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As you know, there are a lot of crazy things going on in the world right now. The earthquake, tsunami and now nuclear disaster in Japan, the uprising in Libya, the recent events in England, other various uprisings throughout the middle east and Africa as well as the political climate here in The United States are all reasons for us to think about a need for survival gear.
One piece of survival gear everyone should have handy is a Bug Out Bag (BOB). Properly equipped, this can provide you with the means to survive for a few days. Let's say you had to get from work to home on foot, a BOB in the trunk of your car could make this trip much easier. I live about 35 miles from work. Getting home on foot could turn into a 2 or 3 day trip depending on weather conditions or the need for stealth.
There are about a million sites on the internet with lists of gear to pack in a BOB, so I'm not going to create another one. I'll give you a few links to some I think are the most useful. I want to touch on a few things that may be helpful and a couple of points to keep in mind.
Don't pack more gear than you need. Trying to carry a 100 pound pack for an extended period of time is going to wind up getting you injured or worse. Consider the terrain you may have to traverse. Consider the time of year and possible weather conditions. BOB's should be outfitted seasonally. You don't need winter gear in the middle of summer. A regular review of contents will help you keep only those items needed packed up. Also consider that this is a tool to keep you alive for a short period of time until you are able to make other plans.
Don't pack a bunch of gear you don't know how to use. If you are going to pack it, learn it. A fancy GPS will do you no good if you don't know how to turn it on. If you are packing a firearm, be sure you are familiar with its operation. It's a good idea to spend a little time at the range with this weapon. Also, if you are including a weapon in your BOB, are you prepared to use it? If a situation came up, could you actually pull the trigger? If there are any doubts about that, you might opt for a can of pepper spray. Uncertainty when it comes to a gun can get you killed with your own weapon.
Go overboard on firestarting equipment. Most gear for starting a fire is small and light. Don't be afraid to have 3 ways of starting a fire, or more. In my BOB, I have a steel firestarter, a waterproof tin of matches and at least 2 Bic lighters. Never underestimate the importance of fire in a survival situation. If you are wet and cold, as well as scared and lost, fire can save your life. There are all kinds of suggestions out there to help you get a fire started. All of them are good, some not very practical. Making a spark or an initial flame is great, but keeping a fire going can be a challenge sometimes. If your kindling is damp or wet, you may have a hard time. One thing I keep in my BOB is a ziplock bag full of pieces cut from a Duraflame log. I cut these logs into small pieces with a saw and bag them up. One log can make several decent bags. These pieces light fast and burn for long enough to catch even damp wood on fire. Duraflame also makes some firestarting sticks. I haven't tried them yet, but they look like they will work well.
Another item I like to keep a couple of is the P38 can opener. These are very small, inexpensive and one of the easiest to use items you will find. Trying to open a can with a knife is dangerous and takes forever if you aren't familiar with the process. You can get these at gun shows, military surplus stores, I think Walmart even carries them now. They are worth their weight in gold. Having more than 1 is a good idea. Having 10 wouldn't be overkill.
Paracord is another item I would never leave home without. It is strong and light and has hundreds of uses. I keep 200 feet of it in my BOB. Be sure to get the good stuff, there are imitations out there, but if you are counting on a piece of gear to save your life spend the extra buck or two and get the best. There are lots of places to pick this up.
The number one thing to pack is water. You can live for several days without food, but water is a deal breaker. If you are having to hoof it, your need for water is even greater. Once again, consider the terrain you will have to cross. Will you have access to any fresh water along the way? If not, what you are carrying may be all you have available. There are other things I am willing to sacrifice to carry more water. It's also a good idea to have some sort of water filter or purification tablets just in case.
The options for Bug Out Bags are almost limitless. You can spend $50 or $500 and everything in between. My BOB is a military ALICE pack that I gave about $65 for. It is well made, rugged and holds everything I need it to. Mine has the metal frame and I wouldn't have it any other way. It is fairly easy to carry and with the waist strap it doesn't bounce all over the place. A bouncing pack will get uncomfortable in a hurry, and can even cause blisters and bruising. Keep this in mind when picking out a pack.
Here are a few links to BOB lists and illustrations that I found useful. Remember, there are a many opinions about BOB contents as there are people packing them. You are the only one who can decide what is best for you and your situation. Keep the bag as small and light as possible while still being properly prepared.
Bug-Out-Bag (BOB)
One other very useful link I will give you is to the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force Survival, Evasion and Recovery Manual. If you can, print it out and/ or save a copy to your emergency thumb drive. If nothing else, give it a read. There are some excellent tips in there for everyone. At least read the parts that may pertain to your particular area.
Make a plan folks, you may need it sooner than you think.