Safety Tips For Family Gatherings Outside

Today I’m sharing some safety tips for family gatherings outside. Outdoor family gatherings are some of life’s most cherished moments. Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, a park reunion, or a lakeside celebration, spending time together outside creates memories that last a lifetime.

But as with any event, safety should always come first. From sun exposure and food safety to emergency preparedness and insect protection, knowing how to keep your loved ones safe lets everyone relax and truly enjoy the occasion. This post covers the most important safety tips for family gatherings outside so you can plan with confidence and focus on what really matters: celebrating together.

Plan Ahead for a Safe Outdoor Gathering

Good planning is the foundation of any safe outdoor event. Before the big day arrives, take time to think through potential hazards and put simple systems in place to address them.

Choose the Right Location

Scout your venue in advance. Look for uneven ground, nearby bodies of water, low-hanging branches, and other environmental hazards. If you’re gathering in a public park, check for posted warnings about wildlife, water quality, or restricted areas. Shaded areas are ideal, especially for summer events, as they naturally reduce the risk of heat-related illness.

Check the Weather Forecast

Keep a close eye on the forecast in the days leading up to your gathering. High temperatures, thunderstorms, or extreme winds can pose a safety concern during an outdoor celebration. Have a backup plan, whether that means renting a tent or canopy, moving indoors, or rescheduling. Lightning is particularly dangerous outdoors, so always have a clear plan for quickly moving guests to a safe location if a storm rolls in.

Create a First Aid Station

Set up a small first aid station in a visible, easily accessible spot. Stock it with bandages, antiseptic wipes, tweezers for splinters or ticks, over-the-counter pain relievers, antihistamines for allergic reactions, and any prescription medications that guests with known conditions may need. Make sure at least one adult at the gathering knows basic first aid and CPR.

Sun Safety for the Whole Family

Sunburn can happen faster than you think, especially during peak hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Protecting everyone from harmful UV rays is one of the most straightforward yet frequently overlooked aspects of outdoor family safety.

Apply and Reapply Sunscreen

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on all exposed skin, including ears, the back of the neck, and the tops of feet. Apply it at least 15 minutes before going outside, and reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or heavy sweating. Keep extra sunscreen easily accessible so guests can help themselves throughout the event.

Provide Shade and Protective Clothing

Set up canopies, umbrellas, or other shade structures, especially near seating areas and play areas for young children. Encourage guests to wear lightweight, long-sleeved shirts, wide-brimmed hats, and UV-protective sunglasses. Infants under six months old should be kept entirely out of direct sunlight.

Recognize the Signs of Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion and heatstroke are serious risks at summer outdoor events. Warning signs include heavy sweating, pale or clammy skin, weakness, dizziness, nausea, and headache. If someone shows these symptoms, move them to a cool area, offer water, and apply cool, damp cloths to their skin. If symptoms worsen or they stop sweating entirely and feel hot to the touch, call 911 immediately, as this may indicate heatstroke.

Food Safety at Outdoor Family Events

Foodborne illness is a real and preventable risk at outdoor gatherings. Warm temperatures allow bacteria to multiply rapidly, so proper food handling is essential.

Keep Hot Food Hot and Cold Food Cold

The USDA’s “danger zone” for bacterial growth is between 40°F and 140°F. Hot foods should be kept above 140°F and cold foods at or below 40°F. Use chafing dishes and warming trays for hot items, and keep cold dishes in ice-filled bowls or well-stocked coolers. Never leave perishable food out for more than two hours, or one hour if the temperature exceeds 90°F.

Handle Raw Meat Carefully

If you’re grilling, always use separate utensils and cutting boards for raw and cooked meats to prevent cross-contamination. Cook burgers to an internal temperature of 160°F, chicken to 165°F, and steaks to at least 145°F. A reliable meat thermometer is a must-have at any outdoor cookout.

Make Handwashing Easy

Set up a handwashing station with soap, water, and paper towels near the food area, especially if you’re in a location without running water. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol is a convenient backup. Encourage guests to wash their hands before eating and after using the restroom, touching animals, or handling raw food.

Protecting Your Family from Insects and Pests

Mosquitoes, ticks, bees, and wasps are common at outdoor gatherings. While most insect encounters are minor annoyances, some can lead to serious health issues, including allergic reactions and tick-borne illnesses.

Use Insect Repellent Safely

Apply EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 to exposed skin and clothing. For children over two months old, products with up to 30% DEET are considered safe when applied by an adult. Avoid applying repellent near the eyes or mouth, on hands that young children might put in their mouths, or on irritated or broken skin.

Do Tick Checks After Outdoor Events

If your gathering is in or near wooded or grassy areas, do a full-body tick check on everyone, including pets, before heading inside. Pay close attention to the scalp, behind the ears, underarms, the back of the knees, and between the toes. Remove any attached ticks promptly using fine-tipped tweezers, pulling upward with steady, even pressure.

Be Prepared for Allergic Reactions

If any guests have known severe allergies to bee or wasp stings, make sure they have their epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) with them and that at least one other adult at the event knows how to use it. Keep sugary drinks covered to avoid attracting stinging insects, and dispose of food waste promptly in sealed trash containers.

Water Safety During Outdoor Family Gatherings

When gatherings take place near pools, lakes, rivers, or beaches, water safety becomes a critical priority. Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children, and it can happen quickly and silently.

Designate a Water Watcher

Assign a sober, attentive adult to serve as the designated water watcher whenever children are near the water. This person shouldn’t be distracted by conversation, food, or their phone. Rotate the role every 30 minutes to maintain focus. The water watcher should be within arm’s reach of young children at all times.

Use Life Jackets for Non-Swimmers

Ensure that children and weak swimmers wear properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved life jackets near open water. Inflatable swimming aids like puddle jumpers and water wings are not substitutes for life jackets. Even children who know how to swim should wear a life jacket in open water settings, where currents, waves, and fatigue can be unpredictable.

Child Safety Tips for Outdoor Gatherings

Children are naturally curious and energetic, which makes them more vulnerable to certain hazards at outdoor events. A few proactive steps can prevent common accidents and give parents peace of mind.

Establish Clear Boundaries

Before the gathering begins, walk children through the boundaries of the play area and identify off-limits zones, such as roads, grills, fire pits, bodies of water, and areas with heavy foot traffic. Use temporary fencing or natural landmarks to define safe zones for younger children.

Keep a Buddy System in Place

Pair children up and use the buddy system, especially at larger gatherings where it can be easy to lose track of kids in the crowd. Make sure every child knows a safe adult they can approach if they feel lost or scared, and consider writing your phone number on a young child’s wrist or arm with a washable marker as a precaution.

Childproof the Grilling Area

Keep the grill in a safe, designated area away from children’s play zones. Establish a three-foot safety perimeter around it and make sure children understand they must stay outside this zone while cooking is in progress. Never leave a lit grill unattended, and always keep a fire extinguisher or bucket of sand nearby.

Set Up a Hydration Station

Provide easy access to plenty of cool water throughout the event. Set up a dedicated hydration station with large water and electrolyte drink dispensers. Encourage guests to drink water regularly rather than waiting until they feel thirsty. Children, older guests, and anyone engaging in physical activities should be reminded to hydrate frequently.

Emergency Preparedness for Outdoor Family Gatherings

No one wants to think about emergencies during a family celebration, but a little preparation can make an enormous difference if something unexpected does happen.

Know Your Location and Have Emergency Numbers Ready

Make sure you know the exact address or GPS coordinates of your gathering location, especially if you’re at a park or remote area where street addresses may not be obvious. Save the local non-emergency police number, the nearest urgent care clinic, and the Poison Control Center number (1-800-222-1222 in the US) in your phone before the event.

Have a Plan for Severe Weather

Identify the nearest indoor shelter before the gathering begins and communicate the plan to all adult guests. If you hear thunder, the safest rule is: when thunder roars, go indoors. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder clap before returning outside. Keep a weather app open on your phone throughout the event to monitor changing conditions in real time.

20 Critical Items We Need in Order to Cook Outside

Food Safety Tips During an Emergency

Final Word

Family gatherings outside are a wonderful way to connect, celebrate, and create lasting memories. By taking a few smart precautions around sun exposure, food safety, insect protection, water safety, child supervision, and emergency preparedness, you can make sure your event is as safe as it is enjoyable.

The best outdoor gatherings are the ones where everyone goes home happy, healthy, and already looking forward to the next one. A little preparation today means more carefree fun tomorrow. May God bless this world, Linda

The post Safety Tips For Family Gatherings Outside appeared first on Food Storage Moms.

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How to Light Charcoal Without Lighter Fluid – 7 Proven Methods Every Prepper Should Know

Lighter fluid is a convenience, not a necessity. When the grid goes down, supply chains break, or you simply run out, knowing how to light charcoal without lighter fluid could mean the difference between a hot meal and going hungry. This is not a campfire trick. It is a core preparedness skill. The methods covered […]

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How to Make a Mullein Tincture for Cough and Mucus

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

When cold and flu season hits, few wild herbs are as well-known for lung support as mullein (verbascum thapsus). Mullein is that common roadside plant with big, soft, fuzzy leaves and (in its second year) a tall flower spike with small yellow blooms. It's hard to miss once you know what you’re looking for.

So why do so many foragers and herbalists like it?

• Immune and seasonal support: Mullein has a long history of use in traditional herbalism, especially for cough and respiratory irritation.
• Chest congestion relief: It’s widely used as an expectorant, meaning it helps loosen and move stubborn mucus so you can cough it up more effectively.
• Soothing action: Mullein contains mucilage, a soothing plant compound that can help calm irritated tissues in the throat and upper airway, exactly where coughing often starts.

One of the easiest ways to keep mullein on hand is to turn it into a tincture, a concentrated herbal extract made by soaking fresh mullein leaves (and ideally flowers) in alcohol. This creates a shelf-stable remedy you can use during coughs, mucus, and chest congestion without having to brew tea every time.

This particular method comes from a tutorial I found on the YouTube channel Trillium: Wild Edibles, where Josh walks through a simple, practical mullein tincture process. You can watch the video below, but I also typed up the instructions.

Before You Start: A Quick Safety Note

• Correct ID matters: Don’t harvest roadside plants from areas sprayed with herbicides or exposed to heavy traffic pollution. Harvest from clean land you have permission to forage.
• Mullein’s “fuzz” can irritate: The tiny hairs on mullein leaves can be scratchy. Straining well is important, especially if you later make teas or oils.
• Alcohol caution: This tincture uses alcohol as the extractant. Keep it away from kids and follow safe storage practices.

What You’ll Need

• Fresh mullein leaves (and flowers if available)
• A clean mason jar (wide-mouth is easiest)
• Vodka (or other unflavored alcohol 40% ABV or higher)
• Knife/scissors (optional)
• Label + marker
• Fine strainer + cheesecloth (or a coffee filter)
• Dark glass dropper bottles (or small jars) for storing

How to Make Mullein Tincture

Step 1: Harvest mullein (leaves and/or flowers)

You can use leaves and flowers together (ideal), or leaves only, or flowers only.

Josh notes that first-year rosette leaves work great (those are the low, ground-level leaves before the plant sends up a flower stalk in year two).

Be sure to choose leaves that are clean and in good condition.

Step 2: Clean and prep the herb

Rinse the mullein and let it dry well.

Trim away the brown and rotting spots, damaged leaves, and bruised flowers (if using flowers).

Step 3: Tear or chop the leaves (optional, but helpful)

You have two options: Either leave the leaves whole (which is faster), or tear and chop them up (may extract faster).

Josh prefers tearing and chopping mullein, which he believes makes the tincture more effective.

Step 4: Pack 1 cup of fresh mullein into the jar

Add fresh mullein to the jar until you reach about the 1-cup mark.

Pack it tightly so you truly have roughly one cup of herb.

A common guideline is 1 part herb to 2 parts menstruum (alcohol).

In the video, Josh uses a parts-by-volume approach (cups) since weight ounces and fluid ounces don’t match cleanly for leafy herbs.

Step 5: Cover completely with alcohol (vodka)

Pour in vodka (or other 40%+ unflavored alcohol) until the herb is fully submerged.

The submerged part is important as exposed plant material can mold.

Step 6: Seal, shake, and top off

Put the lid on and shake well.

Let it settle, then press the herb down and ensure it’s still fully covered with alcohol. Add more if needed.

Step 7: Label it clearly

Write on the label:

• “Mullein tincture”
• Date started
• Alcohol used (e.g., vodka 40%)
• Optional: location harvested, leaf/flower used

Step 8: Store in a dark place for 4–8 weeks

Keep the jar in a cool, dark spot (like a cabinet).

Shake once a day (or as often as you remember).

Step 9: Strain and bottle

After 4–8 weeks:

1. Strain through a fine strainer, then again through cheesecloth or a coffee filter (this helps catch fine leaf hairs).
2. Pour into dark dropper bottles or small jars.
3. Label the finished tincture with the bottling date.

Now you’ve got a shelf-stable mullein tincture ready for the season when coughs and mucus show up.

How People Commonly Use Mullein Tincture

Traditionally, mullein tincture is taken in small amounts when coughs, throat irritation, or chest congestion appear. Since individual needs and health conditions vary, follow guidance from a qualified professional if you’re unsure, especially for kids, pregnancy, or medications.

You May Also Like:

• Mullein: The World’s Most Useful Weed
• 30 Native American Herbal Remedies
• 17 Weeds You Should Never Kill
• How to Make a Lemon Balm Tincture for Anxiety
• Simple Homemade Cough Syrup Recipe

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Grocery Stores and Supply Chain Disruption: Why Shelves Empty So Fast

Walk through any supermarket in America and it feels like food is unlimited. Shelves stretch from floor to ceiling, pallets of bottled water sit in the aisles, and refrigerated cases hum with milk, eggs, and fresh produce. It gives the impression that the food supply is massive, stable, and always waiting just behind the swinging ... Read more...

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How Can We Ease Our Anxiety In Today’s Chaos?

How can we ease our anxiety in today’s chaos? If you’ve been feeling more anxious lately, you’re not imagining it, and you’re not alone. Between the relentless news cycle, economic uncertainty, and the pressure of daily life, anxiety has become one of the most common experiences of our time. The American Psychological Association consistently reports that stress levels across the country remain at historically elevated levels, and for many people, it can feel like there is simply no escape from the noise.

I often tell my readers that preparation for emergencies can help relieve stress and anxiety. But anxiety can creep in even when major safety issues aren’t imminent.

But here’s the good news: anxiety is manageable. With the right tools and a little consistency, you can find genuine calm, even when the world around you feels like it’s spinning out of control. This post walks you through practical, evidence-based strategies to ease anxiety you can start using today.

How can we ease our anxiety in today’s chaos?

• Turn off the news on the television (I’m not saying forever!)
• Put your phone down
• Turn your phone off (Even if it’s just for one day)
• Stay off your iPad or Laptop
• Stay off social media (I’m not saying forever!)
• Talk to a human face-to-face
• Get a dog, we did, best thing ever (Stella, a 9-pound ShihTzu!)

Understanding Why We Feel So Anxious Right Now

Before we can address anxiety, it helps to understand why it spikes during times of chaos. Our brains are wired for survival. The amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for detecting threats, doesn’t know the difference between a predator in the wild and a distressing headline on your phone. It reacts the same way: it floods your body with cortisol and adrenaline, triggering the fight-or-flight response.

When stressors are constant, that stress response never fully shuts off. The result is chronic anxiety, a persistent background hum of worry, dread, and physical tension that wears you down over time.

The first step toward relief is recognizing that your anxiety is a normal biological response to an abnormal level of stimulation. You’re not weak. You’re human.

1. Limit Your News and Social Media Intake

One of the single most effective things you can do for your mental health right now is to set boundaries around your media consumption. Research published in journals like Health Communication has found a strong link between heavy news exposure and increased anxiety, depression, and even physical health problems.

This doesn’t mean you have to stick your head in the sand. Staying informed matters. But there is a real difference between being informed and being saturated.

Try designating two short windows per day, perhaps 15 to 20 minutes each, for catching up on news. Outside of those windows, close the apps, silence the notifications, and give your nervous system a break. You’ll likely find yourself feeling calmer and more grounded within just a few days.

2. Move Your Body Every Single Day

Exercise is one of the most well-researched and powerful tools for managing anxiety. Physical movement burns off the excess adrenaline and cortisol that anxiety produces. It also triggers the release of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, all of which are natural mood stabilizers.

You don’t need an intense gym routine to see results. A brisk 20 to 30 minute walk, a yoga session, a bike ride, or even dancing in your kitchen can make a meaningful difference. The key is consistency. Daily movement, even gentle movement, is far more effective than occasional intense workouts. I started riding my Schwinn recumbent bike one year ago. I ride it 4 miles each day in the comfort of my bedroom. It only takes 20 minutes each day.

If you can take your exercise outdoors, even better. Studies show that time in nature reduces cortisol levels, lowers blood pressure, and decreases activity in the brain region associated with rumination and negative thinking.

3. Practice Diaphragmatic Breathing

When anxiety hits, your breathing becomes shallow and rapid, which actually makes anxiety worse by signaling to your brain that danger is present. Learning to breathe deeply from your diaphragm breaks this cycle and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is your body’s built-in calming mechanism.

Try this simple technique: inhale slowly through your nose for a count of four, hold for a count of four, exhale through your mouth for a count of six. Repeat this four to six times.

The extended exhale is important. It stimulates the vagus nerve, which plays a central role in regulating your stress response. Many people are surprised by how quickly this technique works. Practice it when you’re calm so that it becomes second nature when anxiety peaks.

4. Build a Consistent Sleep Routine

Sleep and anxiety have a complicated relationship. Anxiety makes it harder to sleep, and poor sleep makes anxiety worse. Breaking this cycle is one of the most impactful things you can do for your mental health.

Start by setting a consistent bedtime and wake time, even on weekends. Your brain loves predictability, and a regular sleep schedule helps regulate cortisol and melatonin naturally. Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night.

In the hour before bed, wind down intentionally. Dim the lights, avoid screens, and choose calming activities like reading, gentle stretching, or journaling. Keep your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet. Over time, these habits train your nervous system to shift into rest mode more easily.

5. Try Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness has gone from a niche wellness practice to one of the most studied psychological interventions in the world, and for good reason. Dozens of peer-reviewed studies have found that regular mindfulness practice significantly reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Mindfulness works by training you to observe your thoughts without getting swept away by them. Instead of treating anxious thoughts as facts, you learn to notice them as mental events that pass, like clouds across a sky.

You don’t need to meditate for an hour a day to benefit. Even five to ten minutes of daily practice can produce measurable changes in how your brain responds to stress over time. Apps like Insight Timer and Calm offer free guided meditations if you’re just getting started.

6. Stay Connected to Other People

Isolation is one of anxiety’s best friends. When we withdraw from others, we lose perspective, and our fears tend to grow in the dark. Human connection, on the other hand, is one of the most powerful buffers against anxiety and depression that exists.

Make a point of reaching out to people you trust, whether that’s a friend, a family member, or a colleague. You don’t have to talk about your anxiety directly. Simply spending time with others, sharing a meal, going for a walk, or even a phone call can lower cortisol and activate the neurochemistry of safety and belonging.

If you’re struggling significantly, consider joining a support group or speaking with a therapist. Cognitive behavioral therapy, in particular, has an exceptionally strong track record for treating anxiety disorders.

7. Create Structure in Your Day

Chaos thrives in uncertainty, and anxiety thrives in chaos. One of the most underrated antidotes to anxiety is creating a predictable daily routine. Structure gives your brain a sense of control, even when external circumstances feel uncontrollable.

This doesn’t have to be rigid or elaborate. Simply having consistent times for waking up, eating, working, exercising, and winding down can significantly reduce the low-grade anxiety that comes from a shapeless, reactive day.

Try writing out a loose daily schedule and see how it feels after a week. Many people report that even a basic structure makes a surprising difference in their overall sense of calm.

8. Watch What You Put in Your Body

What you eat and drink has a direct impact on your anxiety levels. Caffeine, for example, is a stimulant that increases heart rate and activates the stress response. If you’re anxiety-prone, even moderate caffeine intake can amplify symptoms significantly. Consider scaling back gradually and noticing whether it helps.

Alcohol, while it may feel calming in the short term, disrupts sleep and depletes serotonin over time, making anxiety worse in the long run.

On the positive side, a diet rich in whole foods, vegetables, healthy fats, and lean protein supports stable blood sugar and a healthy gut microbiome, both of which are increasingly linked to mental health outcomes. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in foods like salmon, walnuts, and flaxseed, have shown particular promise for reducing anxiety in clinical research.

9. Do Something That Gives You a Sense of Purpose

Anxiety often intensifies when we feel passive and helpless in the face of problems we can’t control. One of the most effective ways to counteract this is to channel your energy into something meaningful.

That might mean volunteering for a cause you care about, starting a creative project, deepening a skill, mentoring someone, or simply contributing more intentionally to your community. A sense of purpose and contribution activates different neurological pathways than passive worry, and it rebuilds a sense of agency that anxiety tends to erode.

10. Know When to Seek Professional Help

All of the strategies above are genuinely helpful, but sometimes anxiety requires professional support. If your anxiety is significantly affecting your quality of life, your relationships, or your ability to function at work, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional.

Anxiety disorders are among the most treatable mental health conditions. Therapy, medication, or a combination of both can make an enormous difference. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness. It is one of the most courageous and self-aware things a person can do.

How To Prep Without Anxiety

Final Word

Living with anxiety in a chaotic world is genuinely hard. But you have more power to shape your inner experience than it may feel like in your most anxious moments. Small, consistent actions, limiting media intake, moving your body, breathing deeply, sleeping well, and staying connected to others, compound over time into meaningful relief.

You don’t have to have a perfect life or a perfectly calm world to feel okay. You just have to show up for yourself, one day at a time. May God bless this world, Linda

The post How Can We Ease Our Anxiety In Today’s Chaos? appeared first on Food Storage Moms.

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