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Wilderness Survival and Emergency Preparedness

Here at Earthwork Programs, we want to help you and your loved ones be prepared for any crisis, including a pandemic. This is a scary time and being ready to endure a lengthy quarantine period is more important today than it has been in countless years. Below, we discuss the mindset and the materials you’ll need to cope with COVID-19 as well as countless other emergencies.

Mindset

Before we discuss physical supplies you’ll need to endure a crisis, let’s first address something more important: your attitude. In this pandemic, people are suffering from intense amounts of anxiety and fear. To endure this situation or one in which you or someone in your household becomes sick, the most important factor is your mindset. If you are overwhelmed by fear in an emergency, everything from your metabolic processes to your judgement to your motor skills will be negatively affected. On the other hand, if you are prepared, confident and mindful, you will be ready for the greatest of challenges.

Scientists are finding that there is a connection between our will power and our immune system. Leaders like Wim Hof, Bruce Lipton and Joe Dispenza are transforming science by showing the power that the mind has over the body. All of these individuals have shown that through the power of belief, the body is capable of producing its own medicine that can overcome various illnesses. The keys to accomplishing this are warding off stress and increasing your belief in yourself.

Here are essential tips for having the mindset needed to overcome a crisis:

• Think positively and adapt a positive survival attitude. If you are in an emergency, believe with complete faith that you and your family will get through it. Remain calm and confident.
• Be a positive role model to other people you are with and inspire courage in them. Engage your family members, including children, in preparing for an emergency, as it will give you opportunities to help them begin to develop their preparedness and confidence.
• Be prepared. Beyond purchasing the supplies you’ll need, become intimately familiar with them. Also practice essential skills so that in a crisis, you can calmly and confidently perform the tasks you need to keep you and your family safe.
• Keep your imagination in check and limit your consumption of news media and information. These two forces can play off each other and create an echo chamber of fear. Focus on separating the real from the imagined.
• Acknowledge and address your fear. When you feel fearful, recognize the emotion, and give yourself time and space to process it. This will reduce the power that fear has over you.  Stay aware of your surroundings and learn to recognize the warning signs of dangerous situations.

Last but not least, make sure you S.T.O.P. In the world of emergency preparedness, these letters stand for Stop, Think, Observe, and Plan. Any time you find yourself in a survival situation, this acronym is a reminder to:

• Stop and take some deep breaths. Sit down if you are able. Give yourself some time, even if it’s just a few moments to collect yourself. Remember that whatever has happened to get you into this situation cannot be undone. Do what you can to increase your mindfulness so you can tap into your full mental and physical potential.
• Think — Focus on the situation at hand and assess risks, goals, and opportunities. Do not panic. If you don’t have a clear enough mind to take these crucial steps, take a few more deep breaths and try to calm yourself down.
• Observe your surroundings. What is the most immediate threat you are facing and how can you address it? What conditions are present that might make the situation worse or more dangerous? What options do you have? What resources do you have that can give you a leg up? And consider the personal capabilities of yourself and anyone else with you.
• Make a Plan. Prioritize your immediate needs and develop a plan to overcome the most pressing issues in that moment while conserving energy. Follow your plan, only adjusting it to account for changing circumstances.

GET YOUR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN CHECKLIST