self preservation/self defense

I sometimes wonder about the people out there that are so into "reality" self defense/combatives/survivalism. Not that I dispute there are valid reasons to want to train and prepare for certain things (Katrina showed everyone how valid some of their points are), but they seem to concentrate on a misguided hierarchy of importance. What I mean is, they seem to place a great deal of importance on firearms, knives, "tactical" gear (usually meaning cammies), having a store of military or camping food, etc....

Now, they MIGHT someday find themselves in a scenario requiring some or all of that. There is a slight statistical chance. So, being prepared is a good thing. BUT.....they are much more likely to be involved in one of the following scenarios: high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, auto accident, cancer, etc.... I can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are much more likely to be a victim of one of these things than a mugger, or a home invasion, or gestapo arrests, or an urban riot. How many of these people prepare for them? From what I have seen, the answer is very little.

Many of them are execessively overweight, do little or no physical activity, might not wear seat belts, probably eat the typical american diet (fast food, overly processed food, too much sugar, little fresh fruit and vegetable, soda), and most likely either don't regularly see a physician OR see one too much and take too many prescription drugs. So, if you truly are interested in self preservation, do the following:

1) Wear a seat belt everytime you get in a car - ask any firefighter/paramedic how many accidents they respond to where someone would have survived if they wore a seat belt. Tthe number is staggering.
2) If you are above 15% bodyfat, drop everything and lose weight. Diabetes is an epidemic that is somewhat ignored. People are paranoid about the vague possibility that the bird flu MIGHT mutate and jump spieces and MIGHT spread, but there is no might about diabetes. It is here and the fastest spreading type is largely preventable.
3)See your doctor and get the recommended tests when they are due...i.e. prostate check, colon cancer, breast cancer, blood pressure, cholestorol, heart stress test etc...
4) Replace as much processed food with fresh food as much as possible. Cut out sugar wherever you can. And learn where the sugar actually is (there are a ton of easily available books on this).
5) Have insurance - health, auto, homeowners or renters. AND make sure that it actually covers what is likely to happen. If you live in New Orleans, make sure it covers flood, if you live in Oklahoma, make sure it covers tornados (I am shocked at how many people try to cut corners here)

Do all these things first, and then, after they are settled, worry whether you have enough 5.56 ammo to repel rampaging gangs of post-apocalyptic zombies.