Hand Washing

The World Health Organization (WHO) refers to hygiene as health in their training and projects around the world.

Hygiene is a state of caring for the human body:

• Washing hands
  • Washing finger nails
• Washing feet
  • Washing toe nails
• Oral hygiene
  • Tooth brushing
    • Off-grid / grid down toothbrush making
  • Dental floss
  • Toothpicks (yes, I know dentists do not like them)
  • Off-grid / grid down toothpick making & caveats
• Total body skin care
  • General cleansing reduces the accumulation of pathogenic bacteria on and inevitably in the human body
    • Flushing with water (rinsing is best)
    • Wash cloth saturated with clean water (next best)
      • Add natural astringent for maximum results
        • Lemon juice
        • Rose water
        • Green Tea
        • Cucumber
        • Apple Cider Vinegar
        • Calendula Flowers
        • Mint leaves
        • Witch Hazel
        • Orange Blossom Water
• Genital / Sexual Hygiene
  • The male and female sex organs each present unique challenges to hygienic care
  • Female menstruation is and especially complex challenge
    • You must be educated and prepared to safely handle the menstrual period
      • Cystitis is a common result of poor menstrual period hygiene
  • Sex opens both actors to a plethora of health risks in an off-grid situation
    • Condoms are great but you cannot reuse them and they have an expiration date
      • Condoms also are not capable of blocking all bodily fluid transfers
        • Such transfers can be mitigated by proper cleanliness

The multicultural politically correct world that has run amuck over the past 60 years has silenced the conversations necessary to crush the spread of disease even in first world countries. In fact, in many second and third world nations, a family of five may not have any potable water and have one bar of soap to last them a month.

Culture plays a big part in hygiene. There are cultures that believe that sweat and body odor are godly. They do not cleanse properly. They are used to living in conditions where their environment does not afford them clean potable water. The lack of clean water dramatically reduces hygiene and overall cleanliness. The problem is compounded by people from those cultures taking jobs handling food processing and more. (Several articles to come here and on SurviveWithWill.com). Those same people contract aids, syphilis, gonorrhea, and many other infections and debilitating diseases in their home lands for the same base reasons. Therefore, infrastructure or the ability to make clean water and practice good hygiene and sanitation is key to survival. If you have poor hygiene these common ailments can rapidly spiral into severe illnesses that are slow agonizing and painful.

You can avoid all that by maintaining good hygiene

Unfortunately, camping, hiking, being off-grid, or in a bug out situation is not generally conducive to being clean. The lack of running, potable water lowers the level of hygienic behavior. There are means to cope with the problems if you are thoughtful about it.

Be Prepared for Hygiene
Even in Grid Down or Wilderness

You should test and practice maintaining full proper personal hygiene without standard resources. Pack fast drying microfiber washcloths, camp soap, toilet tissue, wet wipes, tooth, and oral hygiene products. Then practice using them and keeping clean for several days without resources. Then you will be ready to survive for the long haul.

Whether you are on a hike, camping, at work or in a SHTF situation, getting sick will stop you dead in your tracks.

There are many threats to your health in the world in general and off-grid too:

• Giardia
• Cryptosporidium
• Botulism
• Salmonella
• There are many others that can kill you

If you have poor hygiene these common ailments can rapidly spiral into severe illnesses that are slow agonizing and painful.

You can avoid all that by maintaining good hygiene. Unfortunately, camping, hiking, being off-grid, or in a bug out situation is not generally conducive to being clean. The lack of running, potable water lowers the level of hygienic behavior. There are means to cope with the problems if you are thoughtful about it.

Be Prepared for Hygiene
Even in Grid Down or Wilderness

You should test and practice maintaining full proper personal hygiene without standard resources. Pack fast drying microfiber washcloths, camp soap, toilet tissue, wet wipes, tooth, and oral hygiene products. Then practice using them and keeping clean for several days without resources. Then you will be ready to survive for the long haul.