Survival Essentials

Something lightweight and easy to carry on person.

Wikipedia has a comprehensive list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival_ki t

But what do you think would be essential?

a pocket knife and matches are a lighter

2008-11-14 08:56:46 by ?

Adventure Medical Kits#39; Be Safe Tips: Learn about the tools you need to pack to survive in the wilderness from world renowned high altitude ...

im doing a survival course as part of my degree and dont really know what to get, ive got the basics like repair tape, filters for water, knife, flint, decent shoes, compass and more waterproofs than you can shake a stick at but is there anything blatently obvious im missing? the tent, sleeping bag and food are all provided- well i cath my own food but all the same
any helpfull tips would be apreciated!
cheers!
oh yeah first aid kit- duh?

I did two survival weekends when I was in High School. One of the most helpful things I found was safety pins. You can use them to pin clothing together, as a zipper pull, a fishing hook (bend the sharp end to form a hook and then cut off the clasp), use several to make a light weight chain, poke holes in things, etc.

Parachute cord, some times called 550 cord, is helpful too. You can use it to make shelters (string between two trees and then throw plastic over it), as a clothes line, strip the outter casing and use the inner strings for fishing line, lash poles together, make boot laces, etc.

A pen or pencil and a note pad are good.

A small sewing kit is great for mending small holes in clothing or for emergency sutures.

A pair of leather work gloves. The obvious use is for work, but they can also be used as pot holders to remove hot pots and pans from the fire.

2008-01-30 15:05:29 by paul simon

Price: $17.95

I wonder when the resources we have now will no longer be available for harvest? Or will the populations increase outstrip our ability to harvest resources?

in the year 2525, despite what Albert Gore, Ralph Nader and company say

2006-06-28 13:37:22 by R M

Price: $60.00 $28.00

Fire Lite striker emits a powerful shower of sparks.
10 lumen LED light provides powerful task lighting.
Rescue Flash Signal Mirror flips open from top lid and features 20 mile signal power.

Food and water aside, what are the MOST essential things for surviving in the woods.

Probably the most important thing would be someway to start a fire. There are ways to tear apart a flashlight and use the batteries and bulb to start a fire. I've seen the boy scouts carrying a 9v battery with some steel wool. They just short the battery with the steel wool to create a glowing mass of the steel wool. I just carry a Swiss fire starter. It looks like a key on a small lanyard with a rod. You just strike the rod with the key and many sparks fly off it that are very hot.
If you have a survival kit be sure to put a space blanket or 2 in it along with some water purification tablets, fish hooks and line,mirror to signal with, a knife of course,first aid items,compass,cord or light rope and a survival booklet.

2009-10-20 18:16:19 by Dillon in AZ

Looking to get my checklist (and first aid basics) right.

Your first aid checklist -
1 packet of 50 individually wrapped adhesive dressings
4 sterile eye pads
4 sterile coverings for serious wounds
4 triangular bandages
8 small sterile unmedicated wound dressings
4 medium sterile unmedicated wound dressings
4 large sterile unmedicated wound dressings
1 roll adhesive tape
2 crepe bandages
2 elastic bandages
12 safety pins
1 pair scissors
1 pair disposable gloves
1 resuscitation mask
1 pair tweezers
First aid booklet

2008-08-29 06:04:16 by Hello