Awareness Is Key When Bugging Out
The day or night that you’ve prepared for has finally happened. Now the time has come for you to bug out. You’ve bought all your gear and the supplies you’ll need to exist wherever you’re headed.
What’s left now is something that you can’t buy.
It’s awareness.
You have to stay aware when you’re bugging out. It’s the key to your survival. You can’t afford to let your guard down – not even for a second – because if you do, you could end up getting hurt or even losing your life.
One of the threats that you’ll have to face when you’re bugging out is the potential danger from predators. You could run into animals that would love to make a meal out of you. 
Animals like bears, coyotes and bobcats have been known to attack people in opportunistic moments as well as for no reason at all.
Animals of all sizes will attack if they’re startled or scared. They’ll attack if they’ve been hurt or they’re ill. They’ll also attack because animals are territorial.
You have to be on the lookout for them as well as the two legged kind of predators – humans.
In a world that’s governed by law and consequences, people still hurt others. They steal, they attack, they kill. Now imagine what those kinds of people will do when society has collapsed. They’re only going to get worse. That’s why awareness is the key to you making it out alive against both kinds of predators.
You need to make sure that not only do you have a secure area once you arrive at your bug out destination, but that you’re secure as you’re traveling. You do that by scouting the area. Do perimeter checks of your arrival location and do perimeter checks as you’re traveling. Make sure no one is following you on foot or in a vehicle. Pay attention to people who are acting weird or those who are acting secretive.
Be aware of what’s going on with the weather. By knowing whether or not bad weather is coming, you’ll be able to get to shelter before you get caught in it and have to deal with things like hypothermia. You also want weather awareness so that if you’re traveling near a creek or river, you don’t get caught up in any flood waters.
Be aware of what’s going on with your supplies, too. Pay attention to the amount of water you have or the purification means that you have on hand. Keep alert with your food supply.
If you’re traveling with friends or family, stay alert to their physical and emotional well being. Someone who’s ill or is suffering from shock can give your position away or draw attention to you and make you a target.
Some preppers like to have a 5-hour energy drink on hand in their bug out bags so that if they happen to be in a moment where being alert is extremely important, they won’t be prone to drowsiness.
