Most items that are suggested for a basic survival kit are all things that most of us have laying around the house. They are things that we can grab from the convenience store in the middle of the night, and many are so cheap and basic that we often take their importance for granted. When it comes to basic survival essentials, these little items are just what the doctor ordered, and it is crucially important that you have them on hand when something unexpectedly horrible happens without warning. There are no shortage of potentially disastrous events that can turn our lives upside down in a matter of seconds, and all of us need to be ready just in case they occur.
How will you open cans of food if they were the only source of nourishment that you have access to for days on end? How will you light a candle if your lighter stops working? How will you have access to information from the outside world if you are holed up in a shelter after a nuclear or biological attack? Things like matches, a can-opener and batteries for a portable radio can make all the difference in the world in times of crisis, yet many of us focus on making sure we have a GPS and a smart phone.
Remember that there is a fundamental difference between survival and comfort, required basic essentials and optional extras. You need to be clear on the items that you NEED as opposed to things that you think you need, and make sure that you have enough supplies of these items to last for an appropriate amount of time. Everyone should have a well-supplied home that has these things within easy access. We all should also have a bug-out-bag that contains basic essentials as well as a survival kit in our cars as well as places of business. This will increase the chances that we will not be at a loss for basic resources that may be impossible to obtain for a few days after a disaster.
But, try and resist the urge to thing big, rather focus on things that will provide you with personal nourishment, safety and minimal comfort. And, minimal comfort doesn’t mean a fully charged tablet. It means a blanket, small camping tent or tarp. It means having clothing that is suitable for a certain climate or environment. Minimal comfort means having batteries and matches that will be more than available when you need them to power flashlights or light candles and make fires.
When we lose access to basic things like electricity, gas for cooking or heat, safe water and food that doesn’t need to be cooked, we place ourselves in a perilous position that only becomes clear when we are in a particular crisis. Your survival gear should include practical, manually powered and simple items that will give you the tools and the resources to survive until you can get to basic services and resources. We know how things are immediately following a disaster because most of us have lived through many serious crises already.
However, we have short memories, and as soon as the dust settles from various events, we go back to business as usual. Don’t get caught off guard, and make sure that you have items that you will be able to use when you are not able to go to the local store and give yourself a refill in the middle of the night. You may be stranded in your car for days. You may be trapped in a collapsed building or lost in the wilderness. You may be forced in to hiding because of an attack or civil unrest. The possibilities in terms of dangers and catastrophes are endless, and the world is moving closer to the brink of the surreal with each passing moment.
But, as we continue to face more instability, environmental hazards, economic crises and the potential for war, terror or other domestic uprisings, we are far from being prepared. Look around your home, car and office and imagine if those items were all that you had on hand and you didn’t have access to basic essentials. What do you need? Get them now, and give yourself options and tools that can literally save your life when the apocalypse reaches your doorstep. This scenario is not really a question of if anymore, rather when. We will face a catastrophe, whether an earthquake or a nuclear war. Are you ready? How will you manage during the interim. Think less about how you can use technology and focus on how you will open a can of Spam or corn in order to avoid starving to death. Survival and comfort are two different things, and now is the time to take stock and improve your chances of getting out alive.
