1. Pack a Survival/First Aid Kit
If you don’t have a survival kit and first-aid, it will be challenging for you to survive beyond the first day. It is essential to have access to clean drinking water, which can be achieved with a portable water filter or water purifying tablets. Alternatively, you can carry your own source of water.
Before too much time has passed, your stomach will likely become noisy and unsettled in response to your circumstances. To ensure that you have sufficient fuel, make sure to bring along lightweight, non-perishable food items such as beef sticks and protein bars.
It is important to have various survival necessities such as multiple flashlights with spare batteries, a hand-cranked radio, a compass and map, a knife, tools, sleeping bags, a camping tent, additional clothes, a lighter, matches, and a whistle. Additionally, it is crucial to have a first-aid kit to tend to injuries. I have a fondness for these Flashlights (batteries) and these Goal Zero Flashlights.
It is crucial to gather supplies that cater to your family’s requirements since each survival kit may vary. This tip for outdoor preparation is essential to consider.
2. Be Aware of any Hazards
It is essential to have knowledge about the vicinity and topography of the territory you anticipate staying alive in. This will enable you to identify any dangers that may arise, such as the possibility of flooding or the presence of hazardous animals. Additionally, it is crucial to prepare for the varying weather patterns that can occur throughout the different seasons.
3. Never Head Out Without Telling Someone
Avoid making the mistake that many individuals who are stranded and alone in the wilderness commit – assuming that they won’t stray too far or stay away for too long, thus failing to inform anyone.
Although the probability of being safe is higher, there is still a possibility of encountering unforeseen circumstances like encountering a dangerous wild animal or breaking a leg while hiking. To ensure safety, it’s advisable to carry a walkie-talkie or leave a note before embarking on the journey. Alternatively, it might be better to travel with a companion who is adept at living in remote locations.
4. Trash Bags are Not Only for Waste
For those who have prior experience in prepping, they understand the importance of basic items such as trash bags. These bags serve the primary function of getting rid of waste and rubbish, but they can also come in handy for moving your provisions.
You can use trash bags for multiple purposes such as protecting yourself from the rain by using it as a poncho, providing cover for your emergency shelter to avoid harsh sun and rain. Additionally, you can also utilize them to keep your food and other items dry and free from getting wet due to the rain.
5. Stay Warm and Dry
Surviving in the outdoors is difficult enough, but the situation can rapidly deteriorate if your clothing and equipment become saturated. Believe me, there’s nothing worse than the discomfort of having wet clothes clinging to your skin when your socks and shoes are drenched.
I suggest that you get rain jackets and boots, or if not possible, rain ponchos for each member of your group as a precautionary measure. Additionally, it is important to locate a suitable area where you can take cover from the harsh weather conditions. If the weather is chilly, you may use a space blanket to enhance the insulation of your shelter and stay warm.
6. Avoid Stagnant Water
Avoid drinking stagnant water as it may contain bacteria, parasites, and animal excrement. While cool flowing water may not be entirely free of germs, it is likely to have fewer impurities than stagnant water. To eliminate any remaining bacteria and impurities, boiling the water or adding iodine is required.
7. Knowing Which Berries to Avoid
It is possible that at some point, you may find yourself with a dangerously low food supply and need to depend on the resources that are accessible around you. In such a situation, consuming berries from plants and bushes could be necessary for your survival, but it could also be hazardous if you do not know which ones are poisonous.
If you are unsure whether a berry is safe to consume, there is a method to test it. Rub the berry on your skin and wait for one or two hours. If there is no response, proceed to rub it on your lips and wait for a couple of more hours.
Once again, if no response is observed, give it a lick and wait a while longer. Proceed by consuming only a small quantity. If you do not encounter any symptoms of nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after a few hours, it is likely safe to consume a normal portion.
8. Building a Fire
To keep yourself warm and prepare your meals, it is necessary to possess the skill of creating a fire. If you are unaware of the method, here’s a guide: First, collect small and dry twigs, leaves, pine needles, and thistle to use as kindling.
Afterwards, locate bigger pieces of wood and sticks that can burn for a longer time period. Obtain a sizable chunk of wood that can serve as a barrier against the wind, which will facilitate the process of initiating the fire. Then, shape the tinder into a nest-like structure.
Construct a teepee using your small sticks to create openings for oxygen. Ignite the small sticks, and place them beneath the teepee while blowing on them to spread the fire. Gradually add larger sticks to increase the size of the fire.
9. Learn New Skills
Preparing involves more than just hoarding supplies for your family to ensure you have adequate provisions when they become scarce outside.
In addition to being self-reliant in terms of food and water, it is important to acquire new skills in order to carry out repair, maintenance, and other services that would otherwise require the assistance of others.
Take a moment to consider the essential services that you currently delegate to experts, which could become unavailable in the event of societal collapse.
Some examples of these could be the following.
- Medical care. Medical services will not be available should the event you are prepping against occur. At the very least, you should take a first aid course so that you can handle basic wound care. But consider taking this training further and getting advanced training in this field.
- Learn about natural medicines. Medicine supplies will dry up, and your stocks will only last a finite amount of time. Investigate natural remedies for common ailments and get skilled up in this area.
- Vehicle maintenance and repair. Do you know the basics of how engines run and what to check when they stop working? Research this information and start by doing basic maintenance on your vehicles, generators, and other engines now so that you have the skills available when you really need them!
- Growing your own food. Stockpile seeds and learn how to grow your own food in a vegetable garden. Growing your own food will help you extend the amount of time that your food stockpile will last and help you to survive when it runs out.
- Basic maintenance skills. Learn how to weld, do woodwork, and get a basic understanding of electrical systems and plumbing systems. These professionals will not be available in a SHTF scenario.
10. Stay Positive
Surviving a dangerous situation depends heavily on your attitude. Maintaining a positive outlook and utilizing the resources available to you can greatly increase your chances of making it out alive.
It is important to stay resolute and adhere to your strategy to stay alive when experiencing feelings of despair, as emotions can be perilous.
Worried about food storage and emergency preparedness? Avoid these 5 common mistakes
Mistake #1: Food that’s nutritionally incomplete and unhealthy
When faced with an emergency, it’s crucial to have good health and enough energy to tackle whatever obstacles come your way. Regrettably, many individuals stock up on food that lacks adequate nutrition.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes in its Public Health Matters Blog that nutritional facts of the emergency kit food are often overlooked. It emphasizes the significance of self-care during an emergency and suggests eating healthier meals as a means of taking care of your body.
It is recommended to opt for nourishing items that are free of synthetic components and excess sugars. While carb-rich foods offer immediate energy, it is important to incorporate protein and good fats into your diet for optimal wellbeing and durability.
“Eating foods with a low glycemic index — whose sugars are absorbed slowly — may help you avoid the lag in energy that typically occurs after eating quickly absorbed sugars or refined starches,” states Harvard Health Publishing . “In general, high-carbohydrate foods have the highest glycemic indexes. Proteins and fats have glycemic indexes that are close to zero.”
Ensure that your food intake is not solely composed of carbohydrates. To operate at its best, your body requires crucial protein-derived amino acids and healthy fats-derived essential fatty acids.
Mistake #2: Storing food you don’t currently use and enjoy
One effective method to evaluate your readiness for food emergencies is examining your fridge and pantry. Do you have supplies that are out-of-date or infrequently consumed even though you’ve stockpiled them?
It is likely that both your 72-hour kit and long-term food storage share a common issue. The fact that an item has a shelf life of several years does not guarantee that you or your family members will be eager to consume it during a crisis. It is essential to have food that your family enjoys in case of a genuine emergency.
According to the CDC’s article that emphasizes the importance of having nutritious food in your emergency kit, it is crucial to ensure that you are familiar with the preparation process and that you will be willing to consume the food you have stocked.
As previously noted, an optimum meal would be one that is rich in protein, healthy fats, and highly nutritious.
Mistake #3: Impractical, inconvenient or bulky food
In addition to the disagreeable taste of the food, traditional emergency planning presents a problem with their packaging. Although cost-effective, large and cumbersome cans are weighty, occupy too much room, and cannot be resealed. Ideally, portable, compact, and resealable packaging is preferred for the storage of nutritious food that the body requires.
Mistake #4: Spending too much on food storage
If you’re considering the possibility of a future crisis, it can be simple to allow fear to overpower you (and your finances). To avoid accumulating debt, don’t make the error of buying large amounts of food storage products all at once.
Those who advocate for food storage, ranging from Facebook communities focused on disaster readiness to religious groups, advise against taking drastic measures when assembling an emergency food stockpile. Rather than purchasing a large quantity of items at once or accruing debt, they recommend incrementally expanding the supplies over a period of time in order to prevent financial strain.
It’s crucial to remember to rotate your food storage to prevent food from going bad. To ensure your supply stays fresh and current, it’s recommended to store food that you consume frequently.
Mistake #5: Food that’s difficult to prepare
Busy schedules and convenience undo good intentions when it comes to food and overall health. The last thing you want to deal with in an emergency is food that takes a lot of work to prepare. That’s why the CDC emphasizes storing foods that don’t require cooking or special preparation. The easier (and the more nutritionally complete) the better.
Cracking the code for emergency preparedness and food storage
Starting your journey to better health can be daunting as it is rare to have the time, knowledge, self-control, or financial resources needed to perfectly plan, buy, and cook nutritious meals. This often leads people to make quick and convenient food choices that can sabotage their health objectives.
If your everyday meals are lacking in essential nutrients, chances are your reserve of emergency food is also deficient in key nutrients. Fortunately, there is a straightforward and cost-effective solution available that may surprise you.
