Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Build a Bug Out Bag (Due Thursday, October 21)

Build a Bug Out Bag

- Are you bugging in or out?

- Based on your personal assessment and the following readings, assemble a bug out bag. This essential preparedness kit should be thoughtful, useful, and personal.

- Explain your BOB, its contents, and the choices you made to select those contents. Upload your reflections as a comment to this post.

- (NOTE: you should only put things in your kit that you actually have… although you can discuss what you would like to have in your reflections. Notice that your kit is PERSONAL—what do YOU need, or how can you creatively use what you have?

Readings:

When All Hell Breaks Loose, Stuff you need to survive when disaster strikes, Cody Ludin

-Chapter 23 – Should I stay or should I go now?

Web links:

Bug Out Bags on youTube:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bug-out+bag&aq=f

http://theurbansurvivalist.blogspot.com

http://www.bugoutsurvival.com/

http://www.shtfblog.com/

http://survivalblog.com/

11 comments:

  1. In order to avoid a meltdown if SHTF, a bug-out -bag is essential to survival as well as our well-being. When anyone contemplates what they truly need to put into their bug-out-bag, every person needs to remember to KISS ( keep it simple stupid) and through material possessions to the wayside. It's not to say that material possessions aren't important, I mean I love my things but I'd rather LIVE. To quote Cody Lundin, " material wealth and comfort don't mean squat to a corpse." So basically do not bring anything that will not assist you in survival.

    IN MY B-O-B:

    Medical Items
    ( this includes Band-Aids, Aleve, Neosporin)

    Food\water:

    2 empty water bottles
    10 granola bars
    1 sleeve of saltine crackers
    dried fruit

    Personal items

    Glasses: I NEED THESE to see where I'm going. Forget about contacts!
    Sunglasses
    Document items ( passport, license)
    A sheet of paper containing my close family/ friends addresses and phone numbers
    Toothbrush
    Small toothpaste bottle
    Aquaphor( used for dry lips and skin)
    batteries
    3 packets of tissues

    Clothing/ other:( I would most likely roll these items)
    2 shorts ( 1 shortsleeve, 1 longsleeve)
    Pair of yoga pants ( If I have to walk a zillion miles, I want to be comfortable!)
    2 pairs of socks
    Rain with fleece built into it
    Sneakers

    It's hard to prepare my B-O-B because I'm currently at school however, if I was home, I could fully assess my situation on how to be prepared. For starters, I would make sure to pack a map. On a blog I read, a man said that having a map in his b-o-b saved him when all of the roads in his town were blocked off. The map enabled him to get out safely through small back roads. I would also pack a flashlight. I would bring gloves, hat and a neckwarmer. I would bring dramamind & I would aquire a swiss army pocket knife or something along those lines that I'm sure I have in my house or I would need to buy.

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  2. A BUG OUT BAG is a good thing to have packed and ready to go and packed for multiple disastrous situations. It is important to find a good balance between not having the bag be too heavy and bog me down because I am most likely going to have to move fast and possibly travel/walk a lot, and have a good amount of things that would come in handy and be necessary for survival.
    Here is a list of things that would be in my bag:
    1) 3 bottles of water
    2) 6 granola bars
    3) 2 short sleeved Tshirts
    4) 1 long sleeved Tshirt
    5) 1 sweat shirt
    6) Rain jacket
    7) Extra bra and underwear
    8) Toothbrush and toothpaste
    9) 1 bar of soap
    10) 2 Pairs of socks
    11) 2 extra hair ties
    12) Bandaids
    13) Tylenol
    14) Hand towel
    15) deoderant
    16) Rubbing alcohol
    17) Knife wrapped in cloth
    18) Flashlight
    19) Matches

    There is my bag that I would like packed and stored somewhere so if I had to leave the house fast I could grab it. I would probably put on a pair of sneakers, thats why they wouldn't be in the bag. I would also bring my cell phone and charger but I don't have extra of those so I would throw those in the bag at the last minute. I would also add my wallet with license and credit card and cash and throw my passport in there too! I think thats about it!

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  3. A bug out bag is something that would be nice to have if an emergency situation ever occured and I needed to leave town imediately. Here is a list of items that I would keep in my BOB.
    1)Portable Water Filter Hand Pump
    2)Water Bottle filled with water (1gallon)
    3)Multipurpose tool
    4)MRE
    5)Emergency Beacon
    6)First Aid Kit
    7)Motrin
    8)Extra Pairs of Socks
    9)Light Weight Emergency Blanket
    10)Toothpaste/tooth brush
    11)zippo w/ lighter fluid
    12)Head Lamp
    13)Extra Batteries
    14)A good book

    Running out the door I would definitely grab running shoes, wallet, cell phone and charger. If I had the opportunity somewhere, i would try and pick up a two way radio and a map of my location. Something that i would like to have in there but don't have in my apartment would be a solar charger for the cell phone and the batteries.

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  4. For my bug out bag I would focus on items that would benefit my long term survival such as my large buck knife and leatherman. I would also pack my other knives that could be used for whittling, and my small knife sharpener. I would also pack my expand-a-file which currently has a variety of things ranging from batteries to cough drops and band-aids. I would pack my cell phone and charger, and would wear my boots with flannel lined jeans and would pack a couple of flannel shirts. I would also pack some under armour as a base layer and a water bottle and water filtration system. Other items would include my butane lighter and extra butane, along with my crank powered flashlight. I would also grab whatever dip I had around the house and some magazines to be used to easily start fires.

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  5. 1)spare cloth to use as bandages
    2)duct tape
    3)rope or bungie cord
    4)box of energy bars
    5)lighter
    6)a few sheets of blank paper
    7)pen
    8)swiss army knife
    9)water filter
    10)sleeping bag
    11)toothpaste/toothbrush
    12)waterproof jacket
    13)waterproof shoes
    14)wallet
    15)thermos
    16)plastic shopping bag
    17)sewing kit

    What stuck out most to me in the Lundin readings was the importance of having multi-purpose items and i think that is the biggest issue with my bug out bag. Also I would prefer to have: a compass, and a guide to local plant and animal life

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  6. According to Cody Ludin a bug out bag is important because it is very similar to a scuba tank that a diver would use, because what you bring with you is all you should count on having. This means that the items that are selected all need to have a very specific purpose and if they can help you do more than one thing it helps to save space for other essential items. Having multiple bags is also recommend by Ludin since you never know where you will be when you many need one of your kits.
    My Bag would include:
    1. Leatherman (multi-purpose knife, pliers, screwdrivers etc.)
    2. Butane lighter (will light in wind or rain)
    3. Sunglasses (Sun reflection on snow or water)
    4. Regular Glasses
    5. Box of Leaf Bags
    6. Wool Socks (Previously frost bitten feet – essential in cold)
    7. Goretex coat (Breathable but water proof)
    8. Heavy sweatshirt, snow pants
    9. 36 dollars ( 1 20 ,1 10, 1 5, 1 1)
    10. Cell phone charger
    11. My grandfathers watch (self winding)
    12. A pen and some paper
    13. Hairspray (fire starter)
    14. LED Flashlight
    15. Soap – Bars
    16. Electrical and Duct Tape
    17. Clif Bars
    18. Water Bottle
    Items I always have with me:
    1. Wallet (would have id, credit cards, and cash)
    2. Cell phone
    3. Pen
    4. Keys
    5. Leather Belt
    Overall I am fairly happy with the items that I did have at hand to include in the bug out bag. One benefit about living where we do is that we are basically surrounded by fresh water so having access to that would make survival a little easier. If I could buy something to add to the kit it is the additives you can add to water, which make them safe to drink (I saw these at Walmart today and almost bought them). Having a flint to start a fire would also be very helpful if my lighter failed. I feel around here preparing for winter more heavily is probably the best strategy as I think these conditions would be more difficult to handle long term.

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  8. My bug out bag would consist of the things that would help me survive for at least 36 hours or until I could find help/more supplies. The items in the bag would consist of:

    1.Flashlight with extra batteries
    2.Knife
    3.Waterproof matches
    4.Garbage Bags
    5.Wallet with personal ID
    6.Extra Socks
    7.gloves
    8.multi tool
    9.MRE
    10.Duct Tape
    11.Antibiotics
    12.Water bottle
    I think these items would allow me to survive until i could find help or come across a place that has more supplies that i could use. Keeping dry and warm is probably the most important thing to do, especially in the Winter. Although brining objects can be very helpful, I think that being crafty is more important.

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  9. 1.Box of Matches
    2.Toothbrush/Toothpaste
    3.Blanket
    4.Pair of Jeans
    5.Warm Coat
    6.2 t-shirts
    7.3 pairs of dry socks
    8.3 pairs of boxers
    9.Flashlight
    10.Extra batteries
    11.Aspirin
    12.Bandages
    13.Antiseptic
    14.Pair of winter boots
    15.50 dollars
    16.Ski Hat
    17.Water bottle
    17.Candy
    18.Cell Phone
    19.Swiss Army Knife
    20.Bar of soap
    21.Backpack

    In my bug out bag I would make sure to have a extra clothing that is warm and dry, which I think would be critical. I think it would be important to remain as warm and dry as possible to help prevent any sickness.

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  10. When I packed my actual bug-out bag I realized that I have a lot of useful items, but I am also in need of many other supplies and equipment for long-term survival. Using what I have in my house at school my bag includes...

    A flashlight, batteries, pictures of my family and close friends, a book, wool socks (a few pair), a pocket knife, band-aids, Neosporin, Advil, a bottle of rubbing alcohol, a couple pens, a notebook, water bottles, chap stick (with SPF), a rain jacket, protein-granola bars, a blanket, sunglasses, a hat, fur-lined water-proof boots, a few shirts, fleece pants, and a lighter.

    In reality I would definitely need other major essentials like maps, rope, a compass, additional food/water, a full first-aid kit, maybe a couple tarps (for shelter), some small tools, money, and possibly a form of transportation.

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  11. In my bug out bag I packed:
    a war coat, a few sweaters, t shirts (short and long sleeved),leggings, sweat pants, a pair of jeans, several pairs of socks, pair of sneaker, pair of work boots, flip flops, large bath towel, shower accessories, deodorant, plastic bag, canned goods, granola bars, dry cereal, water bottle, pair of scissors, backpack, flashlight, batteries, cell phone, cell phone chargers, first aid kit, glasses and contacts, wallet, Ids (driver's licenses, school id),utility knife, sewing kit, and family photo.

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