How can you plan for the unplanned? Isn't that a paradox? Yes and no. Obviously, if you know what's coming and plan for it, it isn't unplanned. So exactly how you possibly plan for the unplanned and why should you?
Planning for the unplanned means taking appropriate steps so you'll be able to deal with emergencies or other unexpected situations or take advantage of opportunities for spontaneous outings and activities. To plan for the unplanned you have to have some idea of what unplanned events you might encounter. Emergencies at home might include natural disasters, like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, winter storms, and power outages. Emergencies while camping might involve some of the same situations but are more likely to consist of getting lost, having mechanical problems with your equipment, or perhaps illness or injuries in camp or on the trail. Sometimes running out of essential provisions creates a mini-crisis. I know some guys who would consider it an emergency if they run out of beer or chips and dip, but real emergency will involve dangerous or life-threatening situations. But being properly prepared has other uses too!. Having everything ready to go will let you take off quickly or a weekend when you need a break.
Basic emergency preparations are comprised of training, equipment, and provisions. I list training first because I think it is the most important. For one thing, good training will help you know what equipment and provisions you will need and how to store them and what to do with them. For another, knowing what to do will allow you to take control and make the best use of whatever resources you do have. Without training, even the most sophisticated equipment will be of little use. As an extreme example, a CAT scan device is a very useful medical tool, but most of us would have no idea how to use it let alone interpret the results. Today you see AED devices in many public places, but few people know how to use them. I certainly didn't until I became certified as a Red Cross Professional Rescuer. First aid and CPR training should be at the top of everyone's list. You are very likely to have several chances to practice minor first aid while camping and participating in related activities. It isn't that these activities are inherently dangerous, it is more that we are unaccustomed to doing them on a regular basis and are, therefore, more likely to have an accident. Your chance of needing CPR skills is probably greater if you are involved in aquatic endeavors, but it is always a good skill to have and may be needed if you come upon an auto accident on the highway or an OHV or equestrian accident out on the trails.
The next major training I suggest is Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) training. By now you may be getting tired of me promoting C.E.R.T. but I don't think I could ever say too much about its value. Public emergency services are going to be overwhelmed in just about any large scale disaster and your very life or the lives or your family and/or your neighbors may depend on knowing what do to until emergency services are restored -- which could take several weeks in many cases. C.E.R.T teaches you how to size up a situation and gives you guidelines for light search and rescue, medical triage, even what to do if hazardous materials are involved.
Wilderness survival skills are another set of useful tools for emergency situations. They are especially pertinent to emergencies on the trail but can also be useful in camp and even at home during a disaster. Knowing how to start a fire without matches is an essential survival skill. A flint and steel or anything that will create sparks can be used. The old "rubbing two sticks together" and variations like a bow drill or a fire plow works, but is a LOT of work and you may be inclined to give up long before you succeed. Flint and steel has several advantages over matches. For one, it can be used over and over again. For another, it is unaffected by water, as long as you have dry tinder (or magnesium shavings). Other basic survival skills you may need include building a shelter and purifying water. Identifying edible and medicinal plants would also be helpful in longer situations. Be aware that your most important survival tool is your brain. Keep calm, identify potential problems, and devise possible solutions using the resources you have at hand.
Having the right equipment follows getting good training. In addition to a first aid kit you might need a back board for transporting victims of a disaster. Pocket first aid kits are good for everyone in your group to carry to deal with simple injuries but you should have a bigger, more comprehensive kit at your base camp to handle more serious situations. Beyond immediate first aid needs, you may need to have equipment and supplies to help sustain you and your family for an extended period of time if utilities and public services are out of commission. Think about the basic things you need to survive: shelter, food, and water. Your camping equipment, RV and/or tents, may provide emergency shelter if you home becomes uninhabitable. Tent heaters and camp stoves and help keep you warm, cook your food, and sterilize medical supplies. Camp lanterns can provide light when the power is off.
Emergency provisions that you need will depend upon the number of people you need to take care of, together with any special dietary needs or allergies, and personal preferences. I once heard a survivalist say a single jar of peanut butter would last him more than a year. Why? Because he hated peanut butter and wouldn't eat it! If you are going to store food for emergencies, store food you will eat and know how to prepare what you store. Having 2,000 pounds of wheat won't do you much good if you don't know how to turn it into palatable meals. Water supplies may be cut off during a crisis so you need to consider how to find or store water. Lacking any formal storage containers, you can dip water from the toilet tank (not the bowl!) and drain water from your hot water heater. RVs don't have toilet tanks but they do have water heaters. Knowing how to purify water and having the necessary equipment to do so will allow you to make use of water from lakes and, or in an urban situation, even from puddles and gutters. You can also use untreated water to flush your residential toilets. Just dump a bucket of water into the toilet tank for each flush. You can flush RV toilets by dumping water directly into the bowl if you have no direct water supply. You should also stock medical supplies. Pharmacies not be functioning during an emergency so you should keep at least a month's supply of prescription medications on hand if possible. Current laws may make it difficult or even impossible to stockpile many prescription medications. Having a variety of Over The Counter pain killers, stomach remedies, antiseptics, dressings and bandages is often the key to relieving suffering. In a long term disaster situation antibiotics may be essential to survival. While regulations may prevent you from stockpiling antibiotics, you may be able to purchase veterinary medications that could be used in an emergency. For example, a product called Fish Mox is virtually identical to amoxycillin and readily available without a prescription. If you choose to stock antibiotics, be sure to learn why, when, and how to use them.
Carrying tools and spare parts is also a good way to plan for the unplanned. Having the means to make repairs in camp or on the trail can mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a lost weekend. Once again though, the best tool kit in the world will be of little use if you don't know how to use it. So, if you aren't comfortable with your mechanical skills, get some training.
Maintaining a good supply of medicines and first aid supplies protects you from a lot of suffering and discomfort. Most of us don't plan to get sick or hurt but minor illnesses and injuries can crop up anytime, even on otherwise ordinary and successful trips. Having the right OTC medications on hand for headaches and routine digestive problems is always a good idea. Some cold and flu medication may allow you to continue to enjoy your outing with less discomfort than just waiting it out. Bandaids, dressings, bandages, and antiseptics should be stocked to deal with minor injuries. Keep your first aid certification up to date. It helps you maintain your knowledge and skills so they'll be functional when you need them.
Having your RV and/or camping gear always clean, up to date, and ready to go will allow you to take a quick weekend trip when you need a break or accept an invitation from friends or family to join them on short notice. During the normal camping season when you don't have to worry about freeze protection you can keep your fresh water tanks filled so all you have to do is pack some perishable provisions and hit the road. Keep all your camping and recreational equipment in good repair, readily accessible, and ready to use.
Stock your RV, camp kit, or boat with basic survival supplies. Having some extra survival food and water is a good idea, but what is probably more important is to have the tools (and knowledge) you will need to survive if you find yourself stranded somewhere. A broken down RV or OHV or a boat blown off course could leave you in an unexpected and difficult situation where being able to survive until you are rescued could mean the difference between life and death!
Plan for the unplanned!
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