Survival Kit

Dekard · Post by **Dekard** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 4:01 am

My current kit consists of 2 backpacks, first aid kit and a small toolbag for the truck which includes flares, mag-lite, fix-a-flat, jumpers, emg fanbelt, tow strap, yellow strobe and a spare jug of coolant. For long trips I strap an extra can of fuel to the back of the jeep and take extra water.

Each backpack contains the basics: fish hooks, line, water tabs, roll of tp, 2 mres, granola and energy bars, water filter, knife with serated blade, compass, space blanket, lighter, waterproof matches, magnesium bar, liter h20, poncho and thinsulate fuzzy, gloves, plastic bags, hand cranked led flashlight and hat.

With the news lately about that journalist and his family i decided to take another look at my emg kits.

Added to each backpack, black sharpie, paper, duct tape, extra pair socks, shoelaces, 2 aol cds (signal mirror), flare gun, small binocs, whistle, cheap sunglasses, bug spray and surplus airman's strobe.

Extra's for the truck include reinstalling my old mocat cb, adding 2 moto personal walkies, light weight ax and curved machette. i am considering adding an extra battery for backup and a hand cranked radio/flashlight

depending on where we're traveling a pistol and carbine gets added.

this may sound like a lot, but it all tucks neatly in and around the spare tire in the back floor and in a rubbermaid container (to keepp things out of sight) with enough room left over for a 60# lab.

sounds paranoid maybe - but you never know what conditions you may run into.

Post by **kman** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 11:55 pm

Looks like a good list, Dekard. That reminds me of some of the stuff I was reading in this thread over at blackfive.net:

http://www.blackfive.net/main/2006/12/j ... is_a_.html

Check it out - there are a few good comments about what to pack in your emergency bags.

dermeister025 · Post by **dermeister025** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:40 am

I didn't notice a saw anywhere on your list, always a good thing to have and more effective than an axe in many cases - i carry both in my truck!

If space isn't a concern such as in the truck i like the bow saw/swede saw, i think mine's an 18 or 24 inch. If you want something for a backpack those pocket chainsaws like the one made by ultimate survival have also worked quite well for me.

When i go in the bush i normally bring a rifle or shotgun - a nice magnum pistol would be nice to carry around but up here they arrest you for that!

DangerousDave · Post by **DangerousDave** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 2:39 am

1990's Canadian/ Alaskan small aircraft kits are interesting. BCB British kits are excellent for minimal survival pack. I like the large American ejection seat backpack cold weather kits, myself.

Dekard · Post by **Dekard** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 4:39 am

dermeister025 wrote:I didn't notice a saw anywhere on your list, always a good thing to have and more effective than an axe in many cases - i carry both in my truck!

good point. i do have 1 of those chain saws in the tool kit. not a bad idea tho to add a small saw to the tool kit as well as a small hand axe.

i use the curved machette as a substitute because the curved part of the blade is good for shaving tinder while the point of the blade is good for cutting meat and fish. generally it's good for hacking small tree limbs and is more suited for tropical locales.

i just added 2 small mess kits to each pack. hard to boil water for purification or melt snow without a pot and a cold weather rated sleeping bag.

on a side note the skip was active tonite and i talked to someone in another state on the cb. if i were smart i'd swap the mocat out for a SSB unit and cb or better yet, get my ham license and add a mobile ham to the rig.

i read thru kman's link and i do have a port gps with spare batteries and a solar charger in the truck. however nothing is better than local maps and knowledge. i've always been 1 that tries to fuel up at 1/2 tank no matter how close i think i am to my destination and if i miss my exit in unfamiliar territitory, i always turn around at the first opportunity and backtrack.

Stef · Post by **Stef** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:04 am

Dekard wrote: on a side note the skip was active tonite and i talked to someone in another state on the cb. if i were smart i'd swap the mocat out for a SSB unit and cb or better yet, get my ham license and add a mobile ham to the rig.

yep: Yeasu/Vertex FT817 multimodes, multibands, compact, portable transceivers are perfect as an secondary/emergency set.
It's as big as a MRE

dermeister025 · Post by **dermeister025** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 1:23 pm

Yeah i've been meaning to get into HF - Canada dropped the code requirement for people who had their basic qualification before '02, but i just haven't had the time to sit down with the old man and learn all the ropes... that 817 is definitely a nice looking unit, couple guys here have them in their trucks with the ATAS antenna... might just have to pick one up eventually.

aquarius · Post by **aquarius** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:29 pm

I live in a highly urbanised area. In a 300 km circle you can not travel 10 km without seeing a living soul or a house. The biggest forest in The Netherlands is only about 50 km in diameter. A Dutch traveller's survival tools are a credit card, a car fueled up and sunglasses. At least everybody thought...
But in november 2005 there came so much snow, that all the roads -including the highways- were completely burried by it! Hundreds of kilometers of traffic jams resulted from it, with thousands of people staying overnight in their cars. Most were absolutely unprepaired and had to suffer a lot of cold.
Conclusion: Even in our sophisticated society things can go wrong. A little preparation, such as an MRE and a few blankets, can make the difference!

Oh, when I am on holiday abroad I always take with me 4 wood screws and a small box of floss (the yarn to clean your teeth). Especially the floss is very usefull, not only for flossing, but also for sewing, binding, secure closing of your lugage and so on. In combination with the screw you can fasten your musquito netting to the ceiling or walls in your cheap hotel room!! (Hey, who'd think of that?)

Greetings!

SoFloAuthor · Post by **SoFloAuthor** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 8:01 pm

GREAT THREAD HERE GUYS!
Last year when I wrote my preparedness guide, I found myself referring to my tropical location when dictating "my needs" in my car kit.

While I do carry a back pack/go-bag with shelf stable food, water, shelter, radio, flashlight, etc;..I also carry a set of mask, fins and a snorkel in case I should happen upon someone who has run off the road and into one of the many freshwater lakes and canals that line our main highways in So Florida. (I also carry a spring loaded device designed to break car window with a simple press against the glass)

In doing preparedness seminars across the U.S.A. I've maintained that people should carry the basic supplies and vary his/her preparedness depending on your locale.

If any of you are interested in sharing. I'd be interested in hearing some of the different ways you prepare yourselves in your region of the world. Please write me with your ideas!

Best wishes to all and have a safe and happy new year,

Matt Lawrence
www.mattlawrencebooks.com

Lifesaver · Post by **Lifesaver** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 2:55 pm

As landlocked as Colorado is, some of the things in my vehicle might seem odd to some. However, there are areas here where you cannot get a cell phone signal or hit a radio repeater. So, in my vehicle, I keep a couple marine aerial flares, along with a pair of the marine smoke "grenades". In my BOB, there are a couple Skyblazer pocket aerial flares, along with one of the military pen flare launchers (and flares). These are there "just in case". My wife and I do drives into some remote areas. At least with these, I'm fairly sure I'll be able to let someone know we are out there; and, in trouble.

Survival Kit

Survival Kit

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screws and floss