This was sent to me by a fellow OathKeeper B.O.B. 101 - Introduction to BOB the Bug Out Bag What is a Bug Out Bag? Who needs one & why? The following information is to provide those with limited experience or new to survival with a basic understanding of the Bug Out Bag and its purpose as well as an itemized “Build Your Own Bag” check list, essential elements for survival and other helpful information when preparing a B.O.B. for yourself and/or other family members. Natural or man made disasters can strike quickly and often without warning. A Bug Out Bag is designed to allow you to quickly evacuate any location that may have been compromised by such events. Depending on your location and the social, political, economic or environmental state of that area you may be faced with some extreme survival scenarios. Whether you are forced from your home because it has been destroyed by natural disaster or you are moving to ensure you and your family’s safety due to civil unrest or even war you’ll have one less thing to worry about knowing that you took the time to prepare. A properly prepared B.O.B. is a pre-packed and readily accessible bag that can be comfortably carried over long distances. It should contain the essentials for surviving a minimum of 72 hours (three days). With careful consideration given to what you pack it is possible to extend the useful period of your bag well beyond the three days. Having a basic understanding of survival and a few supplies can go along way. How long can you Survive? The “Survival Rules of Three” are an easy to remember rule of thumb to help you understand the importance of the essentials for survival by giving you an average time that a healthy human can survive under extreme conditions or without food or water. 3 Hours – Survival Time if you’re unable to provide conditions such as shelter or appropriate clothing to maintain your core body temperature at or near 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. The outdoor temperatures do not need to be extreme for you to experience hypothermia (Cold) or hyperthermia (Hot). 3 Days – Survival Time if you are unable to provide proper hydration. One liter of water per day per person is the bare minimum. Pay attention to the early signs of dehydration such as headaches, dizziness, lack of sweating, little or no urination and muscle cramps. Drink often even if you do not feel thirsty. 3 Weeks – Survival Time if you are without food. Going this long without food would be miserable and you would likely be very lethargic by the end of the week. Note: These survival time averages can vary greatly depending on many factors including your health and fitness before the event, the conditions of your environment and most importantly your attitude. Having a positive mental attitude is the most valuable asset you can have in a survival scenario. You may not survive one minute without it. Skills vs. Gear Regardless of how may supplies you’re able to pack and carry on your back they will not do you any good if you do not know how to use them. Do you have the skills to start a fire to keep warm or cook a meal, or the skills to filter drinking water, or even the skills to set up your shelter before night fall when a thunderstorm is quickly moving in? I call these skills the software side of the survival equation, the other side being the hardware the gear. Often people think that just having the gear they’ve done all that is necessary to be prepared, yet they haven’t even opened the packages. Know your gear, know how to use it and then practice with it. Another benefit of improving your survival skills is that you can often reduce the amount of weight you carry by eliminating redundant gear. As your skills increase so does your confidence and you’re dependency on gear diminishes. This reduction of weight also allows you to move faster and with greater ease. Necessities vs. Niceties When choosing and packing gear you will want to consider what is truly needed and what are luxury items. Luxury items can improve your comfort and moral, but when space and weight are a concern you want to give priority to the necessities. Only after you’ve included all the essentials do you want to consider adding any niceties. B.Y.O.B. – Building Your Own Bag Quality Back Pack – The back pack is the foundation of your B.O.B. don’t scrimp on quality when it comes to choosing one. Some features to consider... Does it have multiple compartments and organizers to help segregate your gear so that it may be easier to access without emptying the entire bag? Is it compatible with a hydration pack? Does it have a waist support to distribute the load on your hips rather than your shoulders? Weather Proofing – You’re B.O.B. contains many items that will require them to stay dry in order to continue working as designed. Be sure to have a way to keep them dry. Dry Sacks Zip Lock Bags Heavy Trash Bags Rain Proof Pack Shell Shelter – Having shelter or the means to provide it in short order can mean the difference in life or death. Be sure to have at least a tarp or poncho for an improvised shelter. Hammock Bivy Tarp Tent Sleeping Bag Mosquito Net Blanket Clothing – A full change of clothing including extra socks and underwear can be helpful if you’ve gotten wet or need extra layers to keep warm. Also considered items to protect and cover other parts of your body from the elements and/or environmental hazards. Head Covering Gloves Bandana/Shemaugh Poncho Socks & Underwear Footwear – Disasters strike at the most inopportune moments. You can never know if you will be wearing the most appropriate footwear at the time you need to bug out. Have a good quality pair of hiking boots near your BOB and a light weight option packed away for water crossing or when your boot and socks are drying next to the fire. Hiking Boots Sandals/Flops/Gators Water/Hydration – One of the top essentials for survival. Have a starter source of water, containers for carrying or boiling water and a means of filtering and/or purifying more. Starter Water Canteen/Bottle/Bladder Filter Purification Tablets Fire Starter – The ability to start a fire can be one of the most valuable elements to survival due to its multiple uses, but it can sometimes be the most difficult depending on the condition of your environment. Having multiple methods of starting a fire is best. Lighter Waterproof Matches Ferro Rod Mag-Bar Portable Tinder Fuel Food Supply – Light weight, high calorie, non-perishable meals or snacks that can sustain you for a period of no less than 3 days (72 Hours) while possibly exerting high levels of energy for extended periods. Such as hiking long distances, building shelters or clearing debris. 3 Day Food Supply Utensils Cooking Container/Cup Cook Stove Defense – Disasters have a way of bringing the best and the worst out in people. You must be prepared mentally, have the means and the skills to defend yourself and your family. Personal Defense Weapon(s) Extra Magazines Ammo Knife Pepper Spray Personal Hygiene – Not being able to go through the daily ritual of maintaining good personal hygiene can be demoralizing, lead to infections and cause spread of disease. A small hygiene kit can be very helpful in maintaining a positive mindset and good health. Toilet Paper Tooth Brush, Floss & Paste Hand Sanitizer Soap Wet Wipes Nail Clippers Micro Towel Q-Tips Medical Supplies – Whether you start out with a pre-packaged store bought first aid kit or you have the skills need to properly implement a trauma kit, have something. First Aid/Trauma Kit Insect Repellant Prescriptions Anti-Diarrhea Tablets Sun Screen Eye Drops Lip Balm Burn Ointment Communication – Having a way to stay in communication with friends and family or keeping up with weather and news reports can be very helpful in a disaster scenario. Two Way Radio (FRS, CB, UHF, GMRS, MURS) Hand Crank Weather Radio Navigation/Signaling – Whether you’re navigating to your bug out location or attempting to be rescued these are items you would want to consider. Compass Map Signal Mirror Flares Analog Watch Chem-lights Whistle Other Tools & Supplies – These items may be near last on the list, but don’t discount their importance. Some of these I would definitely consider necessities in my bag. Flashlight Headlamp Batteries/Charger Multi-tool Machete Survival Knife, 550 Para-cord Fishing Kit Sewing Kit Can Opener Aluminum Foil Candles Duct Tape Eye/Sunglasses Shovel/Trowel Compression Sacks Other Considerations – Things that are often over looked. Take the time consider which of these are relevant to your bug out and plan accordantly. Pets, Infants, Elderly, Cash/Gold/Silver, Insurance Policies, Medical Records, State ID, Birth Certificates, Social Security Cards, Passports, Evacuation Plan This check list is not all inclusive. It is intended to be a primer to assist with building your own bag. Your bag should be customized to your specific needs and skill levels. “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin Prepared by: Henry Simpson Director of Sales & Training Patriot Tactical USA hsimpson@patriottacticalusa patriottacticalusa
Posted on: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:33:26 +0000
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