Prepping Mistakes to Avoid

Are you a Beginner Prepper?

This article will help you how to pave your way to preparedness correctly. Beginner Preppers and Fashion Preppers are usually filled with a new sense of purpose and urgency, and throw themselves into their new hobby/lifestyle with vigor! Unfortunately this can lead to a lot of fumbling and mistakes that waste time and resources. I have listed down mistakes in preparedness.

1. Define your prepping

Most Preppers do not know what are they preparing for. I have seen a lot buying different kinds of daggers, knives, and the like. When you ask them "for what are they preparing for?", they will answer differently as to what they are showing off. Some will say they are preparing for "SHTF". SHTF! are you kidding? that's the effect of too much watching of Zombie movies. 

Some will say there are preparing for calamity. OK... this is a legit reason. But what measures have you already done to prepare for a calamity? What kind of calamity are you preparing for? Tsunami, earthquake, landslide, flood.

A Prepper should be aware as to what is he preparing for and don't just imitate other preppers he see.

There are several types of Prepping;

- Urban Prepping

- Rural Prepping

- Calamity Prepping

- Bugging Out

- Off Grid

If you classify yourself as a Prepper, you have to bear in mind that you have to blend in with the environment. Prepare only according to your needs.

2. Too Tactical

This one seems to be all to common. As I have said, many beginning preppers seem to be Hell bent on arming themselves for the Apocalypse. Maybe it is one too many episodes of The Walking Dead but many grab onto the guns and hold on way too tight! They become convinced that the only way to truly be prepared is to be ready to fight World War 3. Now there is nothing wrong with owning as many guns as you want, but being a prepper is different then being a gun collector. 10 Ar-15’s and 20,000 rounds of 62gr 5.56mm but no food, other means of cooking, or a back up heating plan makes for a piss poor prepper.

Security is vital just don’t kid yourself into thinking that being armed to the gills makes you a better prepper. Outside of the most harrowing collapse scenarios 1 or 2 less guns could mean the resources to get you through the next calamity that WILL eventually impact your life!

3. Hoarding

You don't have to hoard consumable items as if you are not going out of your house for 30 years. Stock only how much you can carry.

4. Over Stuff

Stuff rules! Who doesn’t love stuff? But stuff has a Dark Side. Stuff can lead you down a slippery slope and give you a false sense of security. Stuff should be subordinate to skills and not the other way around.

If you have a generator being able to hook it to your house via a transfer switch or knowing how to safely run extension cords is paramount. Did you know that most generators need their oil changed after a number of hours of use? Are you ready to do that?

Shooting is awesome but can you care for your firearms? Can you keep them running when the chips are down?

If you are counting on a wood stove for emergency heat do you know how to keep it burning efficiently?

So stuff is good but being able to use, maintain, and even make do if your stuff breaks down is even better.

5. Don't Prep Alone

The “Lone Wolf” mentality will get more beginning Preppers killed or hurt in a real emergency than anything else. Real wolves roll in packs with mutually supporting members who care for each other.

- What are yo going to do if you get hurt or sick?

- If security is a concern are you going to be able to stay awake 24/7 to keep an eye out?

- Humans are social creatures, that is why even in prison isolation is used as a punishment!

- Are you prepared to let your friends and family suffer while you withdraw?

The Wrap-Up

So if you can manage to avoid running off and scooting down certain rabbit holes and approach prepping with a safe and sane plan, you will most likely come through the next (yes they do happen) big disaster that rolls around with style. And isn’t surviving with style what it is all about?

Zipper String Lock

Have you experienced being a victim of pick pockets reaching inside your bag behind you stealing your things?

Here is a tip to make it hard for pick pockets to open your backpack zipper.

If your bag has a zipper string, just pass it to each string to lock the zipper.

Watch the video as i make a demonstration. It will only take you a minute than be sorry for your lost items.

(Download) Red Cross Family Disaster Plan

Download - Red Cross Family Disater Plan

Key Ring / Key Chain

We all carry Key Rings or Key Chains in our pockets, but what does it has? You have your house main door key, back door key, car key, office key, office drawer key in your fancy collectibles item or souvenir item key ring or key chain. But, do you really need those keys and do you have something in your key ring or key chain you might need in case of an emergency like a screw driver, a whistle, a flashlight, a knife, and a rope?

After reading this article, you can consider recreating your key ring or key chain that includes the emergency items i have mentioned rather than having a lot of keys.

Tying Techniques

During my Boy Scouting days, we were taught about different techniques on using a rope as a tool. Watch the video for some tying techniques that will be useful for survival.

Recycled Materials : Rescue Tools During Calamity

Man builds a Rescue Village using recycled materials.

Source : http://www.gmanetwork.com/balitanghali

Basic Emergency Survival Kit

Everyday, we can not know for certain what is waiting ahead of us. Wether we are in an urban area or in the forest, anything can happen even if we are just walking along the sidewalk or anything we can be possibly doing. Having a presence of mind is the most useful thing in any untoward incident/s. As i have always reminded "Beware... Be Aware... Be Prepared..."

It is very important to always carry your "BOB" (Bag-Out-Bag) - other terms GOOD Bag(Get Out of Dodge), 72 Hour Bag. Your "BOB" is your personal Emergency Survival Kit/Pack.

Listed below are basic that your BOB must have:

• First of all is the Bag.
  
  There are now a wide wide range of choices for your BOB Bag. In choosing for your BOB Bag, the more pockets... the better, so your things have are organized. Your BOB can also be your everyday bag.
  
  

  

  
  

• Water
  
  Water is a necessity  of our body to sustain us to keep alive for up to 72 hours (3 days). You can look for a collapsible water container to put in your water.
  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

• Food Pack
  
  It is best to always carry some ready-to-eat foods to stay out of hunger. An Energy Bar is advisable. Do not go out hungry.
  
  

  

  
  

• Multi-function Tool (Mutli-tool)
  
  Your multi-tool is an extension of yourself... without it, you are naked. You can have a cheap one as a novelty giveaway from companies.
  
  

  

  Multi-function Tool (multi-tool)

  
  
• Flashlight
  
  Choose the one's powered by a solar. Not because it's called solar powered that it will not work at night. Solar powered devices stores power for up to 8 hours and can recharge with even a little light from the sun.

Solar flashight

• First Aid Kit
  

  

  
  

  - Gauge Bandage (for covering cuts and/or wounds)
  - rubber (helps to stop blood flow)
  - Providone-Iodine Solution (Betadine)
  - Face Mask (assist for your breathing in the presence of smoke/smog)
  

  

  3M N95 (8210Plus) Face Mask

• Others
  
  - Map (much better if it's a country mapbook)
  

  

  
  

  - whistle (to make sound so anyone can find you)
  
  

  

  
  

  - Paracord bracelet/belt/key chain/etc. (a fashionable tool for tying)
  
  

  

  Paracord keychain

  
  

  

  Paracord bracelet/band 

  

  Paracord belt

  

  Paracord watch-strap

  
  - Bandana or any large hanky
  

  

  Bandana

  
  - Solar charger (in case your cellphone ran out of battery charge)
  
  

  

  Solar charger

  
  The key to any survival is the presence of mind, your tools are useless if you do not how to use it. Do not panic, your attitude towards an untoward incident can affect other people. Do not survive alone, help others too.
  
  Share your thoughts if you can still think of any items that can be added to this list.
  
  And remember, "Beware... Be aware... Be prepared..."

Pinoy Prepper

This page is dedicated to provide information and guides for Filipino who are actively preparing for emergencies, including possible disruptions in social or political order, on scales from local to international. Survivalists often acquire emergency medical and self-defense training, stockpile food and water, prepare to become self-sufficient, and build structures (e.g., a survival retreat or an underground shelter) that may help them survive a catastrophe.