Month: July 2017

Awareness Is Your Best Defense When Bugging Out

/ Oreo

The day or night that you feared would come and that you’ve planned for has finally happened. It is now bug out time. You’ve bought all your gear and the supplies you’ll need to exist wherever you’re headed.

What’s left now is something that you can’t buy. It’s awareness. You have to stay aware when you’re bugging out. It’s the key to your survival. You can’t afford to let your guard down – not even for a second – because if you do, you could end up getting hurt or even losing your life.

One of the threats that you’ll have to face when you’re bugging out is the potential danger from predators. You could run into animals that would love to make a meal out of you.

Animals like bears, coyotes and bobcats have been known to attack people in opportunistic moments as well as for no reason at all. Some people believe that animals only attack when they’re hungry or to protect their young, but that’s not true.

Animals of all sizes will attack if they’re startled or scared. They’ll attack if they’ve been hurt or they’re ill. They’ll also attack because animals are territorial. You have to be on the lookout for them as well as the two legged kind of predators – humans.

In a world that’s governed by law and consequences, people still hurt others. They steal, they attack, they kill. Now imagine what those kinds of people will do when society has collapsed.

They’re only going to get worse. That’s why awareness is the key to you making it out alive against both kinds of predators. You need to make sure that not only do you have a secure area once you arrive at your bug out destination, but that you’re secure as you’re traveling.

You do that by scouting the area. Do perimeter checks of your arrival location and do perimeter checks as you’re traveling. Make sure no one is following you on foot or in a vehicle.

Pay attention to people who are acting weird or those who are acting secretive. Be aware of what’s going on with the weather. By knowing whether or not bad weather is coming, you’ll be able to get to shelter before you get caught in it and have to deal with things like hypothermia. Mylar blankets and tents are great to have in your bug out bag because they are lightweight and can give needed warmth under extreme weather circumstances.

You also want to be aware of the weather so that if you’re traveling near a creek or river, you don’t get caught up in any flood waters. Be aware of what’s going on with your supplies, too.

Pay attention to the amount of water you have or the purification means that you have on hand. Keep alert with your food supply. If you’re traveling with friends or family, stay alert to their physical and emotional well being.

Someone who’s ill or is suffering from shock can give your position away or draw attention to you and make you a target. Some preppers like to have a 5-hour energy on hand in their bug out bags so that if they happen to be in a moment where being alert is extremely important, they won’t be prone to drowsiness.

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Your Bug Out Bag Should Contain Unscented Toiletries

/ Oreo

Making sure that you sleep well because you have a bug out bag ready is the first step in making sure you survive any situation that’s a threat to life as you know it. Most preppers understand the need to keep quiet about their supplies and not tell anyone what they have when they’re bugging out.

They know that spreading the word that they have supplies can make them a target. However, you might be making yourself a target and not even realize it. When you’re bugging out in a dangerous situation, you need to make sure that you’re using unscented toiletries.

Using a product that has a scent is like having a sign pointing the way to you. People can follow a scent trail even if they’re not trained in survival tactics. Wild animals can also pick up a scented toiletry trail and follow it right to you.

When you bathe or wash your hands, you need to be sure that the soap you use is a plain bar or liquid that leaves no trace on your skin. If you have a scent on your hands, all it takes is for you to touch something and you leave behind the ability for someone to track you.

If you’re someone who uses the liquid hand sanitizers while the different sweet scents might smell good to you, they can be potent and easy to follow. When you’re bugging out, give up using anything scented on your hands.

That means lotions, too. If you put lotion on your hands to help with dry skin or to prevent chapped skin and it has a scent to it, someone can find you. Always choose the unscented brands and do a sniff test of anything you use on your hands to make sure there really is no scent.

It’s a good idea to use sunscreen for bugging out, but you need to make sure that the product that you’ve chosen doesn’t leave behind a scent trail. Some brands that are unscented still have an identifiable scent, so check that as well.

For people who use scented deodorants, you’ll want to give that up when you’re bugging out. Deodorant scents have a tendency to waft around in the air as someone moves his or her arms.

Any kind of shampoo that you use should not have a scent. These are easily tracked as well. Plus, you want to avoid fruity smelling shampoos because those can also attract insects. Make sure if you use conditioner, that it doesn’t have a scent, either.

If you use any kind of coating on your lips to prevent them from getting chapped, forego the scented or berry ones and use unscented only. Check your bug repellent for scent as well. Some of these can have a lemony scent. If you’re traveling with kids or babies, make sure the wipes that you use for them are unscented.

The key is to think through what you have in your bug out bag and make sure you are not leaving a trail for animals or humans to follow.

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