Always Be Prepared – 59

Critical components to success:

skills, have a plan, gear

Situations include:

Everyday needs, sudden needs, emergencies, and disasters (natural and man-made)

People who travel a lot or go hiking/camping are often more well prepared than the average person because they have experience.

The hunters and the minimalist campers will be best equipped to handle disasters. They have built essential skills over a long time, and tested in real world. Don’t be an armchair camper or prepper, live it, test it. Experience is the best judge.

Carry can be defined as daily, bug out bag (or get home bag), car carry, bug in (or stuff you keep at the house). Size and weight constraints need to be taken into consideration for anything transported. For example, daily carry is what you keep on you at all times. You are severely limited to how much you can walk around with.

Daily carry on your person

Wallet , keys , cell phone, pocket knife, flashlight, small multi tool, nail clippers, chapstick, pepper spray, firearm if possible, pen for paper, notepad.

ASP Defender pepper spray – check your local laws and anywhere you travel. Do not bring on airlines, pack in check-in luggage.

Small swiss army knife – I like Victorinox Manager or Midnight Manager. Both have the same stuff, but Midnight Manager has a small LED flashlight. These are executive, small knives. Do not bring on airlines, pack in check-in luggage.

Olight S10R is a great flashlight. 60 dollars is not cheap but this is rechargeable and worth every penny. It’s tiny and VERY bright. Rechargeable with USB and this makes it very convenient, saves money over time on batteries.

Chapstick – must have supple lips for the ladies. 😉

Car Keys – always know where your car keys are and make them quickly accessible for fast exit.

Wallet – make it small and light. Get rid of unnecessary stuff like old receipts. Keep a list of emergency contacts and list of meds you take or any medical conditions.

Cell phone – this is the modern watch, phone, etc. It’s the digital swiss army knife. Get an app that notifies you of local emergencies, etc.

A bag to carry back and forth to work. If you were in the tech industry you would have computer cables, USB drives, possibly small tool kit and any other requirements for your trade. Simple meds for minor emergencies such as sudden illness or injury. Day-to-day items like a tablet or other electronic device, work identification such as a bad, umbrella, flashlight, spare batteries for devices you use at work or on your person,

Backpack for the car. Get home bag.
This backpack is meant to be grabbed in an emergency and carried on the back as you flee from danger or try to get home in a situation where the roads are impassable. This bag needs to be as light as possible because it may be carried for a great distance . This bag will also be used for purposes such as an unexpected overnight stay at someone elses house or a hotel. Toothbrush and toothpaste are must as well with spare deoderant and any other toiletries.
Complete spare change of clothes, multi tool, small amount of drinkable water, fire starter, possible short-term shelter for space blanket, ammo or magazines for firearm, signaling for emergencies such as whistle or mirror, radio, compass map for GPS device, old cell phone for emergency only calling for quick internet access if there is Wi-Fi,
Extra pair of shoes, First aid kit, Roll of toilet paper and wet wipes, Long-term stowable food.

Shawn likes this bag: https://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/Fatboy-G-T-G-Versipack-40p1662.htm

Tool bag for the car
This bag  is not to be carried for long distances.  Its purpose is to be kept in the car  and ready for emergency services.  The bag  should be  closable such that  rough handling of the bag will not fill items on for the ground . Jumper cables, tools, towel or blanket, flashlight, road flare, fire extinguisher.

Glove box items
Multi tool, flashlight, spare cash, band-aids, cell phone charging cable, cigarette lighter adapter USB charger, wet naps,

Items for the house
Flashlight, firearm, pepper spray, batteries or some power supply, cell phone, food, water, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, water filtration, extra clothes blankets, tools, building materials like plywood or plastic sheets for emergency house repair, nuts bolts nails fasteners, anyway to cook without electric or gas, radio , access to information such as Internet TV or radio, laptop tablet or other computing device, playing cards and board games,

Strategies for bugging in or bugging out. Hunker down long term or short term. In the event of natural or man-made disaster.

Skills
Martial arts, first aid, bushcraft – fie starting, food prep, shelter, clean water prep, firearms/weapons training, misc.

Find Shawn at his web site: https://www.thesafetyblueprint.com/