Survival Gear You Will Need in an Emergency

Deciding what type of survival gear you need may seem like an enormous task. However, there are just a few basic things that everyone needs regardless of where you live. You will need food, water, shelter, and first aid. Tools will help you to provide these easily.

Recreational vehicles are good, portable survival items. The drawback to them is that you have to have fuel to drive them and they can be heavy, limiting how far off road you can go. An advantage is that there is a lot of room in an RV. Storing supplies, tools and raw materials inside lessens the load you would carry in you were walking.

Lidded buckets are handy to have in a survival setting. Not only will they can hold supplies for transport and protection, but they also have a variety of uses. You can use buckets to haul water, dispose of waste, as seats, and as containers to hold food that you gather.

There are things that you will need to do for yourself that you would not have to do if you were living in your home; waste disposal for one. Digging holes or trenches will be required. A shovel that is the correct size for its user is important.

For campfire and shelter building, wood will have to be cut and split. Hatchets work well for small limbs, but you will need an ax for larger pieces. A saw is another handy tool. Using a saw to cut down trees is easier than using an ax.

Plastic and canvas tarps can be used to haul wood or stones, and can be sewn together to make a tent. Large sewing needles and heavy thread should be part of everyone's supplies. Use rope to lift food stores off the ground, drag firewood, and for making shelters. There are plants that produce fiber, that can be twisted together to make string. The process is time-consuming but produces a strong cord.

Fire is a necessity in a survival situation. It provides warmth, light, and allows you to cook food and boil water for drinking. Knowing alternative ways to start a fire is valuable information. If the situation lasts very long matches and lighters will run out. Magnifying glasses will start fires but limited to sunny days. Using flint and steel to start a fire takes practice but is reliable. Using a firebow is difficult but it's a tried-and-true way to start a fire without other tools.

You will definitely want a good knife during a survival situation. Having a small caliber weapon may also be wise. A .22 caliber rifle will allow you to hunt small game and birds to supplement your diet. Knowing how to set snares and make fish traps will also help keep you fed, while having fishing line and fish hooks makes catching fish easy. If you don't have the fishing tackle, with a little practice you can learn to "tickle" fish from streams.

Another must-have is a good first aid kit. You can make your own using many supplies you already have on hand. You should also educate yourself about the many plants that can be used as astringents, insect repellants, and antiseptics. A good reference guide to the medicinal plants in your geographic region should be included in your supplies.

Foraging for food may make the difference between surviving and dying a slow, painful death. Adults need a balanced diet of about 2000 calories a day. Stored food may run low if the survival situation is a long one. Nuts, berries and greens are plentiful in the wild. A reference book on wild plants that are safe to eat will be important.

With a little research, you can be better prepared, and have the supplies and gear necessary for survival.