We've probably all heard by now that we need to make sure to have a Bug-Out Bag ready to go, regardless of where you live. And with all of the problems in the world right now, that seems like a pretty good idea. But what exactly is a Bug-Out Bag, and why do you need one? A Bug-Out Bag (or BOB) is usually a decently large backpack, typically prepared in advance, with enough essential supplies to help you survive at least 72 hours away from home in an emergency or mandatory evacuation. This bag is not supposed to allow you to survive in the woods on your own forever, but it is meant to assist you in getting from point A to point B, with as little outside assistance as possible.
The term ”Bugging Out” (and in conjunction, Bug-Out Bags) was first used around the time of the Korean War, when the U.S. Army asked soldiers to have a secondary defensive position prepared in the case that their units had to quickly retreat. They would get the order to “bug out”, and they could move quickly with very little equipment. Since that time, preparing for a “bug out” scenario has been adopted all around the world, with people documenting and preparing detailed retreat locations, evacuation methods, and stocking emergency supplies – just in case one were to face an emergency survival situation. This is now also referred to as “bugging out.”
When preparing for an emergency, the general items that go into a Bug-Out Bag are food, water, cordage, shelter, fire-making supplies, clothing, tools, weapons, etc. Your items need to prepare you for multiple situations you may face in the outdoors, and preferably each item will be dual-purpose. A popular method for preparing your bag is called following “The 5 C’s of Survival". The 5 C's consist of: Cordage, Combustion, Container, Cutting, and Cover. Each of these categories represent the bare essentials needed for surviving on your own in an emergency. If you want a list of all the gear you’ll need for your Bug-Out Bag, check out our FREE Bug Out Bag Checklist! You can always add or remove items for your bag based on what you and your loved ones will need, but the 5 C’s are a highly recommended starting point. And remember…packing items that have dual purpose and that are as compact as possible, is essential to an efficient Bug-Out Bag preparation.
As awareness around preparedness becomes more well known, more and more people are prepping their own Bug-Out Bags for their homes, offices, and vehicles to help protect them and their loved ones in emergency situations. Survival gear and prepping have become increasingly more popular and have raised awareness about minimizing the turmoil associated with disasters. It is more important than ever to begin thinking of your own preparedness plans, and build out your family’s bags, so that you will be ready when (not if) disaster strikes.
Want to start prepping? Get our FREE Bug Out Bag Checklist here!
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