Are you ready for a natural disaster or some other dire emergency? What would you do if you needed the basic means to survive?
A bug-out bag can be a lifesaver when disaster strikes, containing just what the holder needs to stay alive on the go.
Whether facing a natural disaster, an order to evacuate, or another emergent situation, you’ll be ready with a properly packed bug-out bag.
Pay extra attention when placing items in the bag that will cater to your needs for water, food, shelter, visibility, and safety.
Water and Hydration
Above all else, clean water is the priority. Without it, the human body would only last 3 days.
Consequently, hydration can be pretty important. Your bug-out bag should have basic supplies to help you collect, store, and purify water throughout, including:
- Reusable Water Bottle: Having a sturdy, leak-proof bottle on your person helps you stay hydrated wherever you go.
- Water Filtration System: Compact water filters or straws remove bacteria and parasites from natural water sources, so you can drink safely.
- Purification Tablets: These quickly disinfect water, are lightweight, compact, and for any emergency where sources of clean water may not be available.
High-Energy Food and Rations
In a crisis, access to nutritious food will be crucial for energy and stamina. High-calorie foods, which are packed with a long shelf life, will help you stay sustained in situations where you do not know when the next meal will be.
When preparing your bug-out bag, include the following foods:
- Non-Perishable Food Bars: These may be protein bars or high-calorie survival bars which help to meet all the vital nutritional needs.
- Freeze-Dried Meals: Their purpose is served with mere boiling water, making them light and easily prepared; they can offer more substantial caloric intake than other types of food for longer-term needs.
- Electrolyte Packets: Not only does one have to drink water for proper hydration, but electrolyte packets replace salts and minerals lost, especially when one is into some extreme activities.
Shelter and Warmth
Protection from the elements is crucial to avoid hypothermia and other risks associated with exposure. Even in moderate climates, temperatures can drop, which may make shelter an important component of the bug-out bag.
For the best preparation, fill your bag with these essentials:
- Compact Tent or Tarp: These lightweight options can provide minimal shelter from blockage of wind and rain that will help maintain body temperature.
- Thermal Blanket: Also known as a “space blanket,” this blanket will help retain all of your body heat and folds up small to take up no extra room in your pack.
- Extra Clothing Layers: Keep the extremities warm by packing extras of hats, gloves, and socks, which can help minimize cold-related injuries.
Navigation Tools
The means for navigation determine how you will find your way in areas that you may not be very familiar with. Navigation tools help you stay on course when regular technological means fail. A few of these tools include:
- Compass and Physical Map: When a GPS may fail, a compass and map are ideal for giving a correct direction. This does not require any batteries, and it is a basic need for navigation.
- Handheld GPS Device: A small-sized GPS gadget comes in handy in areas where there is satellite coverage. It can give an accurate record of position. It’s comforting when you feel disoriented, and you cannot get your bearings.
Lighting and Visibility
Visibility can be the difference between passage and missteps in a bug-out scenario. Having reliable options for lighting and advanced night vision gear will keep you moving even in the darkest of conditions. Consider the following tools:
- Flashlight and Headlamp: A good headlamp is one that will free your hands, while a strobing flashlight signals for help. Both are important components when in low-light environments.
- PVS-14 Night Vision Goggles: The PVS-14 outperforms its class in clarity and reliability of low-light and nighttime vision. With a rugged construction and many battery-saving features, these goggles help see clearly after dark to better provide the ability to navigate and detect hazards.
First Aid and Personal Health
The first aid kit keeps you prepared for minor injuries and helps avoid infection. In any survival situation, much of your resilience depends on health and hygiene.
To promote your continued health and wellness during a bug-out situation, don’t forget items like the following:
- First Aid Kit Basics: A first-aid kit should include bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and tweezers. Treating cuts, scratches, insect bites, or other minor injuries like splinters helps prevent minor injuries from becoming infected or otherwise problematic.
- Hygiene Items: Hand sanitizer, soap sheets, and waste bags will keep you clean. Keeping clean prevents the spread of diseases, which can be vital when medical help may not be readily available.
Fire-Starting Kit
Fire will provide heat, light, and the ability to cook food. Placing fire-starting tools in your bug-out bag will ensure that you can build a fire regardless of the conditions outside of your shelter. Make sure you add the following to your bag:
- Waterproof Matches or Lighter: Matches made for wet conditions or a good lighter will help a person start a fire in a wide array of weather conditions.
- Tinder Source: Cotton balls dipped in petroleum jelly or purchase commercial firestarters light easily and burn longer, this is far easier to get a fire going.
Multi-Tool and Cutting Tools
A multitool has several handy functions in one, and a good, sturdy knife is indispensable when you need to cut rope or prepare food.
- Multi-Tool: These kinds of tools serve so many purposes, and they add great versatility to your bug-out bag.
- Fixed Blade Knife: A fixed-blade knife is the centerpiece of any survival kit, and it should accompany a multi-tool. Many models have both sturdy blades and comfortable grips.
Portable Communication Devices
Being able to get in touch with other people or signal for help could be critical in an emergency. With portable communication devices like the following, you can reach out to a lifeline while in remote or dangerous areas.
- Two-Way Radio: The two-way radio allows one to talk with others in their group or with emergency responders where the cell signals are down.
- Whistle and Signal Mirror: Low-tech but effective ways to draw attention or signal for help when electronic devices are not available.
Ensure Your Survival with a Properly Equipped Bug-Out Bag
A properly stocked bug-out bag provides for all of a person’s needs: hydration, nutrition, visibility, and communication.
By including in your emergency kit reliable items for viewing at night, such as the PVS-14 NVG, you’ll be better prepared for whatever situation comes along.