Hello all,

While I think survival planning is a great tool in preparing for future events that may put ones life into danger I do honestly believe that "survival" is a lot closer to home than many realise.

It's a brilliant idea to at least leave a warm coat, shovel and maybe a couple of energy bars in the back of your vehicle in case of breaking down and I have no problems with this.

It's also a good idea, in my opinion, to do the basics and stock up on food at home. Maybe store bottled water and buy extra non-perishables such as tinned food and dry goods like pasta and rice.

The point of my article is that many of us on here are preparing for an emergenecy scenario that, in my opinion, looks further and further away from happening.

I have been a member on this site for at least 18 months and I have seen alot of predicted SHTF's events that never materialised.

It's my now genuine belief that one is more likely to suffer and be in a "survival" situation down your local street than it is because we will be hitting WW3 in a few months for example.

I watch the news and read the newspapers every single day and I have noticed an increase in common assault, robberies and casual theft.

It's more dangerous having a night out in your local pub when some drug fuelled and drunken idiot decides you have "looked at me the wrong way"

Walking down the street or simply going doing the weekly shop now requires a level of awareness previously un-needed.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not fear-mongering here and I'm definately not comparing going out on a Friday night to nuclear warfare but like I said above I genuinely think that a person could find themselves in a situation were they could potentially be fighting for their lives doing a normal day to day task rather than some global crisis.

Use common sense people and prepare for the more likely event; some idiot deciding to put a glass over your head on a Friday night.

That's interesting that you say crime and assault is on the rise in the UK. I frequently hear from your fellow Englishmen how Americans are "Too hung up on guns". In the hands of responsible citizens they stop many crimes, oftentimes without shooting. Just the deterrent value is enough in some cases. I carry concealed and have only had to pull my gun once, and that was to let some punk know that I didn;t care to have him relieve me of my wallet.
18 months isn't a very long time. I've been waiting for the SHTF for over 20 years and I truly believe we are within 2 years of a severe economic depression with possible civil unrest. Hungry people will do anything and the way unemployment has been rising here it won't be long before the federal government stops printing phoney money to help people out.
Maybe things in the UK aren't as desperate as they are here. I live in an upper middle class neighborhood and I've seen almost half of my neighbors lose their jobs within the last 2 years. They all say the same thing - "there's no jobs out there". At least not real jobs that will allow you to pay your mortgage.
Hard times are coming in the US. I hope it's not a world-wide economic collapse but we shall see. If it does happen the people in the 3rd world will be better off than we are. Poetic justice?

[edit on 1-3-2010 by Asktheanimals]

I do agree that we are more likely to be in a survival situation in everyday life than to be caught in the midst of some apocalyptic whirlwind. That having been said, I also believe that it never hurts to be prepared for any realistic event, due to the fact that so many are caught in situations where they all say, "I didn't think it would ever happen to me."

With that in mind, I believe the first thing a person can have is information. You cannot know how to fight an enemy (or circumstance) if you are unfamiliar with it. If the Allies had never known the limits and abilities of the Axis, they might as well have been fighting some Halo-esque aliens (to be a bit extreme in making my point).

There are experts in the survival arena who have "been there and done that". In my own experience, those folks are the best to talk to, because they have the value that someone who "read it in a book" doesn't have. For my part, I have never been in any situation where I truly felt I was going to die, apart from a surgical operation when I was twelve and a rollercoaster experience a few years ago (Top Thrill Dragster, for those who care).

Of course, there is such a thing as information overload, and scaring yourself into a panic room because "it might get me" is foolish. So, while good information is vital to survival, the real "trick" is gleaning the information you take in with the facts you know to be true, without biased opinions.

After gaining information, the next tool to have "under your belt" is experience. That does not mean you need to go out and re-enact Hatchet by Gary Paulsen simply to grow hair on your chest. However, learning skills like CPR in an interactive class won't hurt. Going to college, even if it's just a few classes, can be beneficial. As a Boy Scout, I was very keen on Emergency Preparedness and First Aid. I also took the Hunter's Safety Course and I plan on taking a few NRA-sponsored shooting classes. For those who can handle it, military experience is a plus (as demonstrated by the "FSME" Semper, from what I can tell).

Finally, there are a few practical, tangible items that will help almost anyone survive in "every day" scenarios:
* If you're going to carry a gun, learn to do so responsibly.
* Be involved in your community networks; the more folks you know, the more likely you are to be helped through dire situations.
* Knowing your way around can't hurt.
* Carrying an "ICE file" on your person (or at least in your vehicle) is beneficial in case law enforcement or emergency crews need information you aren't conscious to tell them about.
* A good pocketknife can save your life.
* Keeping yourself in reasonably good condition will help you survive.
* Learning the art of tact and swallowing your pride will help you avoid many violent situations.
* Always having at least $20 and no more than $100 on your person can be very beneficial.
* Taking care of your property (like your house and car) will ensure that you won't run into "situations" very often.
* Always think ahead.
* Never worry about the "could have, should have" until you've taken care of the "can do, should do" first.
* Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
* Belief in something can save your life and keep you sane far longer than disbelief in something.
* Keep your chin up and your eyes on swivel.

That's just my $0.02 from the layman's perspective.