What is a Survival Kit?

What is a Survival Kit?

One phrase that you've probably been hearing a lot these days is “survival kit.” With all the stories of impending doom, tsunamis, WW3, and global disasters, people are starting to think a little bit more seriously about their futures. How many things you you depend on to keep you alive every day? Your car? House? Refrigerator? There are hundreds of thousands of tiny little things that we use every day that we completely take for granted.

What if, in the next hour, all of those things were stripped away, leaving you with nothing but a few items you can scavenge and your wits for survival? Sadly, most of us wouldn't make it when the brown stuff hits the fan, and that's where survival kits come in.

Survival Kit Meaning
A survival kit is a bag or package with just the basic supplies that the human body needs to stay alive. This includes stuff like food and water, as well as tools for making fire, building shelter, and possibly finding more food in the wild. Survival enthusiasts also call it a “bug out bag,” because when things go south this is all you need to “bug out” and get out of the major population centers, where survival will me the most difficult.

Bug out bags are usually contained in something that's easy to carry and not too heavy, such as a duffel bag or a backpack. The trick with a bug out bag is to use your space wisely, because it's so limited. You want to have enough supplies to be able to survive for at least a week, but you also need to be able to move quickly on your feet and not present a target to other survivors who may not have been so prepared.

What Should Go Into a Survival Kit?
Just the basics. That's all you need. In a realistic situation, a survival kit should really only be necessary for a few days, sometimes just a few hours. However, the last thing you want to do is under-prepare and then find our you're still waiting for aid after the supplies have run out. A good survival kit for any situation should have:

Water – A healthy human being can only function well for three days without water. After that survival becomes next to impossible. You should have at least a week's worth of water for each person.
Food – We can last longer without food, but to keep our strength up we still have to keep eating. Your survival food should be lightweight and compact, and be either preserved or dried so that it can last for an indefinite amount of time. Shelter – Ranging from a tent to a simple tarp on a tree branch, shelter will keep you dry and out of the elements.
Fire – Matches or a lighter (or both) so you can build a fire for warmth, protection, and signaling.

Kiersten Jones is a blogger who explains the need and use of survival kit through her blogs. If you're interested in Kiersten’s blogs related to survival kit  please contact through her website.