The past decade has seen numerous natural disasters and man-made crises, and still people are largely unprepared. The chance of surviving after a cataclysmic event are dramatically greater with just a little foresight. The goal is surviving for at least three days without any of the conveniences we take for granted, and having an appropriately filled emergency preparedness kit is the key.
The first thing to consider is what a human being needs most; water. In a survival situation, between two to three liters per day per person is considered essential. Hot, dry climates are the most inhospitable and the adage not to ration your water but ration your sweat is good advice.
Eating is also important, but one should not eliminate water to store food, as one can live for weeks without eating. But it is important if there is room, as nutrients are also necessary to keep ones wits about them. Also, if one is trapped or far from civilization, energy to move or escape is critical, at least to get out in the open to signal for help.
The next thing one should include when preparing is material to deal with injuries, some serious and some minor. Just about any injury can make the possibility of survival decrease, the more serious the injury, the more problematic. One can only d so much, but being prepared with tourniquets for amputations and severe bleeding and having plastic cards to cover puncture wounds is prudent and takes little space
Communication is one f the first things to be disrupted in an emergency, either through physical damage or overuse. The internet, if available, is much more difficult to break down and one has a good chance of getting a message out. Barring that, a cellular phone may become available within hours and a radio is an important way to get emergency information.
Signaling people who may be looking for survivors is one of the most important ideas beyond physical survival and the devices needed are not complex or expensive. A whistle can be heard from much farther away than the human voice can be heard. A reflective material like a mirror allows one to use the sun to signal people very far away, even passing aircraft.
Other simple devices can make the experience much more convenient, and safe. A multi-tool knife and a pair of pliers can allow one to shut off gas and power, open broken water faucets and open cans of food. If there is additional room in the backpack or container, dust masks, extra batteries and local area maps are all valuable items.
In most cases, a contingency that places one in a situation requiring personal survival skills will be significant enough that officials will respond. Due to response preparation lead time, one must be able to take care of oneself for a minimum of 72 hours to allow authorities time to begin a search and rescue operation. Getting an emergency preparedness kit ready in advance could be the difference between living or dying in a crisis.
The first thing to consider is what a human being needs most; water. In a survival situation, between two to three liters per day per person is considered essential. Hot, dry climates are the most inhospitable and the adage not to ration your water but ration your sweat is good advice.
Eating is also important, but one should not eliminate water to store food, as one can live for weeks without eating. But it is important if there is room, as nutrients are also necessary to keep ones wits about them. Also, if one is trapped or far from civilization, energy to move or escape is critical, at least to get out in the open to signal for help.
The next thing one should include when preparing is material to deal with injuries, some serious and some minor. Just about any injury can make the possibility of survival decrease, the more serious the injury, the more problematic. One can only d so much, but being prepared with tourniquets for amputations and severe bleeding and having plastic cards to cover puncture wounds is prudent and takes little space
Communication is one f the first things to be disrupted in an emergency, either through physical damage or overuse. The internet, if available, is much more difficult to break down and one has a good chance of getting a message out. Barring that, a cellular phone may become available within hours and a radio is an important way to get emergency information.
Signaling people who may be looking for survivors is one of the most important ideas beyond physical survival and the devices needed are not complex or expensive. A whistle can be heard from much farther away than the human voice can be heard. A reflective material like a mirror allows one to use the sun to signal people very far away, even passing aircraft.
Other simple devices can make the experience much more convenient, and safe. A multi-tool knife and a pair of pliers can allow one to shut off gas and power, open broken water faucets and open cans of food. If there is additional room in the backpack or container, dust masks, extra batteries and local area maps are all valuable items.
In most cases, a contingency that places one in a situation requiring personal survival skills will be significant enough that officials will respond. Due to response preparation lead time, one must be able to take care of oneself for a minimum of 72 hours to allow authorities time to begin a search and rescue operation. Getting an emergency preparedness kit ready in advance could be the difference between living or dying in a crisis.
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