This isn't a new concept by any means. My grandmother carried a purse for years that had everything in it from chewing gum and band aids to dog treat and pepper spray. (I might be exaggerating a bit) There were so many times though that she seemed to have just the right thing hidden in the bowels of that bag.
My grandmothers purse worked because it had her personal stuff that she needed to take with her anyway. He wallet and her house keys were stored in this bag so she was trained to always bring it with her. Now I am not saying that you need to carry a survival purse but the theory is the same.
The core bag is a simple bag that carries a small set of basic gear that will help you and others in a lot of different circumstances. The bag can't be filled completely with gear and have no room for anything else that might be specific to what you are doing at the moment. That extra space allows the addition of things like your lunch or work out clothes for before or after work. The point is that if you make a habit of using your bag then you will be much more likely to keep the bag with you, and that is important.
The basic contents of the bag are designed to meet the most basic of needs while serving for many others with just a little imagination. Example: In the core bag the largest item that you carry is a poncho and liner. This is to provide basic shelter in the event of an emergency. If you are stuck in your car or in the woods and have to get through the night in lower temperatures then these items will save your life. But they can be used for so many other things. This year alone I have used my poncho liner as a blanket on the beach, a warming blanket and seat cushion at sporting events, a rolled pillow laying in the grass and a packing blanket to protect fragile items.
You can see the importance of the poncho and liner for a survival bag but to have them for so many other things as well makes the bag a much more important everyday bag. Listed now are the basic items of the core bag. You will see their need for basic survival very easily but use your imagination for what else they could be used for.
- Core bag (backpack with multiple compartments)
- Small first aid pack complete with basic pain medications and trauma gear
- Multi tool with knife, wire cutters, screwdrivers and can opener
- Extra socks and a plain t shirt
- Protein bars 6 total
- Water bottle with cup (stainless steel)
- Bic lighter, waterproof matches and wet start gel packs
- Small flashlight with a set of extra batteries
- Cell phone charging pack and extra wall charger with usb cord
- Small roll of 1 inch gorilla tape
- two 25 foot hanks of paracord
- Sunblock and bug repellent (small travel sizes)
- small bar of antibacterial soap and hand sanitizer.
- Map of the area and compass
In future lessons all of these items will be explained. There are reasons for every item in the bag and if packed properly will leave you with a half empty back pack. The bag that you choose to use as your core bag needs to be something that you like and will take with you. Try to avoid tactical looking bags as they will attract attention during an emergency as well as before. If the emergency is a terrorist event and you are in the area you might be labeled as a threat. Keep the bag as low key as possible while still making it something that you would actually take with you.
Using the list provided see how many of the things that you already have and make a list of the rest. How you pack the bag is determined by what your bag is and how you are going to use it but the most important items like your flash light or the first aid kit should be buried at the bottom of the bag.
When you are out of your house take the bag. You can leave it in the car if you can get back to the car in a minute or less, other than that you should have it with you.
Take the next step towards your own personal preparedness by packing your core bag today. If you find yourself using any of the items for something other than it's obvious purpose let me know. Post a comment below so maybe your story could inspire somebody else to build a bag for themselves.
Using the list provided see how many of the things that you already have and make a list of the rest. How you pack the bag is determined by what your bag is and how you are going to use it but the most important items like your flash light or the first aid kit should be buried at the bottom of the bag.
When you are out of your house take the bag. You can leave it in the car if you can get back to the car in a minute or less, other than that you should have it with you.
Take the next step towards your own personal preparedness by packing your core bag today. If you find yourself using any of the items for something other than it's obvious purpose let me know. Post a comment below so maybe your story could inspire somebody else to build a bag for themselves.
Great article Keith! I ended up packing a similar bag when my daughter was in ICU for a week. I put my wallet in it, any meds I might need for the day, a partial of clothes, jacket, cell phone charger, an extra cell phone, water, cereal bars, hand sanitizer and a note pad and pen. That was my "core bag." I don't know if a note pad and pen would be useful in a typical core bag, or a wind up flashlight so that batteries don't corrode (they are a pain to rewind). I have one of those in my car that has been useful many times. Thanks again for the great article!
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