What is in a survival kit?

Answer 1

A survival kit depends on what you are trying to survive. What follows is a basic list of inexpensive items that will work for most situations/scenarioes.

Basic PERKContents :

Water :

1-gallon water in containers separate from PERK for easy rotation

2 or 3 durable water containers (canteens, water bladders) for use in rough conditions

6 bottles Polar Pur Iodine tablets

1 Mechanical water filter w/ spare filter

Food (min 2,000 cals./day x 3 days)

(NOTE : There are other food options, this is a basic, cheap example)

1 - 1qt Nalgene container with Minute Rice

1 - 1qt Nalgene container with Acine di Pepe Pasta

1 - 1qt Nalgene container with Idaho REAL Mashed Potatoes (this exact

brand name)

1 - bag or bottle with various flavorings (Beef, Chicken, soup

flavorings, etc.).

Cooking Utensils :

1 - Stainless steel cup or military canteen cup (camper's pot will suffice)

1 - Stainless spoon

1 - Stainless fork

1 - Small cleaning kit (Brillo pad, small sponge, tiny bottle of dish soap)

1 - Esbit Stove or "Tommy Cooker" with spare solid fuel tabs/blocks

(figure 12)

Shelter :

1 - Heavy Duty Space Blanket (not the flimsy one)

2 - Heavy Duty Military Ponchos

4 - Tent pegs appropriate for your environment (spikes if good, or rocky

soil, stakes or "flats" if sandy)

4 - 18-24" Bungee cords

1 - Wool Blanket (no less than 80% wool, preferably oversized)

1 - Hammock

1 - Sleeping Bag appropriate for climate

Clothing :

(Note : 1 set should be inside PERK, 2nd should be in small bag outside

PERK)

2 - Complete sets of DURABLE clothing appropriate for climate.

* Each set consists of :

1- Pair Pants

1- Long Sleeve Shirt

1- T-shirt

1- Pr. Sliding shorts

4- Pr. Socks

1- Pr good quality boots.

1- Pr. Quality Leather Gloves

1- Hat

1- Pr. Inexpensive, UV-tinted Safety Glasses

Hygiene :

1 - Hand-sized towel

1 - Washcloth

2 - Bars, Unscented soap (Do NOT use scented)

For those of you with Cold Weather concerns, add in :

1 - Cold Weather Jacket

1 - Cold Weather Pants

2 - Pr. Cold Weather Gloves

1 - Pr. Cold Weather Boots

1 - Cold Weather Hat (Wool cap, or equivalent)

Tools :

1 - Cold Steel "Spetsnaz" shovel

1 - Air Force Survival Knife (fixed blade) w/sheath and sharpening tool.

1 - Leatherman's Tool (Preferably the Supertool or Wave)

Hygiene Kit

2 - Rolls Toilet paper (place each in it's own slide-lock bag)

4 - Safety Razors

2 - Bars Shaving Soap

1 - Shaving Brush

1 - Container, Gold Bond Foot Powder

1 - Medium tube Toothpaste

1 - Good Quality toothbrush

2 - Rolls Floss

1 - Plastic comb

1 - Pr. Tweezers

1 - Bottle Sunblock

2 - Bottles Bug repellent

? - Sanitary napkins/tampons for females

First Aid Kit

2 - Triangular Bandages

1 - Box Assorted Bandaids (Preferably waterproof and flexible)

8 - 4" x 4" Gauze Pads

1 - Magnifying Glass (A plastic Fresnel Lens is perfect)

10 - Safety Pins

1 - Roll of Moleskin

1 - Bottle Tylenol (50 count)

1 - Bottle Multi-Vitamins (50 Count)

1 - Thermometer

2 - 2" x 6' Ace Bandages

2 - Rolls, Surgical Tape

8 - Sutures, General Purpose

1 - Tube, Triple Antibiotic cream

1 - Bottle, Pepto-Bismol Tablets

1 - SAM Splint

1 - Lip Balm

3 - Pr, Latex Gloves

1 - Pr. EMT Shears

10 - Butterfly Closures

5 - Ammonia Inhalants

10 - Sudafed (or equivalent)

10 - Cough Suppressant

10 - Tablets, Anti-Diarrheal

1 - Tablets, Laxative

Misc.

1 - MiniMag Flashlight (If you can find a red lens cover, get it)

100' - 550 cord

1 - Gerber StrikeForce fire starter

100 - Waterproof matches (Make your own by dipping the heads of

strike-anywhere matches in wax)

1 - 8-hour candle

1 - Set of maps of your area (Go to camping store and buy MapSaf to

waterproof them (or use Thompsons Water Seal))

1 - Luminous dial Compass

1 - Sewing Kit, (spare buttons, heavy duty needles and thread, patching

material)

1 - Fishing Kit in 35mm film cannister (monofilament line, hooks, small

sinkers, flies, spoons/spinners)

1 - Tube Sunblock

2 - Bottles Bug repellant (use only manual pump-type, not pressurized)

1 - Wallet with extra Identification

5 - Large Trashbags, Industrial-grade (the heaviest-duty you can find).

2 - Rolls, Quarters

$100 in cash, small bills preferred.

All of this goes into an appropriately-sized internal frame backpack. The internal frame pack allows you to rest the kit comfortably on your back, keeping both hands free. It pulls the equipment close to your back and reduces the possibility of the load shifting while you are moving around . . .perhaps while attempting to negotiate dangerous rubble.

Finally, you should sit down and make up a small notebook with all the names, addresses and telephone numbers (home, work, cellphone, fax, etc.) of everyone you know both in, and out of, your area. You should include EVERYONE, including your bank manager, insurance agent, the toll-free number for your water, electricity, phone, and all other services.

Since the vast majority of disasters that befall us allow us to return to our homes at some point without a total collapse of civilization, you'll also want to have notarized copies of important documents kept in a rugged, waterproof pouch.