Author Archive
The Importance of Soap
Soap is something that should be in every personal emergency kit, but it’s one item that is often overlooked. Why is soap so important? Because it cleans stuff. Seriously, it does.
Keeping things clean might be a lower priority for you during an emergency, but it’s something you really need to think about. You need to think about it on a personal comfort level, and on a first aid level. Soap can keep infections away, and help you feel more comfortable. Both are important. Read the rest of this entry »
Water is Heavy, but You Still Need to Carry Some
Water is a vital necessity. Without it, we won’t last beyond a few short days. Unfortunately, water is heavy, so putting a bunch in your bug out bag can hurt as much as it helps. If your bag is too heavy, you’ll move slowly, tire more easily, and use up more of the water in your body than you need to.
So how do you find some middle ground? How do you carry enough water so that you aren’t weighed down too much? The easy solution is to carry water and a water purification system. That way, you have some water to drink right away, and you have something to make most found water drinkable. Read the rest of this entry »
Backpacking Safety Tips
Backpacking Safety Tips
By Natasha Fatale
The most important thing to think about when going on a backpacking adventure is to be prepared for anything. As the saying goes, if it can happen it will happen. These tips will help you avoid any misadventures and enjoy your backpacking trip to the fullest.
Keep Hydrated
It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to keep yourself hydrated no matter what type of a backpacking trip you are on. The best way to do this of course is through the drinking of large amounts of water. You of course do not want to drink it all at once, but spread it out over the course of the day. Making sure that there is plenty of purified drinking water that is available for you and your entire group will lead to many happy campers. Read the rest of this entry »
Hiking Tip – How to Find Water in the Wilderness
Hiking Tip – How to Find Water in the Wilderness
By Pauline Go
Hiking is an adventurous outdoor activity which involves walking and trekking day and night. Getting lost or stranded in the wilderness is something that could happen to just about anyone. When you are trapped in the wilderness the single most important thing you need to survive is water. An adult can survive without food for many days but only a few days without water.
Finding water is, therefore, one of the most important wilderness survival skills otherwise dehydration will inevitably occur. Here are some techniques to find water in the wilderness whether you are in desert or in forest: Read the rest of this entry »
How to Live in the Wilderness
Living in the wilderness for any length of time — even just a few days — takes some preparation. There’s more to it than just heading out in the wild and eating berries. You’ll need to tend to things like shelter, water, and fire. Read the rest of this entry »
Keep Rations Stored in Your Home
It’s important to keep rations in your house, and it’s pretty easy to do, too. There’s a lot of talk going around about creating a bug out bag and stocking it with MREs or similar foods. I know, because I do a lot of that talking. Today, however, I want to talk about rations in your home.
It’s important to be ready to bug out and leave town in the event of some disasters, like an approaching hurricane. There are some times, however, that you may need to just stay at home. If you live in areas with heavy winters, you might get snowed in, or be without power for a while. Life can be interrupted yet still allow you to — or make you — stay at home. In these cases, you still need to eat, and your microwave might not be working. What do you do?
It’s simple. Keep food that is relatively non-perishable and can be prepared with nothing more than water, a pot, and fire (or just eaten an room temperature). In my experience, so many people store just enough food in their pantry to get through the coming week. Then they go to the store and buy some more. I suggest having some items that you just keep for months at a time, in storage, in case you need it.
In large quantities, you could keep:
- Rice
- Beans
- Bottled water
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Canned Soups
These are all easy to prepare, and will keep you fed and healthy enough until life returns to normal.
Keep all of these in a box in your pantry or garage (sealed up somehow, so no mice or other nasties get in there). Once every few months, go buy some more, and bring your current supply in the house for eating. Rotating your rations out means you’ll always have fresh, edible food in the event that you need it. Hopefully you never will, but it’s good to be prepared.
Remember to store rations in quantities that you will need to feed your family…and then add a little bit more on top of that. Keeping rations in your home is a simple security measure you can take, similar to locking your deadbolt or keeping a firearm near your bed. You may never have the need, but if you do, you’ll be glad you prepared.
MREs are More Expensive Now…but Still Affordable
I’m not sure if it’s the price of gas over the last couple of years, or just the economy in general, but MREs are more expensive than they used to be. While unfortunate, things like this are just going to happen. It seems like everything is more expensive than it was a few years ago.
But don’t worry. You can still pick up MREs at reasonable rates. I’m a firm believer in MREs — keeping them around for your bug out bag, bug-in disasters, or just to take with you when you head into the wild for some outdoor fun.
Here are the current prices on MREs at BDR Gear.
MRE Case – 12 Pack – No Heater: $88.75 ($7.40 per meal)
MRE Case – 12 Pack – WIth Heater: $92.99 ($7.75 per meal)
On a per-meal basis, they cost about the same as a fast-food meal for one. These, however, provide a lot more nutritional value and have a much longer shelf life. Perfect for bugging out (or in), and affordable, too.
Grab a case and divide it up amongst your family’s bug out bags, or just keep the meals where you need them. I’m going to have a video review of these meals soon, so you’ll be able to see exactly what comes in each one, and how big it is. The size is important for determining how many you will put in a bug out bag, get home bag, or even a purse (if you carry one).
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Learn to Clean and Prepare Wild Rabbit
Rabbits are plentiful in many regions, so learning how to clean and prepare them could help you out in a survival situation. The article below comes complete with images, instructions, and a how-to video. In my opinion, the video is more informative than the article, but you can judge for yourself.
OSI Special Announcement
It’s been a while since I posted anything, hasn’t it. Listen for the details.
Download it here: OSI Special Announcement
OSI #4: The Bug Out Bag
In this episode, I talk about bug out bags. This information is introductory, but I think you should still listen if you already have a bug out bag. Learn stuff like:
- The Bag
- Best Practices
- Basic Content Guidelines
If you want more detailed information, here is the site I mention in the episode:
Download this episode here: OSI #4: The Bug Out Bag
