Keith Thomas: 0:33

Thank you very much. Welcome to Survival Sense, your go-to podcast for everything disaster preparedness. I'm your host, keith Thomas, and today we're going to talk about a crucial aspect of disaster preparedness building your bug out bag. Whether you're new to prepping or a seasoned survivalist, stay tuned for a comprehensive guide on what you need and why you need it. Remember you can send your questions and feedback via our Send Us a Text Message link provided in the show notes. We'd love to hear from you.

Keith Thomas: 1:10

First things first, let's define what a bug-out bag or BOB is. A bug-out bag, also known as a go-bag, is a portable kit that contains all the items you will need to survive for at least 72 hours in case of an emergency. The goal is to have everything you need in one place so you can grab it and go at a moment's notice. Your bug out bag should be customized to your personal needs, the specific risk in your area and the type of emergencies you're most likely to face. It's not a one-size-fits-all solution, so consider factors like your climate, terrain and any special medical needs special medical needs. Let's dive into the essential items every bug out bag should have. We'll break it down into categories for easier understanding. Our first category is water and hydration. You'll need at least one gallon of water per person per day for three days. With that in mind, think 24-pack of 16.9-ounce water bottles, plastic water bottles. It's a lot of weight and if you have to have one of those 24-p packs per person, that's a lot of weight to carry. So I suggest maybe some of the smaller pouches or boxes of water to carry enough to ration for three days, to carry enough to ration for three days. And then the next item under this category that you're going to need is some type of water filtration system and this can be the type that hikers use that can filter large quantities of water over a couple hours, or whatever. It could be as simple as a LifeStraw type purification device. Usually these will screw onto a water bottle so you can actually fill a water bottle out of a stream, put the filter on and filter your water that way. You also want some other portable means of water purification, such as purification tablets, and we'll get into some more water purification stuff in a later episode. Purification stuff in a later episode. And with that said, with the water filters, you're going to need some type of collapsible water bottles to have to store water. In.

Keith Thomas: 4:20

Our next category is food and nutrition. This is going to be non-perishable food items like granola bars, dried fruit, canned goods. In order to prepare those, you're probably going to need some type of a portable stove and fuel or a solid fuel source, and you're also going to need cooking utensils and a small cooking pot. I would suggest a small single-person mess kit to go along with that. And as far as food, just to back up a little bit here, in most cases you can get the freeze-dried or dehydrated kits that come for like hikers, or the survival food kits. You can usually buy those separately at different places. You can get enough of those to last for three days, you know, for however many people are in your party, it takes up less room. They're much easier to prepare because in general they only require some water and a heat source with a pot to cook in.

Keith Thomas: 6:01

Our next category is clothing and shelter, and here you'll need a change of clothes appropriate for the season that we're in. You'll need sturdy, comfortable shoes or boots, and here's the season. You'll need sturdy, comfortable shoes or boots. Chances are, if you're bugging out, you may wind up bugging out on foot versus in a vehicle. You'll need a weather-appropriate sleeping bag or blanket and a tent or tarp to use for shelter. Our next category is first aid and medical supplies. This is going to include a basic first aid kit with bandages, antiseptics and pain relievers. Be sure to carry along your prescription medications, and you also want to keep a small bag with your personal hygiene items like toothpaste, soap and hand sanitizer. Our next category are tools and gear. I suggest a multi-tool or a knife. You'll also want a flashlight with extra batteries or a hand crank flashlight. You may also consider headlamps or lanterns small battery or gas powered lanterns to have for lighting. You'll need paracord or some type of strong rope, and then duct tape and a sewing kit.

Keith Thomas: 8:28

Our next category are important documents and cash. If you've been with us for a while, you know we talk about, especially in the financial emergency episode. We talk about keeping a lot of personal documents together, as well as in the family emergency plan episode. This is going to be your ID, your passport, any important insurance documents, any important financial documents that you feel like you may need. Probably the best thing to do maybe we'll do an episode later on is how to put together a binder with all these things in it, so you just grab this binder or shove the binder into your bug out bag and it's all together. You're also going to need cash. We suggest, in small denominations, $20 or less denominations, $20 or less denominations. And our last category is communication and navigation. This can be as simple as a battery-powered or hand-cranked radio, just to kind of get news feeds to be able to hear what's going on out in the world. We suggest a whistle to signal for help and maps of your local area. I would suggest having street maps as well as topographic maps of your area.

Keith Thomas: 10:33

Now that we've covered the basics, let's talk about some items that go beyond the essentials, and these can enhance your survival chances and make your experience more manageable. The first category is advanced first aid items, and this would include things like a tourniquet, hemostatic agents for clotting blood and a more comprehensive first aid manual to keep with you. The next category are comfort items a small pillow or inflatable cushion, earplugs, an eye mask in order to get better sleep. The next category some of the suggested items for additional tools and gadgets are a solar charger for electronics, backup batteries for your electronics, a pair of binoculars and maybe a small portable solar panel. The next category is entertainment and morale is entertainment and morale. This could be as simple as a deck of cards or a small book and a pen and journal. Maybe you write down, you know what's going on and what you've had to go through. And then our last category here on advanced advanced. On. Our last category here is training and skills resources, and here we're talking about either paperback or hardback, survival guides and manuals. Maybe pick out the best, what you feel are the best and most informative, that cover a wide variety of situations, as well as printed instructions for important survival techniques.

Keith Thomas: 12:56

Having a bug-out bag is just the first step. Maintaining it is crucial. Here are some tips to ensure your bug-out bag is always ready Regularly check and replace expired items, especially food and medications. Update your bag seasonally to ensure clothing and supplies are appropriate for the current weather. Periodically review and practice using the items in your bag so you're familiar with them in an emergency. And, lastly, tailor your bag to your current needs and situation. This can include any changes in health or family circumstances.

Keith Thomas: 13:57

Well, that's all I have for today's episode on building your bug-out bag. And remember preparation is key to survival. Take the time to create a bug-out bag that fits your needs and keep it updated. I've included a link to a free emergency supplies list in the show notes to help you get started. If you have any questions or want to share your bug out bag essentials, don't hesitate to reach out through our send us a text message link provided in the show notes. We'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences and don't forget to subscribe to Survival Sense for more tips and strategies on disaster preparedness. And if you found this episode helpful, please leave us a review and share it with your friends. Stay safe and stay prepared Until next time. I keith thomas signing off.