Survival essentials: A list of must-have items for your bug-out bag

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When preparing for emergency scenarios, one of the most important things you must do is to pack bug-out bags (BOBs) for yourself and your family.

If you're overwhelmed, making a list of supplies and tools for your bag can help you stay organized as you get things ready before disaster strikes. (h/t to PreppersSurvive.com)

It's best to prepare your BOBs ahead of time so you can run to where your bags are stored and grab them quickly before you evacuate when SHTF.

Don't wait until it's too late. There are accounts of tornado warning times of 13 minutes, 15 minutes for wildfires and 20 minutes for tsunamis.

This is barely enough time to gather your family in your car and drive away from an oncoming disaster. There is more warning time with hurricanes, but they can quickly turn direction and devastate nearby areas with flash floods and power outages, leaving you with little to no time to gather supplies. So make sure your BOBs are already packed and good to go before SHTF.

Bag

Your bag preference may depend on how many items you want to bring and how much weight you can carry.

Backpack

Duffle bag

Suitcase

Food and water

You need enough food to last for a minimum of three days. For heat resistance and durability, invest in sturdy metal cooking utensils and cookware.

The human body can go without water for at least 72 hours, but it can go without food for about three weeks. This means clean drinking water is important to have in your bug-out bag. Pack at least three liters of drinking water per person. Experts recommend having at least a minimum of one liter per day, per person.

If you're worried about running out of clean water, make sure you have at least one mini water filter in your bug-out bag for water filtration. Mini water filters are compact and lightweight and filter out 99.9 percent of bacteria and other harmful microbes from water that you could otherwise not drink without boiling or treating in other ways.

Here are some other things you need to pack:

Personal daily rations, enough for at least three days

Camping cook set, utensils and scrubbing pad

Collapsible water bottle, metal water bottle or water canteen

Water purification tablets

Light and warmth

When preparing your tools for light and fire starting, it's best to have backups. This ensures that if one method fails or if you lose your gear, you'll still have another to fall back on.

The items listed below have multiple uses, but they all serve the same purpose: help you see what you're doing or find where you're going.

Batteries

Ferro rod

Flares

Flashlight with extra batteries or solar/hand-crank light

Glow sticks

Hand or foot warmers

LED headlamp

Lighters

Light glowstick

Matchsticks

Mini LED keychain

Mini LED light

Sleeping bag

Solar lantern/charger

Tea candles

Tent

Tinder

Waterproof container for your fire starting tools

Having different fire starting tools is also important if you think you will have to bug out when SHTF. With lighters or matchsticks on hand, you can start a fire so you can cook and stay warm at night.

Clothing

Choosing clothing for your BOBs will depend on each family member's body type, tolerances and level of fitness.

The items listed below can be strategically layered to maintain a healthy body temperature at all times.

Your clothes selection will also depend on your location, climate and other factors. Regularly check your BOB every season and prepare a seasonal selection of clothes that you can swap out as needed.

Bringing at least two changes of clothes ensures you always have a dry set to wear. Wearing wet clothes when bugging out isn't just uncomfortable, it can also result in hypothermia, a survival concern that must not be taken lightly.

Here are some clothing items to consider packing:

Belt

Convertible (zip-off) pants

Gloves

Hat

Lightweight long-sleeved shirt (must be made of poly fabric, not cotton)

Medium-weight fleece jacket

Merino wool hiking socks (at least three pairs)

Poncho

Rain poncho

Shemagh, bandana or scarf

Underwear

Working gloves

Communication

Communication is another highly debated category among preppers.

When prepping your BOB, it's better to keep things simple. If the bug-out scenario allows for their use, you will be glad to have these items with you. (Related: Bug out survival planning: How to get out of the city after SHTF.)

Use the acronym "PACE" to recall the following: primary, alternate, contingency and emergency

Primary – Cellphone

Alternate – Wi-Fi/tablet

Contingency – Ham radio with an operator license

Emergency – Hand-crank power charger with signal lights

Other items for your comms list:

Pen/pencil and notepad

Radio and a list of radio stations

Stamps and postcards

Whistle

Documents

You should also include copies of these important documents in your BOBs:

Birth certificate

Drivers license

Emergency contact list of family and friends

Marriage certificate

Picture of family members

First aid

When prepping a first aid kit for your BOB, it's best to pack a kit yourself instead of buying a ready-made kit because this allows you to bring items you know you'll need when SHTF.

Add items as needed, like prescription medication for existing health issues like diabetes or hypertension.

Allergy medicine

Antibiotic ointment

Bloodstop hemostatic gauze

Burn cream

Eye drops

Insect repellant

Large, medium and small bandages

Lip balm

Medication/vitamins

Moleskin

Mylar survival blanket

Nail clippers

Surgical gloves

Thermometer

Trauma kit

Tweezers

Toiletries

Use these items to maintain proper hygiene when bugging out after an emergency:

All-purpose camping soap

Brush or comb

Feminine hygiene products

Hair ties

Hand sanitizer

Hand shovel

Hygiene/signal mirror

Lotion

Small bar of soap

Small towel

Toilet paper

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Travel toilet paper, at least two

Washcloth

Wet napkins

Miscellaneous

If you still have space in your BOB, consider including some of these useful items with various survival uses:

Black garbage bags

Compass

Duct tape

Fishing kit

Inventory list of everything in your BOB

Map

Paracord

Pepper spray

Pocket knife/razor blade

Stress relievers for children and adults (e.g., their favorite books, games, a puzzle book or toys)

Before disaster strikes, make a list of various items for your bug-out bag and prepare one for each family member. Make sure you have enough supplies to last each person at least three days.

Visit Preparedness.news for more tips on how to prepare your bug-out bag before SHTF.

Watch the video below for other items you can include in your bug-out bag or survival kit.

This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.