Author: Raymond McBride

Protestors want Md. lawmakers to extend healthcare to undocumented people

The protesters — afterwards detained by police — who occupied the stone ways of the Annapolis State House on Friday morning to desire wellness care for undocumented people want lawmakers to know Santos Romeo’s name.

So in the waning times of a legislative session where by a monthly bill to extend treatment sputtered, organizers very long focused on the concern amplified their concept. As senators arrived for final talks before the session ends Monday, the team of protesters chanted “Healthcare for all,” whilst carrying indicators that integrated a tribute to Romeo, an undocumented girl who they said died of diabetic issues issues before this yr.

Inside minutes, four officers handcuffed the protesters, whose voices stuffed the air as arriving lawmakers sidestepped the incident or swung to a basement entrance to stay clear of the demonstration. Nick Cavey, a spokesman for the Maryland Capitol Police, stated 7 men and women ended up charged with refusing to go away a general public building and for failing to obey an get from law enforcement to transfer their protest.

The proposal at concern would allow for undocumented immigrants to get well being coverage by the point out trade, a plan alter that condition analysts predict would guide to protection for about a person-third of the state’s undocumented inhabitants, or 82,500 folks. The transfer would add Maryland to a small range of states concentrating on the team in an energy to shore up gaps in wellness care accessibility — a aim that has confronted head winds in Congress.

Supporters say the proposal dovetails with Gov. Wes Moore’s objective of doing away with youngster poverty and would lessen in general premiums and care presented by hospitals totally free of demand to the uninsured. But alternatively of passing a bill that would open up the insurance coverage marketplace, which would require a federal waiver, lawmakers rather approved laws that calls for the Maryland Health Division and the Maryland Overall health Profit Trade to examine options for undocumented immigrants’ health and fitness treatment demands to guideline their get the job done shifting forward.

What counts as an ‘American name’ in a switching country

“One of the things we really do not want to do is set the cart in advance of the horse,” Senate Finance Chairwoman Melony Griffith (D-Prince George’s) reported past 7 days. “We want to make sure we are addressing the wants of our most vulnerable in a way that we can afford so that we never established unintended repercussions into motion or overburden the state’s fiscal methods.”

The condition estimates increasing coverage eligibility would cost $550,000 in fiscal calendar year 2025 for preliminary implementation costs and $250,000 a year for at minimum a few decades after that.

Ninfa Amador-Hernandez, a CASA investigate and policy analyst, said there is previously sufficient info to show opening the exchange would be an appropriate initially stage towards protection for 275,000 uninsured immigrants in Maryland. Designs expense about $800 a month for a family members of 4 without having subsidies, she mentioned.

The District, Washington point out, Massachusetts and New York City have courses to grow insurance plan eligibility, she mentioned.

“This motion was wanted since of the inaction of the Senate management to make positive this bill is prioritized and on its way to pass. We have not heard any reassurance that this invoice is prioritized,” she explained in a mobile phone interview Friday.

Protesters advocating for attempts to prolong overall health treatment to undocumented people were arrested at the steps of the Annapolis Statehouse on April 7. (Movie: Ovetta Wiggins/The Washington Article)

Jossie Flor Sapuna, a spokeswoman for CASA Maryland, claimed the protesters included a 22-year-aged lady who risked arrest to try to remember her father, Edgar, who died all through the coronavirus pandemic.

“I risk arrest for him and Marylanders like him who really do not have well being insurance. I honor my father with this sacrifice,” reported Emely Deleon, a CASA organizer from Baltimore City.

The demonstrators were all U.S. citizens, said Flor Sapuna, adding that they experienced a lot less to worry from the cascading impacts of a probable arrest than folks whose immigration position is in dilemma.

The protest came a single week just after CASA held a rally in Annapolis to urge Senate motion on the bill and spotlight ladies who shared stories about the toll of dwelling with out insurance coverage.

Then, Jeanette Kenne, 60, sat on the marble stone in front of the Condition Home nursing a wound on her calf as demonstrators marched and chanted in Spanish and English, imploring lawmakers to act.

Kenne, an undocumented immigrant from Cameroon, said she doesn’t see a doctor due to the fact she is uninsured. She has a mountain of health-related charges from her visits to the crisis place, the location she lands when her normal therapies don’t ease her suffering.

Becoming a member of nationwide craze, D.C. to cancel $90M in residents’ health care personal debt

“Sickness does not discriminate, it does not treatment about your immigration status,” she advised the crowd waving pink, yellow and neon inexperienced signs that study: “How can we battle cancer without the need of well being care” and “Our family members are dying.”

Kenne, who life in an apartment in Takoma Park, came to the United States 20 several years in the past and has labored as a truck driver, residence cleaner and wellbeing treatment provider for homebound patients, she said. But in new yrs her deteriorating overall health has restricted her means to work.

Her well being difficulties began 16 a long time back when she learned she had blood clots in her lung. Now, she said, she has a calcified granuloma that makes it challenging to have items or stand for lengthy periods. She also formulated a leg ulcer and has had pneumonia as well as diabetes.

Without a medical professional, she learned of all her problems in an crisis home.

“Actually Google is my medical doctor,” she mentioned. “When I’m obtaining difficulty, I just go to Google and Google will inform me what to do naturally.”

Three weeks ago, she mentioned, she almost handed out when at a foodstuff bank and was rushed to the hospital wherever she invested 8 hrs. The healthcare facility personnel gave her paperwork to fill out, she reported, but she doesn’t have the paperwork necessary to apply for aid.

Fitness and nutrition coach reveals the concept that ‘changed her life’

A fitness and nourishment mentor has lifted the lid on the just one idea that altered her lifestyle and is now transforming the life of her shoppers. 

Ashley Poladian, 34, from Chicago, Illinois, is recognised as @proteinsnackqueen on TikTok, where by she shares her excess fat reduction recommendations and tips for higher-protein, lower-calorie meals. 

She not too long ago opened up about generating identification-based mostly behavior to develop into the ideal version of on your own, a notion she learned about in James Clear’s bestselling book ‘Atomic Habits.’ 

‘This one strategy was the one most important thought I utilised to change my existence,’ she mentioned in the video clip posted very last thirty day period. 

Fitness and nutrition coach reveals the concept that ‘changed her life’

Exercise and diet coach Ashley Poladian, 34, is regarded as @proteinsnackqueen on TikTok, in which she shares her fats loss strategies and suggestions for large-protein, reduced-calorie foods

In a recent video, she opened up about creating identity-based habits, a concept she learned about in James Clear's bestselling book 'Atomic Habits'

In a recent online video, she opened up about producing id-dependent practices, a strategy she discovered about in James Clear’s bestselling e book ‘Atomic Habits’

Poladian famous that her shoppers are commonly focused on body fat loss, but in purchase for them to reach their targets, ‘they’re necessary to make a collection of way of living changes.’

She recalled examining Atomic Patterns, a information for developing superior habits and breaking negative ones, saying there was one particular piece of suggestions that has stuck with her in excess of the yrs.  

‘Out of all the chapters in that guide, the idea that transformed my life the most and proceeds to alter the existence of my purchasers is a little something identified as an identification-based mostly practice,’ she reported.

As Very clear explained in his e book, you need to focus on who you want to turn out to be and develop a new id in get to create lasting practices. 

He made available a two-stage technique for producing id-centered patterns, stating you should really ‘decide the style of person you want to be’ and ‘prove it to you with modest wins.’

Poladian gave an instance of a person who desires to run a marathon, declaring they have to get started figuring out as a runner.  

‘Habits only adhere when they are a component of our identification,’ she informed viewers. ‘Your existing behaviors are simply a reflection of your recent identity. What you do now is a direct reflection of the kind of individual you consider you are. 

Poladian explained that she changed her life by identifying with the qualities of the person she wanted to be, saying, 'Your current behaviors are simply a reflection of your current identity'

Poladian explained that she changed her life by identifying with the qualities of the person she wanted to be, saying, 'Your current behaviors are simply a reflection of your current identity'

Poladian discussed that she altered her daily life by figuring out with the features of the person she wished to be, declaring, ‘Your existing behaviors are basically a reflection of your recent identity’

The coach said this concept is also changing the lives of her clients, who have to make a 'series of lifestyle changes' in order to reach their fat loss goals

The coach mentioned this concept is also transforming the lives of her shoppers, who have to make a ‘series of life style changes’ in order to reach their fat decline goals 

As Clear explained in his book, you need to focus on who you want to become and create a new identity in order to build lasting habits

As Distinct stated in his book, you need to concentrate on who you want to grow to be and generate a new identification in get to construct lasting behavior

‘If you want to make lasting modify, you have to change your id.’

Immediately after studying about identity-based routines, she started by thinking about the vital values, qualities, and rules that she admired in other individuals and developed an archetype of the man or woman she required to be.

Poladian mentioned a lot of this is ‘breaking down the narrative that you have by now shaped about you.’  

‘How do you reprogram a new narrative, a new id for on your own, and keep that so carefully to your heart that just about every time you are confronted with a final decision you are mechanically thinking, “What would my better self do? What would Ashley 2. do? How would she tackle this?” You simply have to begin believing new items about oneself,’ she discussed. 

The mentor encouraged obtaining a journal and crafting down what your finest self would look like, like what you would feel about, take in, do, study, and dress in. 

Poladian said she started by thinking about the key values, qualities, and principles that she admired in other people and built an archetype of the person she wanted to be

Poladian said she began by thinking about the key values, traits, and concepts that she admired in other people today and built an archetype of the man or woman she required to be

'Get so clear on who that version of you is, and begin to tell yourself that that's you and there is no reason why that can't be you, and watch your life change,' she advised

‘Get so obvious on who that edition of you is, and start to inform by yourself that that is you and there is no motive why that are unable to be you, and watch your existence change,’ she advised 

‘Get so distinct on who that model of you is, and start off to explain to yourself that which is you and there is no explanation why that are unable to be you, and observe your daily life transform,’ she concluded. 

Poladian’s video clip struck a chord with supporters who thanked her for the tip, indicating she influenced them to test it out for on their own. 

‘I am likely to operate on this for 30 times!!!’ just one particular person wrote. 

‘I’ve heard about this notion so numerous periods but you produced it CRYSTAL obvious with your wording — thank you!’ an additional added. 

An individual else agreed that generating identification-centered routines modified her life as well, expressing that each and every morning at 4:52 she tells herself: ‘I am a human being who works out and that sort of man or woman would go to the gym.’

Best survival kits and emergency supplies to stay prepared

Emergency preparedness is the ability to survive off of your own food, water and other supplies for a few days, according to Ready.gov, an emergency readiness resource from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This often takes the form of an emergency kit (also known as a survival kit). A kit can make you feel more prepared and ready for an emergency situation. However, nearly half of Americans haven’t started any emergency prep, according to FEMA’s National Household Survey for 2022. If you’re looking to start a household emergency kit, we collected some of the best kits and kit supplies to choose from.

LEARN MORE The best emergency kits of 2023 | The best emergency supplies of 2023 | How to shop for an emergency kit

Our top picks

How we picked the best emergency kits and supplies

Using guidance from reputable agencies like FEMA, the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), and the American Red Cross, we picked four top-rated emergency kits that include most of their suggested items. We specified how many people the kit is designed for, how much the kit weighs and how long the packaged food and water should last on your shelf. We noted what recommended items are missing from each kit. Any quality emergency kit should have at least the following items:

  • First aid kit: Per the American Red Cross recommendations (your kit should suit the size and medical needs of your family and include any necessary medications).
  • Sustenance: Water (one gallon per person per day), food (several days of non-perishable)
  • Hygiene: Moist towelettes, garbage bags
  • Light sources: Flashlight
  • Shelter: Plastic sheeting, emergency blanket(s)
  • Communication: Whistle, battery-powered or hand-crank radio (with NOAA Weather Radio, if possible), cell phone, cell phone charging cables
  • Tools: disposable batteries, duct tape, multi-tool or wrench, can-opener (if kit contains canned food), local maps
  • Protection: N95 masks

We also included top-rated individual emergency supplies you can use to supplement an existing survival kit or build your own from scratch.

The best emergency kits in 2023

These top-rated emergency kits have most of the supplies recommended from agencies like FEAM, the CDC and The American Red Cross.

Best overall: Redfora Complete 3 Day Earthquake Bag

This three day emergency kit from Redfora includes a wide variety of items reputable agencies say are essential, plus some additional nice-to-haves based on your individual needs. The contents of the kit, which are housed in a red backpack, are labeled and color coated, and each bag includes a QR code to learn more about its contents.

  • Includes: first-aid kit, hygiene kit (2), pocket tissue pack (2), waste bag, food bars (2, 3600 cal), water pouch (24), water purification tablets (20), pencil, notepad, whistle, rope, multi-tool, safety goggles, sewing kit, gloves, N95 masks (6), candle, bright stick, hand-crank+solar NOAA radio with flashlight and charger, ponchos (2), sleeping bags (2), tube tent, hand warmers (2)
  • Missing: plastic sheeting, disposable batteries, cellphone, charging cables, duct tape, local maps

Redfora Complete 3 Day Earthquake Bag has a 4.7-star rating from over 1,300 reviews on Amazon.

Persons: 2 | Time: 72 hours | Weight: 10.5 lbs | Food/water shelf life: 5 years

Best survival kits and emergency supplies to stay prepared

Best budget: Ready America 72 Hour Emergency Backpack

If you’re looking for a more affordable backpack option, the Ready America 72 Hour Emergency Kit provides a few useful emergency items for a low price. It is missing more than our other recommendations, but can be a good starting point in building a larger kit, or be placed into a larger go-bag as part of a family emergency kit.

  • Includes: first-aid kit, pocket tissues, food bar (2, 2400 cal), water pouches (12, 4.25 oz), whistle, rope, gloves, dust masks (2), light stick (12 hr), ponchos (2), survival blankets (2)
  • Missing: hygiene kit, flashlight, plastic sheeting, radio, cellphone, charging cables, disposable batteries, duct tape, multi-tool, local maps, N95 masks

The Ready America Emergency Backpack has a 4.7-star rating from over 5,300 reviews on Amazon.

Persons: 2 | Time: 72 hours | Weight: 7.75 lbs | Food/water shelf life: 5 years

Ready America 72 Hour Emergency Backpack

Best splurge: JUDY The Protector

Judy’s The Protector kit is meant for a family of six and costs nearly $400. As such, it comes with far more supplies, and is far heavier than our other picks, hence, the orange rolling bag carrier. All of the supplies are packaged in clearly labeled bags and boxes, making it easier to find what you are looking for, according to the brand.

(Judy also sells the more affordable Mover Max kit for a family of four.)

  • Includes: first-aid kit, food bars (15, 410 cal), water pouches (24), quick dry towel, biohazard bag, wet wipes, pocket tissues (2), whistles (2), glow sticks (6), ponchos (6), gloves (1), dust masks (6), hand crank radio+charger+flashlight, duct tape, multitool, multipurpose bags (2), candle, waterproof match pack, hand warmers (6), rescue blankets (6)
  • Missing: plastic sheeting, cellphone, charging cables, disposable batteries, local maps, N95 masks

Persons: 6 | Time: 72 hours | Weight: 23 lbs | Food/water shelf life: 5 years

JUDY The Protector

Best for power-outages: Sustain Supply Comfort2 Emergency Survival Kit

The Sustain Supply Co Comfort2 Emergency Survival Bag is a good kit to buy if you’re especially worried about light and food — the backpack comes with lightsticks, an LED lantern, fire-starting devices, a portable stove, cookware and rehydratable food.

  • Includes: backpack, food rations (12), water (2 liters), survival straws (2), SnapLights (4), knife, LED lantern, first aid kit, emergency blanket (2), wet wipes pack, portable stove, cookware, bowls (2), utensils, whistles (2), InstaFire tinder (2), Ferrocerium rod
  • Missing: plastic sheeting, radio, cellphone, charging cables, disposable batteries, duct tape, multi-tool, local maps, N95 masks

It has a 4.6-star rating from over 900 reviews on Amazon.

Persons: 2 | Time: 72 hours | Weight: 21 lbs | Food/water shelf life: 15 year food, 5 years water

Sustain Supply Comfort2 Emergency Survival Kit

The best emergency supplies in 2023

If you want to add items to a pre-built survival kit, or you’d rather build one of your own, we rounded up these highly rated products that fall into supply categories recommended by Ready.gov and The American Red Cross.

First aid kits

Best soft-case: First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Kit (FAO-442)

The First Aid Only All-Purpose Essential Soft-Sided First Aid Kit is a soft pouch that holds around 300 pieces of various first aid supplies, according to First Aid Only. Those include, among other things, adhesive bandages, cold packs and aspirin.

The First Aid Only All-Purpose Essentials Soft-Sided First Aid Kit has a 4.8-star rating from over 68,000 reviews on Amazon.

First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Kit (FAO-442)

Best hard-case: Be Smart Get Prepared 110 Piece First Aid Kit

The Be Smart Get Prepared 100 Piece First Aid Kit is a plastic case that holds 100 pieces of first aid supplies — from antiseptic towelettes to wooden finger splints — Be Smart Get Prepared says. Although it has a third of the amount of medical supplies as the first aid kit from First Aid Only, it’s half the price.

The Be Smart Get Prepared 100 Piece First Aid Kit has a 4.7-star rating from over 36,000 reviews on Amazon.

Be Smart Get Prepared 110 Piece First Aid Kit

Whistles

Hipat Whistle, 2 Packs Plastic Sports Whistles with Lanyard

These Hipat sports whistles — in both plastic and stainless steel, depending on your preference — come in a two-pack with lanyards to let the whistles hang around your neck when they’re not in use.

These plastic variants have a 4.6 star rating from over 9,900 reviews on Amazon.

Hipat Whistle, 2 Packs Plastic Sports Whistles with Lanyard

Flashlights

GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight

The GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight is powered by three AAA batteries and features a wide-to-narrow beam that the company says will illuminate the way up to 1,000 feet in front of you. It’s the bestselling flashlight on Amazon and comes in a pack of two. It’s also water-resistant.

The GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight has a 4.6-star rating from over 71,000 reviews on Amazon.

GearLight LED Tactical Flashlight

Black Diamond Spot 350 Headlamp

When you need light and two free hands, a headlamp is more useful than a flashlight. The Spot 350 from Black Diamond is a multipurpose option powered by three (included) AAA batteries. It offers six different brightness settings, and is fully waterproof.

It has a 4.8-star rating from over 200 reviews on Amazon.

Black Diamond Spot 350 Headlamp

Disposable batteries

AmazonBasics 8-Pack AA High-Performance Alkaline Batteries

The AmazonBasics 8-Pack AA High-Performance Alkaline Batteries offer reliable performance across a wide range of devices, Amazon says — they’re ideal for flashlights, clocks and more. Amazon says they have a 10-year leak-free shelf life. They’re not rechargeable.

The AmazonBasics 4-Pack AA High-Performance Alkaline Batteries have a 4.7-star rating from over 685,000 reviews on Amazon.

AmazonBasics 8-Pack AA High-Performance Alkaline Batteries

AmazonBasics 10-Pack AAA High-Performance Alkaline Batteries

Similar to the AmazonBasics AA batteries, the AmazonBasics 10-Pack AAA High-Performance Alkaline Batteries should work across a similarly wide range of devices and have the same 10-year shelf life, according to Amazon.

The AmazonBasics 10-Pack AAA High-Performance Alkaline Batteries have a 4.7-star rating from over 654,000 reviews on Amazon.

AmazonBasics 10-Pack AAA High-Performance Alkaline Batteries

Radio

FosPower 2000mAh NOAA Emergency Weather Radio Portable Power Bank

The FosPower 2000mAh NOAA Emergency Weather Radio Portable Power Bank works as a traditional battery-powered handheld radio but also doubles as a 2000mAh portable power bank for keeping your smartphones and other devices charged if the power is out. You can power your AM/FM radio in a couple different ways, according to FosPower: with three AAA batteries, with the hand-crank lever or via the solar panel. The radio also has a reading light and a flashlight.

The FosPower 2000mAh NOAA Emergency Weather Radio Portable Power Bank has a 4.6-star rating from over 30,000 reviews on Amazon.

FosPower 2000mAh NOAA Emergency Weather Radio Portable Power Bank

Sleeping bags

For adults: REI Co-op HunkerDown 20 Sleeping Bag

This sleeping bag from REI is rated for temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It has a wrap-around zipper that can be used for ventilation or to open the bag completely and use it as a quilt, according to the brand. At a little over six and a half feet long, this sleeping bag fits most adults.

REI Co-op HunkerDown 20 Sleeping Bag

For kids: REI Co-op Kindercone 25 Sleeping Bag

As recommended in our guide to the best sleeping bags for kids, the REI Co-op Kindercone 25 is rated for temperatures as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit. It closes with a zipper, and has adjustable cords around the head and hood. At 5 feet long, it is long enough for most younger kids.

REI Co-op Kindercone 25 Sleeping Bag

Face masks

The American Red Cross recommends putting N95 or surgical masks in your emergency kit, depending on “the types of disasters common to your area.”

3M Aura N95 Respirator

As recommended in our guide to N95 masks, this N95 respirator from 3M is individually packaged and foldable, making it easy to store in a kit. It has a lower profile to accommodate glasses around the nose, according to the brand.

The 3M Aura N95 Respirator has a 4.5-star rating from over 20,000 reviews on Amazon.

3M Aura N95 Respirator

Personal Hygiene

In order to stay clean, you’ll need to stock up on moist towelettes, too. There are a bunch of different types available — many of which you’ll find at your local drugstore. If you’re looking for the most highly rated options available online, here are some options.

Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes

The Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes are sold in a 10-pack with 20 wipes per pack. They come in a soft pack that’s pretty small — around 8 inches long by 7 inches wide — making them easier to carry around in a kit than a hard, tubular container.

The Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes have a 4.8-star rating from over 14,000 reviews.

Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes

Babyganics Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer Wipes

The Babyganics Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer Wipes are sold in a four-pack with 20 wipes per pack. Like the Wet Ones highlighted above, Babyganics wipes should kill around 99 percent of germs, according to the brand. Babyganics also says that their wipes are made without parabens, sulfates, phthalates or synthetic fragrances and dyes — plus they’re nonallergenic. Like the Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes, they come in soft packs (6 inches long by 5 inches wide) that should be simple to stuff next to your other supplies.

The Babyganics have a 4.8-star rating from over 16,000 reviews.

Babyganics Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizer Wipes

Tools

Lexivon ½-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench

The Lexivon ½-Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench should be more than capable of handling that simple task. It’s made from steel with a reinforced ratchet gear head, it’s rust- and corrosion-protected and it has easy-to-identify instructions on its body, according to the brand. It also comes in a hard case for storage.

This Lexivon torque wrench has a 4.7-star rating from over 7,000 reviews on Amazon.

Lexivon 1/2 -Inch Drive Click Torque Wrench

KitchenAid Classic Multifunction Can Opener

Emergency supply food is often canned, so having a can opener like this one from KitchenAid is helpful in many kits. It’s made of stainless steel and designed to open all types of cans. It also has ergonomic handles, which should make it comfortable and easy to hold, according to the brand.

The KitchenAid Multifunction Can Opener comes in 14 different colors, so you can choose your favorite — and it has a 4.6-star rating from over 72,000 reviews on Amazon.

KitchenAid Classic Multifunction Can Opener

Portable batteries and battery packs

Anker 525 Power Bank (PowerCore 20K)

This portable charger can charge devices with both USB-A and USB-C cables, making it a versatile option. With a 20,000mAh battery capacity, it can charge smartphones multiple times over before being depleted, according to the brand.

The Anker 525 has a 4.7-star rating from more than 5,000 reviews on Amazon.

Anker 525 Power Bank (PowerCore 20K)

Duct tape

Original Duck Brand

Duct tape is an often omitted supply from pre-made kits, despite its versatility. This roll from Duck Brand is easy to tear and water resistant, according to the brand. It has a 4.6-star rating from over 7,000 reviews on Amazon.

Original Duck Brand

Plastic sheeting

Tapix 6 Mil Poly Sheeting

In the case of an emergency requiring sheltering in place, FEMA recommends sealing “windows, doors and air vents with thick plastic sheeting and duct tape.”

This plastic sheeting from Tapix is a long, heavy duty, 10 by 25 inch roll made of thick 6 Mil plastic.

To use, you’ll want to “cut the plastic sheeting several inches wider than the openings and label each sheet,” before duct taping the plastic down at the corners first and then taping down the rest of the sheet’s edges, according to FEMA.

Tapix 6 Mil Poly Sheeting

Fire extinguisher

First Alert HOME1 Rechargeable Standard Home Fire Extinguisher

The First Alert HOME1 Rechargeable Standard Home Fire Extinguisher is made from durable all-metal construction with a commercial-grade metal valve, First Alert says. The First Alert HOME1 is rechargeable, meaning that you can take it to a certified professional to be refilled. It also comes with a 10-year limited warranty.

The First Alert HOME1 Rechargeable Standard Home Fire Extinguisher has a 4.8-star rating from over 41,000 reviews on Amazon.

First Alert HOME1 Rechargeable Standard Home Fire Extinguisher

Local maps

Although you can buy a map of your state off of Amazon without spending too much, you can also head to the U.S. Department of the Interior website and use their map viewer to print out your general location. Store it in a folder to keep at your desk, just in case you end up needing to navigate your town or city’s streets without the help of a GPS.

Either way, without GPS, a compass can help tremendously with navigation and orientation.

The American Red Cross recommends packing a cell phone, personal documents like medication lists, proof of address, passports and more, as well as extra cash. What this will look like in practice depends on you and your household.

How to shop for an emergency kit

By using online guidance from reputable resources like FEMA’s Ready.gov and The American Red Cross, you can get a good idea of what to look for in a survival kit, or even how to make one yourself. Below are some of the most common questions people ask when shopping for an emergency kit.

What do you need for a 72-hour emergency kit?

FEMA’s Ready.gov and the American Red Cross recommend a lot of the same items for an emergency kit. As explained above, we combined their recommendations to form a list of basics recommended for any emergency kit.

Both organizations also list additional and supplemental emergency supplies that may be useful depending on your individual needs, including:

  1. Prescription medications (3-day supply) and medical items
  2. Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea, antacids or laxatives
  3. Prescription eyeglasses and contact lens solution
  4. Infant supplies
  5. Pet food and water
  6. Extra cash
  7. Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
  8. Sleeping bags
  9. Towels
  10. Climate appropriate change of clothes and shoes
  11. Work gloves
  12. Scissors
  13. Fire extinguishers
  14. Feminine supplies
  15. Mess kit
  16. Paper and pencils
  17. Entertainment items (books, games, puzzles, etc.)

Is it cheaper to build your own emergency kit?

Most of the time, yes. A lot of the most recommended items in an emergency kit are things you already have in your home: non-perishable food, water, batteries, tools, spare clothes, first-aid supplies, etc. By putting together supplies you already have in a bag you already own, you can build most of your emergency kit yourself, and shop for missing items individually.

Where should I store my emergency kit?

Ready.gov recommends storing your emergency kit in “one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag.” It also recommends storing items in airtight plastic bags. Some premade emergency kits come in waterproof bags, like the JUDY Mover Max.

Why trust Select?

Justin Krajeski is a former associate editor for Select.

Harry Rabinowitz is a reporter for Select. For this piece, he researched emergency prep guidelines from reputable agencies like FEMA, the CDC and the American Red Cross. To select recommended products, he referenced professional reviews as well as consumer reviews across storefronts like Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot and more.

Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

7-Day No-Sugar Meal Plan for Healthy Immunity

How well your immune system functions depends on several factors, some of which you can influence, and others are based on luck of the draw. While there’s no single food or nutrient that can prevent you from getting sick, eating a varied and nutritious diet with a special focus on foods that support a healthy immune system certainly won’t hurt. In this plan, we focus on foods high in nutrients that help our immune system function properly, like protein, zinc and vitamins A, C, D and E. What you won’t find? Added sugars. On average, the American adult eats 17 teaspoons of added sugar per day, per the CDC; significantly above the American Heart Association’s recommended daily max of 9 teaspoons of added sugar for men and 6 for women.

Because added sugars are a growing source of calories in many people’s diets—without the nutritional benefits—we opted to skip them for this plan and focus on healthy immune-supporting foods. Because excess body weight could negatively impact your immune system, we set this plan at 1,500 calories per day, which is a level where most people will lose weight. For those with other calorie needs, we also included modifications for 1,200 and 2,000 calories a day.





Strategies for a Healthy Immune System:

  • Hydrate: Drinking plenty of fluids has many benefits, including lubricating your nasal passages, which helps fend off viruses better than a dry nose.
  • Rest: Quality and sufficient sleep at night is important for many areas of our body to function properly, including a healthy immune system
  • Eat a Nutritious Diet: Eating a balanced and healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and nutrient-dense foods helps support a healthy immune system
  • Socialize: There’s some evidence that laughing and socializing with others reduces stress, which helps support a healthy immune response.



Immune-Supporting Foods to Focus On:

While there’s no evidence that any one specific food or nutrient can support your immune system, certain nutrients are needed for your immune system to function. Focusing on foods high in these nutrients, in addition to a healthy and varied diet, play a role in supporting our health.


  • Vitamin A: sweet potato, carrots, liver, spinach, milk, egg, cantaloupe, mango, dark leafy greens.
  • Vitamin C: broccoli, oranges, bell peppers, strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, cantaloupe
  • Vitamin D: salmon, tuna, sardines, and other fatty fish, fortified milk and yogurt, eggs
  • Vitamin E: sunflower seeds, nuts, peanuts, nut and peanut butter, avocado, dark leafy greens, wheat germ
  • Protein: meat and poultry, Greek yogurt, cheese, nuts and seeds, legumes, eggs, quinoa, tofu
  • Zinc: oysters, crab, beef, lobster, pork, turkey, pumpkin seeds, legumes, yogurt, cashews and fortified cereals



How to Meal-Prep Your Week of Meals:

  1. Prepare Muffin-Tin Omelets with Feta & Peppers to have for breakfast on days 2 through 4.
  2. Make Vegan Lentil Stew to have for lunch on days 2 through 5.



Day 1

Breakfast (403 calories)



A.M. Snack (125 calories)

  • 5-oz. container low-fat plain Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup blueberries


Lunch (387 calories)



P.M. Snack (200 calories)

  • 1 medium apple
  • 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter


Dinner (405 calories)



Daily Totals: 1,518 calories, 64g fat, 81g protein, 166g carbohydrate, 35g fiber, 1,100mg sodium


To make it 1,200 calories: Omit almonds at breakfast and change P.M. snack to 1 plum.


To make it 2,000 calories: Add 3 Tbsp. chopped walnuts to A.M. snack, increase to 3 Tbsp. peanut butter at P.M. snack plus add 1 serving Basic Green Salad with Vinaigrette.



Day 2

Breakfast (341 calories)



A.M. Snack (231 calories)

  • 30 dry-roasted unsalted almonds


Lunch (374 calories)



P.M. Snack (171 calories)

  • 1 cup low-fat plain kefir
  • 1 medium orange


Dinner (433 calories)



Daily Totals: 1,489 calories, 61g fat, 77g protein, 169g carbohydrate, 30g fiber, 1,640mg sodium


To make it 1,200 calories: Change A.M. snack to 1 clementine and omit kefir at P.M. snack.


To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Raspberry-Kefir Power Smoothie to breakfast and 1 serving Guacamole Chopped Salad to dinner.



Day 3

Breakfast (341 calories)



A.M. Snack (125 calories)

  • 5-oz. container low-fat plain Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup blueberries


Lunch (374 calories)



P.M. Snack (200 calories)

  • 1 medium apple
  • 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter


Dinner (511 calories)



Daily Totals: 1,488 calories, 62g fat, 75g protein, 163g carbohydrate, 30g fiber, 1,748mg sodium


To make it 1,200 calories: Omit yogurt at A.M. snack and change P.M. snack to 1 plum.


To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Raspberry-Kefir Power Smoothie to breakfast, increase to 2 1/2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter at P.M. snack, plus add a 1-oz. slice whole-wheat baguette to dinner.



Day 4

Rachel Marek

Breakfast (341 calories)



A.M. Snack (193 calories)

  • 25 dry-roasted unsalted almonds


Lunch (374 calories)



P.M. Snack (171 calories)

  • 1 cup low-fat plain kefir
  • 1 medium orange


Dinner (507 calories)



Daily Totals: 1,525 calories, 66g fat, 67g protein, 180g carbohydrate, 36g fiber, 1,710mg sodium


To make it 1,200 calories: Change A.M. snack to 1 clementine and change P.M. snack to 1/4 cup sliced cucumber.


To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 serving Raspberry-Kefir Power Smoothie to breakfast and 1 serving Guacamole Chopped Salad to dinner.



Day 5

Breakfast (341 calories)

  • 1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
  • ½ cup raspberries
  • 3 Tbsp. chopped walnuts


A.M. Snack (230 calories)

  • 1 cup edamame, in pods
  • 1 plum


Lunch (374 calories)



P.M. Snack (115 calories)

  • 1 medium bell pepper, sliced
  • 3 Tbsp. hummus


Dinner (421 calories)



Daily Totals: 1,480 calories, 61g fat, 82g protein, 164g carbohydrate, 41g fiber, 1,692mg sodium


To make it 1,200 calories: Reduce to 1 Tbsp. chopped walnuts at breakfast and omit edamame at A.M. snack.


To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 slice sprouted wheat toast with 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to breakfast and 1 serving No-Cook Black Bean Salad to dinner.



Day 6

Charlotte & Johnny Autry

Breakfast (403 calories)



A.M. Snack (95 calories)



Lunch (377 calories)



P.M. Snack (171 calories)

  • 1 cup low-fat plain kefir
  • 1 medium orange


Dinner (432 calories)



Daily Totals: 1,478 calories, 51g fat, 78g protein, 186g carbohydrate, 38g fiber, 1,165mg sodium


Tomake it 1,200 calories: Omit almonds at breakfast and kefir at P.M. snack.


To make it 2,000 calories: add 1 slice sprouted wheat toast with 1 Tbsp. natural peanut butter at breakfast, 1 1/4 cup edamame in pods to A.M. snack and a 1-oz. slice whole-wheat baguette to dinner.



Day 7

Breakfast (341 calories)

  • 1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
  • ½ cup raspberries
  • 3 Tbsp. chopped walnuts


A.M. Snack (154 calories)

  • 20 dry-roasted unsalted almonds


Lunch (377 calories)



P.M. Snack (200 calories)



Dinner (408 calories)



Daily Totals: 1,480 calories, 66g fat, 97g protein, 128g carbohydrate, 34g fiber, 962mg sodium


To make it 1,200 calories: Reduce to 1 Tbsp. chopped walnuts at breakfast and change P.M. snack to 1 plum


To make it 2,000 calories: Add 1 large apple to A.M. snack, 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter to the banana at lunch and 1 serving Traditional Greek Salad to dinner.

7 Day Healthy Meal Plan (April 10-16)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

A free 7-day, flexible weight loss meal plan including breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas and a shopping list. All recipes include macros and Weight Watchers points.

7 Day Healthy Meal Plan (April 10-16)

Asparagus always makes me think of spring! In case you missed my post earlier this week, check out these 23 Easy Asparagus Recipes which has some of my favorites like Cream of Asparagus Soup and this Asparagus Bacon Salad. If you have an air fryer, you will love this Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken (which can also be baked in the oven)!

With grocery prices soaring, many of us are having to adjust, scale back and/or get more creative with our meals. One of the absolute BEST ways to stay within a budget and maintain healthy eating habits is to MEAL PLAN. You can get more 5-day Budget Friendly Meal Plans by signing up for Relish+ (get a 14-day free trial here!)

Ultimate Skinnytaste Meal Planner

Skinnytaste Ultimate Meal Planner

Get the Skinnytaste Ultimate Meal Planner! The 52 week spiral bound meal planner has weekly meal planning grids you can tear out and put on your fridge if you wish, a 12-week meal plan, 30 (15 new) recipes, and tear-out grocery lists. I love starting my week with gratitude, affirmations and intentions, so I included a space for that as well. I hope you will love this as much as I do!

Skinnytaste Ultimate Meal Planner

Buy the Skinnytaste meal planner here:

A note about WW Points

All recipe points have been updated to reflect the new WW program, points will display under the recipe title. I will keep the ww button in the recipe card, click on that and it takes you to the Weight Watchers website where you can see the recipe builder used to determine those points and add it to your day (US only, you must be logged into your account). All cookbook recipes in the cookbook index are also updated!

About The Meal Plan

If you’re new to my meal plans, I’ve been sharing these free, 7-day flexible healthy meal plans (you can see my previous meal plans here) that are meant as a guide, with plenty of wiggle room for you to add more food, coffee, beverages, fruits, snacks, dessert, wine, etc. or swap recipes out for meals you prefer, you can search for recipes by course in the index. Depending on your goals, you should aim for at least 1500 calories* per day. There’s no one size fits all, this will range by your goals, your age, weight, etc.

There’s also a precise, organized grocery list that will make grocery shopping so much easier and much less stressful. Save you money and time. You’ll dine out less often, waste less food and you’ll have everything you need on hand to help keep you on track.

Lastly, if you’re on Facebook join my Skinnytaste Facebook Community where everyone’s sharing photos of recipes they are making, you can join here. I’m loving all the ideas everyone’s sharing! If you wish to get on the email list, you can subscribe here so you never miss a meal plan!

Meal Plan:

Breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday, are designed to serve 1 while dinners and all meals on Saturday and Sunday are designed to serve a family of 4. Some recipes make enough leftovers for two nights or lunch the next day. The grocery list is comprehensive and includes everything you need to make all meals on the plan.

MONDAY (4/10)
B: Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins and ½ cup low fat cottage cheese with ½ cup chopped cantaloupe
L: Tuna Egg Salad in lettuce cups
D: Veggie Lo Mein

Total Calories: 908*

TUESDAY (4/11)
B: Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins and ½ cup low fat cottage cheese with ½ cup chopped cantaloupe
L: Tuna Egg Salad in lettuce cups
D: Enchilada Turkey Meatloaf with Cilantro Lime Rice
Total Calories: 1,036*

WEDNESDAY (4/12)
B: Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins and ½ cup low fat cottage cheese with ½ cup chopped cantaloupe
L: LEFTOVER Enchilada Turkey Meatloaf with Avocado Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette (½ recipe)
D: Chicken Parmesan with 1 cup whole wheat pasta and String Beans with Garlic and Oil (recipe x 2)

Total Calories: 1,197*

THURSDAY (4/13)
B: Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins and ½ cup low fat cottage cheese with ½ cup chopped cantaloupe
L: LEFTOVER Enchilada Turkey Meatloaf with Avocado Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
D: LEFTOVER Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe with 1 cup whole wheat pasta and String Beans with Garlic and Oil

Total Calories: 1,197*

FRIDAY (4/14)
B: Air Fryer Breakfast Banana Split
L: Egg Tomato and Scallion Sandwich with an apple
D: Salmon Caesar Salad with Potato Leek Soup

Total Calories: 1,091*

SATURDAY (4/15)
B: Veggie Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole with 1 cup strawberries
L: Italian Sub Broccoli Salad
D: DINNER OUT

Total Calories: 571*

SUNDAY (4/16)
B: LEFTOVER Veggie Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole with 1 cup strawberries
L: Spicy California Shrimp Stack
D: Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken with Perfect Baked Potato and Parmesan Asparagus Fries

Total Calories: 1,019*

*This is just a guide, women should aim for around 1500 calories per day. Here’s a helpful calculator to estimate your calorie needs. I’ve left plenty of wiggle room for you to add more food such as coffee, beverages, fruits, snacks, dessert, wine, etc.

*Google doc

Some ACA health insurance plans have lots of enrollees, few providers : Shots

Some ACA health insurance plans have lots of enrollees, few providers : Shots

The Affordable Care Act saw a record number of sign ups this year, but some people are having trouble finding doctors in their health plan networks.

Getty Images


hide caption

toggle caption

Getty Images

The Affordable Care Act saw a record number of sign ups this year, but some people are having trouble finding doctors in their health plan networks.

Getty Images

The Affordable Care Act may be struggling with its own success.

Record enrollment over the last two years brought more consumers into the health insurance market. At the same time, many insurers began offering smaller networks of doctors and hospitals, partly to be price competitive.

That combination left some patients scrambling to find an available in-network physician or medical facility. That can be a challenge, especially when enrollees must rely on inaccurate provider lists from their insurance company. A recent federal report found that 243 out of 375 insurance company plans reviewed by regulators failed to meet network standards.

‘The last thing she needed’

Take what happened to a central Pennsylvania policyholder, who in January fell and broke her arm and a bone near her eye.

She was directed by the hospital that provided her emergency care to follow up with an orthopedist, recounted Kelly Althouse, the patient’s insurance agent, who works near Reading, Pa. Althouse’s client spent hours calling orthopedic doctors listed in the provider directory of her new health plan from insurer Ambetter Health, a national carrier that in 2019 started offering ACA plans in Pennsylvania. Several doctors said they weren’t part of the network, despite being listed by the company, Althouse said. It took about 15 tries before her client found an in-network doctor who would see her.

That “was the last thing she needed when she was already feeling terrible,” said Althouse.

It’s a story that has been repeated to her multiple times since January, when the new plan year began. Her clients have “bombarded” her with calls, saying a range of physicians and other providers were not accepting the insurance, even if that provider was listed in the plan’s own directory. “The thing that shocked me was how many offices told my clients, ‘We have never heard of this company,'” Althouse said.

For its part, Ambetter officials said in a written statement to KHN that their network in Pennsylvania “meets or exceeds regulatory standards.”

The size of insurers’ networks of contracted doctors and hospitals, particularly in ACA plans, has long drawn concern. In recent years, insurers have trended toward offering smaller networks, in part to cut costs and keep premiums in check.

More than 16 million people bought insurance on Healthcare.gov, a record high

Problems arise when patients cannot find local in-network providers and must either pay more, for out-of-network care, if that’s even an option in their plans, or travel farther for in-network care.

It wasn’t supposed to be that way anymore, after new rules kicked in this year to address such issues.

More oversight, but is it enough?

For one, federal regulators are again checking whether insurers have enough providers. That comes after a 2021 court ruling that reversed a Trump administration move to eliminate such federal oversight.

In addition, new “time and distance” standards went into effect, requiring insurers to make available, within certain driving distances, at least one provider for each of a variety of physician specialties. For example, a large metro area must have enough endocrinologists for at least 90 percent of enrollees to be able to find one within 15 miles or a 30-minute drive.

Yet insurance brokers in multiple states told KHN that many clients are having trouble finding in-network providers across a variety of health plans. Even when they do, patients on some plans face “a four- to five-month wait to see a primary care doctor,” said Tracy McMillan, president of Marketplace Insurance Exchange, an insurance brokerage in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Under the Affordable Care Act, insurers must “ensure a sufficient choice of providers.” But there is no single nationwide standard on what to measure to determine network adequacy, and both federal and state regulators have authority to oversee the plans.

“These exchange networks have never had much rigorous oversight,” said Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow at KFF.

But access is still limited in some areas and even the standards themselves may not be tough enough, say policy experts and brokers.

“We have insurers that don’t even have a hospital in some counties,” said Lauren Jenkins, owner of Native Oklahoma Insurance, a brokerage based near Tulsa. “How do they even get approved to be in these counties?”

In a metro area no more than 40 miles across, a plan could theoretically have as few as 10 doctors and three facilities in network and still meet these standards, Pollitz said.

In Texas, North Carolina, and other parts of the country, new companies, often charging lower premiums, have entered the ACA market. Some have networks “that are very, very tiny,” said Don Hilke, owner of ClearBenefits Group in Durham, N.C. Even larger carriers are either squeezing their networks to compete on price or enrolling so many customers that they are stretching their existing networks.

‘Everyone in a pickle’

In Texas, two smaller insurance companies left the market, leaving the remaining insurers without enough doctors to absorb the policyholders who had to find other coverage, said Ronnell Nolan, president and CEO of Health Agents for America, a membership association for independent brokers. “It left everyone in a pickle.”

Federal regulators propose more changes for next year, including requiring insurers to meet appointment wait-time standards.

More has been done this year too, including reviewing insurer networks, said Ellen Montz, deputy administrator and director of the federal Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Insurers pegged as having a shortfall in their networks must now report monthly to CMS their “good faith efforts to fill those gaps” and how many complaints they get from consumers about access, she wrote.

Montz did not say how many insurers have fallen short, but the December report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office noted that CMS found the majority of insurance companies whose medical or dental plans were reviewed by federal regulators in August failed to meet network adequacy standards. CMS told the GAO that all plans eventually satisfied the requirements or provided “an acceptable justification as to why they were unable to meet the standards.”

Creating networks and keeping lists of participating providers up to date pose ongoing challenges, said Jeanette Thornton, executive vice president of policy and strategy at AHIP, the health insurance industry’s leading lobbying group. Those include the need to rely on providers to inform insurers when they move, retire, or stop accepting new patients.

Questions about the accuracy of provider directories persist. Dr. Neel Butala, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, found that fewer than 20{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} of more than 449,000 physician listings had consistent address and specialty area information across five large insurers’ directories, according to a research letter published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on March 14.

A lawsuit filed in August 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleges the provider networks for Centene’s Ambetter plans “are simply false and are often just copies of physician directories from other sources.”

Without accurate directories, the lawsuit alleges, patients face “delays in treatment, inability to get treatment, traveling to see an in-network provider who is hundreds of miles away, and paying out-of-pocket for out-of-network providers.” Similar allegations are included in ongoing lawsuits first filed in 2021 by the San Diego City Attorney against three California insurers.

The “No Surprises Act,” which went into effect more than a year ago, requires insurers to update their provider directories every 90 days. No insurers have yet been penalized for failing to update theirs, said CMS’s Montz. The law also stipulates that if patients get hit with an out-of-network charge because they relied on inaccurate information, the insurer can charge the patient only the in-network rate.

In October, CMS published an official query asking for comment on whether the federal government should create its own national database of in-network medical providers, an inquiry that drew hundreds of responses, both for and against.

There has been no indication whether such a plan will move forward.

KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation.