Equipment

Any emergency situation will require the proper mindset and equipment to survive!

Survival equipment won’t do much good if you don’t know how to use it. But where can you start to assemble a survival kit or gather the appropriate gear?

Before investing in any equipment, start with a realistic assessment of your wilderness survival skills and needs. Ask yourself these questions:

Can I dunk a basketball? I can’t. Never could. But watch any NBA game to see the guys slam the ball home at every opportunity. If you watch the survival “reality” shows you may also see incredible techniques done routinely. So what? Use this basketball analogy as a “common sense” filter. Just because somebody else can dunk a basketball or perform wondrous survival techniques on TV doesn’t mean you could. Try out any technique or piece of equipment before you might need it: You won’t have time for on-the-job training!
Do I know anything? Be honest! It doesn’t matter how much survival stuff you have, it’s worthless if you can’t, or don’t know how, to use it. Take a good look at your skills and abilities, and face your inadequacies. (See on-the-job training, above.)
Will I make a commitment to learn? Again, be honest, and don’t put this off. If you don’t know how to use a map and compass, perform first aid, or make an emergency shelter, or other survival skills, learn now.
Will I commit to carrying survival gear? If you don’t have the equipment with you, it can’t be used. If you won’t carry a survival kit with you, or make sure it is readily available, then you are wasting your time!

Once you commit to learning how to use and carry survival gear, here are some considerations:

One size doesn’t fit all – survival gear that works in the cold Northwest winter, will be different than equipment designed for Florida, and vice versa.

A good place to start your search for knowledge is by contacting local people who work with emergencies every day: police, sheriffs departments, search and rescue, and the Red Cross. See if they have recommendations for specific gear for your area.

If you have certain medical needs or conditions, make sure the kit includes the appropriate medications.

Then, educate yourself.

To see the complete SurvivalCommonSense. com equipment category, click: equipment; for info on making survival kits, click: kits