Which survival kit item has saved most lives?

[Laurentius]

I don't expect there are any reliable statistics on this so it's going to be a bit of a free for all.

I do wonder what items have overall proved the most useful, is it a mora style knife, a bivi bag, a mylar space blanket, water purification tablets, water filter, box of matches, firesteel, mobile phone, plb, whatever?

There can't be any definitive answer, but it would be interesting to have some opinions, I am sure of this much, it is not snare wire or a fishing kit.

 

[santaman2000]

Signal flares.

 

[Andy BB]

Mobile phone

 

[Mesquite]

The radio.

 

[Clouston98]

Water? Certainly up there .

 

[ozzy1977]

Matches or a lighter

 

[Andy W]

Water and a bit of common sense

 

[mountainm]

Common sense.

 

[wingstoo]

Well quite probably it will be "acquired knowledge" but that isn't a "Survival kit ITEM"

So I will say "Survival Manual"

 

[SJStuart]

Historically, knowledge and understanding of the immediate environment has saved the most lives.
In modern times, mobile phones.

 

[tsitenha]

long handle hatchet

 

[sandbender]

Proper clothing and common sense.

 

[mountainm]

First aid kit, map, compass....

I don't hold much truck for survival kits. You carry the gear you need.

 

[spiritwalker]

lifejacket

 

[presterjohn]

I would suggest that the plastic survival bag has been the deciding factor in keeping most people alive in cold conditions at least.

 

[Will_]

Mobile phone

+1 for mobile phone. (Even though I don't like them!)

 

[British Red]

Knowing the fathers around here, I suspect the item that has saved the most lives is the condom

 

[mountainm]

Knowing the fathers around here, I suspect the item that has saved the most lives is the condom

Certainly prevented the most....

 

[santaman2000]

Common sense.

But isn't that an oxymoron? I mean, if you have common sense, you're not likely to get into a survival situation in the first place.

 

[mountainm]

But isn't that an oxymoron? I mean, if you have common sense, you're not likely to get into a survival situation in the first place.

Accidents happen. There are other types of morons out there beside oxymorons, you can't guard against them.