Hip Bag
The New York Post reported last year that Central Park had a higher rise in crime than the entire city of New York. It cited the widespread use of smartphones and tablets in the park as the cause. Many people in the park using these electronic devices are having them stolen. In one example of this type of theft, two attackers jumped a 46-year-old man who was carrying an iPad with him while he jogged. The attack happened at 6:15 a.m. As the man was being punched, he dropped his iPad and the muggers fled without taking the device.
What steps could be taken to prevent this from happening? The man who was jumped at the park was not practicing situational awareness. He likely was too engaged with his iPad to be aware of his surroundings. It’s also an example of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. At 6:15 a.m., it was probably still dark out or just getting light, making it hard to see if there were any potential threats.
What kit could the jogger have had with him to ward off an attack and how could that kit be readily accessible? For New York City, carrying a pistol is clearly not an option due to laws that restrict carrying a concealed weapon. But that doesn’t mean he had to be weaponless during his run.
Think about what you do on a daily basis or on the weekends. Where and when do you walk your dog? When and where do you exercise? Do you often find yourself alone? Could you defend yourself if you had to during your daily routine? What gear would you like to have to make you more effective and more formidable against an opponent or group of assailants?
A hip bag kit is perfect for use during physical activities such as jogging, walking your dogs, or rock climbing. It contains gear that will help you protect yourself as well as practical gear you may need or want while you are out. What if you fall and sprain your ankle while running or walking? The basic first aid items in your bag can help you address any immediate bleeding and you can use your phone to call someone to pick you up if you can’t walk to your final destination. Never go out empty-handed. Find a bag that is comfortable to use while you are active and fill it with the essential gear in this chapter.
When putting your hip bag together think about water, fire, shelter, food, and security. Always consider these survival basics when you are assembling your kit. How can you carry, find, and purify water, make a fire, construct a shelter, gather or kill food, and protect yourself? These considerations should be the basis for everything you do.
Gear for your hip bag is very similar to the gear found in the purse kit and everyday kit. Remember, this is a recommended starting point. Find what works best for you and what types of weapons are legal for you to carry in your area or your intended destination. For instance, when running in the mountains of Colorado, you may want to carry a pistol because you are concerned about mountain lions. When most of us go for a walk, jog, or hike, we are not concerned about wild animals attacking us, but what about getting assaulted? You have to find what is easiest to carry and deploy in a stressful situation. As with all gear, it’s important to practice with the items in your kit so you know you can access and use them quickly and comfortably.
Hip Bag
A hip bag is a bag that rests on your hip. The bag strap goes over one shoulder and around the hip to make it secure yet unobtrusive. Choose a bag that is comfortable, secure on your hip, and one that can carry all of the recommended gear.
In a bad situation, you want to make sure you have a way to start a fire, so pack matches and a lighter in the hip bag kit. Stormproof matches are relatively inexpensive, burn for up to fifteen seconds, and can even burn under water. Even though these matches burn in just about any conditions, you still want to make sure they stay waterproof in your kit. Create a mini fire-starting kit by storing the matches in a cylindrical case with an O-ring and screw cap that create a good seal. Food storage bags are another good option and can hold both your matches and lighter. As an extra precaution, put the minikit in a second food storage bag. Remove the air from the bags before sealing them. Place your loaded food storage bag into another food storage bag and remove the air as well. If one of the plastic bags fails or is punctured, you still have backup to keep your fire-starter kit dry.
Kel-Tec .380 Pistol, UDAP Pepper Spray, Monkey Fist
You’ll want to have a water bottle and a couple of energy bars or some nuts in your kit, especially if you’ve been active before encountering a survival situation. Select an energy bar that tastes good to you and that has a good balance of fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Don’t go for a bar that is completely all carbohydrates and is full of refined sugar. A bar with fat, protein, and carbohydrates will sustain you and give you energy for a longer period of time.
Add a first aid kit that will help you deal with scrapes, cuts, and sprains. In addition to adhesive bandages, add gauze, alcohol swabs, antibacterial ointment, and elastic bandages. A bandana, scarf, or handkerchief can also be used to wrap a wound. If you are severely allergic to bee stings, have an EpiPen in your kit. Add some over-the-counter medicines like aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for inflammation, and Benadryl for allergies. Visit your local drugstore and go to the travel-size section to find these items for your first aid kit. Store them in a plastic food storage bag to keep them waterproof and to make them easy to find.
Make sure you have your emergency space blanket and always carry some cash.
A space blanket is light, bright, and can keep you warm and give you some shelter and protection from the wind, rain, and cold. You want to make sure you have cash to get home, get a cab, and buy some supplies if necessary.
Also include a multitool or Swiss Army knife in your kit. Know how to use all of the attachments and accessories on the knife you choose to carry. Choose a knife or multitool you are comfortable with and know how to use.
Lighter and Stormproof Matches
Getting a fire started in a survival situation could mean life or death. A fire can be used to keep you warm, ward off dangerous animals, purify water, dry out wet clothing and gear, and cook caught or killed game. Most of all, a fire provides security and a sense of comfort and well-being. Remember the mental piece of survival: If you can give yourself some of the creature comforts of home when you are fighting for your life, it can give you peace of mind, calm you, make you think more clearly, and help you in a not-so-ideal situation.
Fire starters come in many different shapes and sizes, and you can make your own fire-starting kits at home. These are cheap, simple to make, and can help you get a fire started quickly whether you are in a survival situation or just out camping with the family. Here are a few homemade fire-starting devices:
Dipping the matches in paraffin wax will help them stay waterproof in wet conditions. You can also put these in a waterproof match container with a rubber O-ring, then put the container in a resealable plastic bag or two. When you are ready to start a fire, scrape the wax off and you have a match ready to go.
Petroleum Jelly-Soaked Cotton Balls
This is very simple to do. Just grab a handful of cotton balls and saturate them with petroleum jelly (Vaseline). These make a great fire-starting device. Put your cotton balls in a resealable plastic bag, and then reinforce them with another resealable plastic bag. When you are ready to start a fire, the petroleum jelly-soaked cotton balls can be used to get your kindling going. They will burn for a long time.
To make this you will need a paper egg carton, dryer lint, and paraffin wax.
Keep these in a waterproof container until you are ready to use them. A waterproof container can be a resealable plastic bag or two. When you are ready to start your fire, remove one of the egg carton/lint/wax pieces. Light the piece on fire and you are ready to go. This improvised fire starter will burn for well over fifteen minutes. This is more than enough time to get a nice fire going.
There are many everyday, affordable things you can use to create a fire-starting kit. Your imagination is the only limiting factor when it comes to survival and being prepared. Think about what works for you and what you are comfortable with. Be sure and practice on a regular basis with whatever tools and kit you decide to carry. This especially includes making and starting a fire. Practice with your fire starters in all conditions–cold, wet, windy, hot, dry, and snowy. You never know where you might end up. You want to prepare yourself to deal with any environment and overcome challenging conditions.