Prepping Basics Part Two
It is always important to make sure you stock up on the prepping basics. Often times people think of prepping as buying bags covered in molle and creating a large weapons cache. However, prepping is all about having in abundance those daily supplies you will need week after week.
After food, water, and shelter you need to have ample back ups to your daily essentials. There is nothing wrong with roughing it and getting down into the mud of survival. If you can have basic medicines, tools, and a few extras then maybe you might be a little more comfortable when the SHTF happens.
Basic Medical / Sanitation:
Water Filter: This is a tool but it is needed to help keep folks healthy!
Mylar Blanket: This is great if someone goes into shock or to help avoid hypothermia and it’s cheap!!
Antacid or anti-diarrhea medication
Extra baby needs (diapers, wipes, pacifiers, bottles, medicine, etc)- reminder from last paycheck
2 weeks of personal prescription medications
Extra pair of reading glasses (optional)
Basic Tools:
Fire Starter: Ferro Rod, Matches, Flint Striker
Compass and a local map ( you can also print out topographical maps online!)
Battery operated or wind-up hand radio, preferably an NOAA weather radio.
Mini Survival Kit
Small First aid kit
Survival Library
This was one of the first books I bought as a new prepper. It opened my eyes to how vulnerable my family and I really were. It laid out easy ways to improve one’s security and I have started to carry out the changes to my home. The great part about this book, is that the basic steps we need to take are relatively easy to do over time and on almost any budget. This is a must read!I think is an important book to grab in your first few paychecks as there is no point in filling your homes with preps only to leave your front door open. Becoming familiar with security needs around your home or bug out location is a crucial step in your journey as a prepper. This touches on all the basic ideas of how to look at and define your security needs.To learn more about this book take a look at our review found here.
Prepper Projects:
To bug out or to bug in? This is a question that deserves some real consideration as it will guide a lot of your purchases on the go forward. There is a lot of divide in the prepping community with die hards swearing by one choice or the other. I prepare to do both as I appreciate having options and the flexibility it provides my family. You can read about that here.
EDC Gear: (Everyday Carry) This is a right of passage for preppers and can get very expensive so stay focused and start small (Pun Intended). A lot of the gear I am suggesting you will add to your edc pack in the future. For that matter a lot of your gear will find it’s way into many of the packs and bags you will build over your journey. The important thing is to start learning about EDC gear so you can plan your approach. I started with the following gear:
Paracord Bracelet
Folding knife
Flashlight
Tactical Pen
A few odds and ends are better than nothing and all of these tools can come in handy in everyday life. Don’t worry before you know it you’ll be a walking tactical gear junkie!
Personal Documents: Start Organizing important documents in-case of an emergency. Here I believe in redundancies and Stress the importance of being safe with your important information. Depending on your risk tolerance you can choose what works best for you.
I have printed multiple copies of my crucial paper work and placed them in zip lock bags. In order to keep them safe I took those and locked them in a fire-proof bag in a fireproof safe located off site. Furthermore, I also uploaded scans of them to my dropbox so they are accessible if the grid is still up and running. I have also stored them on my survivor thumb drive . I keep my survivor drive in my go bag so I will always have it on me.
Some important documents to organize are:
personal ID
security card
I.D. cards for the kids
proof of residence
insurance information
medical records
bank and account information
life Insurance
Pets medical records
Prep Like A pro:
Remember this journey is not a race, you should buy what you will you use and what you don't have. I recommend that you print these lists out So you can highlight them with different colors to illustrate What you have on hand and what you still need to purchase. This will allow you to come back to these lists when you have few extra bucks and buy the items you passed over the first time.
If you stay organized you can avoid simple mistakes and oversights.