Important Things to Consider When Choosing Your Bug-out Backpack

If you buy a bug-out bag for the first time, you could be wondering about the things you should consider during the selection process. A bug-out backpack should be practical and should have compartments to hold all your necessary items. In addition, it should be easy to carry around.

You can check multiple backpack reviews on our website Ready and Armed. Here are things to consider during the backpack selection process.

Go For High Quality

Although high-quality backpacks are pricey, they are durable enough to hold the items you would need during your trip. A higher-quality backpack is definitely worth the investment.

You might be carrying the bag in rough conditions, whether in an outdoor environment or urban environment. A high-quality bag can take some abuse and should be water-resistant.

You can search for a high-quality bag from trusted online vendors, but you can get a quality bag from the local stores. It is better to look at and handle the bag at the store to ensure it is of the desired quality.

The Bag Must Be a 2-Strap Backpack

Sling bags might not carry the expected weight during an emergency, and it is wise to choose a pack with two straps. The straps should be thick to ensure that they do not break under stress.

The straps should not be cheaply made, and you should opt for the military-grade as they are made for harsher conditions. The straps determine whether the bag would serve its purpose or not.

Get a bag with a Hip Belt

A hip belt supports the weight distribution making it easy to carry the bag around. The belt distributes the bag’s weight from the shoulders to the hip.

Transferring this weight makes the legs feel more robust, thus increasing stability during a hike. You can get a backpack with a removable belt for situations when the bag is light and does not require weight distribution.

Budget Concerns

A functional bag can be expensive but is worth the investment, and it is better to pay more for a high-quality bag than to opt for a cheaply made bag. However, if your budget is limited, you can stick with your budget; if you have enough money, you can opt for a new bag.

However, if your budget is restricted, you should not opt for a low-quality bag as you can buy a lightly used, high-quality pack rather than a new cheaper bag. You can find gently-used bags in the thrift shops near you. Thrift shops have military-grade bags at half the price of the new ones, and they serve the same purpose as new bags.

Choose a Bag with a Volume in the 45-55L Range

You should consider the size of the bug-out bag, as it needs to be large enough to carry everything. However, it shouldn’t be too big as a more oversized bag might end up having more equipment than you can carry.

The bug-out bags can either be large, medium, or small. Assuming it is your first bug-out bag, you should choose the medium-size pack of about 45-55L.

A bag that weighs less than 40 liters would be too small for your items, while one which weighs more than 60 liters would be too large. A large bag might be challenging to carry on your back and is impractical since you can’t guarantee that you would have access to a vehicle and gasoline during a bug-out event.

Be Sure It Fits Properly

The bug-out bag should fit adequately; a bag that does not fit well might be difficult to carry around. A smaller size bag might not fit you well, leading to discomfort, while a larger one could be difficult to carry on your back.

The bug-out bag should have compartments that carry all the items you would need during an emergency. Bag compartments allow you to organize all things quickly and in a streamlined way.

The bag should have both large and small compartments for managing both the large and small items. Ensure all the compartments are closable with zippers, straps, or Velcro as it ensures moisture and dirt do not penetrate from one compartment into another.

Choose a Tactical Bag with a Sturdy Frame

Tactical bags are practical as they are sturdy and can carry heavy loads, and you should choose one with a strong frame. The bug-out bag should weigh about 15% of your body weight which means men can carry a backpack weighing 30-40 pounds comfortably while women can carry about 25-35 pounds.

A frameless bag might not distribute the weight evenly, which means you could have more weight on one side, hurting your back and posture. Moreover, the frame makes it possible to organize items in the bag seamlessly. Finally, a frame will make your bag more durable.

Choose Front-Load Bags or Hybrids Rather Than Top-Load Bags

The front loader bags have a clamshell-style opening like a suitcase, making it easy to pack your belongings. The level of accessibility makes them suitable for moving every item around during an emergency. The bag allows for ergonomic packing, which ensures fair distribution of the bag’s weight.

The top-load bags do not offer easy access to the items in the bag. If you need something, you might have to remove most of the items to find a specific one.

Choose the Colors Which Best Match Your Personality and Purpose

Bug-out bags come in different colors, and you can choose the colors that match your personality. Most people would go with neutral colors such as green, grey, camo, or black, but you could choose to have a little fun with color choices.

Unless you wish to make sure you can move about on foot with as little notice as possible, you should not shy away from bright colors such as red, yellow, lime, and pink. Let your bag bring out your personality and bring color to your life.

The style and size of the bug-out bag you choose will determine the number of items you can carry and the comfort of the pack. Therefore, it would be best to select a sturdy bag with a frame that ensures fair distribution of the bag’s weight, leading to maintaining a proper posture. In addition, the bag should have suitable compartments to store your personal belongings effectively.

source https://readyandarmed.net/important-things-to-consider-when-choosing-your-bug-out-backpack/

How and Why You Should Test Your Bug-out Kit

A bug-out kit is an essential part of emergency preparedness, and it can be heartbreaking to know it is not functional when you are already bugging out. Therefore, you should learn how to test your bug-out kit before heading out for your travels.

You might not immediately master how to use the bug-out bag in an emergency, but you can handle it effectively with practice. Here is how and why you should test your kit ahead of time. Also, you will love to follow our blog Ready & Armed if you are interested in firearms and survival tips.

How to Test Your Bug-out Kit

You can never be sure the bug-out kit will work properly during an emergency, but you must be prepared for an emergency that may never happen. So, how should you test your kit?

First, you could sleep outside in your backyard. Although you might not have an emergency in your backyard, testing your kit in this manner will make it easier to use in the event of an emergency. You should test all the elements in the kit to know which tasks are easy to accomplish with your equipment and which are more difficult.

Sleeping out in your yard might be difficult, but it allows you to understand how it would feel to sleep out during a bug-out event. You would know how to use the resources which you are accustomed to already.

If you have never gone camping before, you can try car-camping in a state park near your home, as they have shower facilities and electric hookups. Camping will help you figure out the amount of food and water you would need and just how long it would last in an emergency.

You will notice the bug-out items you need most and how to utilize them in case of an emergency situation. You might not master how to use these kits right away, but you should remember that practice makes perfect.

You should read the instructions on using the different equipment and ask for support from the manufacturer when you don’t know how to use something correctly. You could also ask for advice from online emergency preparedness bloggers.

Why You Should Test Your Bug-out Kit

When you test your kit, you would know if you have too much, too little, or just the right amount of stuff in it. It is easy to over-pack the bag with unnecessary items which are not helpful during an emergency. This will help you adjust your pack to contain fewer items that might not be practical during an emergency as they might not do the work you intend to do.

If you practice an emergency scenario in a state park near you, you would know if you can get by with what you have, what you need to add to the emergency pack, and what you should remove from the bag. Additionally, you would know how everything works before the emergency when you test the kit in a pretend emergency.

Moreover, you can find an expert in emergency management who can guide you on using every item in the bag. Firefighters are the best in this situation, and you can also find freelance trainers who can teach you on using each item.

Not all items in the emergency bag would work well in an emergency, and you are likely to find some which can break under pressure. When you test these kits, you know items that can disappoint during an emergency and replace them with sturdier items that can withstand the pressure.

You don’t need to have things that fail during an emergency, as they can put your life at risk. Even if some items do not break, they might fail to work correctly, and you can sort out the things which do not work correctly from your kit. Additionally, you find out what works well during an emergency and have them in the emergency kit.

It would be best not to change the wrong things when tweaking your equipment, as it can lead to a disaster. If you replace the items that work well with faulty ones, you might predispose yourself to a disaster. Once you sort the things that work well and those which are faulty, you can customize items to work for your specific needs.

You can learn valuable lessons such as packing food; ready-to-eat food is a survivor in an emergency. For example, you can preheat the instant coffee and cocoa and place them in a sealed vacuum flask ahead of time to reduce the food that needs heating during your trip.

Additionally, you could use a rock as a hammer, therefore, saving you some space in your bug-out bag. However, you should use a smooth stone that does not harm the aluminum tent pegs suitable for desert soils.

When in remote locations, your phone might be a poor clock as it runs out of battery quickly; testing the emergency bug-out bag would be a reminder to bring a wristwatch. The watch does not drain the battery quickly, it would be effective in a remote location, and you could use it to know the time every day. Moreover, a compass might be necessary as it points the direction when you are in remote locations.

You are least likely to get lost when you have both a watch and a compass. Some watch companies make watches with a built-in digital compass, and you should go for these watches.

If it is your first time erecting a camp tent, you will realize it takes some time. When testing the bug-out bag, you should set aside time to learn how to set up a tent effectively. You should add an hour to pitch the tent, and you should ensure you put your tent on an elevated flat surface that is not prone to flash floods. Tent-pitching skills need practice, and you might not master them with the first attempt.

If you have never gone camping by yourself, you might be a little worried about using the bug-out kit. If you don’t know how to use the equipment, you should learn how to test each item by yourself.

For example, you can go car-camping in the state park near you and imagine an emergency scenario where you have to use the kit. Practicing with the emergency kit makes it easy to identify faulty items from those that work well and customize the equipment to meet your needs in a real emergency.

source https://readyandarmed.net/how-and-why-you-should-test-your-bug-out-kit/

Fire Starting Survival Basics: Using Your Compass

Fire has been one of the most valuable assets to humans for thousands of years. Unfortunately, some people believe that there will come a time when modern electronic devices that we enjoy, such as smartphones and laptops, will be destroyed by electromagnetic radiation. Only those with crucial survival skills such as starting a fire will survive and even thrive if that happens.

There are many ways to start a fire. They include using a lighter, friction, creating parts, among many others. One of the most effective yet overlooked ways of starting a fire is using a compass. Learning this technique can help you survive in a pandemic or if you are stuck somewhere in the middle of the forest or desert.

So can you start a fire with a compass, and if yes, how do you do about it? This article will tell you everything you need to know about starting a fire with a compass. If you love to get more survival tips then make sure to follow Ready & Armed. Now without further ado, let’s get started.

Can You Start a Fire with a Compass?

YES, you can start a fire with a compass. All you need to do is make sure that the compass you are carrying has a magnifying glass.

Many survival experts recommend keeping a magnifying glass in your survival kit as well as a compass. However, it’s much better to buy a compass with a built-in magnifying glass.

Below is a simple step-by-step process on how to start a fire with a compass and magnifying less.

Materials required:

• White paper
• Magnifying glass
• Writing instrument to mark your focal point, if necessary

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Select the Right Time of the Day When There is Sufficient Sunlight

When it comes to lighting a fire with a compass, sufficient sunlight is essential. Even a slight cloud or overcast could make a massive difference in determining how long it will take to start a fire.

Therefore, you need to ensure that there is enough sunlight. Choose a location that is away from trees or any other object that could obstruct the penetration of sun rays.

Step 2: Make Sure you Have a Powerful Magnifying Glass

Apart from ensuring there is sufficient sunlight, another essential thing is to ensure that you have a powerful magnifying lens. Canterbury recommends that your magnifying glass is at least 5x.

A general rule of thumb is that the larger the magnifying glass, the easier it will light the fire. Hold the magnifying lens between your white paper and the sun. As soon as the magnifying glass is under the sun, start focusing on the white paper.

One important thing to remember before you head out is to apply some sunscreen because you may find yourself staying out in the sun for a while. Sunscreen will help to protect your skin against damaging UV rays.

Step 3: Focus the Beam of Light

In order to light a fire using a compass, you need to focus the beam of light and make it as tight as possible. This requires patience, especially if your magnifying glass is not that powerful. When focusing on the magnifying glass, keep your hands steady.

You need to focus on the light and hold your hand in a single spot for at least 20 seconds. If the beam wavers, you are going to struggle to create ignition.

Patience is vital during this stage. You will not achieve ignition if you focus on multiple points. So, choose a spot and stick to it by keeping your hands steady to concentrate as much sunlight as possible onto the white paper to create ignition. If you are not good at holding your hands steady, draw a dot on the white paper and concentrate on that particular point.

Step 4: Wait for Ignition

If you keep your hand steady on one point, then it won’t take long before you spot fire. People who use a powerful 5x magnifying glass can usually create ignition in less than a minute.

Necessary things required to create fire using a compass:

• A sufficiently powerful magnifying glass (at least 5x)
• A bright sunny day
• Steady hands, as you need to focus the beam on one spot

Pros of Using Compass Method to Set Fire

• It is environmentally friendly.
• It creates fire quickly (usually in less than one minute).
• It’s easy and simple.

Cons of the Process

• You can only create a fire if there is sufficient sunlight. This means you cannot create fire at night.
• You have to keep your hand steady, which is difficult for some people.

FAQ

How Long does it Take to Start a Fire with a Compass?

It depends on many factors, including the power of your magnifying lens, weather conditions, and how steady your hand is when focusing the beam at a particular point.

For instance, it will take you a shorter time to start a fire using a larger and more powerful magnifying glass. However, it takes about a minute to start a fire with a compass and magnifying glass on average.

How does Starting a Fire Using a Compass Works?

The science involved in starting a fire using a compass is straightforward. When a magnifying glass is placed on direct sunlight, it focuses the beam of light, thus creating heat, which results in fire. In simple words, the magnifying glass help to convert light energy into heat energy, thus creating fire.

What Type of Magnifying Glass is Used to Create Fire?

The type of magnifying glass used to create fire using the compass method is the convex lens. This magnifying glass is used because of its incredible ability to focus heat rays at one single point. The concentrated energy at one point creates heat that starts the fire.

If you have been wondering whether it is possible to start a fire with a compass, then today, you have the answer. YES, it is possible to start a fire with a compass .all you need is a magnifying glass that is at least 5x, a bright sunny day, and white paper. If you have the materials mentioned above, follow the simple process given above to create fire.

source https://readyandarmed.net/fire-starting-survival-basics-using-your-compass/

A Step-by-Step Guide to Making and Storing Char Cloth for Tinder

Char cloth is a product that is used to start a fire without the need to have matches or a lighter. Therefore, knowing how to make char cloth is a handy skill, especially if you don’t have standard equipment used in making fire, such as a lighter or a box of matches.

One of the biggest challenges people have when using primitive methods to make fire, such as lenses or frictions, is finding a tinder that will catch fire quickly. As a result, creating fire using primitive methods is difficult and time-consuming. The last thing you want is to have a tinder that does not catch fire quickly. Good tinder should catch fire with a single spark. The only way to create a tinder that catches fire quickly is by making and storing char cloth properly.

So, do you want to make char cloth for kindling, but you don’t know where to start? If yes, then you are in the right place. Below is a step-by-step guide to making and storing char cloth for tinder. Also, make sure to follow Ready & Armed to stay updated with more topics like this one.

Materials needed: 

• Sealable tin can
• 100% cotton material
• Nail or any other puncturing tool
• Scissors

Step by Step Process

Step 1: Look for an Empty Metal Tin

The first thing to do is finding an empty tin that is made of metal. The size of the container should depend on the amount of char cloth you intend to make.

For instance, if you plan to make a large amount of char cloth, you should use a large container like oatmeal or paint tin. Ensure that the tin that you choose is made of 100% metal. Not even a single part should be made of rubber or plastic. Additionally, the metal container should also have a sealable lid.

Step 2: Make a Hole in the Tin

This process is not complicated. All you need to us is use a nail and a hammer or a very sharp knife to make a hole in the tin. The hole should be large enough to stick the tip on the pen.

However, the hole should not be too large because it may allow air into the tin and set the cloth on fire, thus burning it to ashes instead of making char cloth. Therefore, the primary role of the hole is to vent smoke.

Step 3: Find an Old Clean Fabric Made of Cotton

Find a fabric that is old but clean and made of 100% cotton. This could be a cotton T-shirt or old denim jeans made of 100% cotton. Please do not use a cloth that is made of or contains synthetic material.

A white cotton cloth is the best option since you can quickly tell whether it is charred. Additionally, you will also not worry about dye compromising the quality of your char cloth.

Step 4: Cut the Fabric into Small Pieces

Once you have found a suitable old, clean cloth made of 100% cotton, the next process is cutting it into smaller pieces. Remember that the fabric will shrink during the process of charring. So, don’t make it very small. Make it at least two inches to allow you to remain with a sizable piece of char cloth.

The small pieces that you cut don’t need to be even or of the same size. So, don’t put too much focus on ensuring that you cut the cloth to even or equal measures.

The size of the fabric should be small enough to fit into the lid lying flat. Please do not roll the material because it will not char evenly. Small pieces of cloth usually burn faster than larger pieces. So bear this in mind while citing the fabric.

Step 5: Put the Cut Fabric into the Container

Once you are done cutting the fabric into small pieces, insert them into the metal container. You can fill the container or leave a small space. Please ensure that all material lies flat in the container.

Also, don’t over-pack them because you will have a hard time getting them out. Some pieces of cloth may also not char well if they are overcrowded on the metal tin. Once you are done dropping the pieces of material into the container, seal the container with the lid.

Step 6: Start the Fire

Place the container on a stove and let it burn for between 15-30 minutes. However, the process could take longer, depending on your heat source and the size of the container. The charring process will remove all ashes and gas, leaving behind a char cloth that mainly comprises carbon that is ready to light.

Keep the container upright; the hole venting smoke should remain facing upward. Smoke and fire leaving the hole is a good sign that the cloth is charring. Don’t remove the container from the heat until the smoke stops venting.

Step 7: Remove it from Fire and Let it Cool

Once the smoke has stopped venting, then it means that the charring process is complete. It’s time to move on to the next step. Remove the metal container from the fire and give it time to cool down before opening the lid. While the cover is cooling, place a small nail on top of the hole to prevent oxygen from entering the cooling can.

Remember that the newly made char cloth is super-hot and can easily ignite if too much oxygen is allowed to enter the lid. To prevent this, it is recommended that you close or cover the punched hole.

Step 8: Inspect the Char Cloth Before Storing

Once the container has cooled down, remove the char cloth and inspect them to see if the charring process is complete. For example, if the char cloth is entirely black like charcoal, then it means that the charring process is complete. On the other hand, if you spot some areas with the original color, then the charring process has not been completed.

It would be best to place the container back on your heat source in such a scenario and let it heat until the charring process is complete. Once you are satisfied with your new char cloth, store them in a waterproof bag that is rigid to avoid crushing.

source https://readyandarmed.net/guide-to-making-and-storing-char-cloth-for-tinder/

Using Corn-based Snacks as an Emergency Fire Starter

Fire is one of the most important things that humans need to survive. It provides a source of warmth, lighting, helps in food preparation, and protects against predators at night. You can also use fire to create tools for emergency purposes that can occur at any time.

For instance, your vehicle can break down in the middle of nowhere, or an earthquake may destroy your home. In such cases, one crucial thing that you will need to survive is the ability to start a fire.

There are many techniques used to light a fire during an emergency. One of the most reliable and efficient techniques of starting a fire is using corn-based snacks as an emergency fire starter. This technique is widely used because it is super easy and reliable.

This article will give you step-by-step tips on starting a fire using corn-based snacks such as Doritos, Cheetos, and Fritos as emergency fire starters. Also, make sure to follow Ready and Armed for more fire starting tips.

Can Corn-based Snacks Really be Used to Start a Fire During Emergencies?

Corn-based snacks can be used to start a fire during an emergency because they are highly flammable. These types of snacks contain oil that makes them burn easily, even when they are wet. Therefore, when faced with an emergency and you need to start a fire, you can use your favorite corn-based snack such as Fritos, Cheetos, and Doritos to start a fire.

Another reason why these types of snacks are highly recommended for starting a fire during an emergency is that they burn slowly, making them ideal for lighting purposes. You only need to light one, and others will eventually catch fire.

How to Start a Fire Using Doritos

Doritos is made from corn, and it is high in vegetable oil. This snack is not only delicious, but it can save you during an emergency. For instance, when stuck in the middle of nowhere and you need to start a fire, and you don’t have those familiar fire starters, Doritos can come in handy.

They are high in fat, which means high fuel value. The good thing about Doritos is that they don’t burn as quickly as something such as your old newspaper. Instead, they burn slowly and steadily and make excellent kindling. They can work as candles during an emergency.

Step by step process to start a fire with Doritos

Materials needed:

• Doritos
• Heatproof container or some sand or dirt
• Lighter or matchstick

Step 1:

Put some Doritos in a heatproof container. If you don’t have one, then you can put them in dirt or sand.

Step 2:

Pick one piece of the snack, light it with a match or lighter, and then place it on the heat-proof container like a ramekin dish. You can also use other techniques to light up the snack, such as the compass method. The oil in the snack will make them burn slowly and eventually spread to others pieces. One individual chip can light for up to one minute. So, if you have a packet full of Doritos, it can provide a reliable source for starting a fire.

How to Start a Fire Using Cheetos and Fritos

Like Doritos, Cheetos are made from corn and vegetable oil. This snack was invented in 1948 and is currently one of the most popular snacks in the United States. Fritos are also made by deep-frying extruded whole cornmeal.

If you find yourself stuck while hiking, picnicking, or camping, chances are that you may have Cheetos or Fritos in your bag. Besides being tasty, you can also use these two snacks to start a fire in an emergency situation. The high-fat content in them enables them to catch fire easily and burn smoothly and efficiently.

Cheetos and Fritos are made from corn which contains a lot of energy from carbohydrates, which you can quickly turn into fuel. Additionally, these corn chips have been deep-fried in oil, meaning they are completely saturated with fuel.

On top of that, Cheetos and Fritos also have a generous dusting of fatty powders outside, which enables them to burn steadily for a long time. Another significant factor that makes Cheetos and Fritos ideal for starting a fire and kindling is their salt content. This helps to protect them from moisture and keeps them dry.

Step by Step Process to Start a Fire with Cheetos and Fritos

The process of starting a fire with either Cheetos and Fritos is similar to Doritos.

The materials needed include:

• Cheetos or Fritos
• Heatproof container or some sand or dirt
• Lighter or matchstick

Step 1:

Put some Cheetos or Fritos on a heat-proof container. You can also put them in dirt or sand if you don’t have a heatproof container.

Step 2:

Pick one piece of Fritos or Cheetos and light it with a matchstick or lighter, then place it on the heat-proof container. If you don’t have a lighter or any matches, you can also use other techniques to light up the snack, such as using a compass and a magnifying glass.

The oil in the snack will burn slowly and eventually spread to other pieces, meaning that you only need to light a single piece to start with and not a handful of them. As with Doritos, one chip can burn for up to one minute. So, if you have a packet full of Cheetos of Fritos, then you can have a reliable source of fire during an emergency.

When going for a picnic, camping, hiking, or boating, you might want to carry snacks like Cheetos, Doritos, or Fritos. A couple of packets of these certainly won’t add much weight to your backpack or bag, and they could come in very handy. In addition to being a tasty treat, these snacks are high in carbohydrates and can provide you with much-needed energy.

The snacks can also save you during an emergency by helping you start a fire quickly. The high-fat content in the snack makes them burn quickly, even if you find yourself outside in wet conditions. In addition, the carbohydrate in them allows them to burn for a long time steadily.

source https://readyandarmed.net/using-corn-based-snacks-as-an-emergency-fire-starter/

Survival Myth Busted – Drinking Your Own Urine

Generally, normal urine constitutes approximately ninety-five percent water and five percent waste products, including ammonia, urea, creatinine, pigmented blood products, and inorganic products. There is a belief that drinking urine comes with benefits, though these have not yet been scientifically proven.

Therefore, this article talks more about how the assumptions of consuming your urine in a survival situation can be essential, the potential health risks it might cause, and how one can purify urine using reverse osmosis or distillation. Let’s have a look at each of them independently. You will love to follow Ready and Armed if you are interested in more topics like this one.

The Belief that Drinking Your Urine Would be Beneficial in a Survival Situation

The belief that drinking urine is associated with some benefits dates back to the early nineties where it was believed that urine could whiten teeth and cleanse mouths. Similarly, others also thought that urine was a perfect medicine for various conditions.

However, recent health advocates have claimed that some of the benefits associated with drinking urine include improving eyesight, supporting thyroid health, healing wounds in the mouth, boosting the immune system, and replacing lost nutrients.

Additionally, others also use urine as an emergency source of water. For instance, one might end up drinking their urine when they do not have access to any other water source after a natural disaster or a shipwreck.

Other components found in your urine, like small quantities of vitamins, hormones, and antibodies, also play a vital role in improving your health. Urine is also believed to be a potent diuretic that can make your body release more water and salt.

Although some people typically use diuretics to lower blood pressure, it is believed the safer way to do so is by consuming urine. However, it is important to note that no research has proven drinking urine can improve your health and lower blood pressure.

Some of the Potential Health Risks of Drinking Urine

Even though there are some associated benefits of drinking your urine, it can also cause some harm to your body, especially if you are healthy and lack any underlying condition. However, people at a higher risk of being affected by the contaminants found in urine are people with chronic diseases and children.

Consuming urine can present some serious health risks. We have listed those risks below:

Infection

Typically, urine is not sterile or pure because as it leaves the kidneys, it usually passes through the urethra and goes into contact with your skin as it leaves the body. Similarly, your urine also contains bacteria, irrespective of if you are healthy or not.

That is why drinking urine might expose you to various diseases. Despite urine containing antibodies, it also has bacteria present, including antibiotic-resistant strains-pseudomonas, staphylococcus, salmonella, E. coli, and shigella.

While bacteria might not cause an infection to all people who consume urine, it can certainly increase the risk of diseases. Those with weak immune systems are especially at risk.

Dehydration

Urine is a diuretic that increases your risk of dehydration when consumed because the salts in it reduce the amount of usable water in your body. Even though some people consume urine because they have nothing else left to drink, there is no evidence to suggest that one would survive when doing so since dehydration could still get the best of them. For this reason, most experts do not recommend drinking your urine, even if there is no clean water, because of the waste and salts excreted in the urine.

Electrolyte imbalances

Drinking urine causes some electrolyte imbalances because it contains other electrolytes and salts. Typically, if one is dehydrated and consumes large amounts of urine, they have dangerous electrolyte imbalances.

Other risks

Other risks associated with drinking urine include:

• Exposure to dangerous chemicals, for example, traces of medications
• Irritation
• Burning of wounds in the throat or mouth
• Delayed medical treatment, especially when one believes that urine can treat that particular ailment.

How to Purify Urine Through Reverse Osmosis or Distillation

Most people think that filtering urine will leave them with just water because urine contains both water and waste products. However, it is not true because urine is made up of dissolved ions, salts, and molecules of urea that can pass through the filter. Similarly, other forms like chemical or UV light treatment only kill microbes but do not eliminate the molecular-sized substances found in urine.

Therefore, the only way to safely drink your urine in a survival situation when there is no other water source is by removing the dissolved contaminants or lowering their concentration. Unfortunately, you can only do so using two ways, which are reverse osmosis and distillation.

In reverse osmosis, high pressure is used to force water through a thin membrane that only allows water molecules and not even salt to penetrate. Distillation typically involves evaporating your urine to let out water molecules and allow them to cool and condense in a different drinking vessel.

Even though these two methods usually enable you to isolate drinkable water, it is also tough to isolate every trace of the contaminant’s smell and taste. In addition, the water obtained after the two processes might not benefit your body because essential nutrients like calcium and phosphorus are not present.

In summary, it is essential to note that drinking urine does not help improve your health or lower blood pressure but might even worsen your health. Therefore, if you are seeking some natural remedies on the matter, you are encouraged to consult a healthcare professional who is knowledgeable on the subject.

Similarly, when your access to water is scarce, it is essential to seek a healthier source like clean rainwater, water in food, condensation, or fruits and vegetables. It is not recommended to consume your urine because it has several unwanted effects, including dehydration, which can worsen and intensify any underlying condition, and other unwanted effects, including the increase of skin infections and electrolyte imbalances.

Since there are no proven benefits of consuming urine, it is vital to consider the possible benefits and side effects of this practice before putting your health at risk.

source https://readyandarmed.net/survival-myth-busted-drinking-your-own-urine/

Survival Prepping: 4 Things That Often Get Overlooked

Survival prepping requires meticulous planning, sacrifices, and flexibility. For the best wilderness experience, you should have the right knowledge, equipment, and attitude before your first or subsequent experience. When visiting the wild, you may need sharper survival skills, heavy gear, and months of preparation. Unfortunately, you can overlook the need for a survival library, official documents, emergency funds, and getting out of debt.

Essential Factors that a Prepper May Overlook

You may overlook essential things like the need to:

Get Out of Debt

Consider your expenses to determine points that need adjustment. Then, group your expenses into secondary expenses, essential expenses, and debt expenses. A full classification of your expenses gives a clear insight into various sectors improving your risk of sinking deeper into debt.

You should also draft a budget and keep track of your spending. Through a comprehensive budget, you can reduce unnecessary expenses that may be digging holes into your pockets. Adopt budget-friendly practices like buying in bulk, taking advantage of discounts and coupons, and buying reusable and repairable products.

After reducing expenses and adjusting your budget, you should list all debts to determine the best repayment formula. If you have multiple debts, the list offers more information about specific ones calling for immediate intervention.

You may choose to use the snowball method or the avalanche method to roll out debt within a stipulated time. Outline financial sources that will fund your repayment. Clearing debts requires dedication and determination. Through the snowball method, you can pay off one debt to empower you to get the funds required to pay the next.

You may also benefit from putting in extra working hours or reducing expenses to ensure that you can meet financial obligations with ease. Living within your means is crucial to avoid sliding back into unnecessary debt.

You can avoid impulse buying, fast fashion, addictive consumerism behavior, and credit purchases, for starters. For outdoor enthusiasts, you should make regular savings to acquire the required equipment or hire products that may be too expensive for your budget.

Set up an Emergency Fund

Given that nobody knows what the future holds, you should maintain an emergency fund to see you through the dark days that come without warning. An emergency fund can cover food expenses, transport expenses, medical emergencies, and other setbacks in the wilderness.

Maintaining an emergency account can be overwhelming for beginners. For security purposes, you can stash the emergency fund in a cash box, linked savings for overdraft protection, or other easily accessible points.

It is best that you grow the emergency fund as much as possible to ensure that you can handle most situations coming your way. You should adjust spending to allocate an amount for savings, emergency funds, and investments.

One can start growing the emergency fund at any point in time using cash collected from various avenues. For hobbies and leisure activities that involve firearms and wilderness survival, you should set aside an emergency fund different from that protecting your family from hardships.

For the best experience, set aside funds specifically for wilderness survival. Plan for all expenses to avoid surprises and stock essentials needed for an exceptional experience. You can carry enough cash to help you take care of emerging challenges on your trip.

Gather Important Documents

Each prepper should have essential documents at hand and be fully prepared to last as long as possible. The documents that you need include insurance paperwork, license, IDs, vehicle registration, immunization records, paperwork for your firearms. You will also need a safe casing to protect the documents from fire, water, and malice.

Carrying the original copies of your documents is riskier as you may lose them if not careful. If you have a car, be sure to have a safe hiding spot for the documents while keeping the most essential ready for production on short notice. Also, laminate the documents to avoid the effects of harsh climatic conditions and the rule of wear and tear.

To travel with essential documents in digital format, you can get the waterproof corsair flash survivor to benefit from its strong CNC-milled, anodized aircraft-grade aluminum or LaCie Rugged USB-C offering 2TB space. For hard copies, use a 3-Ring binder with zipper or weatherproof zipper file bags. Your choice may depend on the specific location and file size.

Create Survival Library

Before venturing into the wilderness, you should collect as much information as possible to aid in your preparation. You can collect data from visual media, print media, and personal recollections. Start with content specific to your destination and expectations before moving on to explore the foreign territory.

You should read and master various books beforehand to avoid reading the entire book at the last minute. While going through the different books, you can make relevant notes to prepare for situations that threaten your holistic well-being. To avoid boredom and for reference, carry one or two of your favorite pieces.

Your survival library should include books like:

• Building Underground Bunker: Tips and Hacks for Beginners: (Survival Gear, Survival Shelter) by Michael Fair
• How to Stay Alive in The Woods: By Bradford Angier
• Emergency Food Storage & Survival Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Keep Your Family Safe in a Crisis by Peggy Layton
• Primitive Technology: By John Plant and The Primitive Technology YouTube Channel
• Prepper’s Long-Term Survival Guide: Food, Shelter, Security, Off-the-Grid Power and More Life-Saving Strategies for Self-Sufficient Living by Jim Cobb
• Prepper’s Survival Pantry by Evelyn Scott
• Survival Cooking: Easy Proven Methods +15 Tasty Recipes to Cook Using Your Emergency Supplies by Michael Austin
• Survival Medicine: Learn How to Heal Yourself at Home Or In The Wilderness + Herbal Antibiotics Guide by Amanda Brice and Adam Bell
• Extreme Wilderness Survival by Craig Caudill
• The Prepper’s Water Survival Guide: Harvest, Treat, and Store Your Most Vital Resource by Daisy Luther

As you prepare to have a good time with your recently acquired firearms in the wild, you should consider factors that could limit your wilderness survival. If you get out of debt, set up an emergency fund, gather necessary documents, and create a survival library, you are sure to enjoy the best time of your life in the wilderness.

source https://readyandarmed.net/survival-prepping-4-things-that-often-get-overlooked/