Prepared: A Manual for Surviving Worst-Case Scenarios

Chapter 4 opens with an acknowledgment of the universal difficulty of decision-making. The delay in decision-making is a “luxury of contemplation” that people in a survival situation cannot afford (93). Being “stuck in place by indecision” is potentially deadly (94), and individuals are encouraged to navigate this mental block by recognizing that every person has a level of competency in decision-making and preparing ahead of time to make the crisis-point decisions as simple as possible.

Success, in this context, is defined as a series of good decisions. “Making the right decisions in order” is the advice of Tom Flanagan (95), a former Army Ranger and Special Missions Unit Operator. Survival in a catastrophe involves making “as many correct decisions in a row as possible, as quickly as possible” (96). Although this sounds overwhelming, people have to make a series of optimal decisions quickly in order to engage with daily living. For example, while driving or putting kids to bed, a series of decisions are made that are best suited to the specific context. Being properly prepared involves acknowledging the expertise of gut instinct. In a disaster scenario, “there is no time for deep thinking and higher-order executive functions” (97). 

The term “get off the X” is introduced. This means avoiding paralysis by taking action, namely getting to safety and taking others to safety as well. After this, individuals can use their PACE plan (primary, alternative, contingency, emergency), but preventing the “freeze” instinct is paramount. “By making that first decision, you remove a whole mess of options” that can cause “analysis paralysis” and keep individuals from effectively beginning to recover from disaster (100-01). 

Next, Glover broaches the sensitive topic of using deadly force. He asks the reader to consider at what point in a crisis scenario involving a human aggressor they would be willing to use deadly force. He emphasizes the unpreparedness of the average person, even the average survival-oriented person, to answer this question with specific criteria. Most people do not know when they would consider it “ethical” to kill another person in self-defense. It is vitally important that each person comes to terms with their own personal ethical line for self-defense and defense of family, friends, and home. This ethical line should necessarily be commensurate with the legal requirements for self-defense, and Glover also underlines the urgent, last-resort nature of deadly force: “If you can avoid it, you should do everything in your power to avoid it” (105). However, escape is not always possible, and individuals should be prepared for the eventuality of a life-or-death encounter with an aggressor who cannot be persuaded or intimidated out of their intended purpose. 

Decision-making is an “essential skill for preparedness” (111), and the critical nature of accuracy, speed, adaptability, and preparation in effective decisions is emphasized in this chapter. No amount of good decision-making can protect an individual from danger or allow one to escape crisis “totally unscathed” (111). However, it is an essential component of surviving.

Chapter 5 begins with the author's discussion of his military understanding of “everyday carry” (or EDC). Everyday carry is defined as what a person should wear and carry at all times in order to achieve their goals and mitigate any and all foreseen problems. Although there are items that can be the difference between survival and death, Glover makes sure to note that EDC is not just items carried: “[I]t’s everything you are from head to toe. And it all matters” (117). 

Glover notes that modern society is composed of many “support systems” for infrastructure efficiency as well as emergencies but that these systems can fail or be out of reach (117). He uses the 2022 Uvalde shooting as an example of failed response. He asserts that people need to be prepared for their own worst-case scenarios to survive.

Glover states that EDC is the “foundation of the physical side of preparedness” (120). An individual can have mental resilience, situational awareness, and decision-making skills and still fall short of thorough preparedness without physical items to accomplish specific tasks. 

The first category of EDC is self-defense items. Self-defense items fall into two categories: lethal and nonlethal. In lethal situations, EDC often involves a concealed firearm of some kind. Glover details methods for selecting an appropriate firearm. The second lethal self-defense option is knives and blades. Knives fall into two categories: tactical and survival. Tactical knives are used in fighting. Survival knives are used for tasks like “chopping and sawing and skinning” (125). Hybrid-style knives exist but usually perform each kind of task sub-optimally as compared to the other two specialized knives.

For nonlethal options, stun guns, sprays, and alarms are the most useful for civilian use. Stun guns and sprays are used “to repel” (130), allowing an individual to escape an attacker. Alarms help when the goal is not to escape but to be detected, cause a commotion, or startle an attacker into running away. 

Survival items compose the second part of EDC. The main considerations of survival items are medical items, shelter and fire, food and water, illumination, and signaling. Glover states that the “framework” for survival preparation is 72 hours: Survival items should allow an individual to survive for three days, exposed to the elements, without help. For medical items, a tourniquet and an individual first aid kit or bleeding control kit are essentials. The tourniquet is the most important item, but the more thorough the medical kit, the better. 

The elements are the most dangerous aspect of an isolated survival situation. Extreme heat and cold are both equally deadly. The author recommends a Mylar thermal blanket. Fire starters, like lighters, hurricane matches, and magnesium fire starters are the best way to create fire and thus warmth. An individual needs to take their environment into account. A punishing, wet, or cold environment requires a sturdier form of fire starting. 

Food and water are less immediate concerns for 72 hours of survival, but having calorically dense food with some sodium and carbs can drastically help improve quality of life. Protein bars and energy gel packs are recommended as stopgap sustenance. Water is essential. A water purifier bottle with chlorine dioxide tablets can purify large amounts of water and eliminate common waterborne parasites. 

Illumination and signaling are the least urgent considerations, but illumination is important for navigation to safety and signaling is important for being discovered. Glover classifies different forms of lighting and their pros and cons.

EDC is also composed of the bag in which survival items are carried, the clothing worn, and even the way “you carry yourself” (147). All these items should be adapted to the individual needs of the person carrying them. Bags should be sturdy and capacious enough for all items. Clothing should provide basic protection from the elements and should accommodate other aspects of EDC, like being loose enough for a concealed firearm and/or knife. In terms of attitude, an individual projecting confidence can instill confidence in themselves automatically.