by R Shimoda

Created on: December 07, 2011   Last Updated: December 08, 2011

Unless you've been living in a cave with no contact with the outside world, you probably don't know the world is supposed to end December 21, 2012.  No-one seems to have any idea if this is before or after lunch so you may be on your own.  Historically the odds are against anything happening but what if something really happens?  Will you be ready to handle the end of the world?

The first reality to deal with is if you survive or don't.  If you don't survive then obviously preparing for the end of the world may not be helpful unless you become a devout something (i.e. Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, etc).  What if you do survive, what should you do to prepare?  The odds are if something is going to happen, it will be on a global scale such as large shifts of the pole or hit by a meteor or perhaps a bunch of tsunamis will be generated.

If the threat is natural, you need to assume you will be anywhere but home.  So stocking up on guns, food, water, gasoline for your generator at your house, may not be useful in the event of the end of the world.  Small items that can help should preferably carried on your person or in a fanny pack or purse.  What kinds of things should one carry?  Flashlight, bandages, antiseptic, string, matches, nail clipper, pocket knife, chopsticks, scarf, ziploc bags, radio, toilet paper or napkins and aspirin are good choices.

Why these items?  The flashlight, radio and matches will come in handy to see in the dark because in a disaster, power will be one of the first things to go.  Bandages, antiseptics, scarf (used for splints if necessary) and aspirins are basic first aid tools.  The nail clipper and pocket knife will be useful in situations where you need to cut something.  String is useful for securing items and setting up snares in case you need to live off the land.  Chopsticks are simple eating implements and if you have the wooden ones, in a pinch they can be used as tinder for your fire.  The ziploc bags are good for carrying water, food or if one cuts off the corner, makes a dandy funnel.  The toilet paper and napkins can be used for their designed purpose or can be tinder for the fire.

What else can you do?  Packing food and water would be good but you will find there is only so much you can carry at time so be prepared to live off the land and scrounge as much as possible.  Teaming up with other survivors is not a bad idea but the smaller the group the less social friction you will have.  With large groups there is a finite number of members who will be content to either steal food from other members or sit back and let other members do all the hard work of finding food and water.  

To better your odds, get certified for First Aid and CPR. That will furnish you with the basic medical skills needed in a post-disaster world.  Also start taking martial art classes.  After a disaster, it will be dog-eat-dog for a while and anyone who can't stand up for themselves is asking to become a victim.  Finally read anything you can get your hands on, just to get exposed to the information.  Again you will not know ahead of time what is important to know and what isn't.

Above all, learn to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. 

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