subject: The Emergency Backpack - What It Is And What It Should Contain [print this page] An emergency backpack, also sometimes referred to as a "bug out bag," is a survival kit you keep in your vehicle or at home, to be grabbed at a moment's notice. The idea is to have an easily transportable collection of food, water, and survival gear to help you get from Point A to Point B in relative safety. While the basic contents are the same for most people, each emergency backpack should be customized to suit individual needs.
First, the emergency backpack should be comfortable to wear. This will differ with each person and because of this, there is no one quick answer to the perfect pack for everyone. Personally, I don't like the idea of using a wheeled suitcase for an emergency backpack. While these work great on flat, smooth surfaces, once you leave the pavement they immediately become more of a nuisance than anything else. You want something that will distribute the weight across your hips and shoulders, allow for packing a fair amount of contents, and with straps that will not dig into your shoulders. A waist belt truly helps as well.
Ideally, the emergency backpack will have several individual pockets, inside and out. This allows you to better organize the contents. Better organization means you can find what you need without having to hunt through the entire pack. The outside pockets are great for frequently needed items, such as navigation equipment like a compass and map. Use the interior pockets for items that are somewhat fragile or needed infrequently.
Some packs are equipped with internal water bladders, which are very handy. This allows you to carry a fairly large quantity of water right on your back, with a small tube running toward your mouth for frequent sips.
Water is heavy and it is easier to carry it this way than in a canteen around your neck or strapped to your hip.
What should be in your emergency backpack?
--Enough non-perishable food to last you a few days, such as granola bars, dried fruit, nuts, and crackers.
--Water purification supplies like filtration systems and purification tablets. NEVER drink water straight from any source in the wild. Even if it is crystal clear, it likely harbors Giardia or other organisms that can make you very sick. All found water should be boiled or purified in some reliable manner.
--Supplies for making fire. Strike anywhere matches, flint and steel, butane lighters, magnesium striker, even a magnifying glass (provided the sun is shining) are all good tools for this task. Pack a small quantity of tinder as well, like dryer lint or cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly. In a driving rainstorm, it can be difficult to find dry material to use in the field.
--A small first aid kit is a must. At a minimum, it should include bandages of various sizes, gauze wrap, antibiotic ointment, and medicines for pain relief, stomach upset, and fever reduction. Tweezers are great for removing splinters, which is bound to happen in the outdoors. Don't forget a small supply of any prescription medications that need to be taken regularly.
--Important papers, such as copies of insurance policies, identification, credit card accounts, and bank information will all be of benefit should your home be damaged or destroyed. Keep these sealed in a plastic bag to prevent them from becoming waterlogged.
--A compass and maps of the area will help keep you from getting lost should you have to veer off the beaten path, so to speak.
The point of having an emergency backpack is not to be able to run off into the woods and live off the land forever. Instead, the intention is to be able to provide for your basic needs until you can reach a place of safety.
