SEPTEMBER NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH FREE GEAR CHECKLIST

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WATER PURIFICATION

In addition to your water container you'll want to carry a method for purifying your water should boiling your water not be an option, or not be the most convenient option.  For the love of all that's holy, please do not rely on a LifeStraw!  Get yourself a high quality purification system, for "he who stays hydrated the longest wins", as I like to say.  The Grayl GeoPress is a great source for ridding your water of viruses, bacteria, and protozoan cysts.  The last thing you want to end up with is a nasty case of giardia because it will dehydrate you at an incredible rate once the symptoms kick in, which takes a few days once the contaminated water is ingested.

Carrying a GeoPress may not be optimal for some of you who are concerned with saving space in your pack.  Fear not!  The Sawyer Mini is very small, foldable, and weighs only 1.4oz. total.  The MINI is rated for 100,000 gallons of water, comes with a filter, 16oz. bag, syringe for back flushing, and a straw.  The MINI filter removes 7 log (99.99999%) of all bacteria (like salmonella) as well as other harmful bacteria which causes cholera and E. coli and 6 log (99.9999%) of all protozoa such as giardia and cryptosporidium. These removal rates equal or exceed other filter options. EPA guidelines allow ten times more protozoa left in the water than Sawyer MINI filters allow. The MINI also filters out 100% of microplastics.

• Professional’s Choice #1: Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System or Grayl GeoPress

Continue reading the complete list of reconmended items for national preparedness month, writtne by Brian Loftus here.