Must Haves for the Eco-Survivalist: Hybrid Lite, EcoGuard and Clean Well
Every time the power goes out, we stumble around looking for a flashlight that hasn’t run out of battery juice. Imagine what would happen in a true emergency? Given the government’s standards for preparedness we’re woefully unprepared. They recommend storing, among other items:
• One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days.
• A three-day supply of non-perishable food, plus a can opener if it’s canned.
• A battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both.
• A whistle to signal for help.
• Dust masks to filter contaminated air, and plastic sheeting and duct tape. (Okay, now we’re getting panicky)
• Moist toilettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation. (Ewww…)
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities.
And (drum roll, please)…
• A flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
Obviously, try to go organic on the food, but other than that the first group of items aren’t the most eco-friendly (although this is probably the one time we’d recommend plastic water bottles). But in the second group, have we got eco-options for you!
First, let’s talk flashlights. We’ll bet you either have a super-heavy Maglite that can double as a weapon (and uses big, nasty D batteries) or something cheap and plastic from the dollar store that shines about as bright as a match. Did you know that while your flashlights are slowly depleting power in a drawer, over three billion batteries are thrown into the landfills every year in this country? Ecoistas, meet a fabulous, lightweight and solar-powered alternative, the Hybrid Lite. The super bright bulb shines for 10 hours from one charge and even ambient room light will re-juice it.
Add an eco-addition to your safety kit with EcoGuard Bandages by All Terrain, which are latex- and cruelty-free, so you can wear them with a clear conscience. Pair these with a pinch of Clean Well hand sanitizer that’s devoid of any hazardous chemicals—including triclosan, which has been linked to a myriad of health issues. Clean Well kills 99.99% of germs including Staph, Salmonella and MRSA and it’s completely biodegradable.
Good to know when you’re handing out bags.
