Man Survives 5 Days After Car Crash

It feels great to be self-reliant, right? Preparing for an uncertain future by stockpiling the essentials and learning survival skills brings peace of mind.

But are these attitudes and self-sufficiency skills going to die with us? Or are we going to instill them in – and teach them to – our children and grandchildren?

We can’t be with these precious children and grandchildren all the time. Regardless of their ages.

Someday they might find themselves in a survival situation and we won’t be there to help them. Whether they live or die might be dependent upon what we’ve taught them.

Stranded, hurt and alone

This popped into my mind recently while reading the story of a 32-year-old man from Freeport, Texas.

He crashed his car while driving in a woodsy area of Houston and was badly injured. Unable to make contact with anyone, his car was not noticed for five days.

Among Jose Velazquez’s injuries were a broken femur and fractured vertebrae. Plus broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a broken nose.

He recalls being very cold at night and very hot during the day. And in considerable pain during every waking moment.

False hope leads to rescue

For food, he relied on the vines and leaves he was able to reach. He collected rainwater in cans to temporarily quench his thirst.

One night he heard people not too far from him. Turns out it was family members looking for him.

He couldn’t yell due to the pain in his lung, but he banged on a cup with a stick. Unfortunately, they didn’t hear him.

At that point, he gave up hope and asked God to take him.

But the next day he was rescued. Crediting his family for his survival, the young man’s cousin reached out to his cell phone company. They then gave his family the general area to search for him.

Help your family prepare

If you have adult children and grandchildren, make sure they know how you feel about preparedness. And offer advice regarding the steps they should take to start getting prepared.

If you have young children or grandchildren, they’re going to need more specifics.
Youngsters will do much better in a crisis if they’re prepared for it.

Here are some things you can teach them.

• Explain what an emergency is. Tell them it is something that happens when we don’t expect it. Like a violent storm or a power outage.
• Have an emergency plan in place. This would include what to do and where to go in a crisis.
• Have them memorize names. They need to know their whole names, as well as the full names of you, other relatives and caregivers.
• Have them memorize their own phone numbers and addresses, as well as those of key individuals.
• Select an emergency meeting place they know how to find. In case meeting at your residence is impossible.
• Turn preparedness into a family project. Involve the children in packing a family emergency kit. It should include copies of family health records, a first-aid kit and prescription medicines. Plus an emergency radio, flashlights and batteries, blankets, tools, and more.
• Also include a comforting stuffed animal or toy. As well as crafts and books for the kids.

Food Bars are ideal in a crisis

If you or one of your loved ones is ever stranded in a vehicle, I hope there are supplies in the trunk.

One of those supplies should be delicious, ready-to-eat food. Such as 4Patriots Food Bars.

With a taste similar to a shortbread cookie, these Food Bars are designed to withstand extreme temperatures and be there when you need them.

They have a five-year shelf life, and won’t leave you thirsty. Each box is a 30-day supply – 10 premeasured 72-hour packs.

Take a look at our Emergency Food Bars yourself, here