Are You Prepared?

[Itstjs]

Ok, so a while ago I was watching the "I shouldnt be alive" show. It got me thinking a little bit, and I guess you can call me one of the "Survival Buffs" as most of us are. Were not paranoid, but prepared right? The Wife asked me a few questions like "what would you do?" So, I have to ask, what would you do on a long drive in your state, or where ever, and say, you happen to be in an area that has, well little to no population, whether it be out by the Grand Canyon, or in the woods. Your car runs out of gas, or just takes a dump, maybe you even slid off the road and crashed into a tree...After hours of waiting for someone else to drive by, you decide to walk to the nearest populated area. You know the way you came its 20-30 miles from any store or town. Ahead, youre not quite sure. Theres no cell phone service where youre at, and your battery has only 1/2 life, what would you do?

My basic kit in my trunk is shamefully not well equipt unless Im to or from Drill, or got lazy and didnt take out my gear. I usually have a small first aid kit, spare ammo, my .22 long rifle, maybe some empty coke bottles, spare change of clothes, jumper cables, and thats about it.
What do you carry? What would you do? And if it turns out you get lost, what are the basic things you think would keep you alive?

 

[S&WM&P40]

Ok, so a while ago I was watching the "I shouldnt be alive" show. It got me thinking a little bit, and I guess you can call me one of the "Survival Buffs" as most of us are. Were not paranoid, but prepared right? The Wife asked me a few questions like "what would you do?" So, I have to ask, what would you do on a long drive in your state, or where ever, and say, you happen to be in an area that has, well little to no population, whether it be out by the Grand Canyon, or in the woods. Your car runs out of gas, or just takes a dump, maybe you even slid off the road and crashed into a tree...After hours of waiting for someone else to drive by, you decide to walk to the nearest populated area. You know the way you came its 20-30 miles from any store or town. Ahead, youre not quite sure. Theres no cell phone service where youre at, and your battery has only 1/2 life, what would you do?

My basic kit in my trunk is shamefully not well equipt unless Im to or from Drill, or got lazy and didnt take out my gear. I usually have a small first aid kit, spare ammo, my .22 long rifle, maybe some empty coke bottles, spare change of clothes, jumper cables, and thats about it.
What do you carry? What would you do? And if it turns out you get lost, what are the basic things you think would keep you alive?

I have a backpack that stays in the family car. In it, it has a tri-folding shovel that I sharpened, so if needed it can double as a axe, a folding saw, hand warmers, light sticks, cheap flashlights with batteries, ten cheap lighters, a water tight container filled with matches and striker, a tarp and rope, and four to eight MRE's. In the summer time I have two to four gallons of water in the back etc.. I keep blankets and other stuff to big for the backpack in the back of the car. Another good thing to keep is a compass and some topographical maps of the area you will be traveling in. You can download them for free on your states fish and game website (NH and VT anyways).

 

[bob16066]

I keep 6 20oz bottles of water. Beef Jerky. And 15 to 25 Power Bars. I try to keep 25 Power bars but sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and know they're there! I think Power Bars are your best choice because you don't NEED water to eat them.

I also have Paper Towels. Toilet Paper. Plastic Bags. A 20x60 Spotting Scope. Binoculars. Candles. Lighter Fluid. Plasticware. A Mess Kit. And a Plastic Bucket.

I carry my .45 Revolver and .22 Mag mini revolver on my person with a couple hundred spare rounds in the trunk.

Also in the trunk are Playing Cards. Cheap Plastic Poker Chips. A chess set and a couple of board games. And Paper/Pencils/Pens. You can laugh if you want but in the event of a forced evacuation you might end up someplace for a couple of days/weeks with nothing else to do.

I also keep a Winter Jacket. Rain Jacket. A complete Change of Clothes with extra Socks. And a Blanket in the trunk. And 2 Folding Chairs. And a couple hundred dollars in Small Bills.

I'm planning on adding a Sleeping Bag.

In any emergency my Plan A is to Stay with the Car if at all Possible.

1. Because I have more stuff in it than I can carry.
2. It's a better Shelter than I could construct.
3. If I'm in my car at the time of the breakdown that means there is a Road nearby. Eventually some one will use that Road. The Road is obviously my best chance of rescue.

 

[Beau]

I'm with bob on this. I'm staying with the car. It can provide shade, shelter from the elements and protection from animals. I keep a change of clothes for myself and the kids. Food to last us all 3 days, longer if we skimp. I have a shake light and a hand crank light. Sterno Stove + 4 cans sterno. Case of H2O. Rope, first aid, matches, lighter, tube to siphon gas if needed, hand axe, emergency blankets, binocs, signal mirror, ammo for my carry gun, toilet paper,,,,,and whatever else happens to be in there at the time. I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff. All this stuff though doesn't take up much room. I use a duffel bag and a backpack.

 

[S&WM&P40]

It's also a good skill to know how to make a homemade smoke grenade out of a instant icepack and other common items. You should also have the skill/know how on how to make homemade pull pin fuses out of common items that will be in the car.

 

[mynes308]

S&wmp-40

how about some more info on doing these things?

Thanks.

 

[Naybor]

I have the following:

Small Tool box
Kitchen matches
Dozen or so easy-open cans ready to eat soups/meat/Spagettio's, etc.
Water Bottles, Gal & 16 oz.
Blanket/horseshoe shaped pillow.
Fix-A-Flat Can/tire plug kit
Jumper Cables
Extra coat/gloves/hat
Thin Polyethelene nylon-reinforced tarp
Extra headlight bulb inserts
1 quart oil
Toilet Paper
2 x 3 piece poly blue insulation to lay on ground/get under car

On me: CCW, cell phone, small knife

All this doesn't take up much trunk room and never hurts to have.

 

[-06]

Have a small med bag stuffed with necesities and a folder on the strap. It stays in most of the time and especially on trips. Bit of food(MREs), water filter, tarp, sheath knife, LED lights/extra batteries/bulbs. If a long trip I plan contact points along the way(folks you know well). As always a side arm/ammo and long gun/guns.

 

[grady202]

Where can we get info on making the smoke bomb and pull pin

 

[Hoganbeg]

Where can we get info on making the smoke bomb and pull pin

You may want to avoid using words that will draw undesirable attention to yourself. Think, "packet-sniffers".

 

[Tucker's Mom]

Besides what has already been mentioned here, I do not keep my "emergency supplies" in my backpack. That is where my laptop and camera gears are and some spare clothes (100% cotton all of them...). My emergency supplies in the car is housed in a rolling cooler pack I once bought at a Walmart store 3 years ago and it stays in the back of my car with my thermal blanket ever since.

 

[DukeYukon]

The only way I'll ever be caught with my pants down is if I'm driving a rental. I keep a loaded military rucksack in my truck, along with a sleeping bag and pillow. There's all sorts of survival tools in the ruck, along with food to last me two weeks. I keep four gallons of water as well.

Desert or arctic, if I'm stranded I can sit tight for a day or two. If help doesn't come, I can carry enough food and water to hike twenty or thirty miles into town.

Why am I so prepared? Because I was once stranded in Alaska with a lot less. That taught me never to be caught off guard again.

Great topic!

 

[Hoganbeg]

The wife & I put together two pretty much identical emergency packs; one for each vehicle.

Extra over-sized parkas, blankets & tarp,individual water bottles, two one gallon water jugs (full), fire starter kits containing, tinder & magnesium rods, a Mora sheath knife, & a small cook kit with a few cans of beans & beef stew; can be eaten cold. Also, a small shovel.

In addition to the above, we never go out without a hat, jacket (needed or not), personal knife, & personal firearm w/reloads. Pepper spray stays with each vehicle attached below the dash; I give it a shake every time as part of the start-up procedure. I need to add compasses.

Great topic!