What is a Bug out Bag?

[NorthernRaider]

What is a Bug out Bag?
© 2010 Northern Raider

Basically a Bug out Bag (BOB) is a prepacked rucksack or piece of travel luggage containing all the basic essential items you may need to help you survive the immediate aftermath of a crisis or disaster and help sustain you on your journey to your chosen place of safety. They can also be called Get Home Bags (GHB) Get Out Of Dodge bags (GOOD) and other interesting acronyms, but they all serve one single purpose to provide you with useful tools and materials to help you survive.

These prepacked bags are normally kept close to the front door or main exit of your residence allowing you to simply grab them if you have to abandon (Bug Out) your home or place of work.
(Do you remember the terrible sight of tens of thousands of business suited New Yorkers trying to flee Manhattan with only their business suits to sustain them?, Many people forced to walk dozens of miles in high heels or dress shoes, no top coats, nothing to wash the all engulfing debris from their faces and mouths)

It is normal for each member of the household to have their own BOBs providing they are physically capable of carrying them.
Secondly some people also keep BOBs in the vehicles supplemental to their vehicle based emergency kits, and many commuters also keep BOBs at the office or factory.
Some city workers who normally use public rapid transit systems now even keep folding bicycles with their BOBs at the office.

So what goes into a BOB?
BOBs are tailored to suit your own individual needs, local laws and local geography but a typical BOB would contain something like the following.
Multi Tool and Lock Knife
LED Flashlight with spare batteries and Chemical Light stick’s
Wind up/ battery powered combo AM/FM radio
Optional Watch/ Cell phone (prepaid and fully charged plus solar charger)
Compass / Local Map
Bus/ Train time tables (City workers)
Cycle / Footpath route maps
Notebook & Pencil (with notes of location of hospitals, stations etc)
Paracord / Duct Tape
Mini Pry bar / Spring loaded punch (breaking out of bus / train / office windows)
First Aid Kit
Spare Prescription medicines and Eye Glasses
Bottle of water (normally 2x 1 litre reusable bottles)
A portable water filter
Food / Cereal Bars plus other preferred easy to eat foods (up to 72 hours worth)
Change of socks/ underwear
Small Hygiene kit (bar soap/ toothbrush/ roll on etc)
Fleece / waterproof (depending on season and climate)
Gloves / Hat
Flat broken in walking shoes (if you’re an office worker)

These are the basics and you can add / subtract items to suit your own specific needs, BUT your chances or survival are much better if you have a comprehensive BOB.