Prep for Survival Situation vs. Bug Out Situation

Dogs, I have been putting a lot of thought into this subject and I really appreciate all of the thought Arch put into the BOB thread and all of the info that he and others have been sharing with us. I was going to post this there but thought that this was a little off the subject of that thread.

I do have a question/thought to put out there to everyone. While a FAK serves the same purpose in a survival/TEOTWAWKI situation. The more likely of the two is a Survival (i.e hiker gets caught in cold front unprepared or couple breaks while taking a scenic route). In a survival situation your get home bag woul and could be drastically different.

With that said there are some discreet differences between the two and very important ones. In a survival situation you want as many bright colors, signaling, and things that can protect you from the immediate elements. You don't need to worry about immediate food. In most cases you need to worry about Hyperthermia/Hypothermia and water first and formost. If you are smart and made
sure people knew where you were then your immediate worry is the first 72 hours as that is the typical window when most lost people our found alive.

When I'm thinking through my GetHome/BOBs, survival is much more of the mindset I'm usually thinking in. I grew up in tornado alley and we all saw what happened in Katrina. I'm not sure that the rednecks I grew up around would be as civil as the Japanese were during the earthquake/meltdown issue. So it is definitely worth preparing for a TEOTWAWKI situtation. I think we all should prep for a natural disaster. However, probably 2 out of a thousand cars you pass on the road have any kind of backup plan in case of emergency. How many campers go out to camp out of there car and don't have the slightest idea on who or what to do to get there family out of a bad situation.

Here is two situations where things sadly went really wrong.

Boy dies in Death valley
Dutch tourists die in death valley.

Here are two situations where everything went right! THE SECOND ONE IS AMAZING.

Hiker found alive!
WOMAN FOUND ALIVE AFTER 7 WEEKS

Just some thoughts I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks

I'm not sure I understand the post.
The stories are good and make you think. Thanks for the links.

Most of us have a bag we take on outings,
Then we have our bobs
Some have dedicated car kits.

Now in my day hike bag or survival kit bag and in my bob I have blaze. orange items, panel, space blanket, tube tent, etc.
Including a marina flare kit.

Are you saying most bobs don't have items for say a recovery situation?

I am not sure you will find any of the regular forum members here who post in the BOB related threads without a signal mirror in their BOB.

I kinda think that anything that is in one should be in the other. I always have my cell phone which likely is the most important piece of gear any of us have.

It can be used as a signal mirror. Heck, at night the LED flashlight on the phone could be seen for miles I bet.

Sar I guess I should clarify. Thats what I get for writing a post so late at night. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />. What I was getting at is.

-Is there a signifigant difference between the two situations? Is there a reason you would need to carry different stuff for each situation?

-I'm sure most bug out bags have signal stuff in them. But it can't replace common sense when preparing for a survival situation. There are many times people that have the right equipment to survive become a statistic because they have never tried to use that equipment. Just leaving someone a note explaining in detail where you are going hiking is a really easy thing to do that could get SAR to you quicker than trying to build a signal fire or hoping to hit someone with your signal mirror.

-Lastly there are probably many people who are prepping for the worst in and out of there houses but beans and bullets in you basement won't help you if your not prepared for breaking down on a road in the middle of the desert on the way home (I work in some very desolate and lonely places with no cell service). I can't tell you how many times I've had to council full grown men on how they should take water to the desert.

I had a van full of folks I was driving around on a tour one time. The guy in the passenger seat was laughing because I brought a couple of gallons of water. Needless to say he got a good talking to. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> Heck one time I had a group from Huntington Beach, CA. and I was trying to shoo this little rattler out of the road where I was doing some work. One of em said "Jason can we touch it?", I said sure you can but they might not have the proper anti-venom locally so it was there call. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />


P.S. thats why I love this board. I've been on other message boards where they would have flamed me for a middle of the night half written post. So thanks guys for not beating on me too much.

Thanks -Jason

Hey buddy not beating you up at all
just want to make sure I understand the question.

I got it now, I think a bob should be able to handle most emergencies.

I will post the kit I keep in my car at all times especially When traveling. Good for you when you were in the van with the water and rattler. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have a bob at home. I have a get home kit in my truck with minimal gear. But I have alot of stuff in the truck so I pick and choose what I need If I have to leave my rig. I also have a backpack in my work rig with enough to spend a few uncomfortable nights away from home. I have a lot of duplicate gear. But each pack is different and set up for a specific purpose.

I would look at the BOB and Survival Bag as the same. With the BOB you are bugging out with no indication when and "if" you can go back. In both situations I think you have to figure what if "help is NOT on the way".



MM

exactly. well stated. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I didn't really mention it but I keep a survival kit in my back packs for hunting and day trips. Its way differnt than my BOB's In my hunting kit I have the basic stuff a fire kit, knives a tube tent and a good emergency blanket and some paracord. I also keep a more complete first aid kit. I bowhunt and running around the mountains with a bunch of razor blades could make for a bad day so i go havey on stuff to banage and/or stop bleeding. My pack is fairly heavey with water and other gear. I carry a small axe and saw and at least 2 fixed blade knives just for processing and quartering elk. Throw in binocs, cold weather gear/rain gear and you have a bunch more than you want to carry after a long day walking up and down mountain sides.

On my day trip stuff I keep similar survival gear but I have a more genral first aid kit with a compression bandage. I try to keep it lighter so I can carry more water and snacks. I only carry one blade usually a wardog.