Being prepared is a survival skill that takes a little time to get right, and it’s not uncommon for mistakes to happen along the way. If looking to seriously strengthen your preparedness/survival skills, check out some of the most common preparedness mistakes!
1) No or Not Enough Water
While survival without food is possible for about a month or so, the body starts to shut down from lack of agua in a matter of days. A common preparedness mistake is having freeze-dried and canned food available, but no water! Keep at least a few gallons in your emergency kit, along with filters and purification tablets.
2) Too Little Food
Another common mistake? Keeping only the bare minimum of non-perishable food around. People like to feel prepared, i.e. keeping a few extra cans in the pantry, but don’t necessarily ensure the right amount of food for survival is available. Boxes of freeze-dried food that contain 80 or more servings is a good place to start!
3) Too Much Gear
Sure, it’s nice to have five flashlights and 10 flares in your emergency kit, but don’t sacrifice must-haves such as food and water for gear. It’s also important to know what to do in the event of an emergency rather than focusing on “stuff.” After all, that gear won’t do you much good if you have no clue what to do when disaster strikes!
4) No “From Work” Plan
Most people keep all emergency gear in their homes, but what if you’re at work or otherwise out when disaster strikes? It’s a good idea to have an emergency plan that includes the safest route back to your house, as well as a mini survival kit in your vehicle.
5) No Alternative Cooking Source
Freeze-dried food is great during a power outage, however it’s best to know a few alternatives for heating and chilling food! Solar ovens are good bets, as are humless power sources.
What are your best preparedness tips? Have you made survival skill mistakes in the past that proved great lessons? Share your stories in the comments section!
