Bug-Out Drill

Elffriend · #1 08/07/10, 01:38 AM

Several weeks ago our homeschool group toured a mock refugee camp set up by Doctors Without Borders. We learned a lot about what goes on in a refugee camp. One thing that our guide said that stuck with me was that, on average, people have about 3 minutes to "flee" in dire emergencies.

When we got home we discussed the most likely scenarios that would cause us to leave and not attempt to survive in place. Then I had each kid make up a list of the things they would grab if they only had three minutes. Then I waited a couple of weeks until this had become just a memory. I recently pulled out a stop watch and announced that we were bugging out and they had 3 minutes to meet me at the front door with whatever they planned to take.

I am VERY proud of my 16 yr old. She has a high-functioning form of autism and I was worried about what she would do. She asked if we were going on foot or taking the van. I told her we would take the van as long as we could and she jumped into action. She knows that we each have a bag in the van with a change of clothing and other survival supplies. She put on her shoes and socks. She put on a hooded sweatshirt, baseball cap and her bellybag (which she carries instead of a purse and which contains some survival gear) Then she went upstairs, grabbed a back pack, put in a few personal items and extra socks and underwear. She was downstairs at the front door in 2 minutes 30 seconds. I told her she had 30 more seconds and she grabbed one of the reusable shopping bags I keep on a hook by the door. She ran to the kitchen and filled it with food and additional water bottles. Then she put the dog on a leash and was back at the door by the time her 3 minutes was up.

My 12 yr old panicked. He said he couldn't remember what was on his list. I told him to take a few seconds and think about what he might need. He just couldn't and kept saying "I don't know what to do!" Finally, I grabbed him by the shoulders, looked him right in the eyes and told him to put his shoes and socks on. It took him most of the remaining time just to do that.

So, in a couple of weeks we will do it again, this time we'll bug out on foot. Then we'll do it again, but I'll ask DH to pick the time and method so it will come as a surprise to me, too.

Oh, and one more thing. If you have any other option for survival, you do NOT want to go to a refugee/displaced persons camp. If you do not have any other option, you won't survive even there unless you have a family or other group of people you trust. You need people to guard your shelter, people to stand in line for food, people to go gather fuel and people to stand in line for water. They said you need a group of 6-8 adults/older children to do all these things.

Spinner · #2 08/07/10, 02:07 AM

Good work. Let us know how the 12 yo progresses. Your 16 yo is a daughter to be proud of.

Jerngen · #3 08/07/10, 02:57 AM

Good for your daughter!!

Hopefully your son will even out with a couple more drills

Windy in Kansas · #4 08/07/10, 10:38 AM

I've always thought the last place I wanted to go was to such a camp and you have confirmed it.

The material you presented is very enlightening. Thanks.

Kudos to your daughter. I hope next time we can give kudos to your son as well. Expect he just needs a few good discussions to remind him of the necessity of drills.

Freeholder · #5 08/07/10, 11:08 AM

Do you have some place near a door to store bug-out-bags with most of that stuff already gathered up? (I don't, but it would be ideal.)

Kathleen

Cyngbaeld · #6 08/07/10, 11:21 AM

Perhaps your son would benefit from some very frequent drills. Just have him practice getting shoes and socks on and out to the vehicle and don't ask him to do anything else. Some people shut down in an emergency and need "muscle memory" to bring them through. They cannot stop and prioritize what they need to do next.

Our BOBs stay packed and ready to go. I just redid them because daughter gained some weight and needed new pants. Figured it was a good time to dump them out and freshen the clothes.

manygoatsnmore · #7 08/07/10, 06:50 PM

Great exercise - nothing like practice to get good at something. Sounds like your dd is like mine - Asperger's? Unfortunately, mine is slow moving and would never have been able to get all that done in 3 minutes. When she was living at home, I kept a ready-packed bag for her so all she'd have to do is get her shoes and socks on - and she'd probably still have been putting them on in the car, lol.

willbuck1 · #8 08/07/10, 08:10 PM

This may have been one of the most informative and useful threads I have seen yet. Thanks. Tell your daughter that she is admired already by people who have never met her. Must be a gender thing because my 9yr old son would fall apart while my 10yr old daughter would do well once she stopped asking why.

Elffriend · #9 08/07/10, 11:18 PM

We keep fully packed BOBs in the van, one backpack for each of us. We don't wear shoes in the house, so those are usually lined up by the door anyway. I would have been perfectly happy if DS would have just put his shoes on and said everything else he needed was already in the van. When we first made a list of last minute items to grab, his was full of impractical things like the computer.

Manygoats - my DD has Hyperlexia. She has many of the same social issues that Asperger kids have.

longrider · #10 08/08/10, 01:15 AM

When our scout troop started up we went camping every month for the whole of my Boy Scout years. Because my dad had no idea what he was getting into as the scoutmaster he relied on his young assistant who was an experienced boy scout turned college boy.

So for the first three campouts we went to our local scout camp for the ease of access and facilities. Essentially we had 18 boys throw all their gear (as laid out in the equipment list in the Scout Hand book and fieldbook) into our backpacks and off we went. We bugged out and figured out how to set up and live in the woods- the learning curve was steep but forgiving!

I highly recommend to everyone that builds a bugout bag spend a weekend using it. Doing so will not only show you what you need to adjust in the list but give you confidence in your ability to meet the crisis head on- family in tow.

once you do this all you have to do is add medications and food to your BOB as you leave the house.

tamsam · #11 08/08/10, 01:47 AM

Why not have him make a list of what he needs and put it on his door and let him practice getting it together? Glad you all have a plan and hope it works. Sam

Grace&Violets · #12 08/08/10, 12:42 PM

This is a great exercise to practice. My kids are 4, 6 & almost 8 and would each want "special" items, but I would make sure that the most useful items are already packed. I know stores like Ross and TJ Maxx will have great sales on backpacks by the end of the month, with school going back in session.

I also agree that there are gender differences with the way that kids react. My 6 yo dd would be able to grab what she needs/wants in 3 minutes, no problem. My 8 yo ds can take an hour to pack for an overnight stay with a friend.

This thread has been a real eye opener for me. I already have a "family" bob, but nothing specifically for the kids.

Ohio dreamer · #13 08/08/10, 03:47 PM

One thing my MIL did when I was pregnant with our first was to buy a twin size blanket and cut it down into 3 identical ones. DS always had his blanky...one could be in the wash, one in a drawer (or left at grandmas) and one "in hand". For those of you with young ones still, you might consider duplicating their "safety" item. Be sure to rotate so the all get worn out the same. You can keep one in the BOB then, one less important-thing you need to grab.