Welcome Back!
I'd like to start out my blog with a list of basic items anyone should have handy in case of an emergency. I mention a few different situations that should be considered when preparing for an emergency, namely "Bug-In" and "Bug-Out" situations. Bug In situations are times that you need to stay in your home for an extended period of time, such as a massive blizzard or natural disasters that cut you off from the outside world. Bug-Out situations are times when you must leave your home, such as a house fire, nuclear or industrial accidents, or even political unrest.
Another topic I discuss is the B.O.B. - "Bug-Out Bag". As the name suggests, a bug out bag contains items you may need in case of a bug-out situation, such as emergency food and water rations and a first aid kit.
The following list contains links to products I mention. Most of them are available from
Amazon.com or
BePrepared.com. I tried to find the best prices. If you find a better price online, or a better product, leave a comment below!
(Disclaimer: I am affiliated with both of these sites. If you use my links to buy something, I get a small commission. Therefore, if you find my posts helpful, I would be most grateful if you used my links to help support my blog. Thanks!)
(Disclaimer #2: I am not an expert. I am, however, an Eagle Scout, and I have learned a few things over the years. This post was created for the purpose of sharing my knowledge with those who may learn from it. I claim no responsibility for anything you do or don't do. God gave you a brain. Use it!)
Now! On to the good stuff.
When thinking about emergency preparedness or wilderness survival, there are several categories you need to keep in mind:
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First Aid
Fire
Clothing
Self Defense
Other Tools/Supplies
As a Boy Scout, I learned that
shelter is the most important aspect of wilderness survival. The elements can kill you faster than the lack of food or water. Humans can last weeks without food, and around 3 days without water. A cold winter night can give you hypothermia and can kill in a matter of hours. A happy camper is warm and dry. In case of a bug-out situation, you'll want to be prepared to make your own shelter.
Some items you may want for this category include:
Even without supplies, you can create a shelter from tree branches and leaves that are good enough to keep you dry and warm. If possible, locate a natural shelter, such as a cave.
(Stay tuned for more information on this subject.)
Humans are made up of roughly 60% water, and hydration should be your next concern.
One person uses about a gallon of water a day. This estimate includes water for drinking, hygiene, cooking etc. For home water storage, it’s recommended to store two weeks worth of water per person in your family (don’t forget your pets!). For example, if there are 4 people in your family, you should have 56 gallons of water storage (1 gallon x 14 days x number of people).
For bug-out situations, there’s no way you’re carrying 14 gallons of water with you - that’s over 115 pounds of water! Instead, keep a couple water bottles and some water purification supplies in your BOB.
Iodine Water Purification Tablets are one option. They will kill bacteria such as Giardia, making water from a stream or lake safe to drink. They do tend to leave a bit of an aftertaste, but it’s better than dehydration.
Personally, I prefer to use a water filtration pump, such as the
Katadyn Pocket Water Microfilter . (This one is rather expensive – less expensive models include the
Katadyn Combi ,
Katadyn Vario and
Katadyn Hiker Pro.) These water filtration systems typically produce 1-2 quarts of drinkable water per minute. I opted for the more expensive model – the
filter lasts about 20 times longer than the less expensive models, and it comes with a 20 year warranty. When it comes to equipment that could save your life – why settle for anything but the best?
Just because you
can survive weeks without food doesn't mean it’s pleasant. Don’t try it. Without food, you become physically and mentally weak. You are unable to think clearly and make good decisions. If you’re in a situation where it’s a struggle to survive, you are most certainly going to need clarity of thought. It's been recommended that families have enough food storage to live on for one year. If you can't do a whole year because of financial or space constraints, at least try for three months.
When survival becomes a challenge, calories are one of your best friends. Your body needs fuel to burn to keep you alive. Calories provide this fuel. Protein is also very important; protein is important because it helps you feel full longer and it prevents your body from consuming your own muscles to meet its protein needs. That’s bad.
High protein foods include:
- Meat
- Fish
- Eggs
- Dairy
- Nuts
For more on high calorie, high protein foods, have a look at these two articles on Livestrong.com:
In general, foods that require little or no cooking are preferred. During an emergency situation, you may not have electricity or natural gas and may not be able to easily cook food.
Foods I would recommend for a BOB:
Why?
Datrex Emergency Food Bars have a 5 year shelf life, are relatively lightweight, and contain basic essential nutrients. Some people don’t like the taste, but I don’t mind it – it’s kind of like a coconut cookie.
(Allergy Warning: Contains Coconut)
MREs have a decent shelf life (3-5 years in cool environment), taste like real food, contain nutrition, are lightweight and portable and are designed for survival situations.
Foods I would recommend for Bug-In situations:
(Part 2 coming soon!)
