Did you know that two-thirds of the soldiers that died during the Civil War, DIDN’T die from wounds they got in battle?
While an armed enemy certainly is a factor in living or dying on the battlefield, it’s not the only deadly threat they had to contend with.
The vast majority of deaths during the Civil War were due to the conditions these men (and women) faced.
Being detached from all the conveniences of home – including food, water, and proper medical care – played a very big factor, and are as much a concern today as it was way back then.
In fact…
One Specific Threat Killed More People Than Bullets Out On The Battlefield – And…
This Civil War “Killer” Could Even Come After YOU And Your Family In A “Grid Down” Collapse Of Our Infrastructure…
A lot of people who consider themselves “prepared” for most disasters, don’t realize that even the clearest mountain stream in the middle of a national park might be contaminated with organisms that cause dysentery or other diseases.
In fact, diarrheal diseases (like dysentery) from contaminated food and water caused more deaths during the Civil War than did shrapnel or bullets.
If you don’t know how to make water safe to drink, you could be opening yourself or a family member up to a painful and crippling intestinal problem that could literally mean the difference between life and death.
Even worse, it’s a medical condition you could have prevented with just a few simple steps for purifying the water you drink…
Survival Medicine: The Right Way To Purify Water For Drinking And Food Preparation…
There are a lot of different ways to purify water to make it safe to drink.
The most effective way to purify it is simply boiling it.
But there are a few factors you need to keep in mind…
First, in a true “collapse” environment – one where everyone in the local area is battling over whatever resources they can beg, borrow, or steal – a fire runs the very real risk of attract others nearby to your location.
For this reason, I suggest you build a Dakota fire hole which will help hide the visibility of the flames and smoke from your fire.
The second factor is that most people simply don’t know “how” to boil water for purification.
You see, in order for boiling to eliminate all the harmful bacteria and viruses that could be lying in wait for tearing up your insides, the water has to reach a temperature of at least 100 degrees.
Fortunately, all you have to do is wait for the water to boil and by the time you get a rumbling, steady boil started, the water has been cleaned and is ready for consumption.
But what if you don’t have the time or the supplies to make a fire to purify water?
When You Can’t Boil Water To Purify It, Do This Instead…
Boiling isn’t the only way to create clean, drinkable water – and you should definitely have a “back-up plan” for times when building a fire isn’t the best choice.
Other ways to purify water include tablets that use chlorine and iodine, or filters, which are sometimes built into portable filters straws or in-line water filter systems.
Even exposing water to sunlight inside a clear plastic bottle is a reasonable way to decrease disease carrying organisms.
Just keep in mind that none of these methods are as effective as boiling the water, nor does boiling necessarily remove all contaminants (such as chemicals, fuel, or radiation).
Purinize is a great product for elimination of chemical contamination. Only issue is it CANT freeze or get above 120F other than that it will last for ever. Radiological contamination use diatomaceous earth or clay get it mixed in then let settle and take water off the top not getting any clay off the bottom. If your dealing with fallout or water decon at this level you have many other things to worry about. If the water was contained during exposure eg stored in a container its safe.
A little tip if someone wants to make a distiller and are wanting to make a condensing coil. Fill the copper tube with water let it freeze then heat the outside so the ice able to fall out and wrap the tube around something round and the water inside will help prevent the pipe from crimping. Helps to have more than one person doing this.