Going about the day without an everyday carry (EDC) is as good as putting yourself in danger. For starters, EDCs are essential survival items that you can hardly do without come hell or high water. You bring them with you at all times because they afford you security.
Secondly, what's a prepper without an EDC? Preparedness is all about being ready for a disaster wherever you are, and EDCs are just the perfect preps if you're away from home. That being said, keeping an EDC is a great way to make you more prepared.
Preparing an EDC kit for your car
Your car is a terrific place to keep an EDC. Because a vehicle has more space than a pant pocket and bag will ever have, now is your time to add survival items you normally would leave out from an EDC. You can put bigger objects like a portable water purifier or large firearms while leaving enough room for the usual EDC items.
But you also have to be mindful about what you put inside or else you will run out of space. You have to prioritize the following basics before anything else: (h/t to SHTFBlog.com)
EDC in the cab
Keep the following items in the cab:
- Fire extinguisher
- Leather gloves
- Flashlight
- Trauma kit with spare CAT tourniquet in the glove box
A vehicle fire is a common threat for all car owners, and so having a fire extinguisher just a hair away from the driver's seat will be handy. Car doors can also get jammed after an accident and trap you inside, so it's good to be prepared for such occasions. Invest in a mini fire extinguisher and secure it on the car panel or beneath one of the seats.
Flashlights, leather gloves and trauma kits are also important EDC items for obvious reasons. Flashlights provide illumination, gloves protect your hands from injury while trauma kits are needed in case of an emergency.
EDC in the toolbox
Every trunk of a bug-out vehicle should have a toolbox containing the following items:
- Water bag
- Shovel
- Tow strap
- Jumper cables
- Rope
- Ratchet straps
- Small tools like pliers, screwdrivers, zip ties and bolt cutters
- Extra fire extinguisher
The water bag provides emergency water storage if you're traveling long stretches with no visible water-refilling stations in sight. The ratchet straps can be used to secure cargo while the extra fire extinguisher will be handy in case of an emergency. The rest of the items will prove useful should you encounter any problems with your vehicle, like getting stuck in a rut or the car breaking down. (Related: How to prep your car before SHTF.)
EDC in the get-home bag
As its name implies, a get-home bag is composed of items you will need to survive the next day or two before you're able to reach home. These items include:
- Tarp
- Duct tape
- Paracord
- Swiss knife
- Pocket radio
- Flashlight
- First-aid kit
- Change of clothes and extra socks
- Firestarter
- Water bottle and purification tablets
- Emergency food bars
You can make a provisional tarp tent using the tarp, duct tape, paracord and swiss knife. To keep you warm at night, wrap yourself with the extra clothes and create a campfire using the firestarter. As you spend the next day or two away from home, check on your loved ones with the pocket radio and keep yourself sated with the food bars.
Keeping EDCs in your car boosts your preparedness for a surprise SHTF scenario. With more space to accommodate larger objects, your vehicle lets you bring more survival gear anywhere you go. Be sure to add the items listed here to your EDC kits.
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