The bug out bag is ready to go when you need it.
A bug out bag, or 72 hour bag, is an assemblage of gear that will get you through the 3 days following a total personal collapse of systems of support. It isn’t meant to be an ‘everything you can fit in’ bag, but just the essentials in a conveinent grab and go format. Everyone has their own take as to what should be in the bag, specific brands of gear, amounts and items. What no one disagrees about are the main categories of gear you must carry. We’ll start there and then give you my own spin.
-Water
Three days without water and you’re dead. Plain and simple. If you’ve got enough on your back for three days then you can buy some time until you come across some more. Typically this is a liter per day or approximately 32 ounces. You could look at it as 6 standard bottles of water. There are several companies that sell water in a juice box type container. This may be easier to pack, but can’t really be reused as a container later on. You should also have some method of water purification. This can be a filter, pills, or a method of boiling. Remember, redundancy is key in preparedness.
-Food
The rule of 3′s: 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food. Personally, I wouldn’t want to go more than a few days without food. You can buy some crappy tasting ‘ration bars’, or if you’ve packed the right way, enjoy a hot meal either previously dehydrated or some MREs in your bug out bag. For caloric intake you should be aiming at 2500 calories per meal (one per day) or slightly higher. Stressful situations cause the body to burn calories at a higher rate than normal as well as reduce nutrient uptake, but if you’re trying to watch your girlish figure during a survival situation your priorities are all screwed up.
-Shelter/clothing
These two are really one in the same. You are sheltering your natural human form from the elements. A jacket is clothing, but it falls under the umbrella of shelter. Make sure to pack a full set of clothing, from your neck to your feet, and one more pair of socks above that. Take into account the type of climate you live in when doing so. A native to Alaska would be a fool to pack a Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts, but that might be just what you need in South America. Beyond clothing you need a more permanent structure. A small tent, a tarp and some rope, a hammock… It all depends on your knowledge, skill, location and choice. For me a tent and a tarp seem to cover it all. A compact sleeping bag that can provide comfort in some of the harshest temperatures is an excellent addition to your bag.
-Fire
Fire bring warmth, the ability to cook a hot meal, light in darkness and a sense of separation from the pure wild. A butane lighter, some matches, a can of sterno and flint and steel can all be used to start an maintain a fire. Make sure to place these water-sensitive items in a ziploc bag along with a little bit of tinder. This could be cotton balls soaked in vasoline, some dryer lint or char-cloth. In a coming post we’ll get into the basics of starting and maintaining a fire. Without this valuable skill you could have a gallon of gas and still fail to make a usable fire.
-Firstaid
Most drugstores and big box places like Walmart or Target sell your basic first aid kits. I like these as a starter but expand upon them to create a more total package. Throw in a tube of anti-biotic ointment, burn cream, a coagulant(like quik-clot or an Israeli Battle dressing), crazyglue, duct tape, pain releavers/fever reducers and of course anti-diarrheal drugs. This is what I call the expanded basic setup, but there is far more that you can add. Place this kit in the easiest to access location on your pack, because when an injury strikes you don’t want to be digging around in your bug out bag while someone lays there bleeding out. If you take any sort of medication on a regular basis, pack this in too!
-Sanitation
Dirty teeth and a smelly pits is no fun, and not good for your health. Throw in a few of those Wisp diposable toothbrushes or a regular brush and toothpaste. Pack in some deodorant and a pack of wet-wipes for the good old fashioned sailor shower.
-Tools
The basic tools that you need to have in your kit are as follows: flashlight, knife, compass & map, money, important contacts, personal information, travel routes, rope, raingear, pencil/paper/sharpie, multi-tool(with can opener) and communications/cellphone/radio. I am saving the details of the tools section along with a video in the coming week outlining the entire bug out bag.
Any sort of bag will do, the key is that it is all in one place so you can grab and go. Most people prefer a backpack of some sort, as do I, but I have yet to breakdown and buy a larger camping style pack or military rucksack as pictured above. Currently i’m using an old backpack and it works just fine.
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