Kids BOB to do list

[xmachinegunx]

Alright, we recently adopted 2 kids and I've been putting together a bugout bag for each of them. They're small, light bags with just a few essentials, fire making, water purification, lights, change of clothes, shelter making, some small creature comforts. The idea is they'll IDEALLY be with me and my wife but I'm trying to tailor the bags so that they can still either get to the BOL, or get to my brothers house without me should the worst happen.

I want to put a list of stuff for them to remember to do/not to do in their bags. Type it up and laminate it so they'll remember the stuff I've taught them or tell them stuff they may not have picked up. My question is, what would you put on a list? If your kids had to cross some land and fend for themselves without you, what would you want to make sure they remembered?

Stuff like this:
• Stay off main roads, but keep your bearings
• Keep the light from your fires hidden
• Don't trust anyone you don't know, try to avoid people
• Remember to be careful with your knives. They're great tools, probably your most important one, but they can hurt you
• If you get a cut or get hurt somehow, stop and address it asap
• Drink water every few hours or whenever you need it, but if you can't get more, be smart with it

What else?

[Prepared American]

Sounds like a good start.

You might want to give them reasons that they may need to head to your brothers or a BOL. What if you and your wife are not with them when the SHTF, and can not make contact with them, do they know when to grab their packs and get out of dodge, do you have rally points, a method of leaving info for each other to let everyone in your family know where each other are, and where they are headed, and what their condition is?

You might ad a small survival manual to reinforce what you have tought them, and on that note a first aid manual would be good to throw in, kids don't handel stressers the same way adults do and even then a lot of adults forget everything they have learned when crunch time is upon them. So reminders of how and when to do things are a great add to anyones gear.

All that being said it sounds like you are going in the right direction and congrats on the additions to your family.

[Graybeard]

a crash course in how to read a compass and land navgtion to include map reading of standard map and topgraphic maps as quick thought

[carbean]

I would not recommend that they ration water. I would also emphasize the importance of staying dry and avoiding cotton garments in favor of wool, fleece or nylon depending on environment if possible. Another warning about about the flammability of poly fleece may be helpful for them. In fact, a little fire fighting instruction may be helpful.

[TacAir]

As dumb as this sounds, how old are the children, and will you share a bit of background (lived in the city all their life - moved off the farm last week, 10 Y/O sort of things.

Hard to offer up anything you igth find useful without a few specifics to start from...PM is fine if want that data off of the larger board

[xmachinegunx]

They're 10 and 13. Ukrainian orphans, so they've lived in a city/orphanage all their lives.

[xmachinegunx]

What's wrong with cotton?

[carbean]

What's wrong with cotton?

This quoted from the weather channel guide on how to dress for winter weather:

"Cotton is a no-no. Cotton is great for towels, because cotton soaks up and retains moisture. That's precisely why cotton is all wrong for on-slope apparel. It absorbs moisture (sweat and snow), and retains it. When the wind blows, you will get very, very cold. Don't wear cotton athletic socks, cotton jeans, cotton sweatshirts, or cotton T-shirts."

[xmachinegunx]

Here's what I have (I'm editing the names and locations):

KID1 and KID2,

If you're into the bug-out bags and I'm not around, it's possible that something super bad has happened around us, and possibly something has happened to me and/or your mom.

Your first job right now is to STAY PUT, and stay out of sight. Unless, for some reason, you can't stay in the house (like it's on fire or there are so many people running around crazy it's not safe), I need you to stay in the house. Make it look like there's nobody home, get the dogs inside, lock it up, and wait. THEIR UNCLE knows to come and get you and will be there as soon as he can. If you can call him and talk to him, do that. Your phone might not work, but try (his number is XXX-XXX-XXXX, THEIR AUNT is XXX-XXX-XXXX) and keep trying. Get your bags together and keep them close. Also, gather up all the food out of the pantry, and the back hall closet, and put it in bags or boxes to take with you when he gets there. Get up into the attic and get the camping stuff and the water down. If any of that is to heavy (like the big, blue water jugs) just let THEIR UNCLE get it. He'll know how to get what guns and ammunition he needs so leave that stuff alone.

If you HAVE to leave (and, again, it should ONLY be an emergency that causes you to have to leave) get your bags, put a change of clothes in them, get a jacket if it's cold, fill your water bottles up, and go. Try to make sure you're wearing dark clothes so you won't stand out and stay off the roads. You can follow the roads, but walk behind buildings, and through the woods and neighborhoods, off the main roads. The main idea here is the STAY AWAY from people. I'm attaching a map of 2 different ways to get to AUNT AND UNCLE's house. Leave a note on the water heater telling UNCLE you've left for their house so he knows where you are. Keep moving, if you have to rest, make sure it's a safe area, with nobody around. You have everything you need in your bags to get where you need to go and to stay safe and comfortable, but get some extra food that's easy to carry (granola bars, candy, make some sandwiches, jerky - small stuff that isn't heavy) to eat on the way because it may take you a while to get there. Mostly what you'll need is shelter, water, food and fire and you can get all that out of your bags.

Make a tent out of your brown tarp and string. If it's raining try to stay dry. Being wet is miserable and makes it harder to get anywhere fast. It is usually terrible for your feet and you need to take care of your feet. Also, if it's cold, being wet will make you even colder so get under a shelter any time you need to.

You have lighters, matches, and fire steel in your bags (remember the fire steel is REALLY hard to use though); light the fire sticks and pile wood, small stuff first, then bigger onto them until it catches. Try to keep your fires small and out of sight, you don't want to attract people who don't know how to make their own fires. Those people are trouble. People who can't take care of themselves are the ones that will try to take stuff from you, and maybe hurt you to get it, so don't trust anybody you don't know.

If you're thirsty, drink, but don't waste the water. If you run out, use the 2 bottles of pills to make new, drinkable water (read the instructions on the bottles). Pour the water through a bandanna or a t-shirt first, to remove any dirt in it, then use the pills. If you can put the metal bottle in a fire to heat it up and boil it, that will kill germs too but be careful they get REALLY hot so use your pliers tool to move the hot bottles around.

Remember to be careful with your knives. They're great tools, probably your most important one, but they can hurt you. If you get a cut or get hurt somehow, stop and address it right then, or as soon as it's safe to. Don't try to keep going if you're hurt, fix it because it will only get worse if you ignore it.

If UNCLE isn't home, wait for him. If you have to break into their house, that's ok, just make it look like no one is there and stay out of sight. Wait for him for as long as there's food there, or as long as it's safe (their bug-out bags and emergency food stock is in the closet in the front bedroom) and then, if he doesn't show up, you'll need to get out to OUR PRIMARY BOL. This is a long, long way away and it won't be easy, but there will be people out there you can trust and who will help you. When you get there, remind them you're my kids and you'll be fine. I'm putting a map in here that will get you out to BOL too. The same rules apply for traveling, leave UNCLE a note to tell him where you are, stay away from people you don't know, stay off the main roads, and use your bags.

Here's the most important stuff for you to remember:
Try to have some fun. Make games out of the jobs you have to do, try to do something fun every day, even if it's just for a few minutes for a game of "I Spy" or a guessing game. Tell jokes, make fun of people, whatever. Just try to do something fun.

The BEST thing you have is each other. A lot of people will be alone right now. You're going to disagree but try not to fight. Make decisions together and then HELP each other carry them out. A lot of people are also going to be freaking out around you, and the people who make it through all these bad things are going to be the people who DO NOT PANIC. Think through your decisions together. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to find the right choice if you just stop and think about it for a minute. Stick together, stay quiet, NEVER be apart, and protect each other no matter what.

Most important of all, remember that everything happens for a reason, and everything is in God's hands, even if it seems bad or scary at the time. Pray about the things you have to do, pray about the things going on around you, pray for help. Hopefully, talking to God will make everything feel better.

No matter what happens or what has happened, mom and I love you guys a ton and we'll see you soon.

Papa.

Read more: Kids BOB to-do list : Tips - SHTF Survival, Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Forums http://www.shtfm.com/post86333.html#p86333#ixzz1S6VsVn2S
SHTFM

[cabldawg]

xmachinegunx


I love the letter that you wrote for your kids. I've been thinking about doing the same thing. My daughters aren't together all the time as I am divorced and have full custody of my oldest daughter, but my youngest lives with her mother. What would be the best suggestion to tell a child in that scenario? My kids are 11 & 9.

Thanks.

[Blacksmith]

Cotton in Birmingham should be fine most of the year. For winter clothes you might consider something a little drier.

[xmachinegunx]

xmachinegunx


I love the letter that you wrote for your kids. I've been thinking about doing the same thing. My daughters aren't together all the time as I am divorced and have full custody of my oldest daughter, but my youngest lives with her mother. What would be the best suggestion to tell a child in that scenario? My kids are 11 & 9.

Thanks.

I guess, to me, it would depend on your situation. Figure the worst case scenario, when they're apart, and work back from there as to how to get them in the same place. For kids of that age (mine are a little older, but the same demographic) the best thing for, at least for mine, is to stay put and wait for me, my brother, or our dad. Somebody with good decision making ability and who can protect them because they are EASY targets.

[lailr]

I love the letter too.....I copied, pasted in word, and changed the details....thanks for saving me some work .... I told my 13 year-old he could get his 30-30 though if no one showed up

[xmachinegunx]

Awesome.

[duodecima]

Sorry for the late reply. Your letter is excellent, and I will add something like it to my elder daughter's pack, especially since, if we were for some reason not available, she'd be responsible for her very young sister.

I am planning (tho haven't gotten to it yet!!) to add a couple family pics (us, all her grandparents, her uncle) to the kids' bags and label and laminate them - both so she could show pics if she were trying to find us in a chaotic situation, and, god forbid, so they'd have the pics if they never got to see us again.

[xmachinegunx]

That's a really good idea.