Survival Items You Should Carry With You

Do you spend time in the outdoors? Most of us do. Anymore we leave our home and we have our cell phone. Maybe a bit of water and a snack. Out we go! Ready for a day in the outdoors.

Remember the day when we went out without a phone. We didn't worry a bit. Maybe the world was safer then, or we were smarter, or maybe our trucks were more reliable. Whatever the case we can't go anywhere without our cell phones. We would be lost without them. We are weak, soft, and to be frank kinda pathetic. Okay maybe that is a bit harsh. But if we forget our cell phone, guess what? We are going back for it. Right?  You know it.

We need that phone in case of whatever happens. It s our security blanket. It will save us. We rely on it like a trusted friend. However there is something to think about. Is the cell phone you take really going to save you? Is that all you need to take care of you in the event of an emergency?

Think about this. A cell phone is a great thing but it can't feed you or keep you warm. You need to have some basic survival items that are not your cell phone. What are they?

When you leave you need a few basic items. Matches can fail. So take a backup plan. Something you can light in any kind of weather. Warm, cold, or wet, etc. What some of us carry is a cotton ball that is soaked in WD-40. It will light with just a spark and it will burn like a candle for five to ten minutes. Also buy a MRE (mael ready to eat) and keep one for each person in the car. This will cost you several bucks each but the shelf life is long. There is several food items to keep you going. My bud's and I also take a ziplock bag of wood tender. We take wood shavings that are dry ready to burn. These items are very basic but can go along ways in keeping you warm and fed until rescue can find you. Or you can find your way home.

I didn't cover all the items you could or should have when you leave the house. These are just a couple of basics. Be creative and take other items that you would like to have in a survival situation. However what I have listed is reasonably small and fits in a fanny pack or a backpack.

So don't  just take your cell phone. But don't forget it either. Don't mislead yourself. Go prepared and have a contingency plan in place. Don't think you will not break down or get lost. I know it sounds funny, but you know what they say, "stuff happens".  Head out to the outdoors have fun and go prepared. Oh and be careful with your matches. You could put some of us to work.......