How 2 Brothers-In-Law Made Safety Their Business
For many years we (Craig & Damien) had been diligently organising 72-hour packs and other emergency items for ourselves and each other, always looking for ways to improve our packs in case of an emergency.
In fact, we had seen first hand what can happen when you don't have an emergency pack.
With Craig's experience in the Australian Army reserves and my four years in the Australian Army, we had seen our fair share of catastrophic floods and bushfires, and more importantly, those who were helplessly affected by it.
That is why we kept a close eye on our own packs, making sure it would not fail us when we needed them most.
As our family grew with marriages and children we realised that not all new members to our family knew much about 72-hour packs and other emergency planning.
So about two years ago we made it a family mission to meet regularly with our packs and discuss ways to improve them and to educate the new members of our family about these life saving techniques.
Together we became more and more focussed on ensuring all our family were prepared with the right packs, so in the event of an emergency everyone from the kids to the grandparents would be as prepared as possible.
Not only did these measures make us all feel safer as a family, but it also began to raise our awareness of an ill-equipped emergency pack.
Preparing packs for able bodied adults is one thing, but preparing packs for kids and those not so able bodied is quite another. That's when we realised the big problem with home-made emergency packs.
Depending on the distance one might have to travel, they could easily become very uncomfortable and difficult to manage.
Your packs weight may not seem like a big deal now but after a few long kilometres on foot, you will begin to question if you really need all those gadgets in your bag.
Once this became apparent to us - that lugging a well-equipped bag around for sometime can become bothersome for kids and the elderly - we decided to create a pack that would meet the following criteria;
- The elderly must be able to carry the pack comfortably over long distances
- Pregnant women and nursing mothers must be able to carry the pack comfortably over long distances and...
- The children must be able to carry the pack comfortably over long distances
As well as this we also needed to ensure that the contents were;
- Lightweight
- Reliable
- Easy to use
This gave us a new direction to set about meeting these challenges and when we talked with friends and extended family members we found they too had similar challenges.
So after approximately a year of tedious and painstaking research of going through hundreds of survival items, not only did we find products that met our needs, but we also found products that were genuinely affordable.
It was at that moment we realised we could help our families AND friends AND everyone else by creating a reliable and cost efficient emergency pack - so we did.
We created 3 packs in fact, each one customised to suit the most common emergency conditions - A pack for evacuating home, and a pack for returning home.
Our first pack - the Ultra Evac - is the lightest, most comprehensive emergency pack available. And it fits all our selection criteria perfectly, just like our other two packs.
The Car Companion and the Bucket Buddy were designed to keep you covered in an emergency in case you happened to get yourself into one while away from home.
Since creating the Total Self Reliance Emergency Packs we have gone on from securing our families safety and onto ensuring the safety of all those who may encounter an emergency.
We pray the emergency we prepare for may never come, but in case it does we will continue to offer our packs and our emergency education mini course, to all those who recognise the importance of safety, and the value in being prepared.
Damien & Craig
Contact Us
Address:2/8 Lear Jet Drive, Caboolture, Queensland, Australia 4510
Phone Craig: 0421 378 072
Testimonials
Jojo & Rebecca Tipace
With so many natural disasters occurring in the world lately, I have felt an unease for the safety of my family.
So I decided to get prepared, I went through all sorts of different lists available to prepare yourself in case of disaster, lists given out by Government, Church and Internet sites. Each list varied to the next and I would have to go to a dozen different places to scope out the best deals – a long process.
I wished I could just buy a portable pack and everything was in it, everything was done for me….My wish came true when I was introduced to TSR. The packs are so affordable, I would not have been able to get any better deals even with all my bargain hunting.
Quality products and cool gadgets that I would not have even thought of to add to my pack.
Each pack is so well thought out and planned, TSR even has seminars and training on how to use everything, it is one huge thing I don’t have to worry about now. I hope that my family will never face a disaster, but if we do, I know we will be prepared and that gives me feeling of security rather than the unease I previously felt.
Malcolm & Sally
The ‘Total Self Reliance” range of portable three-day emergency packs are the best we have seen on the market.
They cover more than the basic needs for survival in any serious emergency or disaster such as water, food, clothing, shelter and communication.
They are a great comfort to know you are prepared. Also, the packs are practical for portage by adults, youth or children.
The prices over the full range of products are modest. We have been involved with personal 72 hour packs privately for many years and welcome these first class complete packs, now available with TSR. We think you will pleased to possess your choice of survival packs or items.
Julia Schulte
I just have to say thank you all for this course. I am just begining to prepare and this helps me not feel overwhelmed at how unprepared I am/was. Economically times are very hard here but as I have learned from you any bit counts! I am alone with 5 cats and my care for them is very important as well firstly my own. I have been doing research and learning much but THIS course feels already A LIFE SAVER. I DO tell my friends about T.S.R ! Stay Safe, Be Well and words can't describe all of your amazing acts of helping and helping to inform others. Sincerly Julia Schulte, Florida USA
Margaret Howton
Thank you for the the Self reliance packs. As I don't have a family of my own , although I do have extended family support.
I am responsible for myself and your service was the answer to my problems. Firstly I now don't have to worry about updating supplies as often, the way I did with my verson of the pack.
Your supplies have a longer shelf life. All I have to worry about now are the few personal items I will need in an emergency
It is reassuring to know that someone with more expertise than I have designed this..
I also have the car pack which is already installed in my car .So if I am held up on the highway as actually happened on the Central coast on the Freeway some years back when people were held up for 12 hours.
because of bush fires. It is comforting to know that I will not have to wait for the emergency services to come to my aid.
The fact that I don't have to update items in the pack as often will help keep down the cost.
The one stop shop was a boon to me. I am not a shopaholic Trapsing around town trying to find the specific items needed, not my idea of fun. You have saved me hours of stress.
Wamuran Rural Fire Brigade
Wamuran Rural Fire Brigade approached Total Self Reliance to acquire a range of products that could be carried by our firefighters, to augment the personal protective equipment supplied by the QFRS. TSR worked with the brigade to develop a kit that met the brigade’s requirements. They then sourced and supplied the kit at an excellent price.
They have continued their contact with the brigade to confirm that the items in the kit actually do the job and, that the brigade is happy with the quality. We believe that TSR is committed to supplying the community with quality, emergency and survival products and based on our experiences, the brigade would have no qualms in recommending them to others.
Eric Lanham
Brigade Training Officer
Wamuran Rural Fire Brigade
David
I’ve had many years knowing about emergency packs and the potential benefit of them…I am involved in the personal insurance sector and believe this and the emergency packs go hand in hand…having the security and safety in your mind for whatever happens.
Until now, there hasn’t been an ‘all encompassing’ product on the market. Someone like me has had to purchase items and create my own ‘pack’…this takes much time and expense, the product ‘Ultra Evac’ captures all the individual items necessary to survive in almost any situation and condition for up to 3 days…the items inside are difficult to obtain personally and if so would not be anywhere near as cost effective as what TSR can produce.
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