The key to making it through a survival situation is preparation, but if your preparation is flawed, your results during a survival event will be less than ideal.

These six common errors, made during the preparation phase must be avoided at all costs.

Not knowing how to use your gear

Who hasn’t been guilty of getting out that combination battery, wind-up, and solar emergency radio and forgetting to use it?  (There is a little doo-dad inside of mine that has to be switched over to change modes.)

Or how about the Sun Oven?  If it sits in the box and never gets used, how will you know how to place it in the sun to cook your food or boil your water when the sun is the only source of power you have.

Similarly, do you have copies of your gear manuals tucked away in case you need them?  Storing them on a laptop or flash drive is a great idea but only if you have some way to power your devices when the grid goes down.

Having a comprehensive first aid kit but not knowing basic first aid skills

Having a robust first aid kit (FAK) is a given as is having a supply of emergency medicines.  But what about knowing CPR?  Or cleaning and dressing an open wound that is bleeding profusely?

Many communities offer free or low cost classes on first aid.

Putting together plans to bug-out in the wilderness when, in fact, your bug-in plans are incomplete

I have been known to get on my soapbox over this one but come on!  Isn’t it plain old common sense to stay put in your own home if  you can?  That is where your food, water, and medical supplies are, along with emergency sanitation supplies, flashlights, clothing and almost everything else you might need.

Sure, do make a contingency plan for evacuation purposes but do not ignore your bug in plan.  Unless your home is not safe, plan to shelter in place at home rather than take your chances in the wilderness.

Not inventorying your stuff!

You are walking around the local outdoor emporium and see a fantastic deal on tactical knives.  Great, you can never have too many knives.  Unless, of course, you are spending money on your 5th knife but do not have a portable lantern.

You should keep a list of what you have and what you need so you do not accidentally spend money where you do not need to do so.

Storing all of your preps in one location

This is tough for many especially if you only have one home and do not have close relatives or friends where you could stash some stuff.  Still, see if you can put together a suitcase or duffle bag with some emergency items and store them at your office or at someone else’s home.

Set up a barter: I will store yours if you will store mine.  That sort of thing.

If an alternate location is not practical, consider storing items at various locations around your home.  Not everything needs to be on shelves in the basement.  Spread things out so that if the basement gets flooded, you still have dry items in the upstairs bedroom.

Believing everything you read on the Internet

Check your sources and use common sense.  If something seems off, investigate before taking what you read at face value.  That includes what your read here on this site.  I do my best to be credible but honestly?

Avoiding these six mistakes is paramount to giving yourself the best chance possible to get through a survival situation unscathed and in good shape.

To learn more about common mistakes survivalists make before a survival situation arises that can doom them when it hits or, at least, make their lives more difficult, please visit Backdoor Survival.