What's in your BOB

BOB-Bug Out Bag-something you can grab and go with and have everything you will need for an extended stay in the wilderness.

Some items that could be in your bag:

Emergency shelter

Rope

A good knife

Fire starter

Survival kit

Dry clothing

Water

Food

Compass

Map of area you are in

Daily meds if they are needed

Water and a means to purify water.

Sierra cup

Flashlight with extra batteries.

First Aid kit

Sheet of clear plastic that is a minimum of 36 X 36 inches

1/4 inch clear tubing-4 feet

Let's go through the list and see what might be suggested for each item.

Emergency Shelter-This could be a folded up poncho or small lightweight tarp

Rope-50 to 100 feet of parachute cord. This cord is strong and lightweight without taking up much room.

A good knife-Doesn't need to be a machete but one you are familiar with and know how to use. It should have at least a 3 inch blade. Quality is up to the individual but remember you get what you pay for and your survival might depend on that knife.

Fire starter-waterproof matches/striker to light them or a flint and steel with tinder in a small container. Dryer lint or cotton balls are great tinder if kept dry. This should be separate from the fire starting items you have in your survival kit.

Survival kit-Let me describe what I have in mine:

Whistle

Signal mirror

Waterproof matches/striker and/or a new Bic lighter

Tinder

2 yards of woven nylon string

5 yards of monofilament fishing line

Fishing float

Fish hooks

Lead weights

Doll fly lures

Swivels

All of this in a watertight container that is 1 inch in diameter and 3 inches long with room to spare. I plan to include another means of starting a fire and have more tinder.

Dry Clothing-Probably will take up the most room in the bag. Choose lightweight, warm and hopefully waterproof clothing. Dry socks are a must.

Water-Should have enough to get you through one day with the thought that you will find more. The recommended amount for one day is one gallon. Weight is a factor. If you know there will be a ready supply of water, you might be able to carry only a quart container. Use a metal container in case you would need to boil water in it.

Unless it is absolutely necessary and your survival depends on it, never drink water from any source in the wild without first purifying it. Boiling or water purification tabs work well as do several commercial brands of water purification systems.

Sierra cup- This is a small lightweight steel cup that has many uses

Food- It is great to think you could carry enough food to last a week or more. Remember that you can survive for quite a while without food. Military style MREs work well account the high calorie content, small space they take up and that they will last a long time if not opened. Freeze dried foods are another innovation that might be considered.

Compass-Know how to use it!!!!

Map of area you are in-Road maps, topo maps or forest service maps work well. Know how to read the map and how to use the compass to find your way on that map.

Daily meds-If you have daily maintenance meds, try to have enough to last a week.

Flashlight-There are many to choose from but again, you get what you pay for. Your survival could depend on it. You might consider carrying a couple of "light sticks" that glow after they are bent.

First Aid Kit-Should contain the basic items. Tape, antiseptic, bandages, rolled gauze. pair of scissors, 3 pairs of gloves, small sealed container of alcohol or betadine, tweezers and band aids should get you started.

Sheet of clear plastic. This stuff can come in very handy. One suggestion would be for an emergency water supply, you could build a solar still. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_still, the plastic tubing would be used with this.

These are merely suggestions as to what could be in your BOB. Everyone has different ideas of what should be carried. All suggestions could work very well.

This is not an inclusive list. This is what I would have in mine. I would probably have more items as suggested above but my entire bag will weigh less than 15 pounds. The heaviest item in the bag will be one of the most important. That is the water.

The bag doesn't have to be huge. It should be able to be carried as a back pack would be.