While in an ideal world nothing bad would ever happen that is sadly not the environment that we live in today. Things happen and people make decisions that send a ripple effect that cannot be controlled. So all we can do is be prepared for the worst and hope it never occurs.

To help you prepare, you need to make sure these items are on or near you at all times.

No. 1. A folding knife

A folding knife fits in your pocket and, besides the infinite numbers of ways in which it can assist you, it has a great advantage: People won’t label you as a prepper for having one.

In fact, no small self-defense weapon (such as pepper spray) will get people to label you as such. You just tell them it’s for protection and they’ll leave you alone.

No. 2. A way to navigate

Whether you get lost in the wilderness or in a big city, you should always have means to find your way back. Leaving EMP events out of the equation, you should at least have GPS maps on your phone. Keep in mind that, even if the phone lines are down, satellites may still be working, showing you your location.

Another thing you should consider in your phone’s maps app is the ability to download them offline.

No. 3. A bandana

Bandanas are amazing survival items that have a huge number of uses. Besides the obvious one  to protect your head from extreme heat — you also can use them to:

• melt snow.
• pre-filter water.
• hold a broken arm as a sling.
• collect foraged food.

No. 4. Lighter

Not just to light a fire and keep yourself warm, but there are other situations it could be useful:

• to melt a zip tie if someone ties you up.
• to start a fire to use as signaling.
• to light your way in absence of a flashlight.
• to open a bottle.

No. 5. A multi-tool

Whether you opt for one of those micro multi-tools made by Leatherman or for one that’s credit-card shaped and fits in your wallet, you can carry with you at least 10 tools to aid in your survival: scissors, tweezers, screwdrivers, a ruler and many more.

No. 6. A “prepped” cell phone

When I say prepped, it should not only have a shock-absorbing case, but it also should be equipped with the apps and information you may need in an emergency. There are plenty of apps related to survival, and let’s not forget a maps application (with the option to download those maps for offline use).

No. 7. A mini-flashlight

I got the tiniest flashlight I could find on the market and attached it on my keyring. Sure, I can always use my phone, but what if I run out of batteries? Redundancy is never a bad thing.

These are just some suggestions for EDC. Do you have any that you can think oil that we didn't list here? If so let us know in the comments below! And check out our friends over at Off The Grid News for more amazing info.