An overlooked item for your BOB...Pedialyte

I can scour the internet all day and look at suggestions for items that should be included in a bug out bag and never get bored. No list is exactly correct because a bug out bag is a very individual thing. There are a few items that should be in all bog out bags though. One item that is ofter overlooked is Pedialyte. That stuff is a like a magical potion for hydration. Just try some next time your hung over :).

Many add Gatorade to their kit to use for emergency hydration but Pedialyte should replace that used space. Pedialyte has much more potassium and a significantly less sugar than Gatorade. Sugar can make dehydrating diarrhea worse when your body is sucking up any hydration it can get. Pedialyte has been designed from the ground up simply to rehydrate when you need it the most. I see the container as a bonus too. When the contents run out you have a water bottle. If your feel that the Pedialyte bottle is too bulky if you have a smaller BOB then there is another option. Pedialyte comes in powder form as well. You can get it in singles packages which are much easier to carry. Put a few of those in your first-aid kits.   

Hydration is the single most important factor in your survivability. In a dire situation a simple stomach virus can kill you. It would behoove any prepper to take my advice and add this wonder fluid to your preps. I keep short barrels stocked with kits in my garage and each barrel will have a bottle and a singles pack in it by the time this week it over. The singles need to be in your EDC (Every Day Carry) kit too. Pickle juice is also another super hydrator but is much less practical to stock.

Get your Pedialyte because when you have to bug out of your home because the zombies are taking over you will need to emergency hydrate at some point. Besides, how are you going to put some lead in a zed head when your are suffering from the effects of dehydration. Dehydration is a quick way to become a zombie and zombies will be met with by carbine. Don't be on the wrong end of someone's gun just because you forgot your Pedialyte.

SHTF Fashion and Style....(yeah, I went there)

Fashion and style are greatly overlooked in most peoples preps. While that statement sounds idiotic it has some mettle. You need to decide what your bug out look will be. There are two basic looks that won't get you mugged and stripped of your preps. You can go with the "blend in" approach and wear simple street clothes with a standard backpack as your bug out bag. The other option is to look like a smooth operator straight out of a movie or video game. It is hard to argue which option is better as both have pros and cons.

First, lets examine the street clothes option. Blending in is usually a great plan. The less attention you receive the more likely you are to go unnoticed. Those that blend in will not look like they have too much to take if they are noticed by some in-prepared vultures of men. The backpack will be a dead giveaway for those carrying one if it is too flashy. A giant hikers pack says "I have a lot of stuff that you need to survive. Come take it." The tactical option says "I have a lot of stuff that you need to survive. Come any try to take it; you probably can't. Pick the next guy."

If you go for the tactical operator look you will definitely be more equipped to carry more bug out equipment.  You will also be telling everyone around you that you have the supplies that they need. On the other hand, if your have on a pair of combat boots and an assault rifle across your chest strapped to a tactical vest people are far less likely to cross you.

Of course these aren't the only two options but they are the best two in my opinion. For my situation I like the tactical look. Two of my preferred bug out routes will surely lead me through a highly populated area and I like to look more like a wolf than a sheep. Hopefully my bug out will happen before panic sets in though,if it happens at all. Nothing says don't mess with me more than a black AR hanging across your chest, a machete sticking up from behind your backpack and a sidearm.

FREE book download: Post-Apocalyptic Personal & Family Security by Bill Drake

Here is a free download of Bill Drake's book Post-Apocalyptic Personal & Family Security. It is shared for FREE under the Creative Commons License. I always try to be fair when sharing the wrok of others so I want eveyone to know that I found his on the SHTF Blog. If you have never checked out the SHTF blog you should give it a visit by clicking HERE.

This book covers topics such as:

• Creating a Secure Residential Interior and Exterior
• Alarm Systems
• Foot Surveillance
• Options for Targeted Individuals
• Handling Stress During Crisis
• Home Evaluation
• Security on The Move – In Transit
• and much, much more

Download it for FREE by clicking HERE

REPOST: Prepping For College Students, Apartment Dwellers, And People In Tight Spaces

 I went back to the archives (very recent) for this; it is too important not to share again.


School in back in and the world is getting more chaotic by the day. Living on campus certainly presents some challenges for those of us who are of the prepper state of mind. I spent a few years in the dorms myself. There are lots of regulations and then there is the issues that arise from having a very limited amount of space. It is impossible to be as prepared as a man with 10 acres in the sticks if you are living in a dorm room but there are steps you can take to increase your survivability. This information can be useful for apartment dwellers as well. In the event of a disaster the biggest problem will be your fellow students. Let's face it, college students are generally idiots. They are generally less than half as smart as they think they are and have the skill level of a gnat when it comes to skills that increase survivability. These are the type of people that panic. It is best to keep our dorm room preps quite.

Here is a list of things that you can do to help with your preps while on campus. Keep in mind that this kit is only the essential. It is designed around limited storage space like a dorm room tends to have.

• Hide $50-$100 in your room. Make sure half of it is in $1 bills.
• Keep at least a half of a tank of gas in your vehicle. A campus is generally somewhere that you will want to bug out of if something happens.
• Keep some hand sanitizer handy. A face mask would be a good idea too. Dorms are notorious for viral outbreaks. A serious pathogen can spread like wild fire in dorms.
• No matter how sick you are of ramen noodles you need to have a small stock pile of them. 3600 Calorie ER Bars are great too.
• As I always say, stash some Bic lighters
• Make sure you have flashlights and batteries.
• If your institution has a mass text service sign up for it.
• Get a first aid kit
• Make sure you have a couple of changes of clothes in you bug out bag.
• Have three gallons of water on stand-by.
• Make sure you have a knife. Just be sure that you are not breaking the rules. Most universities have a limit of an 8" blade length allowed on campus.
• Very few colleges allow guns on campus. You can still be close to yours. Join a gym and lock your gun up in your gym locker.
• Make sure you have your emergency documentation in your car and in your room. Don't forget to have your three routes to three different locations in there. Use printed maps. Your handy-dandy GPS might not work when you need it to.
• Put all of these items in a bug out bag. You are basically creating a mini bug out kit.

The next thing a student needs to consider is when it is time to bug out or when bugging in is a better option. If riots break out in your college town it is probably time to get the hell out of town. If an ice storm hits it is time to bug in.  Just make sure you stay informed on the given situation and  stay ahead of the curve. If an infection is spreading throughout the cities and zombies are running rampant you need to bug out and do it before the infection hits your town. Information is key. Your goal is to hit the road before any one else in a bug out situation. People tend to panic a that they become the most dangerous threat of all. If you are at a campus that is far away from home you may want to find some fellow preppers that can help you with the area you are in. It is hard to bug out if you don't know where to go. I like to have three bug out location. One of them is 2 hours away from home, another is four hours away from home, and the third location is six hours away. I also have some local places to go in case a am hit by a very localized disaster that only affects my neighborhood.

How can I learn to increase my survivability?

• Read Zombie Splatter on a regular basis. It is free and your can subscribe via RSS by clicking HERE. Or you can follow ZS by email with the box at the bottom of this page. Be sure to connect with us on facebook and twitter.
• Start listening to The Survival Podcast. The listener feedback shows cover a lot of very important content
• Make sure you have your emergency documentation. Click HERE for a template so you can make you documentation package.
• Check out the ZS Bug Out Bag page to get a better understanding of what a full-sized bug out bag has in it.

I am very interested in your input on this post. If your a living in dorms what kind of input do you have. You can comment using the comment box just below. It is powered by facebook so just login in and leave your comment.

Prepping For College Students, Apartment Dwellers, And People In Tight Spaces

School in back in and the world is getting more chaotic by the day. Living on campus certainly presents some challenges for those of us who are of the prepper state of mind. I spent a few years in the dorms myself. There are lots of regulations and then there is the issues that arise from having a very limited amount of space. It is impossible to be as prepared as a man with 10 acres in the sticks if you are living in a dorm room but there are steps you can take to increase your survivability. This information can be useful for apartment dwellers as well. In the event of a disaster the biggest problem will be your fellow students. Let's face it, college students are generally idiots. They are generally less than half as smart as they think they are and have the skill level of a gnat when it comes to skills that increase survivability. These are the type of people that panic. It is best to keep our dorm room preps quite.

Here is a list of things that you can do to help with your preps while on campus. Keep in mind that this kit is only the essential. It is designed around limited storage space like a dorm room tends to have.

• Hide $50-$100 in your room. Make sure half of it is in $1 bills.
• Keep at least a half of a tank of gas in your vehicle. A campus is generally somewhere that you will want to bug out of if something happens.
• Keep some hand sanitizer handy. A face mask would be a good idea too. Dorms are notorious for viral outbreaks. A serious pathogen can spread like wild fire in dorms.
• No matter how sick you are of ramen noodles you need to have a small stock pile of them. 3600 Calorie ER Bars are great too.
• As I always say, stash some Bic lighters
• Make sure you have flashlights and batteries.
• If your institution has a mass text service sign up for it.
• Get a first aid kit
• Make sure you have a couple of changes of clothes in you bug out bag.
• Have three gallons of water on stand-by.
• Make sure you have a knife. Just be sure that you are not breaking the rules. Most universities have a limit of an 8" blade length allowed on campus.
• Very few colleges allow guns on campus. You can still be close to yours. Join a gym and lock your gun up in your gym locker.
• Make sure you have your emergency documentation in your car and in your room. Don't forget to have your three routes to three different locations in there. Use printed maps. Your handy-dandy GPS might not work when you need it to.
• Put all of these items in a bug out bag. You are basically creating a mini bug out kit.

The next thing a student needs to consider is when it is time to bug out or when bugging in is a better option. If riots break out in your college town it is probably time to get the hell out of town. If an ice storm hits it is time to bug in.  Just make sure you stay informed on the given situation and  stay ahead of the curve. If an infection is spreading throughout the cities and zombies are running rampant you need to bug out and do it before the infection hits your town. Information is key. Your goal is to hit the road before any one else in a bug out situation. People tend to panic a that they become the most dangerous threat of all. If you are at a campus that is far away from home you may want to find some fellow preppers that can help you with the area you are in. It is hard to bug out if you don't know where to go. I like to have three bug out location. One of them is 2 hours away from home, another is four hours away from home, and the third location is six hours away. I also have some local places to go in case a am hit by a very localized disaster that only affects my neighborhood.

How can I learn to increase my survivability?

• Read Zombie Splatter on a regular basis. It is free and your can subscribe via RSS by clicking HERE. Or you can follow ZS by email with the box at the bottom of this page. Be sure to connect with us on facebook and twitter.
• Start listening to The Survival Podcast. The listener feedback shows cover a lot of very important content
• Make sure you have your emergency documentation. Click HERE for a template so you can make you documentation package.
• Check out the ZS Bug Out Bag page to get a better understanding of what a full-sized bug out bag has in it.

I am very interested in your input on this post. If your a living in dorms what kind of input do you have. You can comment using the comment box just below. It is powered by facebook so just login in and leave your comment.

The Bug Out Bag

 This is a copy of the Zombie Splatter BOB page. The page will be updated periodically.

Here is a list of supplies that should be included in you Bug Out Bag (from here known as BOB). You don't need the exact items listed, just something similar. A BOB, if your don't know, is a single bag with the items you need to survive for three days. A BOB should be very unique to the individual in whom it is designed to support. If a disaster strikes and you are going to a farm owned by the family a few hours away then you don't need to add the extra weight and bulk of some of the camping type items. My BOB has lots of camping type items since my plan includes a camp out in a mountain location until the "smoke clears." The contents of your bag greatly depends on you skill set. When designing you bag keep weight in mind!

The items listed below are linked to Amazon.com. They are my preferred items. If you have suggestions or comments please use the comment box at the bottom of this page to speak up.

The Bag

• Canvas Military Duffle Bag Olive Drab 25 X 42

First Aid

• First Aid Only Outdoor First Aid Kit, Soft Case, 205-Piece Kit
• Quikclot Sport Brand Advanced Clotting Sponge ,Stop Bleeding Fast, 50 Gram Package
• C-A-T Combat Application Tourniquet - Black
• Neosporin Original First Aid Antibiotic Ointment, 1-Ounce Tube

Books

• US Army Survival Manual: FM 21-76
• When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need To Survive When Disaster Strikes

Clothing

• Boots, socks, underwear, pants, socks, hat, poncho, etc

Cutting Tools

• KA-BAR Full Size US Marine Corp Fighting Knife, Serrated
• Gerber 31-000758 Gator Machete with Sheath
• Gerber 45905 Camp Axe With Sheath

Water Containers

• Reliance Products 5 Gallon Poly-Bagged Fold-A-Carrier Collapsible Water Carrier
• 512 G.I. Type Stainless Steel Canteen Cup
• Rothco 422 G.I. Style Aluminum Canteen and Cover, 1 Quart

W

Water Purification

• SteriPEN Adventurer Opti Handheld UV Water Purifier
• Polar Pure Water Disinfectant With Iodine Crystals
• Katadyn Pocket Water Microfilter

Camp Shovel

• Gerber 22-41578 Gorge Folding Shovel

Radio

• Etón American Red Cross ARCFR160R Microlink Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight, Solar Power and Cell Phone Charger (Red)

Flahlight

• Rayovac SELUX2AA3W-B Sportsman Xtreme 3-Watt Luxeon LED Flashlight With Batteries

Fire Starting

• BIC Disposable Classic Lighter With Child Guard. Sold As A SIX Pack
• Scout Fire Piston
• 900 AURORA FIRE STARTER

Multi-tool

• Leatherman 74208003K Juice CS4-Pocket Multi-Tool, Storm Gray
• Leatherman Surge Multitool - Model# 830161

Navigation

• Brunton Classic Compass
• U.S. Issue Mil-Spec Tritium Illuminated Aluminum Military Lensatic Marching Compass
• Magellan Triton 400 Waterproof Hiking GPS
• maps

Cordage

• Rothco 550lb. Type III Paracord, 100 Feet - Black
• Rothco 550lb. Type III Paracord, 100 Feet - ACU Digital Camouflage 
• 194 CORD 550LB NYLON 100 FT / SAFETY ORANGE 

Documents and CASH

• Emergency Documentation Package
• and some cash of course

Communication

• Motorola MR355R 35-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair)
• Cobra 19DXIV 40-Channel CB Radio

Emergency Food

• 3600 Calorie ER Bar - Emergency Food Ration
• 9217 SurePak 12 MRE's- Meals ready to eat.
• Hammer Gel Single Serve Raspberry 12 Pack

Shelter

• Emergency Shelter Tent, Reflective Tube Tent, Cold Weather Emergency Shelter
• Emergency Sleeping Bag, Survival Bag, Emergency Zone® Brand, Reflective Blanket
• Wenzel Starlight 2-Person Hiker/Biker Tent
• Emergency Thermal Blankets (4 Pack)

Hygiene

• You preffered soap
• This bag is intended for short term use, don't get shampoo. Just use soap for your hair.
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Use the travel sized hygiene products, i don't have to list the items you need to stay clean.

Misc.

• Fishing Gear
• Medication
• Signaling Devices
• Solar Charger
• REAL Duct Tape
• Multivitamins
• Firearm and ammunition
• Feminine and baby products if necessary

FREE Emergency Documentation Template by ZS

Here is a free download for the Emergency Documentation Template that I have made for you guys. Just fill it out and print as many copies as you need. The is some sensitive information in there such as bank account numbers. Fill those areas out by hand. Don't type it. Also, decide on an encryption method for that tybe of information. For example, a +2 encryption will add 2 to each digit in a number:

2567756 will become 4789978

For a more complex encryption you can use a +2-1+2. What that mean is the first digit will be increases by 2, the middle digits will be decreased by 1, and the last digit increases by 2. For example:

2567756 will become 4456648

You can be creative with your encryption but you need to remember your method. If you forget your encryption the numbers will be useless. I suggest encrypting all account numbers and social security numbers. If it is important enough for you to encrypt it should probably hand write it in.

You can directly download the template from HERE.

If you are afraid to download directly form the ZS blog you can visit the host page HERE.

 

A Simple Item That Is Easily Overlooked

   When us preppers put together our survival kits and bug out bags we do our best to cover all of the bases. We include food, shelter, first-aid, kits, para-cord, a knife, fire starters, and much more. The are a few crucial items that are over looked though. Pens, pencils and paper are left out of far too many kits. Think about it. What are you going to do when you need to draw plans for your water delivery system from the closest creek. Maybe the worst has passed and you want to design and build a chicken coop. You will probably need to communicate. In the event of a major disaster we will probably lose most forms of modern technology for a while and facebook, email, twitter, etc won't work. That is the time to go back to the good ole pen and paper. There are countless scenarios where these items will be beneficial. Don't be the guy wishing he had included his pen. G put a few in you bug out bag right now! If you like me you have plenty just laying around and stashed in drawers. I prefer to pack pencils; pens tend to dry up after a while. Don't forget the paper. Maybe a small calender would be a good idea too. Knowing the date can help keep you sane.

  


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Easy Fire Building

Here is a quick and simple post.

   Fire is necessary for survival. You can survive a little while without it but you will eventually need it. I'm not going to teach you how to rub sticks together to make fire tonight. The best way to keep from having to do that is to carry a frikin lighter. Not a cool Zippo either, a plain ole BIC Lighter. They are simply the most reliable If you are stranded in the middle of the woods and need fire you will be glad you have that lighter in you pocket. Get a bunch of them, they are cheap. Put one a few in your bug out bag, some in your cars, carry one in you pocket. Stash them everywhere.
  
   If you want something a little cooler get a fire piston. They require no fuel, just natural tinder. Fuel pistons work similar to diesel engines and spark from compression. Hopefully I can get my video camera fixed soon and get a YouTube channel up for you guys to see. If I can get that going I will teach you the cool stuff like fire by hand drills, bow and spindle, fire plow, optics, and more.

Assembling a Survival Team

   There is strength in numbers but you are only as strong as you weakest link....blah blah blah, we have heard it a thousand times. The fact of the matter is that it is true. I a group of 25 is stronger than a lone family of 4. It will be much easier to survive if you form or join a survival group. A survival group is just what it sounds like, a group of people gathered together and helping each other survive. Different individual have different skill sets and that can come in handy.
   The first step to forming a survival group is determining who is in the group. It should be friends and family. You don't want to approach random people and ask them to join; they may be the weak link. Write down a list of family and friends that you would want to be around in a survival situation. Beside their names you need to jot down their skill sets.
    (these are made up names)

• Bob Smith- hunting, fishing, fixing cars
• Lara Smith- cooking, gardening, sewing, good with kids
• John Jones- builds houses, fishing, was in the Navy
• Tony Jones- paramedic, has a small farm, natural leader
• Etc

   You all need to get together and have some serious discussions. A leader needs to be predetermined. A rendezvous point needs to be selected as well as some backup spots. It is a good idea to determine how long the group will wait on each other before leaving. In a later post I will be discussing how to, and why you need to, create maps and routes to various rendezvous location.
   Every member of your group is going to prep for their survival in different ways. One person may not think about a scenario that the other did and vice versa. Each of you can benefit from the prepping of others. When the disaster is over you group will be the community in which you rebuild you existence. There is never too much manpower when rebuilding communities.
 

WEAPONS: The AR-15

   

   The AR-15 is my chosen rifle system in a survival situation.It is fast, comfortable, and fairly reliable. Many believe that it has reliability issues but that just stems from problems with the M16 during the Vietnam ear. Besides auto stuff is never as reliable and the semi guns. AR-15 rifles, carbines, etc are finally getting to be more affordable. I love how easy it is to change upper receivers and that essentially gives you a new gun but only one upper should be carried in a survival situation. I will take my standard 5.56 upper. My rifle, technically a carbine, is a Smith & Wesson MP15X.  When choosing an AR-15 there are a few things to consider:

1. A 5.56mm chamber is preferred over the .223. You can shoot .223 and 5.56 ammo from a 5.56 barrel but you should not shoot 5.56 from a .223 barrel.
2. Chromed lined barrels and chambers improve reliability and are easier to clean.
3. Lightweight barrels are faster than heavy barrels. We are just trying to survive, not shooting in matches.
4. Don't hang a bunch a "tacticool" stuff of of the rails. I have a vertical fore grip and a flashlight and that is all it is getting.
5. Get a good sling system. 3-point is going to be best in a survival situation.
6. Most AR-15 manufacturers built quality stuff. I don't think Colt is better than DPMS, or SW is any better than CMMG, etc. There are a few companies that make supreme parts, such as Noveske and Daniele Defense, but I don't think their stuff is worth the extra cash. To save money you can build them yourself too. That will save you about $200 usually.

   It is important that you know your rifle. Read the paperwork that came with it over and over again. Also, use AR15.com. You can learn more than you will ever need to know about the AR platform at that site.

   There will be plenty of more posts about the AR-15 in the future. It is one of my favorite topics! Later I will talk about optics, accessories, ammo, and more.