Are you going to survive? Emergency essentials in an unstable world.

A conversation with another teacher during our prep period spured me into writing this post about survival. This time instead of specific wilderness survival I want to talk about the tools you should have at arms reach to survive any emergency. At a time when nations across the globe are experienceing disasters and other emergency situations on an increasingly regular basis it is important to know and understand that it might happen to you someday. Realizing that it can happen in your backyard should make you feel the necessity of being prepaired. How should you be prepaired? By being well equipped. Below is a list of tools and supplies that you should carry with you or at least near you on a regular basis in case of emergency.

> Rope: this is often one of the most unappreciated pieces of survival kit until you acctually need it. Rope can be used for a million different things, from tieing a tourniquet to lashing branches into a tent pole. I suggest keeping as much as twenty five feet of #550 paracord on hand for such emergencies. There are a couple ways to carry such rope. Paracord is thin but extremely strong, so thin that it is commonly substituted for bootlaces and can be made into a variety of things like watchbands and bracelets, consider such acessories if you are a survival fashionita because they are pretty cool. Also paracord is small enough when wrapped up to be stowed in a small space, not hard to drop into the bottom of a backpack or purse.

> Lighter or firestarter or both: Lighters are probably the easiest thing to carry on a regular basis after something you can wear and is essential to any decent survival kit. Some people carry both a lighter and firestarter, I say if you have socks or a cotton t-shirt on you have more than enough firestarter already. A good lighter should be both water and fireproof. Torch lighters usually fit the bill the best but a bick will suffice in a pinch. Good firestarter is anything from pocket lint to cotton balls. These things will likely be indespensable in a survival situation as you will likely need to start a fire for warmth but you could possibly need to do anything from light a signal fire to fuse rope or heat a knife to cauderize a wound.

> Knife and or Multitool: A trusty knife is a mans second best friend. If you know me you probably know that I don't leave the house without my Leatherman and my pocket knife and you probably have seen me use them to do anything from cut meat, or spread butter to fix a car or screw a door back together. They are essential for good survival kit because they will serve so many functions. A knife can help defend yourself, fashion tools, dig a hole, trim your toe nails, and, if it's sharp enough, to even shave. A multitool, such as a Leatherman, will have on it and serve as pliers, a sawblade, file, screw driver, wirecutters, scissors, a wrench, pry bar and the list goes on and on. I've used both of these tools for countless fixes and they have saved my butt in a pinch more than once in daily life, not to mention survival situations.

> Extra clothing: Some survival experts say that extra clothing is too much to hassle with or worry about during a emergency or survival situation. However, even an extra pair of socks or a dry shirt can be invaluable to you in an emergency. I try to keep extra clothing in my car at all times, including a jacket and long sleeve shirt. Some might carry extra shoes or other accessories. I also suggest a blanket, even if it is once of those silly space blankets, just in case. At the very least you can make a make shift tent or signal for help with it, at worst you might survive that enexpectedly cold night warm and cozy instead of hypothermic. Extra clothing should be light and packable and easy to get to (in case it is in your car like mine).

> Water: HYDRATE OR DIE. It is simple as that. If you dont have water you will not last more than a couple of days out in the cold hard world that is a true emergency survival situation. A water bottle will not only help you have water on you, but trasport water from one place to another. Remember to ration your water out if you don't know where and when your next ressuply will be. With water that you find make sure it is clean first by boiling it for a few minutes before drinking it. Even clean looking water can have a host of parasites that could make you sick. Being sick for an emergency survival situation is the last thing you need!!!

> Simple First Aid supplies: If you know enough to have some sort of survival kit with you, you know enough to keep a first aid kit with that survival gear. When I taught wilderness survival and orienteering at a summer camp last year, my first aid kit was the biggest thing on me. If you know you will be responsible for more than just you make sure you have enough supplies. If you are by yourself pack light. Bandages, medical tape, gauze, and pain killers are the bare minimum. A good kit should incluse those plus; an ace bandage, alcohol wipes(hand sanitizer is OK but not the same), sewing kit, antihistamenes, different size bandages, and clotting powder. These things will go a long way in a survival situation and having them when you don't is always better than not having them when you need them. You can easily get a pocket sized kit from any good sporting good store, but the best kits are hand picked. Don't skimp here because you will only pay for it later down the road. Also be mindful of expiration dates, make sure they are clearly marked and that you rotate supplies. If you need help finding any of the above check with me or google it.

> Analog watch and compass: Knowing the time and where you are going are not only essential to survival in most situations but can also be huge moral boosts when in and emergency. You may ask why this is one category. Well that is because an ANALOG watch can be used to determine your heading relative to the sun, a skill few have and fewer have mastered, but still useful. And many watches these days have nifty featuers like GPS based compasses built right into them. And we all had a watch when we were kids that had a compass on it (or maybe I'm too old school and you all had calculator watches instead). Either way combining two survival tools into one is handy for keeping them on you and with you. You might not always wear a compass but you might always wear a watch!

> Plastic trash bag: At the very least a plastic trash bag can help you carry items you pick up on the way. But it can also serve as a rain poncho, shelter, water carrier, protective wrapping, signaling, and even a means of water procurement via a solar still. The most common thing you will use a trash bag for in a survival situation is likely to be the roof of your shelter it helps alot to have a waterproof barrier between you and the rain and wind. The plus about trash bags is that they come in a variety of sizes and colors so you can pick and choose the best type. The ones you should look for are going to be the ones that are used for constuction or any other heavy duty task. They should be preferably the largest you can find and of the brightest color available, orange is the best bet.

> Signaling device (mirror or whistle): Yes the Native Americans used to signal with smokey fires but, as a rule of thumb, we are not as crafty as them. Keeping that in mind you should have a mirror or whistle in your kit just in case you need to let someone know where you are if your voice isn't loud enough. A good signaling mirror will have a sighting hole in the middle through which you can aim your mirror and should also be encased in a plastic case for durability. A good whistle should be stainless steel NOT PLASTIC! Plastic breaks, steel bends, guess which is easier to fix. Along with signaling devices a cell phone should be considered part of your kit. In some emergencies a cell might not work or might be broken but in many places it can be your greatest asset in getting the help you need during an emergency.

> Metal bowl or cup: Having a metal bowl or cup with your kit gives you a couple options. You can eat out of it, boil water in it, cook with it, carry things in it, etc... At the very least you should have one with you in the event you need to boil water. This is not accomplished easily without one of the above items. And you never know when the mood may strike you, while out in the scary world of a suvival situation, to make yourself a nice warm cup of pine needle tea!

> Something to put it all in: You will need a bag or some kind of container for your survival kit. I have seen people make use of anything from Altoids tins and coffee cans to dive bags and water proof backpacks. I suggest something manageable for the kit you have. If you really can fit it all into an Altoids tin, wonderful, I'll be sure to check it for a match and stick of gum when your dead. (kidding! kinda?) But if you have your kit in a coffee tin or small bag that is at arms reach and is made to be durable then you will be set. The larger bag or container you have the more stuff you will be able to keep on you but you sacrifice being able to have it on you at all times and also manageability. Stay away from minimalism here but don't be super excessive. Most survivalists suggest something akin to the coffee can mentioned above, I'm a small kit bag/on me at all times person, to each their own. If you can make some of your gear part of the things you have on your person on a daily basis then that is really a great way to go.

I hope you read this and take some of the lessons above to heart. You never know when disaster will strike and when it eventually does effect you, you need to be ready! If I forgot any of the essentials or forgot to mention a use for one of the above, do mention it in a comment!