When it comes to preparing for disasters, whether a short-term situation such as a weather related event, or long-term such as an economic collapse, communications is a vital part of survival preparedness. One should carefully consider how they will communicate with family, neighbors, allies, etc. as well as how they will receive information about the situation.

When selecting radio equipment, there are some key factors one must consider.Today we will briefly discuss band selection, power options, security, and size.Keep in mind that the best option is always the one that is tailor made to best fit a particular situation and set of circumstances. A careful evaluation of those factors will greatly aid in proper radio selection

There are three main options for survival radio bands or frequency ranges. They are Ultra High Frequency (UHF), Very High Frequency (VHF), and High Frequency (HF). Each band has its upside and its downside. UHF has a very short radio wavelength that allows for a short antenna, but it also limits the range since it is adversely affected by obstacles. VHF offers greater range and is less affected by buildings and terrain features, but requires a longer antenna for optimum performance.This band is very popular in marine and aviation uses. HFhas the potential for around the world communications, but is the most technically challenging to use. A more thorough understanding of radio wave propagation and antenna theory is required to utilize HF radios to their highest potential.

Armed with a basic understanding of the different bands, one can begin to select radios for a particular situation. The ultimate setup would be a selection of different radios, though this may not always be practical. A good HF base station with a few handheld UHF radios would be great and will be more than sufficient in most situations.

Power source is critical when it comes to survival radios. When referring to power, we are referring both to how the radio is powered and to how that power source is recharged. Basic power options are battery power (DC) and residential (AC). Though many base station units operate using AC, in a survival situation we should stick to equipment that runs on batteries as AC will likely be unavailable other than in the form of generators.

There are two main options for batteries. Off the shelf batteries, such as AA are a good start. This will allow you to stockpile batteries and not be dependent on any other source of power. The downsides are the limited number you are able to stockpile and shelf life. Eventually some sort of rechargeable system will be required. Once there, your options are to recharge from a generator, solar or from a vehicle.Once again this becomes a matter of your particular needs and circumstances.The best all around solution is a radio that can use both off-the-shelf batteries and a high capacity rechargeable battery pack that can be recharged from both AC and 12 volt vehicle systems. With today’s options, this is not a lot to ask for.

In the digital age, encryption has become a much simpler process and nearly all radios offer some degree of security. From the cheap FRS radios to the high end commercial units that offer computerized security options, radio security is more widely available than ever.However, one must keep in mind from whom one is securing communications.If it is from your neighbor down the street, basic encryption is generally sufficient and highly effective. If you’re trying to hide from a three letter government agency, no level of off the shelf radio encryption will suffice.If you are in dire need of secure communications, I suggest you study the use of code-words, one time pads etc. and never depend on any form of electronic encryption.

As for size, survival radios will either be classified as handheld/man portable, vehicle mounted or base stations. Once again, selection should be based on your particular situation. Keep in mind that the larger the unit, the greater its range, but also the greater its power consumption. If you plan to bug out to the hills, a base station will be useless and handheld units are the practical option. But if you plan to remain on a homestead a base station can be powered with a generator, solar, hydroelectric, etc. and will give you world-wide capabilities.

You should now be ready to begin evaluating your radio requirements and preparing your communications plan. Remember, radios, as a means of communication, are useless if the people you wish to talk to are not using compatible equipment. Make sure those with whom you plan talk to are as prepared as you are and discuss communications protocols well before you need to use them.Test your radios frequently and practice using them with your family and neighbors. The more you learn about radio fundamentals the better your communications abilities will be when the time comes to use them for real.

The primary purpose of a bug-out bag is to allow one to evacuate quickly if a disaster should strike.  It is therefore prudent to gather all of the materials and supplies that might be required to do this into a single place, such as a bag or a few storage containers.

Your BOB allows you to grab what you need quickly and should contain enough supplies to last for at least seventy two hours.
Some possible items for your bug out bag include ….
first aid kit, water bottle, water purifier/filters, flashlights, water proof matches, multi-tool, emergency food, extra clothing, some kind of shelter (sleeping bag, tent), batteries, duct tape and medicine.

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Here you will find Survival or Disaster First Aid Kits will help you stay prepared!

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Emergency First Aid GuideBook

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The North Magnetic Pole has slowly changed position throughout history, roughly orbiting the actual pole and continues to do so. Interestingly, what we call Earth’s North Magnetic pole is actually a south pole magnetically. That is why the opposite (north) magnetic pole of the compass needle is drawn to it. Opposite poles attract, similar poles repel each other.

In operation, line the north symbol on the rim of the compass with the painted tip of the needle. The direction you are facing should now be displayed at the front of the compass.

Emergency First Aid Kit

First Aid Kit GuideBook

Creating a perfectly stocked first aid kit may be very expensive, or the effort of traveling to different stores to buy the supplies too time consuming. To save money and time, consider buying a first aid kit below and then adding the additional, personal supplies as needed.

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No matter where you stand on Earth, you can hold a compass in your hand and it will point toward the North Pole. What an unbelievably neat and amazing thing! Imagine that you are in the middle of the ocean, and you are looking all around you in every direction and all you can see is water, and it is overcast so you cannot see the sun… How in the world would you know which way to go unless you had a compass to tell you which way is “up”?

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When choosing survival knives for the survival gear catalog, consider the quality and functionality and not just how it looks.

Anyone who has ever spent quality time in the outdoors will understand that his survival knife is one of his best friends and the most closely guarded of his survival gear. Like a good friend, his survival knife should always be faithful.

How to Choose Survival Knives

The best survival knives are versatile in a variety of things. Common sense tells us that bulk and weight may be something to consider with any survival gear.

Many experienced survivalist believe that the ideal survival knife blade length is somewhere between four and six inches. This size blade offers good mix of control and size. Larger blades may be overkill and merely adds to the weight of the survival gear that you are carrying.

If a larger survival blade is needed then you would probably be better off packing a machete, axe, hatchet, or tomahawk.. In any case, you would be wise to carry a regular sized survival knife.

In addition to a survival knife with about a 5-inch blade, I like to carry a multi-tool (my favorite is the Leatherman) that has a smaller folding blade. This blade comes in handy for finer detail work that would be too cumbersome for the large knife.

If you DO need a larger blade knife of some sort, it could be helpful by adding an ax or a hatchet to your pack.

Survival Knives Different Blade Types

There are two main types of knife blades that the survivor need concern himself with, namely smooth and serrated. Serrated survival knife blades do well at cutting synthetic materials, clothing, and flesh. For self defense and paramedics, etc, serrated edges are a good choice.

A drawback to serrated cutting edges is that they are difficult to sharpen properly in the field. This is certainly a major drawback in a survival situation where maintaining a keen edge during hard use is vitally important. In addition, serrated knives do not have an efficient blade for chopping and carving.

For most survival situations, a plain smooth edged blade is the blade of choice. Such a blade is useful for cutting, carving, and chopping. Though it may not slice through nylon webbing, clothing, or flesh as efficiently as a serrated blade, the straight bladed knives will still make short work of these materials.

The added advantage of the regular blade is that you can sharpen your survival knife on a rock or piece of concrete whereas the serrated blade generally needs a special sharpening device and technique.

On the back of many survival knives are a saw meant for sawing through metal or wood. In too many cases, as in the Rambo type knives, these saws typically do not perform well. If you require a small saw in your survival gear you would do well to add a tool specifically designed for this rather than use your knife for this purpose.

The Thickness of Knife Blade

The best survival knife will have a blade thickness of between 5/32 and 8/32 of an inch. Thinner blades becomes too flexible and with thicker blades, it is more difficult to do the finer work.

It is important that the tip of the knife maintains its strength, as this is a likely area the knife is likely to fail.

Survival Knives Material Types

High quality survival knives uses two main types of steel

* Stainless Steel knife blades work especially well in wet environments because they are rust resistant. They require less care than the carbon steel knives. Drawbacks to using stainless steel in knives is that they tend to be more expensive, are more difficult to sharpen, and may not hold an edge as well.
* Carbon Steel knife blades will rust if not used regularly or coated. Many feel carbon bladed knives hold an edge better than their stainless steel counterparts.

Tang Survival Knives
When you are looking at a survival knife, with a good knife,the steel running all the way to the end of the handle.  This kind of construction is known in the knife world as “full tang” or “narrow tang”.You want the metal part of your knife to be called narrow tang or full tang.

* Full tang survival knives are made so that the blade merges into the handle. Usually two slabs of material are attached to both sides of the metal.
* Narrow tang survival knives is where the steel is narrower and is surrounded completedly by the handle.  A handle is then attached over the narrower piece of the knife.

Cheap survival knives are often made so that the metal blade is separate from the handle. The weak point on these badly made knives is where the blade and handle are bolted and glued together. Avoid a cheap knife, but it is best to get full tang or narrow tang models.

Survival knives, there are thousands on the market and many are good quality products and are sold in military surplus stores. When choosing the best survival knife for your needs you make certain you do not skimp.  Just remember, once in the field the knife you carry with you will be the only survival knife you have on hand. Pick a survival knife that you can rely on, is well made, is strong enough for rough field use, will serve you well for years to come, and is the best you can afford.In the end, your life may depend on it.