Indiana Open Country

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what is a bug out bag?

What Is A Bug Out Bag-Essential Gear for 72 Hour Outdoor Survival

Starting this website I have encountered a ton of information in a relatively short period of time.  I have spent my whole life loving the outdoors and spending as much time as I possibly can experience it, and I did not even know what I did not know.

I am on a continuous hunt to find more information for myself and more information to share with my readers I kept running across this term; Bug out Bag or BOB for short.  I actually thought it was just some tight mesh bag that just kept bugs out of your stuff.

Boy was I wrong.  A bug out bag is a bag of survival gear that is put together to help you survive 72 hours by yourself.  It is a pretty genius idea really.  You never really know if there is going to be some sort of emergency that could leave you fending for yourself.

From natural disasters, car breaking down to getting lost on an afternoon hike, having a bug out bag could really mean the difference between life and death.

I highly suggest that every person put together themselves a bug out bag to make sure that they are prepared. Even if you never think that you may need one.  No one expects an emergency and I’m sure that the majority of people in the modern world today are no more prepared for one than having a few extra candles in the kitchen drawer.

I put together a list of the essentials that you should have in your bag.  You may not need all of these, or think you don’t, but this list will definitely point you in the right direction and help you put together your supplies.

All of these supplies can easily fit in a draw string sports bag, backpack or even something as simple as a pillow case!

• Emergency Whistle
• Emergency Candle – 6 hour
• Stainless Surgical Blade
• Compass
• Waterproof Matches
• Duct Tape (36″)
• Survival Guide
• Saftey Pins (3)
• Wound Closure Strips (5)
• Aluminum Foil
• Plastic Water Bag
• Snare Wire (8′)
• Basic Fishing Kit
• Emergency Cord
• Bandages (assorted sizes)
• Gauss pads  (assorted sizes)
• Alcohol pads
• Sewing Kit
• Rubber Gloves
• Hand Sanitizer (with Aloe)
• Super Glue (1 bottle inside a case)
• Thumb Tac (in super glue case)
• Tissue
• Pad of Paper
• Pencil
• 5.5 hour candle
• 2 – 6″ lightstick (12 hour – May be different brand than pictured)
• Ready Light Flash Light with 2 LED’s (no batteries, squees to charge. 1 minute of charging gives 15 to 20 minutes of power)
• Matches (32)
• wipes (2 in indavidual packages)
• Duct Tape (60′)

P.s  Just as important as having all this gear to help you survive, you need to make sure that you know exactly what you have and how to use it.  No sense in trying to survive with tools you don’t know how to use.