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we dont often plan for the worst , but training to make sure your endurance is in good shape will help you in a physically challenging situation .
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First of all , “ bug-out ” bags are a waste of time . You will end up filling them with unnecessary things that you ’ ve probably never used before in your life , only to get stuck in the wilderness and have no idea how to survive . If you are skilled in outdoor living , by all means , pack yourself a last-resort bag , but if you are a beginner , all tools will be worthless to you until you know how to get the most out of them . Most lists for these types of bags include things like radios , binoculars , a laminated map of the area you are in , etc . This equipment is great for a day hike , but horrible for trying to survive a disaster . The number one reason for this : the last thing you want to do in a crisis is expose yourself out in the open . You are basically walking into chaos looking for a solution ; you can ’ t fight fire with fire if you are going in blind . Also , having a map of the area you are in makes no sense , since you will most likely be looking to either hunker down ( meaning very little outside travel ) or get out of Dodge .
Stay indoors if at all possible . Make yourself a shelter in the safest , most interior portion of your home , such as a basement or the center of your house . If you are really committed , you will probably already have a shelter made that is prepped and stocked with nonperishables and other survival goodies , like weapons and books . Staying indoors will eliminate most outside threats , especially if you take precautionary measures to make sure your home ’ s exterior is as protected as possible .
Practicing everyday physical fitness is also important . We don ’ t often plan for the worst , but training to make sure your endurance is in good shape will help you in a physically challenging situation . Test your cardio skills , build your weighttraining abilities , and maintain your physical appearance as best you can . In many “ do or die ” situations , the first ones to make it out and to safety are those that are smart enough to initially notice danger , and fast enough to escape it .
82 | Fall 2017 | Adventure Outdoors