If you are serious about being prepared to survive any eventuality, then there are several skills you need to learn. But if you are a beginner, there are a core set of skills you need to get a handle on first. Survival experts often disagree on what these skill sets are and in what order they are important, because there are a lot of variables involved. But from my point of view, there are seven basic skills anyone who is interested in surviving the worst case scenario should master first. Here is my take.
Survival and Prepping
Surviving and preparing for catastrophy
Finding Directions Without a Compass or GPS
In an emergency situation where you have to move rapidly, knowing direction can be critical. But what if you don’t have a GPS or compass, lost it, or it broke? Knowing how to find North by other means, either in an urban or rural environment is an essential skill. Let’s look at some ways to do that.
Preppers Library. Begin Yours Today!
Knowledge is power, and the most powerful survival tool you have is your mind. Having equipment and skills is important. Having the knowledge to acquire them is even more important, and in reality the first step. Everyone who is involved in emergency preparation needs a good reference library. There are a tremendous amount of books on survival and preparation available. These are some of the books that I believe are essential first readings, and handy to have as reference.
SnugPak Softie 3 Merlin Sleeping Bag
Every one should have a bug out bag packed and prepared to go with at least three days necessities. Since sleeping is definitely a necessity in a stressful situation, it requires careful planning in the selection of gear. Weight in a bug out bag is a serious consideration. Sleeping gear can become a large portion of that weight. The SnugPak Softie 3 Merlin is a potential answer to the problem.
Luci Solar Powered Inflatable Lantern
Every ounce you save in your bug out bag is important, and having a proper light source whether bugging in or out is essential. This inflatable, waterproof , lightweight solar powered lantern fills the bill. The Luci Solar Powered Inflatable Lantern is truly an amazing invention.
Personal Security In and Out of the Home (part 1)
Many people prepare for serious emergencies from basic SHTF scenarios all the way up to TEOTWAWKI. But if you are old enough to remember America of the 50s and 60s, you will realize that many parts of the United States have slid into a limited form of SHTF on a daily basis. The recent events in Ferguson have shown that government at the Federal and state level are unable or unwilling to maintain order so that politicians can do what they do well: Play politics. And to hell with the safety of the public. Your individual security is mostly up to you. And in reality, it always has been.
Storing and Accounting for Your Ammunition
Many people are storing large quantities of ammunition for various purposes. Some shoot a lot like I do and stock up when they find a good deal. Others store large quantities for long term purposes. There are some things to consider when storing large quantities of ammunition.
Surviving An Urban Disaster (Book Review)
Statistics show that only 1% of American households are in any way prepared for an emergency such as natural disasters. Thats scary. And the vast majority of our population live in urban environments. That complicates the issue. But a growing number of Americans have that funny feeling that they need to prepare for an increasingly dangerous world, but just don’t know where to begin. This excellent book gives them a place to start.
Paracord Spool Tool
Every now and then I will run into a product that leave me scratching my head thinking ‘Why didn’t I think of this”. This is one of them. Keeping your spare paracord manageable can be a chore. And when you want to use it you need to whip out the knife to cut the length, and then fish in your pocket for the cigarette lighter to melt the end to keep it from fraying. This little gem makes paracord using so much easier.
A Wake Up Call From Greece
The Greek people just elected a far left (even Marxist) government in response to the mandated austerity program required of them for bail out money from their European partners. Greece is noted for the birthplace of democracy, and we certainly have to respect their choice of government. So what does this mean to us?
The Tactical Advantage (Book review)
Every now and them, someone writes a book that is so universally correct, that it simply fills the bill for a wide range of audiences. This is one of them.
Lone Wolf Prepper, Family Prepper, or Survival Grouper?
This has been an ongoing subject in the prepper and survival community for a long time. If SHTF should you go it alone, or should you be a member of an organized prepper group? Or some version of both?
Binoculars for Preppers
Steiner 8×30 Military Marine
I believe that there are critical pieces of equipment that preppers should consider when putting together their equipment. A good set of binoculars is one of them. So how do you go about selecting the right binoculars for you?
Warning Shot. Do You Ever?
As a firearms instructor I am frequently asked by students if it wouldn’t be a good idea to shoot a warning shot before having to shoot another person in self defense in their home. This is an honest and legitimate question asked by intelligent people who would prefer not to harm anyone if possible. I get very few questions that have a cut and dried answer, but this is one of them.
Digging Tools for Preppers
Shovels, entrenching tools, whatever you want to call them, have a place in the prepper scheme of things. So what do you need and what is available?
Selecting Blades for Survival and Field Use Part 2.
In Part 1 we discussed four categories of blades useful for survival and field use: Folding blade knives, fixed blade knives, the Kukri and the machete. But there are some other types of edged weapons/tools that you might want to consider for your kit.
Valley Food Storage (Product test)
White Bean and Lime Chili
I have had the opportunity to eat a wide variety of “field” or “Emergency” rations over the years. From military C rations in Vietnam to the whole line of MRE’s including today’s varieties (which I can buy in military commissaries), foreign military rations, and civilian freeze dried foods. I am always looking for efficient and tasty long term storable food, so when Valley Food Storage asked me to test one of their products, I happily agreed.
Selecting Blades for Survival and Field Use Part 1
The sharpened edge is probably the first tool humans made. From sharpened bone, to knapped stone, to bronze, then iron and steel, we now have a selection of edged weapons and tools for every use. So what do you need?
Winter Survival While On the Road
This article is by guest author Dave Steen of PreppingPlans.com. It is a good read and his bio is at the end of the article.
Plan Your Preps for 2015 Part 3
In Part 1 we discussed organizing your prep lists. In Part 2 we discussed how to set goals using the SMART method. Now lets consider some specific areas you might want to set goals for, or to revisit if your situation has changed. So what are you prepping for anyway? Have the threats you prepped for last year changed?Are new threats being considered? Do your preps reflect your perception of the current threats? Lets discuss threat analysis.
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