cores. These materials provide the necessary nutrients which are slowly released to plants throughout the season.

Get Rid of Weeds
Now is the time to start weeding and edging your beds.

Spray Insecticides and Oils
Early spring is a good time to spray fungicides, insecticides, dormant and horticultural oils. Throw away any expired and unused garden chemicals. These take up space and cause a health hazard in your storage area.

Clean Water Features
If you have ponds or fountains, start washing them down and remove any winter debris. Check sprinklers and drip lines for any leaks or cracks.

April is the TIME!

March 30, 2015 / moonsoverdraper

Having spare clothes for your kids in a 72 hour kit won’t do you any good if they are 4 sizes too small. Having food that is expired and/or inedible won’t keep you alive for very long either. While either of those options is better than not having a kit at all, it’s probably best to update yours!

April is a great time to update your 72 hour kits and do a few household chores.

If you don’t have a 72 hour kit, start one.
If you have one, rotate out seasonal or outgrown clothing for each family member.
Rotate the food in your 72 hour kit to keep it fresh and enjoyable.
Replace the batteries in the smoke detectors and radon detectors in your home.

Other things to consider doing in April are to increase your preparedness. Access your 72 hour kits and add additional items that you may need. If you are unsure where to start or how to start or in you need more ideas about 72 hour kits, here is a list to a pdf file prepared by BeReadyUtah: http://www.utah.gov/beready/business/documents/72-hourchecklistpdf.pdf