Survival Tips That Could Save Your Life During a Disaster

Did you see that guy who went into the store, with the crazed look on his face? What was he wearing? How tall was he? Did you see the truck he go out of? Did you notice, he didn't turn off the engine? Survival doesn’t always come down to muscle or gear—it often comes down to what you notice first.   Situational awareness is the ability to stay alert to your surroundings, read subtle cues, and recognize when something feels “off.” Start by putting down your phone when walking or driving. Scan your environment regularly. Notice exits in every room you enter.  Situational awareness is a needed skill that allows you to notice potential threats around you and to anticipate and avoid danger. Situational awareness can also help you avoid getting lost. You have to notice landmarks, signs and other indicators that let you know exactly where you are. Make it your habit to observe who is around you and the behaviors of those people; are they nervous are they being overly aggressive ...

You've waited all week and finally you are out in your backyard, on a beautiful sunny day, with your grill filled with all the meat and vegetables a family of four can eat.  Life is beautiful! With upbeat music playing in the background, you turn to speak to your neighbor and you accidentally knock over the glass you were drinking from. when the liquid hit the small flames, a whooshing flame is suddenly in your hair. Five seconds later, the fire is intense and damaging and you are in more pain than you've felt, ever.  You don't have time to go to the store to get a burn salve and you need treatment - now.   An emergency often comes in the blink of an eye. The injury - whether it’s a minor abrasion that risks infection or a major wound  - needs an immediate response.  That’s why a well-stocked first aid kit should be a major part of your prepping supplies.  There are small, pre-stocked kits that have some of the essential items. These kits can be kept ...

We never know when a freak accident or some other situation will occur, that requires CPR or other life saving assistance. Life is like that. You want to help and you have a ton of gear, ready for you to use. Well, you can have all  the gear in the world, if you don’t know how to use it or don't need it, at that moment, it's worthless.  Some injuries require CPR and if you don't know how to apply it, you can't help. Some injuries require First Aid knowledge and if you don't know proper procedures, you may cause more harm to the person.   CPR and First Aid knowledge are essential to your survival in a dangerous or life-threatening situation.  In a city-wide crisis, emergency services may not be available or it may take hours for them to reach you that  could possibly  put you in the position of being the only one who can help.   When someone collapses, falls into the water, gets a deep gash or goes into shock it would be terrible if all you di...

Have you ever been in a situation where you were injured in the wilderness and you had to take care of yourself?  What did you do? How did you survive?

Getting an injury when you can go to see a specialist and get the proper treatment, is not something you will enjoy. But, if you get an injury in a survival situation, where there is no specialist available and no way to get treatment - that can be a real nightmare, for several days or weeks. Some injuries can go from just needing a bandage, to something deadly, fast. This is likely, especially without hospitals, doctors or treatment around. That’s why it’s critical to know how to treat wounds and burns. by yourself.  you need to know basic first Aid and learn how to stop bleeding using direct pressure clean wounds thoroughly dress cuts to prevent infection Use antiseptics like; iodine hydrogen peroxide or alcohol-based solutions (with caution).  Understand the signs of infection redness swelling pus fever ...and how to provide necessary care, accordingly.  For burns, cool the area under clean water (never ice), apply a sterile dressing, and avoid ointments for severe bur...

When they happen, disasters rarely give you time to pack, gather your personal papers, pack your tooth brush and grab a few snacks. A disaster takes away your time to act with the precision that allows you to follow a well thought out escape plan. Unless, you practice and prepare yourself.  That is the main reason why having a bug out/go bag packed and ready, is essential to your survival.  A well-stocked bag should contain everything you need to survive - for at least  the next 72 hours - away from home. Your supplies should include; water (bottles or purification tablets) non-perishable food fire-starting tools tarp for shelter or emergency bivvy warm clothing a flashlight first aid supplies hygiene items a multitool a map phone charger + battery pack a radio water Don’t forget copies of important documents, emergency cash and medication.  Choose a sturdy, multi-pocket bag that can hold up to 20–30 pounds - depending on your how much you can carry. To make sure you...

If you own a vehicle, you know how much you need it to get through your day. One day, your car may have to be used for more than just getting you from place to place - it may become the only place you have to lay your head. It may become your home.  If you are in a predicament and you can’t reach your bug-out location, or if your home is, all of a sudden, not available to you, your vehicle may become the only place you have, when the sun goes down.  Preparing Your Vehicle as a Place To Live Preparing to live out of your car means making sure you can use it for storage and as the place where you will have to reside.  To get it ready, you will need ; sunshades for insulation and privacy seat organizers for gear window covers to block light at night blankets sleeping pads or a small inflatable mattress that fit your seat layout Include extra water, snacks, and small cooking gear like a camp stove or gas fueled stove.    Keep battery banks or solar chargers for...

When the electrical grids are down, your phones, radios, GPS devices will only work for a few hours - some will stop working, immediately. That is why solar-powered chargers and other gear are so important to have.  A solar panel can harness the suns' energy, to charge your phones and other gear, when electrical outlets are not available.  The best type of solar charger; is lightweight weather-resistant compatible with USB-powered devices foldable designs that fit in a bug-out bag offer at least 10–20 watts of output. Combine your solar panel with a rechargeable battery pack so you can store energy during the day so that it is available for use at night.  Test your setup before an emergency—charge your phone, radio, or flashlight during a hike or power outage. Don’t forget to store charging cables and adapters with the panel. If you are in a situation where you will be going through long-term survival, a solar panel and rechargeable battery packs are a major part of strat...

It can take a long time to get all of the necessary documents everyone in you household needs. These documents can mean the difference between access to what's yours and being turned away with no where to go. For someone who has been prepping for a while, water damage can be just as damaging as fire. Unless you store certain items in waterproof containers, a  sudden downpour, a leaky basement or mold can turn your essential documents and your essential gear into unreadable, unusable trash.  That’s why you need to protect your all of your valuables; documents electronics matches batteries and food packets  ...should be in sealed, waterproof, watertight containers.  Use dry bags hard plastic waterproof cases vacuum-sealed pouches or heavy-duty freezer bags  - in layers For your bug-out bag;  use dry sacks for clothes  waterproof folders for papers like birth certificates, IDs, maps and medical records.  For added protection, the moisture-absorbing p...

There's not much worse that having life-saving gear - but it's broken. Gear breaks, tarps tear and sooner or later , everything need maintenance and repairs. Especially when you're using it every day, several ties a day. That’s why having a tool box and a repair kit is crucial for long-term prepping.  Think beyond duct tape and include items like extra screws, nuts, bolts, zip ties, sewing needles, thread, safety pins, wire, spare buckles, glue, and multitool-compatible bits. Add a small hammer, pliers, and precision screwdrivers. Store it all in a durable, weatherproof pouch so you can take it on the go. This kit should repair tents, backpacks, shoes, water filters, stoves, clothing, and tools. Include sharpeners for knives and axes, spare batteries, and sandpaper for smoothing surfaces.  Practice repairing gear before a real emergency—fix a broken zipper, replace a tent pole, patch up a torn pack. A small sewing kit alone can make or break your ability to keep clothing or...

Right now, thanks to Wi-Fi, hotspots and Internet, we can call and talk to and see people, all over the globe - any time we want.  But, what happens when the grid is down or the batteries are dead. That's when those handy cell phones and laptops are practically useless?  When cell towers go down and Wi-Fi is just a memory, your ability to communicate, even locally, can be the difference between feeling safe and feeling lost.  That’s where walkie talkies and HAM radios come in.  FRS/GMRS walkie-talkies are great for short-range communication between family members or neighbors—perfect for coordinating security, search-and-rescue, or bug-out movements. 

  FREE 72 Hour Emergency Kit Safety Checklist You could be driving home from a nice evening out and all of a sudden, you are in the middle of a nightmare. The children are at home and you have no way to reach them - what can you do.  The best thing to do, before anything happens, is to help keep everyone safe. Help make sure they are safe - have a plan in place, before a tragedy strikes.  Even after you make a list of  and practice your safety plans with your family, the reality of a bad situation can make anyone forget what the whole plan is - even the most obvious steps.  That’s why it’s so important to write down your survival plans, procedures and safety checklists - not just memorize them .  Create the plan, with a clear, step-by-step instructions for different emergency scenarios:  bugging out sheltering in place fire response medical emergencies and communication breakdowns Include; maps supply inventories evacuation routes and who does what in...

In a high-stakes scenario, clear communication can be compromised—either by eavesdroppers, chaos, or the need to stay discreet. That’s where code words become a critical family tool.  Use short, simple words, gesture or phrase  that get the message across, without raising alarms.  For example: Worms can mean go to the basement   Storm’s coming could signal pack up and be ready in 30 minutes   You can also use code words as confirmation of their identities, if you are separated.  This is especially useful for children or in chaotic bug out scenarios.  Teach each member of your group what the codes mean and when they should use them. Keep the code words natural and easy to remember.   Don’t overcomplicate the words, especially if they are young children involved. If you use radios or texts, these phrases help protect everyone and keep them from being misunderstood.  Code words create a layer of safely in the confusion of a crisis and they’re ...