Made in the USA

MANUFACTURED IN THE USA

(800) 752-0706

Chat With Our Team

Search
Made in the USA

MANUFACTURED IN THE USA

Things That Every Bug-Out Vehicle Needs

October 13, 2021

Things That Every Bug-Out Vehicle Needs

Things That Every Bug-Out Vehicle Needs

Everyone needs a bug-out vehicle so they can protect themselves and those they love in case of emergency. A proper bug-out vehicle can literally save the lives of anyone in it if the proper preparation and care are taken when setting it up. You can never be sure what situation might cause the need for such a vehicle, so it’s best to plan for a variety of problems. Use this guide as a basic checklist of the things that every bug-out vehicle needs.

Medical Kit

Any injury can be extremely problematic if you ignore it or don’t treat it promptly, which is why a medical kit’s so important for a bug-out vehicle. A good medical kit will have a tourniquet in addition to other standard medical items.

Emergency Kit

An emergency kit contains extremely useful tools and items for any emergency that might develop. For example, flares are a common part of emergency kits for light and to help rescuers see your position easily. You should also look for kits with fire extinguishers and other emergency prevention tools.

Tool Kit

You never know when you might need a tool for a problem, and a tool kit will cover your every need. From repairs to breaking things in your way to getting unstuck, a tool kit is absolutely necessary for your survival. You’ll want a heavy-duty tool kit with a variety of tools, but don’t go overboard, or you won’t have space for other important things.

Common Vehicle Repairs

Any vehicle is susceptible to damages and will eventually have breakdowns and need repairs. You should have parts at the ready for the most common repairs that a vehicle might need. Things like tire patches and fuse replacements can easily save your car from unfortunate circumstances. Even if your car is capable, it’s better to have the stuff rather than be stuck in a dangerous place.

Fuel

Any vehicle that runs on gas can eventually run out of fuel. Even if your vehicle is extremely fuel-efficient, having extra gas will save you when making those long treks without refill stations. Getting extra fuel cans and a long-distance fuel tank can spare you from some pretty bad times.

Food and Refrigeration

Food is really important for survival, which is why you should find food storage for your vehicle before things turn bad. You can either store non-perishable food or install some kind of refrigeration unit in your bug-out vehicle. A fridge means you can store things you pick up or hunt along the trip.

Shelter

Although bug-out vehicles have equipment for every situation, it isn’t always the best decision to sleep in them. In those times when sleeping in your vehicle isn’t an option, you should invest in a shelter. Packing a tent with all the accompanying bedding is a good idea for your bug-out vehicle.

Hydration

Just like food, water is extremely important yet hard to come by in disaster situations. Packing plenty of water for the trip plus ways to create more water, such as filters or survival devices, will save your life. Thirst is one of the biggest threats you’ll face in a disaster.

Chargers

Although they won’t be useful in every kind of emergency, phones and other electronic devices can be very helpful for contacting others and surviving. Bring a charger that can power your devices from the car, and you won’t run into electricity problems for a while. A charged phone means you can contact others with reception even after a few days pass and other people’s devices no longer have a charge.

Navigation

It’s easy to lose your way when you’re in a stressful situation and forced to navigate areas that you aren’t familiar with. This can be very dangerous if you’re struggling to get to a safe place in your vehicle. Bringing several means of navigation can help you stay safe; both digital and manual methods are useful. Although most smartphones have GPS, bringing a satellite GPS can be the better option in case reception isn’t working in the area. For manual navigation, bring a compass and maps of any area you’re traversing.

Lighting

One thing that can always help you during an emergency is lighting, which is useful both at night and when exploring any dark place. Investing in a few flashlights that you can manually charge will help you greatly if you do anything in the dark. You can also put lighting modifications on your vehicle so you can light up the surrounding area, though there are legal limits on this, depending on your state.

PPE

If you think that personal protective equipment (PPE) is only useful in industrial jobs, you should know that it’s actually very helpful in your bug-out vehicle. A lot of the things you do after a huge event are dangerous for the body, as you may need to work with industrial tools and handle heavy materials in subpar conditions. Wearing protection will only help you avoid injuries from these things.

Communication Devices

If other people are traveling in your vehicle with you, try getting communication methods that don’t rely on cell service. High-quality walkie-talkies are very useful for contacting those you care about when things are dangerous. You can also install a radio receiver into your car for better communication with the world at large.

Defensive Items

Although we hope you never need them, defensive equipment or tools can be very helpful during a crisis. A major disaster, like a wildfire, can cause massive migrations from animals that may get violent in their fear. Just having a weapon nearby can prevent a lot of trouble; in many cases, you won’t even need to use it. A pocketknife is useful as a tool for personal defense and overall survival.

Storage

Storing all these items in one vehicle isn’t realistic for most standard vehicles; you’ll need modifications that add storage or help you efficiently use all the space you have. You can always get a large aluminum storage trunk or even a customized sliding truck bed designed for overlanding for a pickup truck or van, or install extra storage under your seats to maximize space in your vehicle.

These are things that every bug-out vehicle needs, but this list doesn’t include everything that may be helpful for you. This is just a basic list of the things that you should get for your vehicle; there are plenty of other items that may help in times of emergency.

Things That Every Bug-Out Vehicle Needs

Sticky

How Construction Companies Can Reduce On-the-Job Injuries

September 13, 2021

How Construction Companies Can Reduce On-the-Job Injuries

How Construction Companies Can Reduce On-the-Job Injuries

Construction is one of the hardest and physically demanding jobs in the world. Employees constantly put their lives on the line to build massive structures. However, companies have a responsibility to protect their workers as best they can from any potential injuries and risks on the job. That’s why they need to know how construction companies can reduce on-the-job injuries.

Risk Assessments

The first thing anyone in charge of a construction site needs to do is run a risk assessment meeting before construction even starts. By running a job hazard analysis, potential risks to employees’ health on the site can be identified. Identifying these unique risks can save workers’ lives and company money in the long run. Any findings in these assessments must get shared with every worker who will be onsite so they know what to expect and avoid.

Falls

The biggest cause of death on construction sites is falling to one’s death. There’s little anyone can do if they start falling, and that’s why it’s important to plan and implement preventative measures. Things such as guardrails and nets can spell the difference between life and death for workers. Safety measures should get planned early and account for changes in the site as construction continues.

Trips and Slips

Another common cause of a lot of construction injuries is slipping or tripping. Although this may seem like a simple problem, a bad slip can really damage people and prevent them from working. The best way to avoid these issues is to clean up the area and get rid of any spilled liquids or obstacles that might cause someone to trip.

Inspections

Problems should be identified and inspected as early as possible so they can be stopped before they turn into major risks. The best way to find these issues is by running frequent inspections that search for any potential dangers. Such inspections should be run frequently—such as every few weeks—as construction sites constantly change and new risks pop up. Workers deserve the best protection; part of this can be accomplished by regular, thorough inspections.

Preventative Maintenance

Focusing on preventative maintenance is essential. Just like its name suggests, it’s all about maintenance that stops things from turning into huge problems. For instance, all tools and equipment will eventually break as time goes on. Needless to say, breaking or failing equipment on the job is very dangerous. Any potential issues in equipment should be taken care of before it becomes a problem—especially if someone is about to use it. Equipment must be examined during inspections for any signs of damage. Replace or repair poor equipment before it fully breaks to keep workers safe. Otherwise, tools could break in the middle of being used, therefore causing injury to the person using them.

Ergonomic Equipment

A lot of other onsite injuries come from performing basic tasks with poor equipment that doesn’t account for worker safety. Repeated stress injuries are very serious and arise from workers who perform the same action—usually in an awkward position—multiple times until they hurt themselves. Such injuries can be avoided with equipment like custom truck bed storage that promotes healthy lifting and unloading. This way, workers won’t hurt themselves performing everyday tasks.

Clean Workspace

A lot of injuries in construction sites come from an unclean workplace—namely, obstacles in the walkways or equipment and tools that are in the way of workers. Everyone must put away all their tools when they’re done using them to prevent mix-ups and messy areas. Leaving tools lying around isn’t only unproductive, but also dangerous for the employees and anyone trying to access the area.

PPE

Most companies use the legally required amount of personal protective equipment (PPE) for their workers, but more can always be used to keep employees even safer. While hardhats are useful as PPE, they aren’t enough to thoroughly protect workers. Investing in excellent PPE is a sign of investing and caring about the people on job sites. Additionally, PPE should always get examined during inspections.

Drug Testing

Working with heavy equipment and in a dangerous area requires all workers to have their wits about them. If someone is under the influence, they should never come into work and operate dangerous equipment. That’s why a lot of construction companies use drug testing to encourage workers to show up clean and stay safe because of it. That isn’t to suggest running constant drug tests is a good idea. But running them, even infrequently, will teach everyone that they can’t risk coming into work while under the influence.

Safety Training

Investing in workers is key to keeping them safe—and there’s no better investment than safety training. Company-wide training is very important as it teaches everyone at the same time. That way, everyone is on the same page and can communicate better than before. This results in safer work conditions for everyone and more efficient communication as people know what they’re talking about and what’s expected of them.

Injury Response

Even with all these methods of protecting people as they work in construction sites, accidents and injuries can still happen. That’s why a proper response plan can help people who get hurt. Having a few first aid kits on hand can save someone’s life. Training sessions can teach employees the proper way to respond to injuries. This way, everyone knows the best practices and less confusion should arise in such situations.

Heavy Equipment License

A lot of construction sites make use of heavy machinery and vehicles, both of which are very dangerous. That’s why it’s vital for anyone using any heavy equipment, machinery or tools must be properly trained to so do. For example, a crane or a forklift can cause a lot of damage and even kill people if employees aren’t careful. That’s why proper training is absolutely necessary. Someone who has a heavy equipment license will know how to operate potentially dangerous vehicles; therefore, ensuring the people who will operate such heavy vehicles and machinery have the proper license is absolutely essential to the safety of a worksite.

Safety Culture

Another way companies can keep their workers safe is with a focus on creating a work culture that prizes safety above all else. A good safety culture will encourage everyone to stay as safe as possible. Additionally, as employees work within a positive work environment where their safety matters, they’ll actively encourage this protective behavior in each other. Fewer workplace accidents—whether big or small—will have the chance to happen when employees are looking out for one another.

These are just the simplest and biggest methods on how construction companies can reduce on-the-job injuries. Following these steps will help you keep your employees safe during construction and better the lives of everyone.

How Construction Companies Can Reduce On-the-Job Injuries

Sticky