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Emergency preparedness: 7 Common mistakes preppers often make

By Zoey Sky // Feb 12, 2018

TAGS: bug out, Collapse, disaster, emergency medicine, goodhealth, goodmedicine, Homestead, homesteading, preparedness, prepper, prepper mistakes, prepping, prepping mistakes, prepping tips, SHTF, survival, survival skills

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What's the first thing that comes into your mind when you hear the word "prepper?" Hopefully, it's not just someone who hoards weapons, ammo, and supplies. Prepping and survival is more than stockpiling provisions before SHTF.  Those are just some of the common mistakes preppers make, and if you're aware of them, you can easily avoid making them yourself. (h/t to DoomsdayMoose.com.)

1. Not preparing for the right scenarios -- A true prepper is someone who's ready to face any possible event. Familiarize yourself with the area to avoid this mistake. Start getting ready for disasters that might happen tomorrow.
2. Not having the necessary survival skills -- While stockpiling is part of being a prepper, it's not just about hoarding. You'll need food and gear, but those won't last forever. Know how to cultivate crops and hunt. You also need to know how to protect yourself. Make sure you and your family learn how to properly use your guns and ammunition.
3. Not knowing how to treat injuries or diseases -- If you're injured, you might not always have anyone to ask for help and you can't just sit and wait for someone to arrive. A first aid kit is helpful, but an advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) recertification (or certification if you don’t have it yet) and knowledge on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are even better. With ACLS and CPR, you will know what to do if you witness a cardiac arrest and other medical emergencies.
4. Stockpiling the wrong food items -- Preppers often stock up on food that will last, like SPAM or MREs (Meal, Ready-to-eat), and most of the time they're the last things to go because no one is used to eating them. Stock up on things that you're familiar with, or try eating them now so you'll get used to the taste. Remember to "store what you eat, but also eat what you store." Don't just let the food expire in your stockpile. Eat them before the expiry date, and replace them so you don't waste anything. (Related: Botulism can kill you — are you sure your preserved foods are safe? 8 signs they aren’t.)
5. Not storing items correctly -- Don't keep all your food in one area. If something happens in your storage area, all your food will be wasted. Always store your food rations in different locations. If you spread out your stockpile and you lose food in one area, you'll still have backup rations.
6. Not asking for help -- Preppers realize the importance of teamwork and the value of alliances. You don't have to isolate yourself when SHTF, especially when there are preppers who are willing to lend a helping hand. If something bad happens, wouldn't you feel safer if you were in a group instead of on your own?
7. Panicking -- As a prepper, you can't afford to lose your cool, especially if you have other people who are depending on you. Stay calm and create a viable emergency plan. Once you know what you're preparing for, you can start gathering the supplies that you'll need. Create plans for a 72-hour emergency, then start planning for short-term- and long-term emergencies.

These are only a handful of prepper mistakes that you need to avoid. Just makes sure that you know what to do instead so you're always ready if and when SHTF.

You can read more articles about prepping and survival tips at Bugout.news.

Sources include:

DoomsdayMoose.com

ReadyNutrition.com

bug out Collapse disaster emergency medicine goodhealth goodmedicine Homestead homesteading preparedness prepper prepper mistakes prepping prepping mistakes prepping tips SHTF survival survival skills

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