The Boy Scout Motto is "Be Prepared"

"BE PREPARED" A Guest Article by My Dear Friend Edward Bear

PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS
The Boy Scout motto is “Be Prepared”. Never have so few words contained so much wisdom. In the early days of man, not being prepared often meant the difference between life and death. These days not being prepared usually does not result in such severe consequences, but it does usually result in waste. Waste of time, waste of money and a waste of resources.
While it is not possible to be prepared for every possible situation that may occur, most people are not prepared on even the most basic level.
We are going to examine what you wear from the perspective of preparedness. After all, what could be more basic or more personal than the clothing you wear?
In general, the amount of preparedness needed increases the further away from your home you plan to travel. If you are at home, you should be dressing for comfort. If you need something, you have everything at your house, so your state of preparedness is usually fairly high. Where if you go hiking in the hills, you need to bring much more with you and be prepared for many more incidents than you would be at home.
Shoes serve several purposes. The main purpose is to protect the foot, but the shoe also helps to keep the foot warm. Boots take things to the next level with additional support and ankle support, helping to prevent sprained ankles. A sprain can happen easier than a broken bone often times will not heel as well. Bates make quality boots with a steel shank and zipper on side along with laces. This allows for fast on and fast off.
Two things to stay away from are high heels and platform shoes. They make look sexy, but in a crisis they can only make things worse and often times lead to injury.
Socks will depend on the type of shoes you wear. With boots, one thin pair of dress socks and one of thick wool socks. This will provide you with added warmth and comfort. The dress socks acts as to reduce friction.
Underwear is a standard part of any wardrobe, but in cold weather long underwear can go a long way in helping you to keep warm. Pantyhose can be worn with dresses and even can be worn under pants.
Pants are better for preparedness for men and women, although certain social situations may call for a dress or skit for women. Guide Gear makes denim pants with extra layer on front and has cell phone pocket on side that can be used to store a pair of gloves.
Belts are great multi-taskers. A webbed belt can slide to almost any length and is held in place by friction. This means that in a pinch, it can be used to lash things down.
Bras are something I know nothing about, so I'm just going to skip that subject all together.
Undershirts get us into the subject of layering. They can be worn all by themselves, or underneath a shirt or blouse.
Shirts or blouses give you more options if they have pockets. At some point, we need to address the concept of long sleeves whether it be for undershirts, shirts or jackets. Long sleeves, offer more protection to your arms and reduce your arms to the exposure of the sun.
Gloves of any kind are always better than no gloves. Gloves can be fancy for formal situations or simple. Not only do they help to keep the hands warm, but they add a layer of protection. This added protection can allow you to use your hands in ways that would otherwise not be safe. Trucker gloves are fingerless and cheap. They are usually made of leather. They give warmth, protection and allowing your finger tips to be used without having to remove the gloves. This is important for tasks that require a delicate touch.
Keys all by them selves can be used as a tool such as cutting though the packing tape on a box. Key rings can be enhanced by adding a flashlight and other tools.
Cell phones have so many uses. The principle design is for communications to all you to place a phone call. This is essential if you find yourself in a situation where you need help. Today's smart phones are capable of so much more. They can be used for everything from getting directions, including turn by turn (GPS), to looking up where to eat. On a most basic level, every cell phone can be used as a flashlight.
Jackets are best when they have pockets. More pockets are better and a hood is very useful, especially in the cold. A hood with ball cap is very effective even during rain.
Pullover wool sweaters are effective in the cold. Wool will help to keep you warm if it gets wet.
Layering can be applied to all of these items. In the cold, you can wear an undershirt, shirt or blouse, sweater and a jacket over it. Use any combination of these to accommodate the temperatures you might encounter. Always allow for the fact that we still are not very good at forecasting the weather, so you should plan for weather conditions and temperatures that are more extreme than what has been reported.
Handkerchiefs were standard issue for men for many years. They have so many applications and a properly prepared gentlemen carries two. One for his own use, and one in case a lady needs one. White is the preferred color.
Bandana like handkerchiefs have many uses such as a makeshift hat, protecting the neck and wiping of sweat. They can be used to signal for help. Bandanas and handkerchiefs have many first aid uses. Not only can they be used as bandages but when tied together, they can be used to make a sling.
Watches have come a long way, and can do a lot more than just tell time. Some of the new digital watches are solar powered and include a compass, thermometer, altimeter and more, but even an old fashioned watch that use hands to tell the time can be used as a compass to determine north.
Hats used to be worn by almost everyone on a regular basis until recent years. They help to keep you warm when it is cold. Most of your heat loss comes from your head, hands and feet. A hat can also be used to keep the sun off of your heard. Even something as simple as a baseball cap can be very useful. Combined with a bandana it can also be used keep the sun off of your neck as well.
Knives are one of the most useful tools ever created by man, but they can not always be carried, especially on an airplane. In an urban environment, a quality multi-tool such as a Leatherman can be invaluable. Carrying a knife that includes a fork and spoon, such as the one by Kabar can be very useful. Someone was asked “What is the best knife in a survival situation?” The answer was “The one you have with you”.
Money is a great tool. I can often get you the things that you need, that you did not bring with you. Carry a combination of coins and dollar bills is wise. There are times when cash won't do and a credit card or debit card is handy.
Water can be carried in a water bottle. Water bottles are acceptable in more and more social situations. You can even buy refillable water bottles that can be filled with tap water while providing you with the clean taste of filtered water. This also cuts down on your cost as well as waste. After air, water the most important thing your body needs.
Food can be be as simple as hard candy, or an energy bar. A snack can help keep hunger at bay and give you an energy boost. Bringing your own meal to work or on a hike can help keep your costs down and allow you to control the quality of what you eat.
A Writing implement and piece of paper is an handy thing. This can be as standard as a pen and a business card, but a blank piece of waterproof paper and a pencil are even better. Keep in mind that things written down, require no electricity. Pencils can write on just about anything including rocks. Being able to leave a communication to someone looking for you in an emergency can mean the difference between life and death.
Purses are standard for ladies and wallets for men, but more and more people of both sexes carry fanny packs and back packs which give you the ability to carry more things that can help you to be more prepared.
Your mind is the most important thing you have to keep you prepared. It allows you to determine what will help you to prepare for any trip or event. When an unexpected crises happens, it is your creativity and intelligence that give you the best chance of successfully making it through your ordeal. It is the greatest gift you have.