In Building
a Survival Kit - Part Six, a mini-tool and a small knife were added to our
survival kit. This gave us some basic tools to complete a number of different
tasks that could make a difference in our ability to survive during a crisis. These
items gave us the ability to accomplish small tasks that may have been
impossible to achieve using only our hands. As we move towards our goal of building
a quality survival kit, it may need to be modified to match your skill levels
and goals.
The next gear item that will
be added to our survival kit is a few band-aids. These will be useful for small
cuts or scrapes only. More serious injuries will require more drastic measures
to insure your survival. Hopefully, a blister from walking will be the worst
that happens. Remember, if you do have to use a band-aid, save the paper
wrapper. It makes excellent tinder if you need to start a fire. This gear item
and the next one add $ 1.00 to the cost and add no additional weight to our
survival kit.
The other gear item for
first aid that will be added to our survival kit is a couple of alcohol wipes.
The risk of infection can be minimized if a wound is properly cleaned.
Remember, that even a small injury can cause serious and life-threatening
problems if it becomes infected. Here too, you will want to save your used
alcohol wipes. They also make excellent tinder for starting a fire. Both items
were put in a small zip-lock bag and placed in the bottom of our survival kit.
In a survival situation, you
will need to remember that a small survival kit isn’t designed to replace a
good first aid kit. The survival kit’s purpose is to help you survive the
little things that can make your life miserable while you are waiting for help,
rescue or are in the process of finding your way back. Each situation will be
different and having a few basic items may mean the difference in your
survival.
Here is a current summary of
the contents of our survival kit:
Gear Item Cost Weight
Container
$5.00 5 oz.
Mirror
$3.00 1
oz.
Whistle
$2.00 1
oz.
LED Flashlight $1.00 1 oz.
Sewing Kit $1.00 1 oz.
Cordage $1.00 1 oz.
Mini Bic Lighter $ .50 1 oz.
Magnesium Firestarter $4.50 2 oz.
Dust Mask $1.50 0 oz.
Mini-Tool $5.50 2 oz
Knife
$12.00 1
oz
First Aid Items $1.00 0 oz
_____ ______
Totals $38.00 17 oz.
Don’t forget to leave a
comment. Thanks.
Got DIY Survival
Kit ?
Staying above the water
line!
Riverwalker
Posts
17 comments:
I'd add a pair of good tweezers if you live in part of country where spined plants are - that is a very common occurance and a pair of fine tip tweezers helps remove them in field before they break off and have to 'fester off'. 8^)
If you have debris in cut, a sandwich bag filled with water and corner of bag punctured can irrigate the would. Better to have a big syringe of boiled, sterilized water if its really serious.
For the most part, injuries in the outdoors are scrapes, cuts (thorny forest here) and burns (cooking over fires). If its just a fingertip burn, rubbing your ear to get wax coating and seal from air is a quick fix. Some Neosporin / triple anti-biotic might be useful.
Another kind of burn - SUNBURN! I know of no small sunburn kit sized container of sunblock though. Not sure if this fits 1st aid - more of a preventative.
Keep 'em coming Riverwalker, this is a great series.
To: anonymous 12:16
The small mini-tool actually has a pair of tweezers included on the tool.
The band-aids and alcohol wipes were placed in a small plastic bag.
I think a small packet of antibiotic cream (single use) might also fit in the kit.
Best cure for sunburn is shade.lol
Thanks anon.
RW
To; Jack
As I stated earlier, great list.
Thanks jack.
RW
In the full kit picture, what's the item near the top left corner where the fire starter and cordage meet? It's kind of round looking with something dark colored under it.
I'm thinking about putting some of these together and give as Christmas gifts.
Thanks for all you do.
Perhaps some over the counter pain medication and benedral.
You might want to include some mole skin and several wound closure strips.
mdknighthawk
Richard
Riverwalker,
This is starting to look alot like my little hikeing/day trip kit ;)
I always carry a small bottle of 2%iodine,for water purification and scraches.Also would change out the sandwich bag for a heavy duty freeze bag,they make a great way to carry water.All my kits have at least 2 days suppy of imodium,you can die from diarrhea alot faster than most people know.
For those interested in the idea of adding some sunblock, you can sometimes find "travel sized" containers of it ranging from 1-3oz. Obviously a 1oz. container would be ideal when considering size/weight. These typically run $1.50-2.00 per ounce.
To: Larry P
The item is a small ceramic turtle.
I was wondering if anyone was paying attention to the pics and obviously you were.
Congratulations on your powers of observation.
RW
To: mdnighthawk
Richard...
it's starting to sound more like a first aid kit.
RW
To: The Ferret
The big freezer bag is a good idea...folds up mice and flat and doesn't weigh much.
Thanks.
RW
To: Jenna Bird
Might be easier just put on the sunblock before you start out...
RW
You can make small portion sizes of sun block or ointment using a straw and a hot knife to melt the ends. Kinda like mini honey sticks of what you need. :)
To: Addie
Thanks for the tip.
RW
I appreciate the comments left after your blogs! I enjoy hearing everyone's thoughts...helps me solidify my own.
This seems like a great general purpose kit...
Really enjoying your blog...amazing. I have some compact tampons in my survival kit and not just because I am a girl. I know guys get squeamish thinking about such things, but they are extremely effective in controlling severe bleeding and you can also use them to filter water in a pinch. The stings can be used in many other ways as well. They really are an ideal survival tool.
I just saw a small packable tube of sunblock 50 at...wally world check out I think. Thought the size was right for a small kit, but didn't grab it at that time. Just ready to get out of there!
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