Be Prepared for Emergencies Anywhere
The Importance of Being Prepared
Whether you are out in the backcountry or in your own living room, emergencies can happen at any time. It’s impossible to prevent every accident one hundred percent of the time, so it’s essential that you have the supplies around that you need to be prepared for when a disaster does strike. Having these supplies around is going to help you to feel confident and at ease wherever you go and whatever you are doing, so you can have more fun with the people you love.
Starting Your Emergency Plan
If you know that you want to be more proactive about being prepared for emergencies, especially in the wilderness, now is the perfect time to start planning out what supplies you need to have on hand.
Collect Supplies Step-by-Step
You don’t need to get everything ready all at once! But by collecting these survival supplies over the course of weeks or months, you will create a comprehensive list of supplies that will help you in any situation you encounter in the wild.
Essential Survival Supplies
Shelter
A lot of people will agree that shelter is one of the biggest essential survival supplies. When you need to shelter in place, you need something to shield you from the elements.
- Types of Shelter:
This can be as big as a tent or as small as an emergency blanket, but you need to be able to carry it with you on the trail.
Food and Water
Beyond a shelter, it’s important to have extra food and water with you to be able to survive outdoors for the night without having to go out and look for it.
- Recommended Food Items:
High-calorie food that doesn’t spoil, like protein bars, are perfect for long-term storage in your favorite hiking backpack. These can easily be your backup in the event that you need to sit tight and wait for help.
First Aid Kit
This may be obvious, but a first aid kit should also be on your list of essentials.
- Why It’s Important:
If you get hurt, your kit should have the basics that you need to be able to keep yourself stable and comfortable while you wait for help to arrive.
Light and Fire
In the event that you need to shelter in place overnight, a source of light like a headlamp or flashlight becomes essential for safety.
- Fire Starting Tools:
Along with light, you will also need a way to easily start a fire to stay warm and signal for help.
Making Smart Purchases
Buying Durable Supplies
You can collect these survival supplies one at a time or all at once, but whatever you buy should be durable and rated for use outdoors.