There have probably been a million posts written about bug-out-bags and what should go into them. I’d like to take a slightly different perspective and in this article I’m not going to tell you what should go into one. Instead I’d like to talk about another important matter that surrounds it.
Let’s suppose TSHTF and you’ve got your family on the move. Everybody’s in the bug-out vehicle and something happens to it and now you have to get to your bug-out destination on foot. Ok, no big deal, you get everybody out and start walking and three miles into the woods you fall over a log and break your leg. You may have thought TSHTF before, but now the fecal matter has really hit the rotating wind device.
You’re laying on the trail trying to hold your leg together and the pain is nearly making you throw up. It feels like someone is sticking a white hot poker in you, but finally with the help of your wife and a piece of belt to clamp your teeth down on to keep from screaming, you finally get it splinted. You’re not going anywhere for awhile and that’s a fact. Your wife gives you some pain medication out of the BOB and you lay back gratefully and you hear your fourteen year old son say, “Mom. Do you know how to light the stove?”
You’re falling asleep from the medication and your wife says, “No. Ask your father,” and you think, “We’re screwed,” just before you pass out.
Make sure your family members know how to use the gear in the kit. Can your wife start your stove and get some water boiling to make soup? Can she take the knife, survival saw and the firesteel and get a fire going if you’re out of stove fuel? Can your family get the tent up, the sleeping bags out and get you into one because you’re in serious shock right now and you must be kept warm?
If your wife and family don’t believe in the whole “prepper movement” and is not interested in learning how to use the contents of the bag what can you do? Read this post by Ranger Man for more info and advice on what to do with a non-believer. One thing to remember is that you don’t have to present this as training for the end of the world, indeed, they should know now to use the items for the simple reason if the power goes out they may need to use the gear to cook a meal or stay warm and dry. If you family is into camping they may already know how to do so. If so you can breath a little easier. If not you may want to have a chat with them.
One last note. A bug out bag should be highly personalized – not a kit you buy from a store. Each piece of gear is something you should have tested, should test or be in the process of testing. For example, one of the things I’ve been testing recently is the small alcohol stove I posted about awhile back. I’ve used it about five or ten times now and I’m beginning to get a good idea of how it will behave in various conditions and temperatures. The stove works quite well and fits the criteria for gear that I use in that it’s lightweight, doesn’t take up a lot of space and works well. It doesn’t hurt that it only cost pennies to make either. The point here is that the gear in a bug-out bag is something you should pick out individually and test in the field and not something you buy in a kit hanging on a hook in Walmart.
I’m very fortunate that my wife is into camping and has no problem using the gear in the kit. She struggles with the compass, but I’m in the process of writing a post that I hope will assist her (and you) in using this critical piece of gear.
Does your significant other know how to use the gear in your BOB?
-Jarhead Survivor
Jarhead, there will be a bunch in the sink or swim mode when it happens. There will be the ducks to water type, naturally adapting, and then there will be the “can’t pour piss out of a boot with directions written on the heel”. Knowlege and confidence is the key, and like your previous post, it doesn’t take more than a few miles down the road for the mentally prepared to kit out the basics. Then you can collect all the wonder gear from the bodies of those who can’t adapt. Remember the old saying, “if you die first, we’re splitting your gear!”
In my world, bug out bags are more like “I need a 10X5 trailer to make an adequate run at 3 days survival outside our home” bags.
Bug out bags for some, for yet another perspective, are more of get home bags. Meaning, all my stuff is in the house. The food, the water, the heat, the , etc. We probably have more of a chance surviving by taking advantage of the house, the land, the community etc. In the event we need to leave – the goal is to get to another amped up house via family, friend, SHTF cohort, etc. Otherwise – you’re just hoping to endure the elements. That only carries you for so long unless you’re Jeremiah Johnson and you’re wife & kids have a suppressed neanderthal genome skulking in their DNA.
So to that end, my bug out bag has the essentials, provided I do my part… to get me home from the 16.5 mile commute to work. GPS, water, power bar, wood hat, windbreaker, fleece, headlamp, toilet paper, lighter/matches, Leatherman, stuff like that. It’s a light and mobile set up. I’d have a gun only in the event I’m carrying at the time. HM doesn’t leave firearms in vehicles.
If me or the family is bugging out into mother nature and Daddy breaks a leg or is otherwise rendered fubar’d… then the only real decision on the table is a grim one – whether to use a cajun spice or melted butter garlic glaze on the rotisserie.
Great post as usual Jarhead. Cheers!
Well there you go, I dont even HAVE a better half, so I would likly be ON MY OWN which is not out of the ordinary for me. My first thought is that I dont take unneccesary risks and I am able to avoid most of these types of issues, problem is that MR MURPHY is always lurking around the corner. I have, on several occassions, dealt with similer situations and in the big picture, you just have to be realistic iin your assessments and go from there. I have several times stitched myself up from minor cuts and things where I had no choice. After all, it was that or bleed to death. I have now upgraded my equipment on that front to be better equiped for such events. Last time, all I had was 4.o mono suture and no tools. You ever tried to sew up a cut(much less on yourself) with no hemos?! It is needless to say very difficult. Since then I have purchaseda small surgical kit with a variety of hemos, probes, scalpel clamps and replenished my supply of sutures. Last time I managed to scrounge a clamp that was not very good for the job, luckily I had a small bottle of bedidine solution so I irrigated it, washed it, swabbed it and put four stitches in the top of my left foot. It really didnt hurt much and it made the bleeding stop(the cut was all the way to the ridge bone and right on an artery) had it not been for the one suture I would have had to use a needle and fishing line which woulld have raised my chance of infection and would have much more difficult and more painfull. While it is always better to operate under the buddy system, you may noot always have a buddy so you had better be prepared, realistic and equipped to deal with med emergancies on your own. In our individual IFAK(s) we have chest needles for tention numothrax(sucking chest would) we have mass wound bandages, we have celox and hemcon and various other clotting agents for external use. These things are readily available today and if not in your state make friends with a doctor or nurse, it will work if you play it rt. My point here is that you need to be prepared to do the most that you can do to protect yourself and stay alive! That folks is why they call it SURVIVAL!
My wife is not a 20th century Barbie Girl by any means. She is pretty good with tools, is not afraid to get her hands dirty with mechanics or eviscerating animals (ugh – you handle that job you big strong man you), and is physically and mentally tough. She enjoys working outdoors, riding motorcycles, surf fishing and other outdoor pursuits.
Would she be able to start that Coleman Sportster by herself – probably not without instruction. She wouldn’t be afraid to try though.
I consider her a major asset – good point on the keeping your family trained as well though.
@sput – I think you’re right on and I also think there will be those who just won’t be interested in living without all that modern civilization has to offer. They’d rather die than carry on. Nature getting rid of the weak indeed!
@HM – man, the first part of your reply just cracked me up. I agree about the BOB getting you home though, and I believe I’ve said that in several posts that the idea behind my kit is to get me home, although I’ve got about a 30 mile hike to get there.
@Spook45 – Dead on about Mr. Murphy and good thoughts on being alone. It’s also an excellent idea to have the medical knowledge to go along with the equipment, which it sounds like you have. I’ve never had to stitch myself up in the bush although I’ve had other people do it for me. Never a pleasant experience without pain killer, so it must doubly tough doing it yourself.
@j.r. guerra – it’s nice to have someone you can fall back on isn’t it? I haven’t always been fortunate to have a mate that can take care of business the way this one can and it really helps knowing someout there has your back.
I will consider myself lucky with my 9 mile (by the road) commute. If I go with the “straight line” I’ll probably knock a mile or 2 off of it, but I would also have to cross no less than 3 streams (2 with ravines), a river (about knee to waist deep in the summer), and at least 2 swampy areas. That’s if I hiked it. If that were the case, I’d probably stick to the roadsides for the most of it. It might expose me a little bit more, but it would also cut the time in half. SHTF at lunch and the vehicle won’t work, I could be home about dark. I almost never wear shoes that wouldn’t be good to walk a few miles in, so that wouldn’t be an issue. Granted, even though I could get home, I’d still have to leave some things in the vehicle. Those things are duplicates (usually smaller versions), but it would be nice to be able to keep hold of them if given the choice.
I am enjoying reading all of these ideas and suggestions on B.O.B.s here. I have had a B.O.B packed and ready for years now, but until recently haven’t really thought of it as being prepared for when SHTF. I actually think my B.O.B. is more of a luxury item for me. Every year I pick a wilderness area and spend my weeks vacation being dropped off for 5 days and 6 nights with nothing more than my 2 knives (that I carry at all times), and the clothes of the season on my back. This is what I call my relaxing vacation. Last year I gained 5 lbs. and in ’99 I didn’t come home for 5 mo. It just goes to show that with a little training and instincts it is perfectly natural to “survive” for extended periods without any modern “conveniences”. I have found that after one month or so living off the land becomes second nature. After all most of humanities time on this planet was just that. Living off the land. If anyone needs training….your best bet would be to pick up a BSA manual and read it. You will get the basics on just about every aspect of survival. Then you can build your skills from there.
My BOB is something that I feel is extremely important . I spent the cash and got an Eberlestock ” blue widow ” in mossy oak brush , I also purchased the spike camp duffel and spine rifle scabbard for it . On the expensive side , yes , but this thing can be fitted to any situation I may find myself in . I have used it hiking , hunting and it was worth every penny to me . As far as gear I put in it goes , I start with a platform of bare bones basics ” what do I absolutely have to have to survive ” theory . Once I have that foundation packed , everything else is gravy . I then go on to ” what would be a good thing to have along ” and then onto ” what would make things more comfortable if I have to stay awhile ” . Once that is done , I know that when I grab it and go , I have everything I need for the basics and then some . Do what works for you but first cover the basics . In my case , Its geared for the ” cold desert ” climate , so water is of more importance than it would be in other parts of the country , even though my BOL has natural sources . Im still in the southwest .
A million articles written about BOB’s seems about right. lol! It doesn’t matter as much what’s in yours, but do you know how to use it? Nothing beats training. Period.