Consider Basic Needs: The Things You Can’t Live Without
Jan 9th, 2012 | By John | Category: Education, Prepping | Print This Article
There’s a massive trend in the survivalist community that says that buying guns is the most important thing you can possibly do. Unfortunately, Hollywood may have something to do with that reasoning. While prudently arming yourself is important, the most crucial factor of survival is acquiring the basics. If you can’t find water, food, shelter, clothing, and medical supplies, you are not going to do well in a survival situation, no matter how many guns you have.
The first thing you have to consider is that a gun will not help you in a natural disaster, unless that particular natural disaster has stripped the local community of food and other supplies. It is not until extreme, desperate scenarios that a neighbor will attack another neighbor for resources. In that case, you should already be well prepared for that eventuality. If evacuation is possible, this option should most certainly be exercised, as opposed to barricading yourself in your home.
If evacuation is not possible however, knowing how to acquire recourses in the wild will be your best asset for survival. These skills allow you to provide for your basic needs without a single dollar in your wallet. They also allow you to avoid marketplaces, town centers, and major stores if you and your family are on the run.
Clean Water
Water is your most important resource. The human body cannot live more than three days without water, and in certain zones, it is not always easy to find. In northern regions, water is more abundant, but it is more difficult to find farther south. The best thing to do is plan to find water in advance.
Simply sipping from a lake or a river may kill you if you are not careful. Almost all lakes and rivers contain parasites and harmful bacteria that will make you sick. Americans are used to drinking filtered, pure water, which means that our immune systems are not adjusted to combat microorganisms. In a normal scenario, getting sick from lake water simply requires a trip to the doctor’s office, antibiotics, and a few days off from work. In a survival situation, none of those options will be available. You cannot afford to get sick, but if you do, you have to keep acquiring resources and staying mobile. This will be extremely difficult.
The best thing you can do is slowly subject yourself to natural water resources.
- First, you need to make sure that you have a nearby water source, such as a river or lake. Do not begin to drink all of your water from this immediately, as your body is not yet use to it.
- Next, you will need to secure a filtration device. This device depends upon your intentions of a disaster scenario.
- For under $100, you can acquire a quality hiker water filtration system that should last you for 50,000 gallons or so before you need to change the filter.
- If you decide to stay in your home, then it is easy to find gravity-fed water filtration devices that do not require electricity. Simply acquire your water from a nearby stream, and filter it through your home device. Make sure the device you buy is rated to filter out silt, mud, and microorganisms.
- As time goes on, slowly move to unfiltered water, allowing your body to cope over time. It is always important to boil every ounce that you drink. This will add a layer of protection for even unfiltered water.
Finding Food
This section is trickier. Food is never easy to find, and hunting has always been considered a fine skill. Methods of finding food also tend to be based on regions, as animal species differ. While hunting may be a skill you will have to refine and may require additional resources, trapping and fishing will allow you to multitask. There are many devices that you cannot only make from wood and stone, but buying them from sporting goods stores is rather cheap.
Here are several land animal and fish traps you can use:
- Figure Four Deadfall Trap
- Indian Fish Trap
- Snare
- Cage Trap
- Foothold Trap
- Trapping Pit
The beauty of using traps will allow you to set up places where you can catch protein and fat-rich food, without taking your time to procure other basic resources.
Keep in mind that only eating squirrel, rabbit, and even certain deer meet will not provide you with enough necessary fat. Some studies have shown that the human body can actually starve from eating only rodent meat, as it tends to have little to no nutrients and fat. This is another reason to find a water source, because fish is rich in fat and protein. It is easy to build a fish trap, and even using spools with fishing line from overhang branches will allow you to acquire this natural resource with ease.
Also, it is crucial that you buy a book concerning your region’s flora and fauna. Get to know your local edible plants and animals. This will allow you to keep a balanced diet, so that you can collect crucial vitamins and minerals from the local plant life. Even eating only nuts, berries, and natural vegetables, can provide adequate nutrients if you have not been able to catch an animal.
Clothing, Shelter, and Medical Supplies
This segment is not nearly as involved as the first two basics. Clothing, shelter, and medical supplies are not nearly as consumable, which means that you will only have to acquire them every so often.
Luckily, you will probably not have to “bug out” to the Yukon and will remain relatively close to civilization. This means that it may be easy to acquire cloth. Killing animals for their skins may be an option, but again, this will require skill to tan the hide while keeping the furs intact. Simply keeping old clothing, rather than sending them to the thrift store should be enough, as simply layering will keep out the wet and cold. Buying a good coat and hiker clothing is preferable, as they are both light and durable, but this should be a secondary priority.
Shelter is still something that you should only have to build every so often as well. Certain shelters have been known to last for years if they are built properly. Light research will show you how to build a good shelter if you have to stay in the woods for a length of time. However, the best thing you can do is buying a survival hammock, or lightweight “3+ Season” tent. You will most likely not need a “4 Season” tent, as these are rated to climb the Alps and the Himalayas. For temperate zones, “3+ Season” tents should suffice.
Last, it is important to buy a good medical kit. An infected cut could cause a need for amputation if the antibiotics are not present. A good medical kit will allow you to properly clean your wound. This will also have basic gastrointestinal medications in the event that you grow sick from something that you might have eaten. This way, you will not be totally incapacitated, allowing you to keep acquiring resources and keep moving. A proper medical kit should be considered extremely crucial.
If you take medications, find a way to stock up on these. If you cannot, then do research on possible homeopathic or all-natural options. You will be able to buy them over-the-counter, which means that you will be able to stock up and moderately deal with your condition without your prescription medications.
©2013 Off The Grid News
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Another great article, I would only add that if you are (on the run) you have to pack light and it would be a great idea to have a plan already in place before you need it and have your (bug out bags packed and ready to go. You don’t want to waist valuable time looking for your survival gear if not pre-packed (which I would strongly suggest so you have a chance to see what you have and will it all fit and can you carry it. Another plan most don’t think about is what if the situation turns bad (not on a weekend when you are all at home) but if on a work day when the family is scattered around town. Have a plan and practice it while it is calm. Set up a place to gather or at least a route you will take to get home. This will help if you work (as most of us do) faraway from home. Assigne different tasks to everyone so the load is spread around evenly. Make sure everyone carries the basics as you maybe on your own (until you meet up) or worse case you have a member that is caught and cannot join the group. If possible (and right now it is) PDR (practice, drill, rehearse) at least once a week until it become second nature, then once a month to keep everyone tuned up. In all this PDR I think you will find out how to fine tune your plan and packing. I at one time did some diving at night with sharks all around. Before doing that we had classes on what to expect and how to respond. Panic will kill you in this situation and I think it applies here as well. Thanks again for your great article, and as my son said after he graduated from the police academy “dad we learned allot of things but they really stressed….be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet. I think those are words to live by in the s it hits the fan.
If owning a gun is your first priority it’s telling me you are considering using it to obtain the survival items you need from others. Be very leary of neighbors, family and friends who claim they are ready for disaster because they have the weapons to “protect” themselves. I surely wouldn’t advertise to anyone my preparations and especially those who have weapons but no other preparations.
Not so…..it may indicate that for some, but usually when you paint with such broad strokes, you`re incorrect. A firearm is my first pick for any survival or emergency situation simply for self-defense. I may have food, water, shelter, and any other supplies I need, but without a means of self-defense, I likely won`t keep them.
I understand where you`re coming from, because in this society we live in, we do indeed seem to see people that are completly selfish and uncaring, and I believe in many instances, you`re assertion would be correct, that they would attempt to take from another.
Do you have any suggestions for means of protection if you cannot keep a gun due to some circumstance? I grew up hunting w/ my dad from a very young age, so am capable of owning a firearm, but choose not to because I have a severely autistic adult son who will never understand the concept of how dangerous a gun can be if not respected and used properly. No amount of explaining or training will work for him. He is basically a preschooler mentally. He is not a high-functioning Aspergers type of autistic person. I went ahead and got a BB gun and also a pepper spray gun, but have to keep those well hidden from my son as they can be dangerous, albeit not usually deadly. We have a dog, but not one that would scare off anyone. I would like to be able to have more protection than that, so any suggestions would be appreciated.
Drag and Draw (for handgun, see link in today’s “Children With Guns”), Gun Safe (rifle +), Trigger Locks (most any) and/or a combination of these, all of which can have disadvantages (size, ready access for fast response, etc). Explain the situation to your preferred gun dealer and request advantages of different options for your situation. If his suggestions/help is not complete or comfortable to you – find another dealer.
sorry–i hit the wrong button by mistake. they are right next to each other.
lol
In this situation pepper spray is a good bet plus you can get a lock box if you need one. A baseball bat is good too. Or even a golf club. they both are used for sports but can easily be used to defend you and your clhild.
Taking a few self defensc classes could help too.
Plus its great exercize.
Add – another dog – mid to full size highly protective female. We adopted a mixed Golden Retriever and Yellow Lab puppy which had been abused and found on a Golf Course. For 1st couple years she was hesitant around all men – even myself, but very agressive if anyone tried to mess with her friend (my son). 10 years later she still barks agressively with someone at front door OR when I try to wake up son!!
Wasp spray is much better than pepper spray- long (repeat-long) reach and narrow stream means it will hit your target from farther away and almost all of the spray will hit the target- not disperse in/on your home/room/yourself! Also, keep car keys with you so you can push the panic button: makes a very loud noise coming from your outside or in-garage car, which will alert neighbors who could come help you!
Not only selfish and uncaring, but there are so many folks now who have allowed themselves to become dependent on “the system” to provide for them. Most of us who are preparing are aware that we may have to rely on ourselves in the long term. What about others who absolutely rely on governments that take from others, or from all of us, for their every need: food, housing, clothing, medical needs, money, EVERYTHING?? Politicians woo these people with promises of “security provided by govt.” to get their support for the socialist agenda. Living in an area of low income, it is obvious that there are MORE dependent folks like this around me than there are those of us who are self-reliant and preparing ourselves. Govt. even brainwashes these dependent people to think that those of us who are preparing are somehow bad or “terrorists” who need to be spied on and reported to authorities. It seems to me that if we do come to needing our guns to protect what we have, that some of those we will be needing to protect ourselves from will be these “entitlement class” and the criminal socialist govt. that has spawned them.
Ask people in Bosnia during their civil war what they would rather have, a case of pork-n-beans or an AK-47 and 1000 rds of ammo. People who had ammo could always barter for dinner.
This is a wonderful article. Keep them coming.
As one who was born and raised in the 50′s and 60″s, I would never have imagined that our government would leave us hanging out on a limb. Guess we can depend on ourselves and forget those elected officials who appear to care for them selves. We John & Jane Does will have to depend on ourselves in order to make it through this crises. I think we had better buy what we can as fast as we can,before it’s to late. I pulled out an old Boy’s Scout book and was amazed on the wealth of knowledge it contains. Stock up ,stock up,if you don’t need it you can trade with some one else. Great article,always enjoy the read.. Take care of yourselves.God help us all. Southern Patriot
Yes sir indeed! Especially surplus ammo! Politics are another mans game in my book and therefore I don’t have any use for it what so ever, but it doesn’t change the fact that the government is there and it’s ways of doing by the individual’s held to run it are screwing up. The government gave us fire power and they will try to take it back. Mark my words. Stock up on guns and ammo.