Many people in Canada understand the importance of being prepared for the worst and equipped to survive in harsh weather, terrain and any situation. Whether it’s a natural disaster, a hunting trip gone wrong, an attack by a wild animal or terrorists – there are many scenarios that will see you needing to rely on your survival skills. But are your skills and gear up to the task?
With urban crime and random attacks already spiking, alarms, reinforced doors, even paying for private security are fast becoming a necessity. But you’re still at risk of running into armed assailants when you’re leaving your home to get supplies. Chances are that most people that get killed by gunshot wounds in the not so distant future will die in the parking lot of some 7 Eleven or Walmart when stopping, or shot during a carjack when driving to the office. Awareness and skill alongside adequate protection make for best defence for this type of scenario.
The first thing you need to do if you’re serious about survivalism is focusing on “Bugging Out” and carefully Packing/Re-Packing “Bug Out Bags” (“BOBs”) You always need to have some prudent plans and specific equipment ready to “Bug Out to their Retreat”, or to “Bug Back Home” if you are caught away from home when a disaster strikes.
Bringing a bag of essentials on all outings and keeping one in the house just in case of emergencies like power outages, thunderstorms, or tornadoes. But while some items to include are fairly obvious like medicines, food supplies, matches, gas, etc. – others can be missed. Body armor is a piece of equipment that may seem unnecessary now, but becomes vital in the event of unforeseen situations that warrant protection.
The bare minimum your bug outbag should cover is the 3 basic necessities you need to live; food, clothing and shelter. After that we look at supplies to make your life more comfortable or more secure and body armor falls in the category of the latter.
That being said, ‘bugging out’ is not the end goal, but rather the means to an end. The most important thing is to find a homestead where you can ride out pretty much any disaster/crises. Ideally, you need to have already taken some sort of Survival Course that lasts a few weeks. This will teach you the basics of surviving in a number of unexpected scenarios and deal with a host of threats and emergency situations. The best part about Military Survival Training is that the skills they teach translate very well into the Civilian world. Military Survival Training also incorporates Evading Capture if you find yourself behind enemy lines, or escaping if you are captured, or how to survive if you find yourself adrift at sea, or in the middle of a desert.
It’s hard to put into words just how important body armor is, but let’s just say – it can be the difference between life and death in a number of scenarios. Still, many survivalists are quick to buy different type of protective vests, sometimes overdoing it. However, it’s really this simple – you should only invest in a carrier that is suitable for your physique and weight carrying capabilities. If you don’t have the training or ability to carry heavy equipment for long periods of time without it affecting your speed, movement or endurance, don’t go for hard body armor and high protective levels (think III and up). They will only work against you.
Planning ahead and being prepared for a number of scenarios gives you time to equip yourself with the right type of body armor and stay safe in all circumstance. Equipping yourself with adequate protection helps you stay safe in specific circumstances. You need to understand how body armor works, what it can and cannot do for you against different threats, and how to select the best one for you to make an informed decision when buying one.
