By Michael, on June 30th, 2012 
The threat of a natural disaster, a horrible accident, or even a war always looms overhead as a possibility--and with that in mind, many people are polishing up on their survival skills, stocking up on supplies, and preparing for any worst case scenario that might be on the horizon. Known as prepping, this type of survivalist training is something that an increasing number of people are finding value in--life-saving skills, supplies, and readiness that no individual should really be without. If you're new to prepping and could use some direction, here are 5 survival tips to help get you started.
Stock an Emergency Food Supply
One of the first things you should do if you're a new prepper is to stock an emergency food supply, one that would last for at least one to two months. When selecting foods for your emergency supply, look for items that are high in protein and carbohydrates such as energy bars, trail mix, peanut butter, and granola. Other foods you should have on hand include rice, pasta, canned goods like beans and a variety of meats, and anything else that has a long shelf life. Just because you have food set aside for an emergency doesn't mean you should wait until something happens to eat it. Eat the foods with fast-approaching expiration dates first and regularly replace the ones you've eaten so that your supply doesn't have to waste and is always fully stocked.
Put Together a First Aid Kit
Along with a fully stocked pantry, you'll want to have a first aid kit filled to the brim as well. Items that you should include in your first aid kit include bandages, gauze, medical tape, various sizes of splints, disposable gloves, alcohol, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, scissors, a thermometer, a warm blanket, a flashlight, and extra batteries. Your first aid kit should also include at least a two-month supply of any prescription medications that you and your family take, over-the-counter pain relievers and other remedies, and vitamins.
Learn Several Useful Crafts and Skills
Another important part of prepping is to learn as many useful crafts and skills as possible. If you're ever forced to rely on yourself for survival, you'll want to have plenty of DIY skills under your belt so that you not only survive--but thrive. Learn how to grow your own food, can food, cook over an open fire, sew your own clothes, make your own personal care items, start a fire without matches, and build a shelter. Possessing skills such as these will make whatever quality of life you have better--so make an effort to learn as many as you can.
Know How to Signal for Help
If you're ever stranded and in need rescuing, knowing how to signal for help could come in quite handy. You can send off an SOS (save our souls) signal through sound by either banging a pair of rocks together or blowing a whistle. The audio code for SOS is to tap out three short sounds, three long sounds, and three more short ones. You can also appeal to help that might be flying over you from above by spelling out "SOS" or "help" with any large items you can find. Fire is also useful for flagging down help. Simply start a series of fires at a far enough distance apart from one another in order to distinguish them, but still close enough to one another to signify that they're a call for help. You can also use a hand mirror to reflect the sunlight and create a signal that those flying overhead will be able to see.
Exercise to Stay Fit
The last thing you want to do if you're serious about prepping is ignore your body. It's easy to procrastinate when it comes to exercise--so don't forget to make it part of your daily routine. If you don't exercise much now, you may want to start building yourself up slowly. Make your workout routine a little tougher each time you do it, and vary your routines so that you don't get bored. Be sure to include a good balance of cardio exercise and weight lifting so that you're as fit as a fiddle in the event of an emergency.
Because you can never be too prepared for anything, prepping is an ongoing process that requires time, energy, and serious dedication. Learn as much as you can about the art of survival by continually working towards acquiring the skills, knowledge, and tools necessary to help you get through anything.
Guest post from Payton Price. Payton writes for TermLifeInsurance.org.
