How To Prep Like A Spartan

4 Comments

The Spartans were renowned throughout the ancient world for their military prowess and disciplined lifestyle. They did not win every battle, but they did beat back larger forces to defend their homelands time and time again.

This ability came down to their dedication to preparedness, their whole society was geared towards it. Spartan men and women were trained from a young age to respect the community as a whole and dedicate themselves towards its preservation. This included training in warfare, foraging, adaptation, and conditioning oneself to hardship. They were in effect a nation of preppers! No wonder they were respected by their fellow Greeks!

Today we idolize the Spartans for their strength and discipline in books, movies, slogans, and more. But what can we learn from their culture of preparedness?

Learning To Survive At An Early Age

At age 7 Spartan children left their families to join the Agoge. This was a training program for both boys and girls that tested their strength and wills as well as taught them the skills they needed to serve Sparta as they came of age. The Agoge was renowned throughout the ancient world and powerful families from friendly nations vied to secure a place for their own children for 1-2 year stints.

Male Spartans had to endure thorough physical training to prepare them for war campaigns and the hardships of living in the field. Looking at the Agoge program that every boy Spartan had to pass through gives us some great insights into their mindset of preparedness. There are a lot of elements within it that we can draw upon when looking at how we prepare today as well as how we instill this mindset into our children.

Hardship was the norm

An especially important element of Agoge training was being taught to endure pain and hardship. Students were often made to suffer hunger, thirst, cold, fatigue and lack of sleep. Spartan boys were made to walk long distances without shoes, bath at the cold waters of the river Eurotas and wear the same piece of clothing year round. This was meant to condition them to the realities of wartime and is a valuable example for us today.

When prepping, being conditioned to hardship is a valuable asset. If you have to be on the move day after day evacuating from a disaster or terrorist act you will you be slowed down because you are cold, hungry, or your feet hurt? Are you ready for the hardship imposed by the removal of everything that is comfortable in your life? In order to be truly prepared we have to ready ourselves for such deprivation.

Flexibility and using the environment around them was expected

To be a Spartan boy going through the Agoge was to always be tired and hungry. In addition to the harsh physical training, they were constantly being underfed. To get the nutrition they needed the boys were encouraged by their teachers to forage from the world around them and steal from the kitchens. However, if they were caught stealing – even though it was encouraged – they were severely beaten as a punishment for failure.

For modern day preppers this shows how important it was seen to be able to feed yourself while on the move. Would you be able to feed yourself in the absence of a grocery store? Do you think you could liberate food from a watchful source without being caught if your life depended on it?

No rest for the weary

Even if they were able to fill their bellies, they still had an uncomfortable night ahead of them. This is because in their barracks, Spartan boys were not even allowed to have blankets to keep them warm at night. They slept on top of straw and reeds, which they gathered without knives from riverbanks, strengthening (and scarring) their hands in the process.

While this requirement would toughen up their limbs it would also show the value of using the environment around you to make what you needed. For us today we can look to our shelter building skills to emulate the Spartans. Are you able to build a shelter by hand in the wilderness? Keeping warm and dry after a day of hard walking gives you the opportunity to recuperate so you can be mobile again the next day. Shelter building with scavenged materials is an essential skill that all preppers should master.

Females Spartans were held to high standards as well

Female Spartans were trained in a variety of subjects both mental and physical:

Athletics – running, dance, gymnastics
Writing
Poetry
War Education

This program was aimed at building female Spartans into good citizens able to serve the state. Additionally their training prepared them for the mental hardship of being separated from their fathers, brothers, and children while they were off on campaigns.

Physical Fitness Was A Big Part

If you are ever caught in a situation where you have to bug out you will surely be put to the test physically. Just having your bug out bag packed and ready to go will not be enough, you need to actually be able to carry it until you reach safety.

Spartan Training

The Spartans put a huge emphasis on physical fitness in both in the Agoge training and throughout their entire culture. Both men and women were expected to maintain their fitness during their entire lives.

This emphasis helped define the Spartan soldier and enabled them to march for longer and fight harder, even against overwhelming odds. The Spartans won a great many of the ancient Olympic Games due to this commitment to physical fitness.

Students in the Agoge were constantly encouraged to compete against one another to weed out weaker members and push everyone to constantly improve. Female students would even be encouraged by their instructors to observe and mock the competitors to drive them even harder at their tasks. Agoge students were expected to gain proficiency at:

Distance running
Gymnastics
Jumping
Javelin
Discus
Wrestling
Combat

How Can We Train Ourselves?

So, how can we use this as inspiration for our own prepping? As with any challenge we need to train harder than we expect to have to endure when the test comes. This may mean taking your bug out bag for a walk on weekends to condition yourself to carrying it. If that proves difficult try just going for a hike without it until you can build up your strength to carry the load. My old mixed martial arts coach used to say, “sweat in the gym so you don’t bleed in the street” which captures this mindset perfectly.

A Lifetime of Dedication

For Spartans, their dedication led to a lifetime of service. All males who passed through the Agoge lived in state owned barracks and continued to serve in the army until age 60. They continued their own training and once experienced, the training of the next generation for basically their entire lives. From age 7 to age 60, ALL Spartan males would relentlessly dedicate themselves to the prosperity and preparedness of their nation.

Modern Day

Today as a nation we are obviously very far from this single minded focus. But, on an individual level can we seek to emulate this dedication? Would you start training your children at age 7 to serve the interests of your family day in and day out until age 60? Can we instill the proper mindset and pass essential skills and knowledge on to them in the face of our own distractible and fragmented culture? I know I will be trying to do so with my own children, it seems to be an immensely worthwhile investment. I will try to lead by example and show them the way.

Our Own Preparedness Mindset

Looking at these examples we can clearly see why the Spartans were respected among the ancient world and are still looked up to today. Their level of dedication and preparedness was truly impressive. The rigorous training they practiced and widespread commitment would be impossible to replicate for most modern day Americans.

It is however this mindset that preppers seek to emulate. In the modern world we can still train our bodies and minds to endure hardship, overcome mental and physical obstacles, and pass these values on to the next generation. Dedicate yourself to this as the Spartans did and you will be able to face any challenges that get in your way.

Your Thoughts?

Do you have a way of preparing that would make the Spartans proud? How do you prepare yourself physically and mentally to face hardships? Let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks!

Pandemic Survival: Prepping For COVID-19, Ebola, H1N1, SARS & More

2 Comments

With coronavirus spreading around the world, it’s understandable that people are searching for ways to protect themselves and prepare for the different possible outcomes of the spread.

The knowledge you acquire to protect yourself and loved ones in a pandemic survival situation has never been more valuable.

In this article, I am going to show you what preventative measures to take to reduce your risk of exposure before, during, and after a pandemic. We are also going to take a look at some of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) available to keep the chances of transmitting an illness as minimal as possible including kits like these:

Freedom Hill Pandemic PPE Kit	Ebola Virus Preparedness and Travel Kit	Personal Ebola Preparedness Kit

Understanding How Pandemics Are Transmitted

Knowing how a pandemic is spread is the first key step in planning to protect yourself from getting sick. Pandemics are generally passed on in 3 ways – through the air, through physical contact, and through contaminated food or water. Let’s take a look at these 3 methods and the illnesses that are transmitted through them.

Transmission Through The Air

Many bacterial and viral infections are transmitted through the air. This generally happens when a sick person coughs or sneezes, which releases the microbes into mucus or saliva droplets into the air. If a healthy person breathes in these particles, in they can become infected. Here are some of the most common illnesses that can be transmitted through the air in this manner:

Bacterial Meningitis
Chickenpox
Common cold
Influenza
Mumps
Strep throat
Tuberculosis
Measles
Rubella
Whooping cough

Protecting Yourself From Air Transmitted Infection

Wear a surgical mask – Note this does not filter the air, it is designed to protect splatter or spray from coughs and sneezes from entering your mouth and nose. To filter air one would need a respirator. There is also evidence that wearing a mask prevents you from unknowingly spreading disease via droplets if you are presymptomatic or asymptomatic.
Wash your hands if you come into contact with someone who has been coughing or sneezing
Make sure any rooms you share with a person who is ill are well ventilated
If you are caring for a family member that has contracted one of the illnesses mentioned above, encourage them to wear a mask and to wash their hands as often as possible
Note that according to the Center For Disease Control (CDC), Ebola CANNOT be transmitted through the air.

pandemic survival

Transmission Through Touch

The second common transmission method is through physical contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person including:

Mucus
Saliva
Blood
Feces
Semen
Breast milk

Transmission may occur from both direct contact (touching mucus, blood, etc directly) or indirect sources (touching a surface, doorknob, or shaking hands with someone who has the mucus/blood/etc on their hands). Once you have made contact the pathogen can enter your body through broken skin or through your nose, eyes, or mouth. Here are some of the most widely known illnesses that are passed on via touch:

Ebola
Rhinovirus (common cold)
Hepatitis
HIV
Influenza

Protecting Yourself From Touch Transmitted Infection

Wash your hands frequently, especially if you come into contact with a sick person
Wipe down surfaces that have been contacted by a sick person with an antibacterial cleanser or bleach solution
Do not handle items that have come in contact with a sick person (clothing, bedsheets, medical equipment)
Wear gloves or other PPE if you think there is a high risk of encountering sick individuals or if caring for an ill family member

Transmission Through Contaminated Food Or Drinking Water

There are 2 main pandemics that are typically transmitted through drinking water:

Typhoid
Cholera

Both of these have been nearly eliminated from the western world by improved sanitation conditions and antibiotics but still regularly occur in less developed countries. In the event of a major disaster, there is the chance of these plagues returning again until our society is able to get back on our feet.

These are caused by microorganisms that thrive in unsanitary water and food. Modern water treatment techniques and food handling methods are effective at eliminating both types of bacteria.

Protecting Yourself From Food & Water Transmitted Infection

Practice hand hygiene after going to the bathroom and before preparing food
Boil water that you think may be contaminated or treat it chemically or with ultraviolet light
Cook food thoroughly before eating
Make sure your waste is being kept far away from your water source if you are setting up a camp

Prepping For Pandemic Survival

Now that we know what we are up against let’s take a look at what steps we can take to prepare and protect ourselves. We are going to look at the 3 stages of a pandemic – before, during, and after – and see what we can do to reduce our chances of exposure during each.

What to do before a pandemic

If a pandemic has reached towns in your area or a location where people in your community frequently travel to, it is a good time to start making preparations to limit your exposure to any potential carriers. You do not need to put your life on hold, but raising your level of vigilance will not hurt.

Wash hands your hands religiously

This is something we are going to see again and again through this article and throughout medical literature. Your hands are one of the most common ways that a pathogen enters your body so it is extra important to cleanse them frequently when a pandemic is on the rise. Try to instill the importance of this in your children as well if they are old enough to understand its importance.

Be aware of symptoms

Before a pandemic strikes is the best time to educate yourself on the symptoms that are caused by the illness. This will allow you to identify whether or not the people you encounter are affected. It also allows you to get medical attention to any family member who falls ill as soon as possible.

While it is good to know general symptoms for many illnesses, it is also wise to educate yourself on the specific symptoms of the particular pandemic that you see coming. If you are prepping for Ebola, you should be aware that Ebola’s symptoms are:

Nausea & vomiting
Fever
Unexpected bruising
Diarrhea (possibly bloody)
Redness in the eyes
Raised rashes
Chest pains and coughing
Stomach pain
Severe weight loss
Bleeding, usually from the eyes or other orifices (ears, nose and rectum)

Seek medical help immediately if you show ANY symptoms

You may see that a pandemic is approaching but not realize it has arrived until it is too late. Because of this, it is vitally important to seek professional medical help as soon as possible if you or a family member begins showing any symptoms of illness.

Get vaccinated if possible

If a vaccine has been developed for an illness that is spreading rapidly it is wise to take it as soon as possible. Not every illness mentioned above has a vaccine unfortunately and it will not help against illnesses transmitted by bacteria. But, if a vaccine is available this is really the only way to ensure that you are safe against infection.

Start planning for disruptions

If a pandemic becomes widespread there will be disruptions in everyday life. Some of these may be imposed to prevent transmission of the pandemic and some may be by choice to reduce your own risk. Some things to consider when planning include:

Schools may be suspended – plan childcare if you are going to still be required to go to work
Transportation may be disrupted – you may need to find alternate ways to get to your workplace. Avoiding public transportation is a good idea anyways during a pandemic, plan accordingly.
Discuss plans with work – talk to your boss about working arrangements during a pandemic. They may be planning to close the office or have employees work from home. You may need to work from home yourself to take care of a sick family member. Discuss these possibilities so you know what your options are.
Stock up on food and water – Having what you need at home means fewer trips to the store and less chance of exposure. Stock up on non-perishable items and clean water before panic hits and the shelves are empty.

What to do during a pandemic

The steps to take during a pandemic survival situation are primarily focused on avoiding exposure and keeping safe until it passes. With careful planning, good hygiene discipline, and a bit of luck we can maximize our chances of passing through a pandemic unharmed.

Avoid crowds at all costs

The more people you come into contact with, the higher your chances of exposure. During a pandemic crowds should be avoided at all costs. This includes avoiding:

Areas where people congregate
Public transportation – if you HAVE to use it avoid rush hour
Sporting events
Concerts
Stores
Schools

If you do need to go out try to stay at least 1 meter away from other people.

Wash your hands

Again, washing your hands is the easiest way to avoid getting sick. Wash your hands whenever you arrive at a destination, after you encounter a crowd, and especially if you come into contact with a person whom you suspect to be sick.

Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

If you do have to pass through an area where there is a crowd or it is likely that there have been sick people around, you may want to wear PPE to minimize the chances of transmission. This is also important if you are called upon to care for a sick family member. What you wear will depend on the nature of the pandemic as well as how you come into contact with these elements. We will cover PPE in detail below but for now, keep in mind that it is an option.

Have Your Stay At Home Plan Ready

Depending on the nature of the pandemic, it may be best to stay at home with your family instead of bugging out. Make sure you have a plan in place to accommodate this that includes food, water, and communicating with friends, family, and neighbors in the outside world.

If you are a single parent, coordinate with a caretaker to look after your children if their daycare center is closed
Make arrangements to work from home if possible
If you live alone or are caring for an elderly or disabled person make arrangements with another caregiver in the event that you yourself get ill
Make sure the phone numbers for your doctor, local hospital, neighbors, and family are posted prominently in the home
Avoid face to face meetings if possible, rely on phone and email to communicate
Postpone non-critical travel and gatherings

What to do after a pandemic

If you are fortunate enough to survive a pandemic you will be left with putting the pieces of the community and your own life back together. There may still be pockets of infection present, here is how we can avoid getting sick from them:

Avoid hospitals and medical equipment where pandemic victims have been treated
Do not touch the clothes, belongings, or bodies of those who were infected, wear your PPE if this is absolutely necessary
Contact local authorities to have the deceased disposed of properly
Remain vigilant when coming into contact with others, keep an eye out for lingering symptoms of the pandemic
Avoid coming in contact with objects or surfaces that may be contaminated when visiting a relative who may be recovering
Get vaccinated if a vaccine has been developed

pandemic survival

How Personal Protective Equipment Can Protect You

One of the best ways we can reduce our chances of becoming infected by a pandemic is to wear Personal Protective Equipment or PPE whenever we need to come in contact with those who are infected. This PPE is similar to what we imagine a doctor wearing in a hospital and is designed to protect the most common entry points of bacteria or a virus into the body as well as minimize our chances of infecting others. If you are prepping for an ebola outbreak or any other pandemic, the PPE that I am going to discuss here is designed to protect your:

Hands
Eyes
Nose
Mouth
Exposed skin
Clothes

PPE For Your Hands

Dynarex Black Nitrile Exam Gloves	Kimberly-Clark Nitrile Powder Free Exam Gloves	Dynarex Synthetic Vinyl Powder Free Glove

Gloves are the most commonly used PPE to protect your hands from contacting an infected person or surface. These are a highly effective barrier against infection and should be worn whenever you are in an area where sick people have been as well as if you are caring for an infected person.

Gloves are typically made from vinyl, latex, or nitrile
They come in sterile and non-sterile (but still clean) varieties
If you working in an area with rough surfaces consider wearing two pairs of gloves, remove and replace both layers if one suffers a tear or becomes heavily contaminated
Even if you are wearing gloves be conscious of what you are touching. If you inadvertently scratch an itch or rub an eye with an infected glove this has a very high chance of transmitting the illness to you.
Also avoid touching things like doors and light switches with contaminated gloves to avoid cross contamination
Make sure your gloves fit snugly and allow you to use your hands as needed

PPE For Your Eyes

Uvex Stealth OTG Safety Goggles	Pyramex Safety Goggles Chemical Splash Anti-Fog Lens	3M TEKK Protection Splash/Impact Goggle

PPE designed to protect your eyes will consist of goggles that should fit snugly around your eyes. This will prevent mucus, blood, and saliva from a cough, sneeze, or other ejection from entering your body through your eyes.

If you are going to be wearing goggles for an extended period consider applying anti-fog solution before putting them on
Personal eyeglasses are better than nothing but do not provide the same level of protection as a set of goggles
If you touch a contaminated surface with your hands or gloves be very careful not to rub your eyes or touch the inside of your goggles

PPE For Your Nose & Mouth

3M Full Facepiece Reusable Respirator	3M Particulate Respirator and Surgical Mask	MSA Safety Works Multi-Purpose Respirator

There are two types of PPE for your nose and mouth. The more common one is a surgical mask. This is a semi-spherical shaped mask that is fastened around the back of your head by either tying it in place or with elastic straps. The mask should also pinch snugly around the bridge of your nose for a good fit.

Masks are generally rated based on how small a particle they will prevent from passing through, N95 is the most commonly used rating.
Note that a surgical mask WILL NOT filter the air. It is designed to stop fluids from splattering at your nose and mouth and to keep your own sneezes and coughs contained.
If you are worried about airborne pathogens you will need a respirator to keep you safe. This also fits snugly on the nose and mouth but actively filters the air you breathe. Respirators are generally more expensive than surgical masks but provide this extra level of protection.
Again, if you touch a contaminated surface with your hands be sure not to touch your face or the inside of your mask or respirator when adjusting or removing it

PPE For Exposed Skin & Clothing

Medline Basic isolation gown	Medline Industries Closed Back Coated Polypropylene Isolation Gowns	DuPont Disposable Elastic Wrist, Bootie & Hood White Tyvek Coverall Suit

If you are going to be traveling through a crowd or have frequent exposure to people infected with the pandemic you will want to protect any exposed skin and prevent your clothes from becoming contaminated.

Wearing a gown or apron is the appropriate PPE for this purpose. These typically are worn by doctors performing surgery or in other environments where blood, saliva, or mucus spray is likely.

Gowns cover arms and torso and fasten in the back with ties.
Not all gown materials are fluid resistance. If you expect heavy soiling make sure you have a gown that is fluid resistant or fluid proof.
Gowns should be donned before gloves and the wrist of the glove should overlap the gown sleeve

pandemic survival

Personal Protective Equipment Tips

Make sure your PPE fits snugly. It will not serve you well if it gets caught and tears as you move or inhibits your intended actions.
Have extra PPE on hand so you can replace damaged or contaminated items
Consider the type of exposure that you are most likely to face. Are you likely to face spraying body fluids, airborne contaminants or large numbers of infected people? Are you just trying to keep yourself safe during your commute? Will you be caring for a sick relative? Be sure to choose gear that is appropriate to your needs.
Make sure you put your PPE on before you are exposed to infected people, even before you leave your home if possible.
When done, remove PPE carefully to prevent cross-contamination. Do not touch the insides of masks, goggles, or gowns with contaminated gloves.
A full set of PPE is generally put on in a specific sequence to maximize protection:

Put the gown on first
Mask or respirator goes on second
Goggles go on next
Gloves go on last
Make sure everything is adjusted and snug fitting before you touch any contaminated surfaces to avoid having to make adjustments with contaminated gloves

After removing PPE be sure to wash your hands before doing anything else

Prepping For The Next Pandemic

Partnering these tips with properly used PPE should give you the best chance possible of making it through a pandemic unscathed, whether you are prepping for coronavirus or the next pandemic. Remember to use caution and common sense when considering traveling, congregating, or otherwise interacting with others and be sure to practice good hygiene to prevent a pandemic from spreading.

Please also note that I am not a doctor and this article is absolutely no substitute for sound medical advice. The majority of the information found here is publicly available from the CDC, Wikipedia, and other online sources. If you or someone you know is showing any symptoms of infection seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Your Thoughts?

Do you have advice for protecting your family during a pandemic survival scenario? Do you have PPE that you would recommend? Let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks!

The Best Slingshot For Survival Situations

17 Comments

If you hear the word ‘slingshot’ and images of a mischievous Bart Simpson come to mind, you’re not alone. Although sling-type devices have been around since biblical times (remember how David slayed Goliath?), modern slingshots are engineered like never before and are considered legitimate weapons.

Out of the various slingshots that we’ve reviewed, we recommend The Scout Hunting Slingshot as the best well-rounded slingshot for survival situations.

In this article, we are going to take a look at what survival situations a slingshot can be an essential tool as well as what qualities to look for when choosing the best slingshot for your bug out bag.

Should I Add a Slingshot to My Bug Out Bag?

Lightweight and versatile, slingshots make an excellent addition to any bug out bag, and the best part is you don’t need to pack ammo!

Whether bugging out in the wilderness or an urban environment, projectiles for your slingshot can easily be scavenged. Not only will you not be weighed down by packing extra ammo in your bug out bag, but you won’t need to worry about running out.

When bugging out in the wilderness, nearly any rock will serve as usable ammo; however, riverbeds are probably your best bet for finding smooth stones that will fly well.

If you find yourself in an urban survival situation, there are plenty of sources for ammo including building debris and concrete, or, if you’re lucky enough to come across one, items from abandoned hardware or sporting goods stores.

However, if you do have space to spare, then packing some steel slingshot ammo isn’t a bad idea.

Slingshot Uses in Survival Scenarios

The two best most applicable uses for a slingshot are hunting and self-defense; making it a versatile survival tool.

Slingshot as a Hunting Weapon

For those who have never hunted with a slingshot, it may seem like a laughable concept, but rest assured that a good slingshot is capable of killing most small game (squirrels, rabbits, birds, etc.) from 30 feet away.

The following are some advantages of using a slingshot to hunt small game:

Gives you a small profile and makes it harder for animals to spot danger
Makes it easier to maneuver through brush to improve your shot or conceal yourself
Its completely silent – won’t give away your location to other animals or unfriendly humans nearby

The slingshot is a great choice for feeding yourself on small game but what about larger game, or fish? A good slingshot can take care of them too.

If your group is large enough that a couple squirrels simply won’t suffice, you can easily modify your slingshot to shoot arrows and take down bigger game.

You can also catch fish through slingshot fishing – a modified form of bow fishing that usually requires adding a reel to the slingshot, especially if you intend to fight the fish. Here is a how-to video if you are interested in learning more about slingshot fishing:

Slingshot as a Self-Defense Weapon

Don’t discount the power of slingshots in conflict (remember David and Goliath?) – they can be excellent survival weapons against both aggressive animals and humans.

Some of the advantages of using a slingshot as a survival weapon include:

Its small size, which makes it easy to conceal until you need it
Even just brandishing it and showing an attacker you are not unarmed can be enough to show you aren’t an easy target
Ammo can be easily acquired in the field making it a great choice for long-term survival
No need to worry about keeping it dry
Silent firing – you can stealthily take down targets without alerting any collaborators

If you’re still on the fence about whether or not a slingshot can be an effective self-defense weapon, consider that in recent history it has been used by various irregular forces including the Irish Republican Army and Ukrainian Anti-government protesters – this certainly demonstrates the slingshot’s effectiveness in modern conflicts.

The Best Survival Slingshot: The Scout Hunting Slingshot

You will want your slingshot to be accurate, powerful, and durable.

The Scout Hunting Slingshot delivers on all three of these requirements.

The Scout’s heavy duty flat bands allow for accurate, high-velocity shooting when stalking prey. Paired with some scavenged ammo, or 3/8″ steel slingshot ammo, The Scout Hunting Slingshot is a force to be reckoned with.

It is 100% American made and utilizes a classic design upgraded with indestructible, modern materials. For example, its glass filled nylon construction provides an extremely durable frame while remaining lightweight.

The Scout is designed with an ambidextrous grip that fits just right for any sized hand.

The Scout Hunting Slingshot a great choice if you are looking for a reliable way to feed yourself with small game or birds while on the trail. Naturally, The Scout can also be used as an effective self-defense weapon.

Its sub-$50 price point delivers great value and makes it a smart addition to any survival kit.

Want to see The Scout in action? Check out this video that demonstrates just how accurate it is…

Features to Look for in a Slingshot

If you’re experienced with a slingshot, then you know what a valuable survival weapon it can be. What you may not know is that not all slingshots are created equal; there are distinct features that make some more suited to a survival situation.

Let’s take a look at the different considerations to make when choosing a slingshot:

Frame Material
Band type
Other Features

Frame Material

Generally, slingshots are made from three materials: metal, wood, and plastic. For your reference, I’ve listed the benefits and drawbacks as well as key considerations of each material to help you choose the best slingshot for your needs.

Metal

Metal slingshots are light and strong
They will generally be the most expensive but are far sturdier and last longer than wood or plastic
For a BOB, an aluminum or steel slingshot with a plastic or ergonomic foam handle is the ideal choice

Wood

A wooden slingshot is the most classic design
They are generally engineered with a simple Y-shape and a rubber band attached to each fork

Plastic

Different plastics can have very different qualities
Plastic slingshots are often more economical
Modern plastics such as glass filled nylon can be an incredible choice for durability and weight

Band Type

The two types of bands you will see in modern slingshots are flat bands and rubber tubing.

The determination of which is best for your survival needs really depends on what you intend to use the slingshot for – tubing may be better for hunting due to its durability, while flat bands provide better accuracy and would serve better as a self-defense weapon.

The benefits of each are as follows:

Rubber Tubes

Tubes tend to last longer; they would be the better choice if you are planning to use a hunting slingshot to feed yourself over an extended period of time
There are many types of slingshot tubes to suit any desired draw weight, check out the guide below:

Flat Bands

Flat bands are easier to draw and typically produce a faster projectile speed; if you won’t be firing a lot but want better accuracy when you do, this may be a better choice
Flat bands would be a good self-defense option when making an evacuation that may require you to deter aggressive people
Flat bands tend to be faster and more accurate than tubing due to their rapid “snapback speed” – the rate at which the projectile is propelled forward

Both tubing and flat bands are relatively cheap – if you are seriously considering a slingshot as a survival weapon, it may be worth experimenting with a few different types to find the best fit for you.

Other Features

The best slingshots have several features that differentiate them from the mediocre ones.

Some features are relevant for a survival or hunting slingshot, others less so, let’s take a look at the best slingshot features:

Grip

No matter what the use, having a comfortable grip is an essential feature for any slingshot
A grip will let you fire more shots and increase accuracy by reducing hand and wrist fatigue
When choosing the best slingshot, look for one with a contoured handle that fits your hand naturally

Sight

A sight helps to improve the accuracy of your shots
This is a great feature for someone with little experience as it can reduce the amount of time you need to dedicate to improving accuracy. However, don’t assume that just because you have a sight you will instantly become an accurate shot – practice still makes perfect!
If you will be aiming at lots of small targets, such as small game, a sight is a key feature
If you expect to be aiming at large targets, such as humans, at shorter distances for self-defense, a sight becomes less necessary
Most of the best hunting slingshots will come with a sight attached

Hollow Handle

Many slingshots come with a screw-cap hollow handle that can be used to store almost anything, from spare rubbers to ammunition
You can also use a hollow handle to store survival gear, similar to the hollow handle of a survival knife
While not a necessary feature, a hollow handle can be quite useful if you think carefully about what could be packed in there (fishing kit, items to make fire, button compass, etc.)

The Best Slingshot For You

When it comes to choosing the “best slingshot,” we really like The Scout Hunting Slingshot, but it comes down to your own personal preference.

After reading this guide, now that you’re more informed on the various nuances in various slingshots, you’re able to make an educated decision.

Final Thoughts

A slingshot is a versatile tool that can be used by both male and female preppers, from teenagers to seniors; slingshots are especially advantageous for preppers who aren’t comfortable with firearms or don’t have the size and strength to wield a hand-to-hand weapon.

However, like anything in life practice makes perfect. It does take some time to become accurate, but time is really your only investment as ammo – rocks, spare nuts or bolts, nails, etc. – is free!

Remember, practice is essential for proficiency!

While its simplicity is part of its appeal, the slingshot is a skill-based instrument that requires practice in order to get good. So take your time, practice all you need and develop your skills on this unassuming “toy” that could very well play an integral role in your survival.

Even if you decide a slingshot is just not the right fit for your bug out bag and survival plan, I would still suggest grabbing one as they are a lot of fun to play around with.

What do you think?

Do have a slingshot in your bug out bag? Is there a particular slingshot that you love? What do you think are the best slingshot features for a survival situation? Let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks!

Bugging Out With Limited Mobility: Elderly or Disabled

34 Comments

It’s fairly easy to find advice for bugging out with ‘people in good health,’ but what if you, or someone you love, are not in reasonable health? How can you ensure all your family members – not just the healthy ones – are prepared to bug out?

This concern was recently raised by Kimberly, a reader of this site, who emailed me asking how she and her husband could adapt their bug out plan as they age to ensure their deteriorating health doesn’t limit their evacuation options.

Kimberly’s already on the right track – considering potential problems before they happen is fundamental to preparedness. The best tools against survival challenges are knowledge and proper planning. Thinking about plausible future scenarios and how they could potentially impact her bug out plan puts Kimberly ahead of the game.

Let’s take her the rest of the way by examining ways we can modify our bug out plan to accommodate someone with limited mobility, whether they are elderly or disabled.

Keep in mind that this post can apply to any less-abled person in your crew, not strictly people with age-related mobility issues. The following suggestions can be used to accommodate a disaster plan for an elderly relative, an injured or sick person, an infant, or an otherwise disabled person.

Let’s look at two possible scenarios:

Bugging Out With Limited Mobility Family Members
Making Your Own Plan If You Have Limited Mobility

Bugging Out With Limited Mobility Family Members

The first step is to realistically evaluate their ability to move over long distances.

Make sure you’re aware of exactly how much movement they’re capable of – can they walk for a full day, half a day, two hours, or less? Some people, specifically infants and people in wheelchairs, will need your help to be mobile, while others could improve their speed with the help of aids such as walking sticks.

If current limitations could be overcome through improved fitness or lifestyle changes (e.g. better eating, quitting smoking), encourage your family member to start making those changes now.

Based on the results of your assessment, the next step is to choose the best option for your situation:

1. For people with highly limited or no mobility: Shelter in place (bug in instead of bugging out)

Your first consideration will be where to shelter – will you stay in the person’s home or move them to another location?

Wherever you choose, make sure you consider the following:

If you will be assisting them, consider using their home as your bug out location
Write a list of all the items you will need in case of emergency (e.g. food, dry goods, tools, water) and make sure there are adequate stockpiles at your shelter location
Thoroughly assess the location for possible threats – is it in a flood plain, tornado corridor, or earthquake fault zone? Understanding the type of emergency situations you could potentially be facing will help you better prepare.
If you don’t live with the person or may be out of the house when disaster strikes, consider what obstacles may interfere with your ability to reach the shelter – are there roads between you and them that may be blocked, impassible, or clogged with traffic?
Ensure the location can accommodate everyone in your bug out team with sleeping areas and sufficient stores of food, water, and hygiene items.

See also: The Ultimate Guide to Bugging In

2. For people with a medium level of mobility: Shelter in place or limit your bug out

Even if you are planning to bug out with a person of moderate mobility abilities, the best option may still be to shelter in place. If you live in an area with rough terrain or frequent bad weather, consider sheltering in place and follow the guidelines above.

Limited bug out

If you believe there’s a reasonable expectation that your limited mobility member will be able to walk for half a day or more, you can plan a limited bug out that will accommodate their needs.

If it’s possible to use a car to cover some ground, plan to drive as far as possible and walk from there. When incorporating a car into your survival plan, be sure to consider the following:

Make sure you have the right vehicle to bug out in as well as a specific vehicular bug out kit packed in addition to your personal backpacks
Include alternative locations in your bug out plan in the event you can’t get to your car or travel in the direction you had originally planned

Packing for a limited mobility person can be challenging as they may only be able to carry a light BOB, or more realistically, none at all. If you’ll be traveling with a group, distribute gear needed for your limited mobility member amongst other members so as not to burden one person, maximizing your group’s ability to travel.

Ensure you pack items that will make camp as comfortable as possible for them. The more comfortable the person is, the better able they will be to recover and travel further the next day. Consider packing a larger bed roll than you would typically bring or perhaps a lightweight folding stool or backpacking hammock for rest breaks.

For people with fair mobility: Bug out with some adjustments

A person with fair mobility should be able to travel a decent distance, albeit at a slower pace or with more frequent rest stops than a healthier person. However, consideration should still be made for easing the impact of hard travel.

A bug out vehicle would still be great in this scenario if that option is available to you. If not, and your group must carry their gear, be sure to limit the amount carried by someone with only fair mobility to ensure the burden won’t impact their ability to travel.

While it is always important to be supportive and focus on the abilities – not disabilities – of your bug out team, try and keep expectations realistic.

People, especially those with little backpacking or survival experience, can sometimes become overly enthusiastic of their own abilities. It may be a long journey and everyone will need to keep their strength up.

Despite the confidence some of your members may have in their endurance abilities, make sure to use your best judgement and plan to enforce periodic breaks if need be.

Making Your Own Plan If You Have Limited Mobility

Now let’s take a look at the opposite scenario: you are now the individual with the physical limitation that a bug out plan must be accommodated to.

If you have family members or friends to rely on, share the tips above with them to ensure you’re all prepared should you need to bug out. However, if you don’t have the good fortune of having someone close by you can depend on, you will need to build your own disaster plan to accommodate your needs.

Your first step in developing a functional plan is to perform a realistic assessment of your own abilities. If you are on your own or bugging out with another person of limited mobility, the best option will most often be to shelter in place, also known as bugging in.

The following are ways you can prepare your home or chosen shelter to accommodate your physical limitations in case of disaster:

Ensure your home is adequately stocked with supplies you will need in case of emergency such as food, water, tools, medications, etc.
Secure a means to communicate with the outside world should cell phones and landlines become unusable, such as a HAM radio
Learn basic survival skills and practice them as much as possible to maximize your odds of thriving without support
Do whatever you can to increase your ability to be self-sufficient, such as growing a garden or learning new skills
If possible, dig a well to ensure access to a reliable water supply (keep in mind you will need a manual pump or electric backup for this option)
Bugging out in a vehicle should be considered only as a last resort; if your car fails and your physical limitations prevent you from traveling by foot, you could be stranded without help
If you are considering bugging out in a vehicle, make sure you have a vehicle BOB packed and anything you may need to help you travel by foot once you reach your destination (cane, wheelchair, walker, crutches, etc.)

See also: The Ultimate Guide to Bugging In

Conclusion

The best offence is always a strong defence; using these tips to modify your bug out plan to accommodate for current or future limitations will make you that much more prepared when disaster strikes.

As I mentioned in the beginning, this article was inspired by a real-life problem faced by one of our readers. If you have any questions keeping you up at night about survival, preparedness planning, survival skills, or the best gear to choose, please drop me a line at info@thebugoutbagguide.com. You never know, it just might save your life!

Your Thoughts?

Have you been planning on supporting a limited mobility person in your bug out plan? Are you planning to overcome any limitations you have yourself?

Let us know how in the Comments Section below, thanks!

5 Essential Urban Survival Tips To Keep You Alive

19 Comments

As a part of developing The Ultimate Urban Survival Kit (TUUSK) with the team at Ready To Go Survival, our conversation turned to urban survival planning and strategy.

We talked about our experiences with the various snowstorms, hurricanes, blackouts, and terrorist threats that we had been through and compared notes.

In this guide, I am going to share the Top 5 Urban Survival Tips that came out of our brainstorming session. If you are not one of the 80.7% of people who live in an urban environment feel free to share these with anyone you care about who does.

Top 5 Urban Survival Tips

Urban Survival Tip #1 – Move fast before exit routes are clogged or closed

There is a clear first mover advantage when evacuating a highly populated area. Once everyone around you gets the same idea, getting through the exits – bridges, tunnels, highways, or train routes will become hopelessly clogged. To ensure a speedy exit:

Make sure your bug out bag is packed, accessible, and ready to go.
Make sure everyone you are bugging out with is on the same page for when to initiate your bug out plan and where to meet
When in doubt MOVE! Don’t wait for everyone around you to agree, get going. Be a survivor, not a statistic.

Urban Survival Tip #2 – Be prepared for environmental hazards

The modern urban landscape if full of dangers that become exposed in any type of disaster. Damaged buildings put all manner of dangerous debris in the air from asbestos and concrete dust to broken glass and toxic smoke.

We need to be sure that our bug out bag has the proper protective gear to keep us moving through such hazards, you never know what you will need to scramble over or through to get to safety.

Sturdy shoes, and well-made pants and a long sleeve shirt should be your default bug out clothing even in summer to protect you from jagged or burning debris. Additionally, consider having environmental protection gear to protect the rest of your body:

Eye protection
Hearing protection
Respiratory/Lung protection
Hand protection

Urban Survival Tip #3 – Be a Grey Man or Woman

The idea of being a “Grey Man” (or Woman) is based around being fully prepared but inconspicuous as to not draw unwanted attention to yourself. This serves two purposes:

Being a Grey Man will help you blend in with a crowd if people are being singled out or if you are trying to evade a pursuer
Being a Grey Man will make you seem like a regular person instead of a target of opportunity for aggressive people who are less prepared than you

There are many ways to be a Grey Man and a lot of them just come down to common sense and not advertising your presence:

Wear normal looking clothes, not camo or other tactical looking gear
Remove any military style logos – The TUUSK bag comes with a velcro patch of the RTGS logo that can be removed at a moment’s notice to slip into the crowd
Do not open your bug out bag in a public area where others can see that it is loaded with food, water, and survival gear that they may need.
Avoid staring or unnecessary eye contact
Conceal any obvious survival gear on your person

Urban Survival Tip #4 – It’s better to look like a threat than a target

In an urban scenario, you are inherently more likely to encounter other people. Some of these people may be aggressive, desperate, or seeking to take advantage of others in the chaos. It is best to deter such advances before they even start by making yourself look like more trouble than it is worth to bother you.

Travel in a group if you can, single people are far juicier targets than two or more people who are obviously together
Have a self-defense item ready to deploy if you are approached; this can be pepper spray, a firearm, knife, or another weapon. Showing you are armed and ready to defend yourself shows that you are not a target of opportunity
Be aware of your surroundings – If you are being followed or possibly entering a dangerous area keep your eyes open and change course immediately
Keep in mind the Grey Man tips above to keep off the radar of inquisitive people

Urban Survival Tip #5 – Follow your instincts, not the mob

When a disaster hits, 99% of people are completely unprepared. You are reading this article, so you are obviously of a mindset of preparing for the worst BEFORE it happens. Stick to your bug out plan and improvise when necessary.

If a mob of people is heading one way, it doesn’t mean that is the best way for you. You don’t need to go in the opposite direction as everyone else but look for the safest way for YOU to reach your destination.

Follow your instincts when faced with a hard choice, not just the path of least resistance.

Putting These Tips Into Action

Partnering these 5 tips with a well thought out bug out bag will vastly improve your odds of making it through the next urban disaster alive.

For more urban survival tips based on my real world experiences check out my article here: 10 Preparedness Lessons From Living In NYC.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, these tips came out of the TUUSK project that I partnered with Ready To Go Survival (RTGS) on. The team at RTGS has been hard at work sourcing gear and getting The Ultimate Urban Survival Kit ready to launch out into the world.

If you are interested in getting your own TUUSK and free Lifestraw before they are made available to the general public check it out here.

Good luck prepping and remember, Chance Favors The Well Prepared.

Your Thoughts?

Do you have an urban survival tip to share? Let us know in the Comments Section below, thanks!