I carry a hi vis marker panel. Peg it out on the floor or tie it up in a tree and they can be seen from quite a distance.
Personal Survival Kit contents
- Thread starter Lush
- Start date
Who says? I have to disagree strongly on that one. I find flicking a lighter far, far easier than striking a match. And I've just tried it in several ways: deliberately simulating loss of grasp, coordination and other handicaps. If a lighter flame blows out, a quick flick and it's going again. Drop the match, break the match, match blows out ...oops! That's another one wasted and another one has to be procured from the box, etc. Nope, you can keep your matches, thanks very much. Give me a couple of Clippers or Bics, any day. My motor skills and I will take our chances.
Burnt Ash
I like matches and carry some waxed to proof them against water. I actually tested their waterproofness by leaving one in water with an untreated "control" match for five minutes. Granted, they aren't gonna be immersed for five minutes in water in reality, but it simulates the worst case scenario. Control match did pretty much nothing when struck on a rough surface, the head disintegrated. The other match had its' wax cover peeled off and struck on a rough surface, went straight up and burnt considerably well due to the remaining wax.
I haven't tested a lighter, can somebody try that please? A piezo and flint lighter to see which is best would be great, I just have a couple of spy capsule lighters, so they will definitely work as they are sealed!
I haven't tested a lighter, can somebody try that please? A piezo and flint lighter to see which is best would be great, I just have a couple of spy capsule lighters, so they will definitely work as they are sealed!
For those of you interested, here's a run down of what's been mentioned so far that would be in your mini PSK (not in pockets, etc) including a few from me;
Container - Waterproof belt pouch / Mess tin with lid / Dems coupling tin / tobacco tin / etc
Comms - Pencil & paper
Compass - Silva type 4 / Silva type 27 / Silva button compass
Cord / Tape - 3M Scotch "Super 33+" Electrical Tape
Cord / Tape - Parachute Cord (wrapped around container)
Details - Colour photocopy your passport and driving licence, laminated into the ID card size plastic laminating thingies
Details - Email account - Other phone numbers, scanned copies of documents, etc saved as email attachments
Details - Phone number of British consulate.
Fire - Candle / Tea light
Fire - Fresnel lens
Fire - Mini BIC lighter
Fire - Swedish Fire Steel
Fire - Vaseline Soaked Cotton Balls
Fire - Waxpaper
First Aid - 3 Butterfly wound closure strips
First Aid - Antibiotics in some form
First Aid - Aspirin / Paracetamol / Ibuprofen
First Aid - Bite cream / Antihistamine
First Aid - Blister kit
First Aid - Plasters
First Aid - Safety pins (2x large 6xmedium)
First Aid - Scalpel blades
First Aid - Space blanket - taped to the outside of the PSK container
First Aid - Steriwipes (alcohol ones since they make tinder).
First Aid - Sunscreen
First Aid - Surgical superglue (eg "New Skin")
First Aid - Tick Hook
First Aid - Tweezers
Food / Water - Condoms (un-lubricated type)
Food / Water - Puritabs (in a zip lock bag that holds a litre of water)
Food / Water - Small brew kit
Food / Water - Some form of sugar
Food / Water - Veg / beef stock, salt, pepper, dried chilli flakes
Hunting - Brass snare wire
Hunting - Fishing kit: assorted hooks, 6 swivels, 5 split shot, 20 lb. line, knot information sheet
Others - 2m Heavy duty aluminium foil
Others - 50ft Fine Stainless Steel Wire
Others - Local currency
Others - Mosquito headnet & mittens
Others - Signalling mirror (stuck to the inside of the lid)
Sewing - 1m heavy duty cotton thread
Sewing - Needles - 2x heavy duty awl, 2x large needles, 2x medium needles
Sewing - Shirt buttons
Shelter - Small Plastic Shelter
Tools - Knife sharpener
Tools - LED micro torch
Tools - Multitool / SAK
Tools - Whistle
Tools - Wire Saw
Tools - Spork
Chris
Container - Waterproof belt pouch / Mess tin with lid / Dems coupling tin / tobacco tin / etc
Comms - Pencil & paper
Compass - Silva type 4 / Silva type 27 / Silva button compass
Cord / Tape - 3M Scotch "Super 33+" Electrical Tape
Cord / Tape - Parachute Cord (wrapped around container)
Details - Colour photocopy your passport and driving licence, laminated into the ID card size plastic laminating thingies
Details - Email account - Other phone numbers, scanned copies of documents, etc saved as email attachments
Details - Phone number of British consulate.
Fire - Candle / Tea light
Fire - Fresnel lens
Fire - Mini BIC lighter
Fire - Swedish Fire Steel
Fire - Vaseline Soaked Cotton Balls
Fire - Waxpaper
First Aid - 3 Butterfly wound closure strips
First Aid - Antibiotics in some form
First Aid - Aspirin / Paracetamol / Ibuprofen
First Aid - Bite cream / Antihistamine
First Aid - Blister kit
First Aid - Plasters
First Aid - Safety pins (2x large 6xmedium)
First Aid - Scalpel blades
First Aid - Space blanket - taped to the outside of the PSK container
First Aid - Steriwipes (alcohol ones since they make tinder).
First Aid - Sunscreen
First Aid - Surgical superglue (eg "New Skin")
First Aid - Tick Hook
First Aid - Tweezers
Food / Water - Condoms (un-lubricated type)
Food / Water - Puritabs (in a zip lock bag that holds a litre of water)
Food / Water - Small brew kit
Food / Water - Some form of sugar
Food / Water - Veg / beef stock, salt, pepper, dried chilli flakes
Hunting - Brass snare wire
Hunting - Fishing kit: assorted hooks, 6 swivels, 5 split shot, 20 lb. line, knot information sheet
Others - 2m Heavy duty aluminium foil
Others - 50ft Fine Stainless Steel Wire
Others - Local currency
Others - Mosquito headnet & mittens
Others - Signalling mirror (stuck to the inside of the lid)
Sewing - 1m heavy duty cotton thread
Sewing - Needles - 2x heavy duty awl, 2x large needles, 2x medium needles
Sewing - Shirt buttons
Shelter - Small Plastic Shelter
Tools - Knife sharpener
Tools - LED micro torch
Tools - Multitool / SAK
Tools - Whistle
Tools - Wire Saw
Tools - Spork
Chris
Good list Chris. I think that's about "everything" one can need (you can alway's carry more of course!)
Peronally I like the idear of a mini PSK. Just over 100 grams, small and practical. I love to travel light. To be honest, I can even only JUST justify it's weight.
When it comes to stuff in the survival kit I like small and lightweight things. For the rest of my gear I like to have few, good, solid equipment (good Knife, Saw and an Axe in some cases.)
I agree with Minotaur. It's so easy to loose your backpack. It can happen while gathering firewood or natural material for your shelter. Add this to the fact that I [and I assume lot's of you
] like remote places. The rest is imaginable...In The Netherlands however, you don't need a Personal Survival Kit for sure! I personally come and "rescue" anyone that manages to get lost here
Thats interesting beacuse there was awhole article in one of the IT mags about how far an IT technician should go when repairing a PC, and that was the whole basis.
Just out of iterest do you know what the fault was supposed to have been originally?
....In The Netherlands however, you don't need a Personal Survival Kit for sure! I personally come and "rescue" anyone that manages to get lost here
Is this a truth or dare
But on the PSK topic... yeah it is easy to carry so / too much. Most people start with PSK's in one form or another, then progress their skills, adapt their PSK, progress and the cirkel goes round and round...
And of course you adjust it for the local situation... being in Thai jungle, Argentinian Andes, African desert or cities on a " normal" holiday... in Rome.. do as the Romans...
Language, like somebody mentioned, is often a problem then. I (somewhere) have a small list where I have printed (let's say) a 100 useful words (in english), then I try to write down the words in the local language (phonetically)... e.g Thai or Malay (which is rather easy imvhu). Makes getting contact with locals easier too... they see you respect them (by trying to learn at least a bit of their language) and EVERYBODY is curious what the heck you are writing down and the will come and help you.... with more or lesser useful words and frases
Backup stuff on the internet and (at least) at two other trustworthy people back home. This is what I did in case the sh!t hit the fan.
Anyway just my 1,5 cents... the other.5 cents will have to wait... works is calling....
Grtz Johan
Scots_Charles_River
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Language, like somebody mentioned, is often a problem then. I (somewhere) have a small list where I have printed (let's say) a 100 useful words (in english), then I try to write down the words in the local language (phonetically)... e.g Thai or Malay (which is rather easy imvhu). Makes getting contact with locals easier too... they see you respect them (by trying to learn at least a bit of their language) and EVERYBODY is curious what the heck you are writing down and the will come and help you.... with more or lesser useful words and frases
It was me. I believe SFtroops get a language sheet to show friendlies in neighbouring countries to the one they are operating in. I have the Intl. Accident form for this very reason, as I'm sure you all use when abroad. I have wee phrase books in my guide pack when abroad as that may help in Emergency. Typical was when I broke down in France on the Autoroute, you are not allowed to arrange your own recovery, the Gendarmes do. So luckily my Breakdown company, Green Flag, took care of things, in French, via my mobile.
Nick
I carry a fantastic little book called "Picture It". This contains photos of every concievable object in the world - you just point to the relavent picture and mime the rest!
True, great little books, but for some reason or another I preferred 1 sheet of paper and a pen/pencil... easier learning for me too with all different languages and writing things down... lighter too ;-)
Now my minds start thinking of words/objects that are useful that *might* not be in there
Grtz Johan
I was gonna make a sarcastic comment but decided to go and have a dig. My sarcastic comment would then have become un-sarcastic as it was what actually happened! You can't make this stuff up! I quote Wikipedia:
Wikipedia said:
Superglue to close wounds?, if you have a needle and strong thread, why not stitch it up, i have done this a few times and if the wound is bad enough to warrent it, then you dont feel it anyway.
Heh, I don't think he said what the problem was then, I surely would've remembered that.
He moved to Japan to teach English a few years back so dropped out of touch.
There is also a PSK thread on Bladeforums. With lots of info and pictures.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=493849
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=493849
You need to login/be a member to view that thread
Do you think it would be possible to copy/paste it please
Fascinating thread on PSKs, I put one together for a recent canoeing trip in Utah,apart from the actual kit, it did make me think more about the potential risks and the items and indeed training/knowledge required for my particular "adventure". I certainly felt more prepared having carried out a "risk assessment" of the likely dangers (I say this advisadly as you can not prepare for everything).
One item that I have been using for a while is a Zaptag - apart from the med details I carry scanned images of passport/ driving licence/insurance details in the protected bit.
No connection etc to company
http://www.zaptag.com/content/view/12/31/
Did somebody mention glue........
One item that I have been using for a while is a Zaptag - apart from the med details I carry scanned images of passport/ driving licence/insurance details in the protected bit.
No connection etc to company
http://www.zaptag.com/content/view/12/31/
Did somebody mention glue........
Knee jerk rant!
Don't EVER store your or anyone else's passport details or anything else of a sensitive nature in a web based email account.
Information security is my profession, and it's almost trivial to compromise that sort of traffic between your hotel web terminal or cyber-cafe.
You've got to presume that any kind of web traffic you transmit between your cybercafe and your webmail provider is publicly acessible. Having access to things like names addresses and passport details makes identity theft trivial, and it's a boom industry worldwide.
On the flip-side, its very good advice to keep a copy of your passport number with you at all times. Stitch it into a jacket unlabelled, or write it on the lining of a pocket with a sharpie, anything but store it online!
Unless you've got good knowledge of crypto or really trust the webserver you're keeping it on, just don't even risk it.
Rant over.
Don't EVER store your or anyone else's passport details or anything else of a sensitive nature in a web based email account.
Information security is my profession, and it's almost trivial to compromise that sort of traffic between your hotel web terminal or cyber-cafe.
You've got to presume that any kind of web traffic you transmit between your cybercafe and your webmail provider is publicly acessible. Having access to things like names addresses and passport details makes identity theft trivial, and it's a boom industry worldwide.
On the flip-side, its very good advice to keep a copy of your passport number with you at all times. Stitch it into a jacket unlabelled, or write it on the lining of a pocket with a sharpie, anything but store it online!
Unless you've got good knowledge of crypto or really trust the webserver you're keeping it on, just don't even risk it.
Rant over.
