SANDPOINT — A can of soda may not seem like much, but it represents a severe amount of blood loss, Christopher Davidson said before tightening a tourniquet around a simulated bleeding extremity. 

Davidson, owner of On Guard Response Training, was among the vendors at the Emergency Preparedness Expo sharing expertise with attendees looking to expand their emergency preparedness toolkit. 

"It's not a question of if something is going to happen, it's a question of when it's going to happen," said Davidson. 

Davidson and his wife, Elizabeth Davidson, started the company in Sandpoint after seeing the community's need for more access to first-aid resources. 

"It's always good to have that preparedness mindset, especially in our area," said Christopher Davidson. 

Both previously medics in Germany, the couple bring years of experience to their hands-on classes, where they teach individuals how to handle different emergency situations — from learning how to stuff a wound to knowing how to disarm someone. 

Davidson also works at the Bonner County Courthouse as a bailiff, providing courthouse staff with access to his classes. 

Living in a rural community, Davidson said knowing how to treat someone in an emergency could be what saves someone's life. 

"Depending on where you live in the county, it can take up to 30 minutes to get an ambulance out there. Depending on the day, it can take even longer," said Davidson. 

While preparing to care for others is important, emergency preparedness also means being prepared to care for yourself. 

Many factors can contribute toward limited access to fresh food, said Sandi Villelli, volunteer at Idaho Master Gardener. 

"You don't know what's coming in life. You could lose a job, we could have an interruption in supplies," said Villelli. 

That why it's important to have a plan, said Villelli. 

The program, offered by the University of Idaho Extension, educates citizens about the art and science of gardening sustainably. 

A master gardener class in Sandpoint teaches the community members how to grow and store their own produce. 

"We offer the skills from start to finish," said Villelli, adding that the program is tailored for gardening specific to North Idaho's climate. 

A gardener herself, Villelli said she has long been interested in finding ways to be self-sufficient, and managing her own produce is one of them. 

"If you're a gardener, and the season brings a bounty of produce, you can't eat it all fresh," said Villelli. 

The solution for a surplus of food is healthy canning practices, said Villelli. 

"Our classes teach you how to do that," said Villelli. 

Local author Lindy Bryant had the older generation in mind when she wrote and released her newest publication, "Aging on the Homestead." 

A central message in her book reads, "Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay rural." Three pillars Bryant hopes to cement for the older generation wanting to stay out of the city. 

Many cities, Bryant explained, feel the need to bring seniors to urban areas to be taken care of. 

"The thing is, a lot of people who live in these environments have no desire to live in the city," said Bryant. 

Her book offers workarounds for older adults wanting to remain independent and connected to rural life. 

Bryant had served in the U.S. Air Force before deciding she wanted a slower pace of life. Now, she lives in Priest River, and just like a majority of the aging demographic residing in rural towns, doesn't plan on leaving. 

In addition to her book, Bryant encourages others to prepare for the unexpected. 

Her car "survival in a bottle" kits contain flashlights, lighters and other items that could prove useful in the event of changing a flat tire. 

"That's what preparedness is," said Bryant. "Simply being prepared for that type of event." 

    A vendor sells products at the Emergency Preparedness Expo.
  

    Containers of food storage line a vendor table at the Emergency Preparedness Expo.
  

    A volunteer teaches first aid skills at the Emergency Preparedness Expo.