Why Books Should Be Part of Your Bug Out Bag, Guest Post by Chris
Are you prepared for disaster? Do you think you will cope if the ‘big one’ strikes tomorrow? If you have answered ‘yes’ to those questions you most likely already have a ‘bug out bag’, a pack containing everything that you might need in the event of a catastrophe; food, water and emergency supplies to last for up to 72 hours following the breakdown of urban infrastructure.
Many people purchase electronic gadgets that can contain a great deal of information, including disaster plans, satnav apps and a wealth of other vital information, and are quite content in the belief that these gadgets will be enough to see them through difficult times until normal life can be resumed. Sadly, these people do not think about what would happen if those electronics are affected by the disaster and do not function when the time comes to use them.
It is wise to choose a small, but important selection of books to put into the bug out bag, regardless of the room they take up and extra weight that they add – these books can save your life just as much as the heavy water that is vital to survival.
Maps and an Atlas
Knowledge of the terrain and surrounding environment can save time and energy, helping a party of survivors make their way directly to a designated meeting point or safe haven. Without a map to guide them, in the event that satnavs are not operational, it is entirely possible for a party to get disoriented and lose their way, even in a relatively small and well-known area.
Medicine and Emergency Treatment Books
There are volumes available on the market, which provide a full comprehensive list of common illnesses and injuries and, more importantly, how to treat these conditions both initially and as a long term measure. This kind of information can save lives as shock, blood loss and sepsis can kill injured people once the excitement and drama of the disaster has passed. Knowing how to recognise early warning signs and stave off impending infection is an important factor in surviving such an event.
Survival Manuals
A good survival manual should cover the three basic needs of man: food, shelter and warmth. Hopefully, you will not have to resort to trapping wild rabbits or eating insects, but in the event that it does become necessary, the information on how to build effective traps and which insects can be safely consumed will come in very handy indeed! Shelters can be constructed from a variety of materials and a survival manual should have a host of handy tips to aid in construction and make the shelter sturdy and effective against wind and rain. Some of the contents of the bug out bag should be something to make fire, from the more primitive but still effective flint to modern lighters and fluid to refill them. It is always useful to know another way of making a fire, either rubbing two sticks together or by focusing a beam of sunshine through a magnifying glass or pair of glasses, and the manual should detail all that information and more.
Your bug out bag must be ready and waiting at all times, and should be kept somewhere easily accessible. A disaster can occur without a minute’s notice and can have a completely devastating effect on your regular, everyday life. By preparing a bug out bag, you are displaying your readiness to accept the inevitable and move on – ensuring your survival in the days and months before normal life can resume.
Author bio: Thanks for taking the time to read my article! I’m Chris an outdoors enthusiast and a keen survivalist and work at SimplyHike.co.uk. I’ve been writing and blogging about the great outdoors for the last two years and you can find more of my articles at https://blog.simplyhike.co.uk
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For beginning preppers
I love books and at last count had several thousand. But I also try to keep the bug out bags light. I have a pocket new testement in each and several fold out maps and field guides. Also when we are traveling I try to pick up new maps and review these with the kids.