Survival Blog – TEOTWAWKI Preparedness

I’m sure you’ve heard it before. People have been saying as much for many years in different ways and situations. Be smarter; be quicker; be better. The United States Army: Be All You Can Be. From the historically famous Charles Darwin to modern rap artist Eminem, this particular phrase has been made popular over and over again. It’s easy to understand why this is considered true “wisdom” – we’re conceited.

That’s understandable as well. We’ve come a long way from fire, the wheel, and sliced bread. But don’t think that just because we can communicate with each other via touch-screen wristwatches and fly a plane while sleeping, that we are hard-wired to respond to any situation the smartest way. That, like many things, takes practice.

You might have noticed the title of this article: Your OTHER Toolbox. I don’t know about you in particular, but I have a toolbox for my house. There are the basics: a hammer and nails, screwdrivers and screws, a saw, flashlight, a level, and maybe I didn’t lose my pliers. The toolbox for my car has wrenches, a flashlight, a magnet stick, a wire-stripper, and extra fuses (among other things). These tools will help me get certain jobs done. What you keep for emergencies should do the same.

Got a survival toolbox? It is usually referred to as a bug-out bag, get-home bag or something similar. Many of even the newest preppers have the basics like extra clothes, maps, and the means to eat and drink after the corner store is closed for eternity (or just until the zombies are under control). Definitely have the appropriate “tools” for survival (like these).

Now, what are your skills? What have you learned over the years? Do you know how to use what you will be lugging around? Because if you don’t, then just drop the useless weight and carry more water. Better yet, LEARN. You need to know about food (check this article by your very own Andrew here at SurvivalBlog.org). Can you hunt? Fish? I can’t cook a gourmet meal but I do know how to field dress game and burn some meat. How will you provide shelter from the elements? You don’t need much to do it, but I recommend at least learning multiple knots to help get the job done. Do you know how to read maps? Can you figure out what kind of weather to expect by looking at the sky? Most importantly, do you have a plan? Make three. Then figure out how to put a plan into motion and when to switch plans. THEN PRACTICE DOING IT. Then make more plans.

Something else that will be very necessary is security. OK, so you got yourself a gun. Or even three. (Don’t have a gun? Get one here.) Besides aiming at a paper target at the range, have you practiced carrying it? How much ammo can you comfortably carry? It’s not lightweight. How quickly do your arms get tired? Can you shoot with either hand? Either eye? Can you shoot while lying on the floor? On your back? What if the target is moving? What if the target is shooting back at you?

Now: what happens when all of the ammo is gone? How many different weapons can you defend yourself with? What if there are no weapons? You must be able to use yourself. Do research. There are MANY videos on YouTube that teach self-defense. If you are not sure about getting into a class yet, start by checking them out here. Be smart, because you could hurt yourself, and that defeats the whole purpose. If you are not ready for this step, then at least get active. Get some cardio every day. Try lifting weights (or soup cans and sacks of flour). Do some push-ups, jumping jacks, and planks. At the very least, you’ll be able to run faster and farther. Of course, you should consult a physician before starting a new exercise program – especially while there are still physicians available! Because even though you can’t kick-box a bullet, self-defense training is a really good idea.

Now, put all that knowledge and experience into your OTHER toolbox. Survival of the fittest – remember? Good to go.

Author: Sandy from Fight or Flight Survival
Sandy is an amateur survivalist helping people find the information they need to be better preppers. See the website www.fightorflightsurvival.com for more blogs and links.