Are YOU Guilty of These 6 Sins?
There is no lack of pseudo-survivalists on this planet! Anybody who watches Bear Grylls and owns a Swiss Army Knife can call themselves a prepper. You don’t need special qualifications to lecture people about survival. If a person can type, he/she can write articles and posts about survival.
Even somebody who hasn’t ever rolled out a sleeping bag can make videos about bugging out. Just because you read or watched something on the internet, does not make it true.
Having said that…
Here is some of the worst bugging out advice that we’ve ever heard!
1) Bug Out at the first sign of danger.
While it is good to have a head-start over others, bugging out should be your last recourse. You should never leave your home unless there is absolutely no other way to ensure your survival. The idea of bugging out might seem adventurous and exciting – well, all we can say is that it is not as fun as it seems. Understand that even sleeping UNDER your bed is way more comfortable than sleeping in the forest!
If you get injured, you want a solid roof over your head, not a plastic sheet or tarp. Being outside for more than a couple of days can be an utterly miserable experience – rain, snow and heat can take a huge toll on your body and morale. Also, if you leave your home, you will be cut off from important news and announcements. Your home is where your food and water stash is. If you’re a serious prepper, you have probably put in a lot of effort to make your house safe and secure. Don’t simply abandon it at the first sign of danger.
2) Follow the mob and you will be fine!
You must definitely make every effort to blend in – in the sense that people should not be able to identify that you’re carrying any special equipment or extra food. However, simply following the mob without thinking is downright stupid! You should focus on efficiently executing your bug out strategy. And please create a plan for different types of scenarios – If you’re fleeing from a natural disaster, you should try to get to places where help may be available. You might also consider staying indoors depending upon the type of disaster that is about to strike. You are much better off inside a concrete building during a hurricane; but not so much during an earthquake. If you are trying to survive a holocaust like situation (Nazi Germany), get the hell out of your house and bug out ASAP.
3) Hit the highway.
Well, freeways are definitely the fastest way out of a certain area. However, when the SHTF, there will be millions of cars on the highways and the roads leading towards them. If you get stuck in traffic, you might never make it out in time. Hence, avoid all major routes, stick to little known roads and don’t hesitate to go off road if you are equipped for it.
4) Be kind to all and help as many people as you can.
This might sound selfish, ruthless and heartless – but you should help yourself (and your family) first and then worry about the rest. The last thing you want is a bunch of unprepared guys eating your food, drinking your water and using your supplies. If you really want to help people, spread awareness regarding the importance of prepping. If people choose to ignore the possibility of a SHTF situation and think that prepping is for weirdos, you cannot really do much for them.
5) Flaunt your weapons and look intimidating as it’s better to be perceived as a threat than a target!
There are several problems with this theory. If you flaunt your weapons, you are drawing negative reactions from others. The police will think of you as trouble makers. Bad guys will see you as a source of procuring more weapons and supplies. The so called normal (unprepared) guys will think that you are aggressive and hostile. A survival scenario is not a good time to campaign for open carry. Keep your weapons hidden but easy to reach (unless of course you are carrying a rifle, you cannot really hide that).
6) Running water is safe to drink. (facepalm!)
Don’t follow this stupid advice even if you’re RIDICULOUSLY thirsty because it could possibly kill you! If you’re on the verge of dehydration, drink your own urine. Yes, you will feel disgusted but you will stay alive. You should always pass water through a filtration system or at least boil it before drinking. Running water is NOT safe for consumption – the Ganges (India), the Yellow river (China) and the Nile (Africa) are among the largest sources of freshwater on the earth. However, they are also among the most polluted rivers in the world. The Yellow River is even known to catch fire since it contains so many inflammable chemicals.
Now that you have read some of the worst bugging out advice out there, you know how NOT to die.
Stay safe!
J.D.
Leave a Reply