10 Things You Must Have in a Bug-Out Bag

The following is a guest post written by Justin from FoodInsurance. Justin writes a generalized and convincing article on why you need a bug out bag. I recently put together a bug out bag and it includes most of the items Justin mentions below. I encourage you to read the below article and if it doesn’t convince you for the need for one, then nothing will. Short of a disaster hitting your area but then hindsight is 20/20, isn’t it?

Disaster can strike like a thief in the night when we are the least ready. The only solution is to be prepared.

Reasons for preparing a bug-out bag

Knowing is the first step of preparation; in order to prepare for disasters, we must have knowledge of the disasters we must prepare for.

1. Natural disasters. America has seen a series of disastrous hurricanes in the last years, Sandy being the latest. And who could forget the tsunami that struck Japan two years ago? In such cases, evacuation of our homes often proved necessary for our survival.
2. Wars, conflicts and invasions. Civilians are also affected during times of armed conflict. To survive in a war zone, it is not only the soldiers who must have a prepared pack.
3. Man-made catastrophes. Modern technology is far from perfect; a major malfunction of vital machines may pose a threat to humanity. The gravest of such threats are nuclear disasters. What happened in Chernobyl in 1986 is something we all hope would never happen again.
4. Epidemic. History tells us of the black plague that nearly wiped out the human population of Europe during the 14^th and subsequent centuries. Though medical advancements make us think that plagues of such scale are no longer possible, that is just wishful thinking. There are numerous lethal and contagious diseases out there that are capable of affecting thousands of people.

These events disrupt our lives, denying us access to food, water, and services. One way to mitigate this is to prepare a bug-out bag, which contains items that will help us survive for 72 hours.

 Bug-Out Bag Items

1. Food. We need food in order to continue living, and crises merely increase the need for proper nourishment.
2. Water. We need water more than food and having clean water is important especially when water supplies may be contaminated.
3. Medical supplies. Disasters more often than not inflict injuries which must be treated right away. We may not have access to medical services so we must learn to treat wounds and ailments by ourselves. Simple first aid kits containing disinfectant, gauze, and simple medicines suffice for a proper bug-out bag.
4. Sleeping bags. Leaving our homes in times of disasters could be a smart move, however difficult it may be. In order to prepare for that eventuality, we must have sleeping bags and rudimentary shelters prepared in our bug-out bags.
5. Knife. Since we cannot carry everything in our packs, we must be able to improvise tools from our environment using our knives.
6. Firearm. This is our main defensive tool, though we must only use them when absolutely necessary.
7. Lighting devices. Expect the power lines to go down during a disaster so we must have flashlights and candles handy that will enable us to move, even during the night.
8. Map and compass. This will help us evacuate a dangerous area and seek refuge.
9. Identification papers and other documents. Proper identification will enable us to cross borders easily.
10. Radio. This is our backup communication device since conventional communication means might prove unreliable when disaster strikes.

The hardest item to pack on the list is food. Many cannot be indefinitely stored. For food that is nutritious and tasty, yet may last for years and weigh less, click here.

We can never know when a disaster will end and let us resume our normal lives. Severe disasters may even permanently alter our lives. We must be prepared to face and survive the worst.

About the author:

Justin is a gun enthusiast, avid outdoorsman and a freelance writer from Los Angeles.

References:

History: Black Death;

[http://www.history.com/topics/black-death]

World Nuclear Association: Chernobyl Accident 1986;

[http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Safety-and-Security/Safety-of-Plants/Chernobyl-Accident/#.UTsPQNb-E44]           

“The ultimate bug-out bag revealed at shot”; Allison Barrie; Fox News; January, 2013;

[http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/01/17/ultimate-bug-out-bag-revealed-at-shot-show/]

New York Times: What You’ll Need to Escape New York;

[http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/01/27/nyregion/preppers-bug-out-bag.html?_r=0]

“How to Build Your Own Urban Survival Bug-Out Bag”; Eric Rogell; Discovery News; April, 2012.;

[http://news.discovery.com/adventure/survival/how-to-build-your-own-urban-survival-bug-out-bag.htm]