The BEK should be of a small size, and contain the basic survival tools that can help you in any situation whereby you may be removed from any normal situation, such as being lost in the woods. My own personal kit, shown here to the right contains all of the elements needed so survive in most scenarios. The kit should be small enough where you can carry it at all times without feeling it to be a burden, and yet still have all of the things you need to make through the initial stages of an emergency.
As you can see here, the BEK is a complete kit for any emergency. All of the supplies shown here, and more, fit into the zippered nylon pouch, and the addition of a clip such as a small carabineer allows it to be attached to a belt loop or to a bag such as your backpack or side carry bag. This is your level one bug out bag, and you should make it a requisite part of your daily life. You need to get into the habit of carrying it with you everywhere. No exceptions.
The essentials for this bag are:
Fire; medical; water and food gathering; communication; and navigation.
There are some items in this kit which are not visible in this photo, but I’ll go over every last piece.
#1. Fire. Fire is a required part of survival for many reasons. You need fire to create light and heat when other forms of energy to accomplish these two needs are absent. Fire allows you to keep warm in the cold, provide heat for cooking, and light for seeing in the dark. To accomplish the trick of creating fire I have in this BEK a small bundle of waterproofed strike anywhere matches, a magnesium block and Ferro rod with a striker and a couple of paraffin soaked cotton balls for tinder. I can also make a fuzz stick for tinder with the small knife which you can see on the left hand side of the kit.
#2. Medical. As you can see from the next picture, the kit is loaded with several bits of medical related supplies. Medications, bandages, tape, gauze, ointment and more are all included. I also have a small syringe for sucking venom from an insect or snake bite.
#3. Water. Water is of course an essential requirement for survival. I have three quart size zip lock bags folded up into this kit for collecting water. With these bags, I can store water while treating it with the water purification tablets I included with the kit. When needed, I can also use the bags to utilize the ultraviolet rays from the sun to sterilize the water as well. I also have a filter straw, but it is too long for this particular kit, so I keep it in my bigger level two bug-out bag.
#4. Food gathering. I can also use the zip lock bags for food gathering, and the knife can be used for cutting shoots and leaves, digging roots and splitting nuts open as well as peeling and slicing my harvest. And of course, since I have the means for starting a fire which allows me to cook, I also have four 12 X 12 pieces of aluminum foil folded up and stored in the kit. By the way, when using aluminum foil, make certain that the dull side is always the side facing the food. The dullness of the foil is actual a protective coating to lessen the ingestion of aluminum, which is reported to have several health risk concerns.
The round York peppermint tin also holds a complete emergency fishing kit with 30 yards of line, several hooks and leaders, and a dozen split shot sinkers, along with a couple of flies, just in case. This allows me to harvest fresh fish almost year round as long as there are some bodies of water that are large enough to hold fish. I can also use the line for trap making, but I also have three lengths of assorted steel guitar strings specifically for that purpose, all contained in that little tin.
#5. Communication. I have a small “Howler” whistle for audible singling, and the inner side of the fishing kit tin can be used as a reflector for flashing the sunlight to gain the attention of possible rescuers. The aluminum foil can be used as a reflector as well.
#6. Navigation. Navigation is pretty straight forward, and there is a small button compass in case I lose my larger compass. While a GPS unit has its purposes and are easy to use, I do not rely upon one as a piece of emergency or bug-out equipment. Remember, if the grid goes down because of a solar storm, so haven’t the satellites that you use to operate that GPS unit. Additionally, the government can, at its discretion, turn the GPS satellites off or restrict them from general use.
This is a brief rundown of the absolute minimum that you should have for equipment or supplies in your basic emergency kit, or BEK. Add to it as you like to suit your own needs and skill level. I also have a three in one whistle, compass and thermometer that I clip to a zipper or belt loop when I am out hiking or biking as well, as a secondary means of backup navigation and signaling.
There are more items, and you can see what they are by watching my video on basic emergency kits below.
A bug out bag is an easy to grab, easy to carry bag or pack loaded with supplies and equipment that will allow you to make evacuations easier to deal with, whether those evacuations are done by choice, or by forced order from a government official. There are many reasons for bugging out, but no mater the reason, there are basic requirements that can help you build a successful bug out bag for you and your family’s safety and comfort. I have included in thispiece a few pointers and tips to help you get started with building your own kit, and as we go along I will include more tips and suggestions for bugging out.
The BEK should be of a small size, and contain the basic survival tools that can help you in any situation whereby you may be removed from any normal situation, such as being lost in the woods. My own personal kit, shown here to the right contains all of the elements needed so survive in most scenarios. The kit should be small enough where you can carry it at all times without feeling it to be a burden, and yet still have all of the things you need to make through the initial stages of an emergency.
