your basic survival kit

[bacon]

One thing I have noticed reading this thread is.
It looks like some are getting a survival kit and a first aid kit confused.
They way I look at it is my survival kit is just for emergencys and does not get used or robbed from until the *&^% hits the fan. My first aid kit gets used as part of my hiking, Camping or hunting trips. As a tool just to help out where needed.
Tim

[John Nail]

The only thing I would add is toothache drops and some snare wire.

[HNTN4ELK]

Let's see:
Small Sierra cup
two tea candles w/ thick cotton wicks
half dozen cotton twine soaked w/ wax
matches-wax coated
two bic lighters
magnesium fire starter
film canister of gun powder for fire starter
silva compass
water purefication tablets-halazone
half roll electrical tape
gerber multi tool
four bouillion cubes
four tea bags
50 feet of para cord
duct tape
extra flashlight batteries
whistle
aspirin
Imodium
dental floss
map of area
roll of TP
All of this fits in a small Crown Royal bag.

Two space blankets.
This always goes with me.

I mainly hunt alone, and feel just fine doing it.
Leave a note where you are going, and when you will be back. My wife expects me to be up to a day late, beyond that she knows that I may need help. If your plan changes, notify home...

There are many other things I may take for a particular hunt, but the list above is the basic survival kit.

You can stay out a long time with a fire.....

Garo

[Snakeeater]

For those who like to keep it small, keep in mind that this is a survival kit and you don't need to have stuff for every situation. If you want to KISS and small think about what you need for the basics of food, water, shelter, signalling, and fire; then carry them all on your person. This is what I carry:

Food:
- some food; snickers bar(s), whatever you like
- aluminum foil for something to cook in or drink from

Water:
- water purification straw or tablets
- 2x each, zip lock bags

Shelter:
- ORANGE space blanket for shelter- duct tape wrapped as described earlier
- 2x leaf size trash bags folded up; you can cut them open and tape with the duct tape into a tarp for a shelter, or use them as a sleeping bag, or any number of other purposes

Signalling:
- see the ORANGE space blanket
- my compass has a mirror on it
- aluminum foil from the FOOD list works too as does the flashlight from TOOLS

Fire:
- waterproof matches and firestarter; your choice for the firestarters
- magnesium match

Tools:
- sharp knife; I have a swiss army knife that is my mobile toolkit
- compass in my kit and at least one on my body
- map of where I am
- flashlight of some size
- first aid kit with sanitary napkins, big gauze pads, bandaids


This will all fit into the two zip lock bags mentioned under water and they will each fit nicely into a cargo pocket in your hunting pants. This way you have shelter for the night, food to keep up your spirits, and the tools to make it all work.

You will notice that I didn't mention butane lighters because they won't work as the temperature approaches freezing. The fumes burn, not the liquid, so if its so cold you can't get fumes then you can't get flame either.

[Charlie Lamb]

Larry... your PM box is full.

[Magyar]

Boy alot of good ideas out there.  I include multiple ways to start a fire.  Waterproof matches in a waterproof container.  Mag match and TP.  Scratch a little magnesium on the TP and strike, works great.  Fine steel wool (0000) and 9 volt batery.  Can short the battery with the steel wool and ignite TP.

One of the best methods for starting a fire when the kindling is wet is carbide for the old style miners lamps.  When water is placed on the carbide it gives off acetylene gas.  The more water the more gas.

Just my thoughts.

[baretraks]

Condoms?......
Same principle as a handgun.
Its better to have it and not need it....than to need it and not have one!!!
Seriously though, ever filled one of those suckers with water? They'll hold about a gallon and a half without bursting...portable canteens

[longstick]

Originally posted by robtattoo:
Small mirror & a whistle. Don't forget, it ain't survival until you're found!

I never thought of that!! on my list now though

[STOBBER]

Someone mentioned blood clotting agent......plain old corn starch will do the trick just fine.
We recently started seeing it on ambulances and swat medics in a very expensive sterilized form....but it's just plain corn starch.

[Marshrat]

Ok here is a list of the day pack I carry.
 small whit stone
 bottle of bullion cubes (beef flavor)
 4 tea bags ( will stop all but the worst blooding)
 Tackle Box ( a 35mm film cannister with hooks, weights, small cork bobbers,12 flies adam pattern all and line wrapped around outside and end clipped under cap)
 Military canteen cup
 canteen
 first aid kit
 1/4 pound spool of artafical sinew
 Duct tape wrapped around a mini knife steel
 bottle of purification tablets
 Military compass
 Flint, steel and char cloth
 2 bic lighters
 5 tea light candles
 mini mag lite and spare batteries
 military poncho and liner ( can make a good shelter)
 Small bag of minute rice
 small bag of beef jerky
 a knife I made from a lawn mower blade
 50' parachute cord
 spare socks
 rag wool gloves
 and some odds and ends
 The trick is take only your gear go out and spend 3 days in the woods with only that and see if you can survive of not add to it if so take away what is not needed.

[Straightedgesammy]

A great thing I found to start fires with last year, was that anti-bacterial handwash that all our wives have in their purse.  I think that stuff is like 50 to 70% alcohol depending on what kind it is.  And it sticks to anything and burns forever.  I suggest first trying it in lowlight conditions, as it is sometimes hard to see the flame.  Can start very wet fuel with it though.

[whtshdwwz]

Condoms can be used to carry water in the same way you would use a water bladder.  I learned this from my favorite uncle....Uncle Sam.

[chinook907]

I like to carry bug dope (repellent) and matches for firestarter.  The bug dope burns well and of course does double duty keeping the mosquitoes off.  Think about that as you put it on your skin.

[styckbow]

Years ago while I was a scout leader I was teaching the boys about survival kits and what went into them and how to use what was in them I found a commercail suvival kit the same size as a sardine can that contains a compass 2 water purification tablets 2 asa tablets 2 blocks firestarter 3 meters cord wire waterproof matches 31 meters fishing line boulion soup packet 1 tea bag 1  sugar pkt 1 match book 2 swap pkts a razor blade 3 twist ties duct tape a mirror a zip lock 2 wound dressings 2 nails 2 safety pins 2 fish hooks 1 signal whistle 1 pc gum 1sewing needle and a pice of energy candy. This little package cost me about $5 and although it is a one time use deal(it is sealed exactly like a can of sardines) it is small enough to fit in a pocket of my coat or even pants pocket with that my wits and what I normally carry in my pockets (one medium lockblade one small stockman poctknife a zippo lighter and a watch with a compass on it) I feel well prepared for pretty much any thing I may run into in my forays into the Canadian wilds. I must say though that I always dress according to what the weather could be and I always wear a bandana on my neck (keeps my neck warm and can double as a bandage, a sling or even a touniqiet)

[Dirty Bill]

Marshrat,if you don't survive the 3 days,you won't be adding anything....   :eek:    

[Dirty Bill]

Originally posted by PurpleCajun:
Russ, let me tell ya.. The SAR guys love a man with a signal device.  I was on a search once where we used cell phone screens (the new super bright color ones) to communicate locations with the subjects.  There was no reception out there, but the screens still turned on.

Whistles are in three different places in my pack.. one in the survival pouch, one on my neck, and one on my pack itself.  Searchers use them to locate each other.. as well as make a noise that carries for the subject to hear... They certainly are audible much further than a yell.. especially a yell coming from a man who's weak from injuries.

In any case... multiple signal devices of any sort, for various times of day are a good thing.

Excelent post....      

[Dirty Bill]

Originally posted by tomh:
how about some basic training in woods first aid. types of bleeding and how to stop it. splinting broken bones, immobilizing sprains etc.
 

I am certified as a wilderness first responder,a good course,it was worth the time and money.

I need to get recertified now though. My card is done.All that really does is cya in case somebody decides to sue you for something.