Special Prep Considerations for Women

Good idea Chaos! As women, we've got a few different concerns that we need to prepare for.

For the average girl or woman, adding maxipads to your kits is a great start. (They make great pressure banadages too!)BTW - if you've got girls about the right age, it's a good idea to carry these regularly because it takes a few years to figure out your cycle and it can catch you by surprise. Speaking of surprises, extra underwear is a good idea too. (Extra pants and PJs, or at least dark coloured ones, are a good idea for BOBs, etc. because it can be embarassing to have a stain.) Keep plastic bags handy for disposal and laundry too.

There a gazillion different types of pads (thick, thin, short, long, wings, no-wings) and everyone has their prefence. I would think that in a longer-term emergency situation the bigger the better but that might just be me. (At the very least, finding time and space to change them could be challenging.) Find out what she likes and stock that. How many she'll need will differ as well. If she's old enough she'll know about how many she uses in a day and a cycle, if too young, maybe not. The rate changes with age but better too many than not enough. Rather than make her uncomfortable by asking, I plan a package a month for my DSD.

Tampons are a matter of personal preference, again, with many choices. If we're talking strictly emergency, I'm inclined to skip them in longer term planning. There are potnetial health risks with them and I'd rather not add that to an already tense situation.

Cleanliness is an important issue. You guys can write your name in the snow but it's more complicated for us. Things can turn uncomfortable quickly and that can lead to worse fast.

TP is always welcome and wipes (baby or feminie) are a great idea. Women who have had babies are often given a little squirt bottle. It uses little water but really helps if you're in a longer-term situation to be able to wash-up.

In the event that something funky does happen:

-powder helps with chaffing

-a tube of canesten or other OTC for yeast infections would be an absolute blessing. They come in pills and creams and make a good partnership.

-cranberry juice or pills can help with bladder infections

Pregnancy and post-partum bring an entirely different set of challenges!

Hope that's a good start and hasn't made any of you guys put your hands over your eyes.

The advantage with tampons is space -- they take up a LOT less space than pads. BUT you have to have clean hands, and it's better to just use them during the day and use pads at night. It isn't recommended to use them 24 hrs a day.

Also, the number of tampon-related toxic shock incidents dropped dramatically once tampons made from polyester foam and cellulose were taken off the market.

Having enough water is more crucial than just having enough to drink, so you need to plan ahead. I know many guys aren't awfully concerned with soap-induced cleanliness, as quite a few here at ETS have pointed out the ways of circumventing it.

But in longer-term survival situations, esp, you simply can't overlook the need for soap and water. Shortcuts in this area lead to health problems you don't need.

Another issue for women is abdominal pain during periods. Have enough OTC pain meds to allow for this.

Sue

When packing for a trip, making sure I have everything covered can be a pain. However, I EDC the medication. I don't even have to think about that other than to make sure I have enough.

Jeanette Isabelle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjdQmKJ-aRc



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ElAkrqGofI

I find the DW ( dear wife) gets much colder. So I plan with extra fleece, hat, etc.

Excellent point Sue! Headaches too.

And just to lighten it up a bit, there's a few days each month when can immitate a homicial maniac if I don't get chocolate. Peanut m&ms always seem to do the trick. m;)

Good idea Teacher. Don't forget an extra bra too. They're like your boots though - a good fit is important and not all bras are built the same.

I respectfully disagree. Having a bra that fits is more important than the footwear.

Jeanette Isabelle

This ties in with the BOBWABUK thread. Have a toiletry kit always ready. Keep any kind of normal medication in it that you take, be it pain, allergy, vitamins, etc. When you run out of what your using out of the medicine cabinet, kitchen counter, wherever you normally keep it, you pull the new bottle from the toiletry kit, then buy a new bottle from the store and put it in the kit.
This way you never run out, as you always have a spare. Wife keeps zantec in hers, kids have childrens pepto, etc. Winter time I'll keep cough medicine in them, childrens Tylenol, etc. The toiletry kits hang on the wall where they can be easily put in a suitcase should we need to go or if the kids run out of something my wife just grabs the new from the kit then if she forgets to tell me I see the empty place in the kit and know to buy new. The gear in your travel kits never expires since it gets rotated out at you use your normal household. And you don't forget to pack things since its always there.
Expensive things like my electric razor I just leave in my travel kit, just grab it on the way to the bathroom in the morning and put it back when done. Beats leaving it on the sink anyway.
I just did this with my toothbrush last night, brand new one went into the toiletry kit, the one from there went into the bathroom because the one from the bathroom was worn out. Old toothbrush goes in the bicycle box as those are the best to cleaning.

LOL!! True enough. I was going for a relatable comparison

My DW always takes a sports bra when we go 4WDriving.

LOL! LOL!

There is a device made of Silicone,that Women can use to write their name in the Snow,It's called a SheWee,An ex-GF used one to great effect,she even managed to wee on the tree,next to me,lol!It doesn't work with every woman due to Anatomical positioning,etc.(her friend had a tough go of it),They were about $10,3yrs ago,I don't have any links but I'll bet if you googled shewee,you would get to what I'm talking about,they even had glow-in-the-dark/Neon colors!

I'd slightly disagree. Pick up any Nat'l Geographic and you'll find a lot of women w/o bras. Granted, most ladies I know don't plan on walking around au natural, but point remains, a bra isn't strictly mandatory. I've had more than one female patient ask me about bra-related issues (and I have no idea why - literally next door my boss is an OB/GYN) - which isn't quite the same as having them for myself, I know - so this thread is of some interest to me.

Something else to consider for women - birth control pills. You don't HAVE to have a period every month. If you're already on some form of pill, why not stash a pack or 2 in your BOB. Skip the last week's sugar pills and start the next pack. You can do several months like this before really needing to take a break.

If planning your disaster ahead of time is possible, there are also pills that will stop your period from happening. I don't remember what they're called, but your OB/GYN would know.

Sue

MDinana, you're right. There's a different bra for every body and every different situation, and sometimes that includes no bra. That said, I always pack an extra one in my kits, usually a good sports bra.

WOW! DH is right - we are complicated! LOL!

I first head of those a few years ago, Richlacal, and every year when we winter camp, and every time a get a not so comfortably placed mosquito bite, I wish I had one. You guys can use a well sealed, well labeled bottle in the tent right? That could have it's advantages.

Re: menstrual products, some good thoughts already but what about a reusable product like the Keeper or even reusable pads? Of course, depending on the situation there could be sanitary concerns...

Something to keep in mind if you're planning to use birth control pills, especially if you'd only use them for an emergency, is that all pills are different and some women don't tolerate them well. The ones I've tried give me terrible headaches, for instance.

I cannot speak for others; being able to whip it out or not is not an issue for me.

Jeanette Isabelle

LOL@Jeanette! Me either, really, but I am envious occassionally.

I'll bet it would be nice in seriously sub-zero temps.

I never had that specific issue. It's the other stuff that bugs me.

Jeanette Isabelle

Other stuff?

We get low on iron once a month. Some women even need iron supplements. Low iron means less energy. There are lots of food sources but, for longer term scenarios, it's probably a good idea to stock a multi-vitamin made specifically for women. Warning though: too much iron can be dangerous.

Ummm.... I'm pretty sure that most women that need iron supplements just aren't eating a good diet. I mean, the average blood loss during a typical menstrual cycle is something like 100ml. Given that most women are running with about 5000ml in their tank, it's a very small volume to lose. And since your average red blood cell lifespan is 90 days, a body pretty much replaces 1% of it's totaly blood volume per day (ie, 50ml). Which means ... 2 days to replace what you lose in a menstrual cycle.

Now granted, there's some tissue loss as well, but it's also a pretty small amount in the scheme of things.

Yes, vitamins in general are probably a good idea. A decent meal is probably better. We weren't designed with vitamins in mind.

Agreed. The low energy many women experience around this time may have another cause that are very likely at least in part nutritional.

So... It may be a stereotype, but many of the moms, aunts, grandmothers, etc. I know would feed themselves last during a crisis and be at greater risk of a nutritional imbalance.

I was going to ask why this thread focuses so closely on woman physiology and seems to ignore the wider scope of woman survival, and was going to suggest Mace ..etc. in her survival kit. However, the thread focus has become very very interesting.

So, I will add a point in the same area. Suppose a husband/wife couple have the prepper mentality and have well designed BOBs. They decide to have a baby . OK, don't you think they have to put extra (what-if)s in mind since the woman is going to be pregnant and not as atheletic as she is now.

Even if she has been hiking with the husband every week and practicing bug out on foot to their cabin, a few months down the road, she may not be able to carry the same backpack half of the distance.

So, like "un-pregnancy" requires some considerations of monthly cycle ...etc, pregnancy in a survival situation brings whole lot of concerns and considerations.

Also, being pregnant you have check several items in your kit , like sleeping bag ..etc. to see if their size is till roomy and comfortable.

And ....

maybe the stress of a survival situation can trigger a premature childbirth even if you thought there is two more months to go.
So, do you have enough towels ..etc. in your kit ?

The guy in such scenario HAS TO increase his load considerably.

A third U-Tube related to woman survival stuff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHTYl6F9ZEA


Haven't looked at it myself. Just saw the title and thought to include it here for hopefully anything insteresting that women can find in it.

Protection is a very valid concern. Sometimes being a woman puts me more at risk. I'm not about to carry a guns (lots of reaons, not a hater) so other ideas are welcome. Here's what I have:

Wilderness:
-whistle on lanyard
-knife on belt
-bear spray
-camp with men or set-up camp to make it look like I do

Urban:
-big crow bar under desk at work
-heavy purse slung over on my shoulder
-proactively improve security at work (i.e. lock doors, radio on, lights on in all offices when I'm alone, etc.)
-my wits/situational awareness

You are so right Chisel. Pregancy and post-partum has it's own sets of challenges and concerns. Here's few ideas to get the wheels turning:

I tried to camp at 8 months pregant and here's what I learned (might not be applicable to everyone):

-pregnant women pee a lot
-I didn't bring enough water and ended up with a headache
-sleeping an on the cold damp ground was not good for all the aches and pains, and neither was trying to sleep in the car.
-my regular sleeping bag was not big enough (nor, DH would say, was our tent)
-I didn't bring enough pillows
-a good bra is hard to find but crucial when pregnant, especially when camping or hiking
-pregnant women's feet swell and her regular shoes might not fit anymore
-planning a long hike was a waste of time
-hiking on uneven ground was risky
-I woke up VERY congested every morning
-my pack was very incomfortable
-I and DH were worried about labour starting

When I did have the baby (a couple of weeks later in hospital) I learned:

-"my water broke" wasn't like in the movies. there was a lot and it didn't stop until i gave birth (packs lots of towel, pads, ad a change of pants, underwear and socks)
-there's lots to be delivered other than the baby and it doesn't end when the baby cried (stock lots of pads and towels)
-a woman can break her tailbone giving birth and an episiotom isn't nearly as pleasant as it sounds
-it can take a couple of months to be able sit or walk comfortably
-bio-functions can take some time and assistance to return to normal (add pads, fibre, laxatives and hemmeriod cream to your supply list)
-personal hygene is ultra important (soap and water are crucial)
-breasts are not purely asthetic (pack nursing pads)
-mamas need to feed their babies (pack a breast pump and bottles in case the baby doesn't latch)

I had a good laugh at this one. Yup, that little thing euphemistically called "afterbirth." But let's face it, if you're delivering a kid in the wild, a little placenta spilling out after 20 minutes is the LEAST of your worries. There's a LOT that can go wrong - I've delivered 13 kids, and I'm scared spitless every time. That's WITH the OB standing next to me.

Good thought on the nutritional status and "feed the kids first" mentality. You may have something there.

"feminime napkins, tampons, pads, TP, medicated powder, canesten, yeast infections, pregnancy, post-partums, underwear, bladder infections..." Sounds like standard TV commerial fare seen on any night of the week. What's to be embarrassed about?

I think most guys are pretty educated, by osmosis if not anything else! However, I'm not so educated about this line "Women who have had babies are often given a little squirt bottle." And I'm not really looking for the explaination either!

If each person puts together their own BOB then the gal should put her gear in her pack and a smaller kit could be added to the guys kit in case she can't get to hers. But if you have just one large BOB then this gear can be stowed as a separate bag in a pocket in/or attached to the backpack. Likewise, if you have seniors/kids/pets that need their specialized gear.

I shudder at the very idea! Even for other women. Pregnant or giving birth in a survival situation -- nightmares don't get much worse than that.

And I'm just tossing this out there in case anyone has the thought or someone else suggests it immediately after a birth outside of a hospital:

* DO NOT PULL THE PLACENTA OUT WITH THE UMBILICAL CORD! It will release on its own, and trying to hurry things can cause massive bleeding.

* DO NOT DISCARD THE PLACENTA if you are within reach of a doctor. It should be carefully bagged and given to the doctor to see if it is complete. If part is missing and remains inside the mother, it could turn into a major medical emergency.

* IF THE BABY ISN'T BREATHING, DON'T CUT THE UMBILICAL CORD! The baby has been getting oxygen from Mom via the placenta and umbilical cord, it's the baby's lifeline. If something is wrong, THERE IS NO HURRY to cut the cord. It's just about the last thing to worry about.

If a paramedic tries to do any of these things, forcibly prevent them.

Here is a link to a video of an actual birthing, if you've never seen such a thing before. It would probably be a good idea not to be eating if you watch it. The text info that follows the video is also informative (I don't know why there is a recipe in there . ) How to Deliver a Baby in a Pinch

Sue

Not to hijack the thread into movie discussion , but the woman doesn't seem to be really giving birth . Maybe I can say that I felt the upper half and lower half were from different women.

I have seen a couple of peaceful and calm births on U-tube, but this was different.


Back on topic.

This thread has covered women who are pregnant and those are not pregnant. How about elderly folks? An older woman has no monthly cycle and no pregnancy concerns. Still, I feel an older woman should think of special issues more than an older man would prepare for ?

mmmmm.
Maybe osteoporosis comes to mind.

( I shudder at the very idea! Even for other women. )


Agree , but 3rd world or ancient women has been doing it. A few nights ago I was watching TV, I think it was Somalia. Women refugess were carrying their babies.. I somehow was wondering how they made those babies when they didn't even have tents.

Somehow life goes on.

Osteoporosis is not confined to older women or men, although women are more susceptible to it. My SO has had mild Osteoporosis for a few years now and she is only in her early 40's. With proper meds (does not need to be taken daily, only as needed) and most importantly, proper diet and fitness, it is controllable at this stage and rarely bothers her. As she gets older, the Osteoporosis may not get any get worse and she and others can still enjoy full and active lives. On the other-hand, Osteoporosis can strike to the point of chronic pain 24/7, be extremely debilitating and greatly affect a person's way of life. In these severe cases, it would very difficult to be prepared in any type of large scale urban or wilderness survival situation where medical attention is not forthcoming in reasonable time.


In terms of some specific prep items:

1) OTC drugs: Ibuprofen, Tylenol Arthritis, Aspirin etc.

2)Topical creams such as Capzasin, Zostrix, and Aspercreme.

3) Prescription drugs: Many to choose from such as Celebrex, Arthrotec, Viox, Arava plus many more. Consult with your Doctor.

4) Heating pads, hot water bottles, ice packs. All work to some varying degree for temporary relief depending on the person.

Now that is one of the funniest things I have read in a long time. It's a good thing I wasn't drinking anything, otherwise my laptop would have been destroyed. Point well-stated.

LOL!! Just trying to keep it not too graphic.

It's an annoyingly well-guarded secret amoung women who have had babies that it doesn't end with the afterbirth either. It's kind of like having your period for another week or two. Many a new mother has cried foul at her friends for not sharing the insight before the birth. It's messy business!

RE: PROTECTION

I've been thinking a lot about security lately. I work in a small office (single story, 4 individual offices, (one seperated from the central office by a glass wall), one central office with 4 work stations, 1 kitchen and 2 single washrooms. The front of the office is all glass and has one single door, with access to the first, usually empty office, and blocked by a halfdoor and half wall from the rest of the office. At the back of the office is a single door which leads to our warehouse, which has one regular door and one bay door. Walking from the warehouse, you pass the two usually empty offices, the kitchen and then the FT, glass-walled office, and then the central office.

We have 25 male technicians who come and go through the day, 2 part-time (days) office workers, 1 part-time (afternoons until 6pm) female officemworker, and 2 of us (females) who work full time.

We women are often work either in pairs of alone. We lock the front door as the last guy leaves but the guys keep leaving the warehouse doors unlocked. Though I believe the risk of anything happening is low, even going back to check and lock it is a risk. Reminding them as they leave hasn't helped.

I've got an 0ffice Bug-in kit and a GHB. I keep my EDC purse and key ring within reach. The phone for the alarm system is in the glassed in office and I've stated insisting that anyone who's alone keep it at their desk.

I double-check the door as the last guy leaves, I EDC my leatherman on my belt, a bic in my pocket. I have a SS letter opener on my desk, along with an assortment of pens and a stapler, and I keep a heavy metal bar, about 2 feet long and 2" (female measured) and lg pry bar at my feet. I also keep an can of air freshener on my desk. There's usually a hot coffee there too.

*A gun is not an option.
*I don't know the laws re: mace and the "sprayed myself in the face with bear spray" story in another thread today makes me leary. (Though us girls did discuss it today.)

As an experiment, we told the guys today that a salesman entered the office through the warehouse tonight after they all left.

So, short of finding another place to work, what else can we do to keep ouselves safe from a security perspective?

Re: the warehouse.

If they just aren't locking the doors (as opposed to not closing them), why not ask (insist) on having automatic locks installed on those doors? Then they would lock every time the door closes. If they complain that they keep locking themselves out and have to use their keys, just tell them: 'Tough luck -- you refused to lock the doors when it was easy for you, so now you have to do it the hard way".

And if they block the doors open and then go home, have their supervisor/foreman's phone number, call him and ask him to come back and close the doors. After a few trips, I'll bet he will train them to close the doors.

Or, install a bar to lock the door to the warehouse from the office side, and if they leave the warehouse door open and stuff gets stolen, I'll bet the company will have a word with them.

Granted, men aren't as easy to train as brain-damaged cats, but over the long term, it's generally worth the effort. Well, mostly.

Sue

Perhaps a sensor would be useful ? Either a beam or movement sensor, this may give you a heads up if someone is moving around when you think people have left for the day.

It sounds like there is a more general issue with "who is responsible for lockup at the end of the day" bearing in mind that the warehouse and office lockup could be treated separately.

Perhaps a discussion with the boss could come up with a solution ? I suspect that nothing lasting could be put in place without management being prepared to insist on its implementation.

Great suggestions gang. Thanks!

We've got three chiefs at our place - 2 men and 1 woman. The guys aren't taking this seriously so my boss and are taking matters into our own hands. Auto door looks, bars and senors all seem like great ideas to me!

Surveilance cameras, one of which is focused on that back door(s).

On the lighter side , if some of your co-workers are not married, one of the girls marries one of the guys. Hopefully he will worry enough about her to push other guys to be a bit more considerate.

I'm not sure I understand the layout, so if I have it wrong forgive me.

If there is a full door between the folks staying late and the guys leaving the warehouse door open, it needs a lock controlled by the folks staying late. If there is such a door, the lock should be an easy installation.

If there is no door, can one and a lock be installed at reasonable cost?

Prevention is the best cure for a situation like this, and a simple door with a lock and "buzz to enter" system may an answer.

Where is Top Management when you need them?

They should be concerned with at least two issues - leaving a warehouse unlocked (!) as well as putting office employees at risk. It is time for someone to kick some bass...

Given the circumstances, you should be just fine carrying some pepper spray or other none firearm related defensive measures. It would be good to check with the local constabulary if TM is still nodding off.....

Thanks gang. They had a meeting about it today and pledge
to keep it locked. Then .... actually locked up when they left.

Great idea BWS! Thanks!

A female co-worker has a great idea. She drives a Mercedes and parks it three offices down from ours every day. Yesterday I asked her why. She said it makes her feel safer because anybody would think that the owner of the car is working in a different office. Smart!

A friend of mine used to be an office manager, and was sometimes the last person out of the building at night. There was a bit of a walk from the exit door to the parking area.

She would look around before/while leaving the building. If she saw any guys hanging around, she walked like she was angry, cussing softly to herself.

It always seemed to work (she's retired now). Even when the guys passed close to her, they didn't seem to want to take on a woman that was PO'd to start!

Sue

LOL! Great idea Sue! Thanks for sharing it!!

Reviving an old thread for sybert777, and anyone else who may be pondering how to prep for the women in your lives, because feminine hygiene is serious business.

Thank You Jac'. (I am unaware as to your full first name, so I can only refer to you as "Jac" or "BacpacJac".. BacpacJac was too much to type.

My full name is Jacqui but Jac works just fine. I've answered to it my whole life. It works well for a tomboy.

That's a very unique variant of the name.

Perhaps canadian-french?

(Yup, it's FC. I'm not FC, just hail from a family with roots in a small mixed EC-FC community.)

Back on topic - Guys, carrying pads and/or tampons in your kit is a very thoughtful and potentially heroic gesture towards the women in your lives. Both would cover either preference on her part, but even one pad can sometimes save the day, even if it's not the right brand. Sometimes we're just desperate for something. They never have to know that you're thinking of using them as fire starters one day.
:-)

I am busted.

LOL!