PREPPING & SURVIVALISM

In the scenario of a natural disaster, war or civil unrest, how prepared are you?

TERMINOLOGY:

SHTF = Shit Hits The Fan (ie when the situation gets shitty)

TEOTWAWKI = The End Of The World As We Know It (When most, if not all, countries and civilization are basically screwed)

Prepping = Preparation for any kind of natural disaster, war, civil unrest etc.

Bugging-in = Staying at a safe (usually familiar) location while observing the situation and analyzing other options.

Bugging-out = On the move in the scenario where your location is no longer safe, or when supplies are no longer available in the area.

BOB = Bug-Out Bag (The bag of critically essential items that you cannot go without in SHTF/TEOTWAWKI situations)

EDC - Every Day Carry (ie things that you carry with you everyday in case something happens)

PREPPING & SURVIVALISM

Prepping is basically the first step in survivalism. Prepping is not a one-off thing - it is basically a lifestyle, something that you may need to do on a daily basis.

When it comes to prepping, the first thing that comes to mind (especially those in the west) would be gund & ammunition. While self-defence is indeed important in SHTF situations, guns & ammunition is not even on the Top 10 of the list.

Mentality & Mindset

Maintain your composure.
Have courage.
Analyze your situation & available options.
Do not be overly dependant on technology.

Regardless of how many things you are hoarding, all would be useless if you are constantly panicking, or crumbling under stress.

Physical Conditioning

Maintain your flexibility.
Maintain your strength.
Maintain your stamina.
Maintain your fitness.
Maintain your health.
Manage your habits & addictions.

You may have all the items you need, and all the skills required, but if you are unable to physically put them to use, they would all be useless.

Travelling

Know the terrain.
Know the climate.
A good pair of boots/shoes are important. Socks are more important.
A vehicle is useful for a group, but useless without petrol. No license required during SHTF/TEOTWAWKI situations.
Bicycles or horses are the best way to travel. Skills required.

Survival Skills

Learn survival skills required in SHTF and TEOTWAWKI situations.
Learn risk assessment skills.
Learn urban survival skills.
Learn survival skills for your regional climate.
Learn navigation skills.
Learn defensive tactics to protect your family & friends.
Learn useful skills that make you an asset in a group.
Learn to maximize resources: Reduce-Reusue-Recycle.
Self-defence skills - armed and unarmed combat - against humans & animals.
Keep in contact with reliable family, relatives and friends. Know who to keep away from, and be wary of potential raiders/looters in your neighbourhood.
Maintain a diversified variety of items that can be used for trading. (Fiat currency would be worthless in an economic collapse, and crytocurrency would be gone without any power supply.)

If you are just hoarding, but without having any survival skills, you would not last long, and eventually your stuff would be used by someone else.

SHELTER

Sewage & Sanitation.
Air Pollution.
Water Pollution.
Radiation poisoning.
Protection against the forces of nature, wild animals, humans.

Especially during summer or winter season, shelter is more important than water or food. A person could die within hours if left stranded in the open exposed to the elements.

WATER

Learn water purification.
Learn how to identify and find potential water sources.
Lear how to build wells.
Learn how to make portable water filtration systems.

While maintaining personal hygiene is important, showering and bathing are down the list during SHTF situations. Potable water should only be used for drinking, and for cleaning wounds when necessary. Non-drinking water should be used sparingly for cleaning items.

FOOD

Gain knowledge on food nutrition.
Learn how to identify edible herbs, weeds and mushrooms.
Learn hunting and gathering skills.
Learn cooking using basic tools and condiments.
Learn various food preservation methods.
Learn canning.
Learn pickling vegetables.
Learn smoking meat.
Learn fermentation of food.

Food Preservation Skills:

Lacto-fermentation
Pickling
Smoking
Dry salting
Curing
Drying
Cellaring

Maintaining nutrition for your wellbeing, and having sufficient calories for your daily operations is essential.

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HEALTHCARE

Know your body and basic human physiology.
Learn basic healthcare.
Learn basic herbology.
Avoid toxic man-made, ultra-processed food-like products.
Avoid applying toxic chemicals onto your body.

Regardless of how much stuff you have hoarded, it all means nothing if you are sick and down. Health is a long-term investment, not something that can be achieved within a short time, or with a few bottle of pills.

WOUNDCARE

Learn basic first-aid.
Have basic wound-care items on hand.
Identify nearby clinics and hospitals.

When you are injured, it is most important that the injury/wound does not get inflammed/infected. When there are no medical assistance available, it would be most helpful if you could attend to the injury yourself.

POISONS & TOXINS

Learn how to identify toxic man-made food-like products.
Learn how to identify poisonous mushrooms and plants.
Learn how to identify venomous animals.
Learn how to identify toxic environmental signs.