A personal beacon about the size of a phone. It sends a distress signal with your position by satellite, with no cell signal or subscription. Register it. See ch. 8.
Poison Help
Poison hotline: 1-800-222-1222, free, 24 hours. If the person is not breathing, is having seizures, or cannot be woken, call 911. See ch. 7.
Potassium iodide
See KI.
Power bank
A small external battery for charging phones and radios. Keep one per phone. See ch. 2.
Power station
A large portable battery with outlets, USB ports, and a built-in inverter. It charges from the wall, the car, or solar panels. It can be used indoors, unlike a generator. See chs. 18 and 23.
Protection factor (PF)
How many times less radiation you receive inside a place than outside. PF 10 = you receive 10%. FEMA considers a PF of 10 or more adequate; a wood-frame home or apartment gives only 2 to 3. Seechs. 15 and 18.
Prusik
A sliding grip knot on another rope: it moves by hand when slack and locks under load. Useful for anchoring tarps. See ch. 17.
Psychological First Aid (PFA)
The recommended way to support someone right after a disaster: look, listen without pressuring, protect, and connect to help. See ch. 25.
