Let's talk about food and water 
The simplest start to this lesson is to say...you don't need much.
You don't need to carry a full meal and a gallon milk jug full of water. You only need enough food and water to give you the energy to get home. That's what your Get Home Bag is for. You'll carry more in your Bug Out Bag, but if you're close to home, your GHB is all you need.
Another good reason you don't need much...because water is one of the heaviest things you can carry.
All I want you to stock in your Get Home Bag for food and water is:
- Small container to carry water in
- Snack
- Water purification
- P-38
Let's elaborate.
We already covered this in Lesson 3, so your bottle should already be in your pack.
This is totally up to you, but I like to carry a protein bar or two. They're balanced nutrition for energy, lightweight, last almost forever in your car, and don't taste too bad if you choose right.
My fave bars for this are Clif Bars. I've been consuming these for decades all over the world and in activities ranging from mountaineering expeditions to combat environments. They've never let me down, and they taste great.
More than anything else, this is an area where people may want to fight me on my choice. But before we discuss the WHAT, let's talk about the WHY.
I prefer to carry a water purification device rather than prepackaged liquids for both size and weight reasons. My water might run out, but my purifier guarantees a steady supply of water from any source. If I get thirsty, I can use it to drink safe water from a mud puddle, golf course pond, or gas station toilet.
In just a second though, I'll tell you why you should never have to use your purifier in a Get Home Bag situation.
My go-to choice for a water purification device is the Sawyer Mini. It's small, lightweight, simple to use...and more. If you're deadset on using something else though, I won't fight you on it. My goal here is that you carry some kind of device to purify your own water.
If you have questions about using the Sawyer or want to debate me on it's merits or the lack of, depending on your opinion, feel free to chat with me on it.
It's so simple, this is me training one of my kids how to use it. And here's a hint- if you want to interest your kids in learning any of this stuff, gummy snacks go a long way.
P-38
A P-38 is an old school military can opener. It weighs less than a paper clip, but is good for opening any kind of cans and will last forever.
Your P-38 is so that you can forage or buy canned food anywhere on your way home and be able to open it. Sure, you could open a can with a hammer and a screwdriver or your knife, but 9 times out of 10, you're going to slice your hand open.
The P-38 is efficient and safe and literally opens up worlds of possibilities for food. I actually use mine quite a bit when I'm travelling to open up cans I've brought with me or purchased at a grocery store or gas station on the road.
This is the one I keep in my office desk in lieu of a can opener.
A timed test of me using the P-38 can opener.Beat my time with one, and I'll send you a prize!
Why Should You (Almost) Never Use Your Water Purification?
I've used my Sawyer Mini on long trips, camping trips, and training, but never in a Get Home Bag situation. I still want you to carry it, but I just hope you never have to use it.
The reason why is because a full 32 ounce Nalgene is part of my Everyday Carry, or EDC. I work hard at staying hydrated, so anytime I leave the house I carry my bottle with me to sip on or guzzle depending on the activity.
I always have water with me.
In Get Home Bag situations I've been in, it was either enough for me, or I made it to a gas station or other water source to buy or use their water. That car wreck I talked about in a previous lesson- we all drank our bottles empty but made it to a store and bought cold water before we needed to think about drinking from the nearby drainage ditch.
But if that became necessary, we each had a Sawyer Mini in our Get Home Bags.
Copyright © 2022 Dr. David Powers- Rugged Dad, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this e-mail because you signed up for the 30 Days to Prepped Course. You're awesome and I commend you. You have a desire to protect yourself and your family by being prepared for emergencies, and that is an admirable trait.
Our mailing address is:
