Taking The Guesswork Out of Urban Survival

When met with a high-stress situation, we tend to get a little reptilian in thinking. Stress inoculation and training can take the edge off the action, but trying to recall a world of information is a whole other animal. Detailed plans, instructions, and lists can account for thousands of datapoints - information that is easily be forgotten and lost in the grey. When the details of urban survival are absolute, an educated guess can become a gamble. For pilots and other high performers, there's an easy way to hedge those bets. Make sure it's written down.

Keep it Small

Now I know this seems awfully simplistic, and in many ways it is. This is part of the reason why so many survival manuals - both military and civilian - have been turned out in pocket-sized editions. Sure, the font is small, but it's not meant for a leisurely read. It's a reference point. Something to look back on when you need a refresher or find yourself drawing a blank. The same goes for curated information. A small pocket notebook becomes a handy collection of all things important. Personal information, calculations, locations, as well as any other detail you need to carry forward into uncertain times.

Self-laminating Covers Are the Key

Self-laminating 'business card' covers are a fantastic aid for urban preparedness. Information can be printed on a double-sided 3.5-inch by 2-inch piece of paper and sealed up for safe keeping. This is especially important for information that may see repeated reference or contact with the elements. Frequency charts, medication tables, DOPE (Data on Previous Engagement). The sky is the limit. For those who prefer to create hard copies for their bug out bags - as opposed to digital - this is also a great way to stow back-up identification, such as a driver's license or health insurance card. Given their wallet-friendly size, copies can always be spread around. One is none, and all that.

Fill in the Blank

Life is full of critically small details that shape the way we live, even in the best of times. As forgetful creatures by nature, this can sometimes leave us racking our brains for the right piece of info. So, the next time you find yourself sitting with a blank, or staring at something you know you'll need later, just write it down. You never know when it will come in handy.

How do you capture important details and documents for Urban surVIVAL?

On Shotguns: Shotgun Breaching For Urban Survival

We've all encountered a locked barrier at some point in our lives. Locked keys in the car? Call roadside assistance. Late night as a teen? There's a basement window for that. At the end of the day, these are all easy fixes with ample opportunity. But in an urban survival scenario where self-rescue is required - and a locked door may hold you or your loved ones firmly in harm's way - a heavy-handed solution may be the only way to safety. If a lockpick or hard kick won't clear a path, perhaps it's time to knock a little louder. Enter the shotgun.

The Nail That Sticks Out Gets Hammered

During a period of civil unrest, you're either a number or a target. No matter how well equipped you or your small group may be for conflict, full battle rattle is going to draw a world of unwanted attention from the hoods and have-nots. That overt plate carrier and camo you're wearing? The city will eventually swallow you whole, thinking you're another cop, criminal, or loot drop. But at what point does our affinity for load bearing equipment or camo become a liability in urban preparedness? With big city problems, I figure it's sooner rather than later.

Your Daily Dose of First Aid For Urban Preparedness

While first aid holds an important place in urban survival, many of us continue to focus on the long game. We look solely to the horizon, building out full-scale solutions to face troubled times ahead. But with a world of misadventure just beyond our doors, it's important not to lose sight of the daily unknowns. Whether we like it or not, disaster usually crops up when we're least prepared.