Blastjv:
-Self Defense (of some kind)
-First Aid
-General (and specific) Awareness
-Language
-Electrical
-Mechanical (esp. Automobile)
Placeknives:
-Escape & evasion if being persued. Know your escape routes.
-Riot/ civil disturbance, what to do if caught in one.
-Weapons concealment.
-Fire, chemical spill & other disaster preparedness.
-Where to go in the event of a disaster. (shelters etc.)
I would add:
- Overall physical fitness and health (will certainly deteriorate in a survival situation, but the fitter you are at the beggining, the more you can lose and still beat the Reaper);
- No drug dependency (either caffeine, nicotine, alcohol or other drug). Supplies of these "luxury items" will most likely be cut. Don't add a craving to an already tough situation...
- Good general culture (physics, chemistry, astronomy, physchology, name it... it really is helpful!)
- Knowing your surroundings (know where you are, how to get to point A to point B with many routes, and be able to evaluate a route mentally before going... For example, be able to imagine where a sniper could be in a good spot, where to find cover all the time, etc.)
- Some basic military training, like :
* crawling, stalking, camouflage, blending in...
In a UO (urban operation) situation, make sure you DO NOT
look like a military, medic or journalist... Look as if
you're not worth the bullet that will get you down.
* mines, explosives, boobytraps (how not to put your feet
where it would hurt)
* reflexes like "getting down" when hearing fire, taking
cover and such...
* if you need to cross a "sniper alley", make sure you run
fast enough so that your body momentum is sufficient to get
you through the firing zone completely even if you're hit,
so at least people will be able to help you out on the
other side...
- Have some equipment ready at home, in order to leave for a safer place whenever needed. This should be in a dedicated backpack, always ready.
- If it's safe to stay at home, stay as long as possible, and make sure you have lots of supplies (especially water, and purifying devices for when the supplies are finished). Don't count on running water, gas, electricity, or any public service. In disasters or war contexts, they usually are out, and may stay out for long periods of time. So make sure you can be self-sufficient for at least 3 days with:
* heating (cooking, heating air and water)
* drinkable water (stock a lot of it, and use the oldest
one for everyday, non-emergency use, so it's always there
and always fresh)
* food (high calorie, low maintenance, easy to prepare...
like peanut butter, cans, rice, pasta, stuff like that).
- For long-lasting disaster/war scenarios, know that if you live outside cities, you're rich. In WWII europe, farmers ate better, got bombed a lot less, and did not suffer from black market inflation... That's something to think about before buying an appartment downtown
Best regards,
David
