What is a bug out bag?
A “bug out” bag is typically defined as something that contains only enough supplies for one night away from home because your house will not work for at least a few days due to all of the chaos surrounding it. Most people have this assumption, but they are wrong!
I see it done every day where someone goes through their car and pulls out everything they think they might need for an evacuation or a trip downtown. They never include money, food, or water in their bags and they spend hours trying to figure out what they left behind. It is very expensive!
Having a basic emergency supply kit with you at all times can be life changing if needed. These kits should contain items such as first aid supplies, medicine, food, water, and up to a week’s worth of clothes depending on how long you expect to be gone.
Why should you have a bug out bag?
Having a Bug Out Bag (BOB) is an important part of prepping for emergencies. You can refer to this as having a “Bug In” or “Bug Gear” bag. This is not only needed for practical reasons, but it also helps your body learn how to cope with limited resources and opportunities.
By having a BOB that contains necessary items for escaping and surviving for a few days, you will give yourself a better chance at survival. These are typically categorized into three groups; food, water, and shelter related supplies.
Most people start by gathering some type of backpack or box they call their BOG – Bug Out Gear. A good way to determine if this is enough is to pack everything inside and see if there is still room to add more things such as dried foods, blankets, and pillows. If there is then yours is a sufficient BOG!
Some other common BOG categories include:
Bug Out Bag List
Having an adequate amount of food for at least three days is one of the most important things when putting together a bug out bag. Food can be either packaged foods or snacks that do not require packaging, such as fruits and vegetables.
Making sure your family members are well fed before heading out is another key part to being prepared. A good way to make this happen is by having enough food available so that everyone can choose what they want, which helps promote healthy eating habits.
Another crucial item in a bug out bag is water. Even if you only have enough bottled water for yourself, buying a few more bottles will help ensure your loved ones have their drink of choice.
Having a large amount of water also aids in keeping you hydrated, which is important since most people these days suffer from over consumption of alcohol and caffeine. These drinks can quickly deplete your body’s fluid levels, leaving you vulnerable to health issues.
Air
Many experts suggest gathering as many blankets, towels, paper goods and other supplies as possible because they are helpful for both thermal regulation and practical use. The best way to layer these is into a stack that can be pulled out or folded up and used at a later time.
Blankets work well due to their surface area and flexible nature. You can also use them to make yourself feel more comfortable and cozy. Paper products like napkins and toilet tissue help retain moisture of your dry skin.
You may not have access to all of these items during an emergency, but it’s important to know what types of materials you do have and how to use them.
Drill some extra minutes into preparation now so you don’t need one of those things later.
Also, aside from having enough food and water for survival, knowing what kind of first aid tools you have can give you some insight to helping others. A basic kit should include any type of wound wash, bandages, and/or tourniquet.
Take a moment to review yours too!
Shelter
Having a place to sleep is one of the most important things for surviving an unexpected outage. This could be your current home, a friend’s house, or even just a bed at someone else’s home!
Shelter can consist of materials such as blankets, pillows, sheets, and towels. Don’t forget about warm clothing such as sweatshirts and socks – winter is a beautiful thing but it comes with the need for warmth as well!
Kitchenware like bowls, plates, and cups are also helpful since they are designed to take food and drink. You don’t have to use them for that, however!
Water
Having enough water is one of the most important things for surviving an emergency. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a particularly active person, spending time looking for ways to consume water can help you survive.
We usually spend about half an hour each day drinking eight ounces (by volume) of water. Add another couple of hours per week to wash all your clothes using cold water, and you have some extra water preparedness that people often forget about!
Making sure your house has adequate supplies of water is also very important. Being able to access water even when there are no regular supply systems will give you a sense of security.
Food
Having enough food for at least three days is an essential part of being prepared in case of an emergency or disaster.
This includes foods that can be eaten raw or cooked, dried or fresh products – it doesn’t matter as long as they will meet your personal needs.
Many people start with the easy option by grabbing what they usually have at home but this isn’t a good idea.
A lot of things that people think of as “food” won’t really help them survive in an unexpected situation. For example, many people know how to make pasta and cook it either hot or cold, so why not take some along with you?
Pasta can be mixed into other recipes or just served dry as a snack!
Clothing
Having adequate clothing is one of the most important things for anyone to have during times of crisis or emergency.
This is especially true if you do not know what resources will be available to you after a disaster. For example, grocery stores could be closed due to looting or lack of supplies.
Because food does not easily spoil, people often forget about it when they are thinking about their bug-out bags.
You should always make sure that you have at least two sets of clean clothes per person. This includes dress shirts, sweatshirts, jeans, underwear, and socks.
Does this sound like too much to include in your bag? That’s okay! You can begin with just one set of each item and as you use them up, get more.
Bug out bags are intended to be used once and then left behind. So don’t worry too much about whether there is a matching pair of shoes or not.
Clothing is something that you will reuse over and over again after a major catastrophe.
Warmth
Having enough warm clothing is one of the most important things for your survival during an emergency or disaster. If you are prepared, you will know what kind of clothes to pack depending on the season and area!
During winter, investing in warmer coats, hats, and gloves can make all the difference between feeling comfortable and being able to survive. Even just packing a sweatshirt or flannel shirt and pair of jeans may be all you need to feel more relaxed and productive.
In the spring and summer, a light jacket and hat can help prevent heat exhaustion while protecting from the rain and snow that might come along with evacuation. For example, someone preparing for an evacuation could bring their favorite hoodie and sweater to use as a blanket if needed.
In the fall and early winter, stocking up on wool socks can be very helpful. This is because wool acts like a natural insulation layer and keeps feet warm.