Advice and Recommedations for Childs Survival Kit

skammer said:
A kit is near useless for children unless they are drilled on how to use it.

Contact the police near you and get them into the Hug a Tree program that teachs kids the basics.

Key points for kids,

Dont get lost in the first place.
Wear bright colors
Lights sticks are good and kid friendly. White is best.
"Orange" garbage bag. Poke a hole in the bottom middle for the face (no holes for arms! Pull bag down over you, sit down on insulated ground out of wind and weather, tuck knees up into the bag to conserve heat.
A photo of the family and a small toy for the emotional support. (the will to live ).
Make lots of noise. Be sure they have the lung capacity to blow that whsitle consistantly as they are designed for adults.
Keep it all simple. Heat retention, shelter and ground insulation, signalling and STAY PUT!!!!!
Some simple snacks. Eatmore bars are great as they wont melt.
Dont cloud them with too much info. Keep it short for them to remember and only the basics for young ones.

#1 issue's with lost kids to teach them.

MOM and DAD will NOT!! be mad at them if they get lost.

DO NOT HIDE FROM SEACHERS or STRANGERS!!!

I teach "hug a tree" often and search for kids way too often.

Skam
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Great post Skam.

Although not perfect, Willy Whitefeather's Outdoor Survival Handbook for Kids is pretty good info. More than anything, lessons are reinforced as they are read. I gave this to my twin nephews when they were eight and they thought it was cool, so hopefully some of it sunk in.

http://www.amazon.com/Willy-Whitefe...ef=sr_1_1/103-6757912-3434218?ie=UTF8&s=books
 
Quiet Bear said:
Great post Skam.

Although not perfect, Willy Whitefeather's Outdoor Survival Handbook for Kids is pretty good info. More than anything, lessons are reinforced as they are read. I gave this to my twin nephews when they were eight and they thought it was cool, so hopefully some of it sunk in.

http://www.amazon.com/Willy-Whitefe...ef=sr_1_1/103-6757912-3434218?ie=UTF8&s=books
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Found his website after reading your post (http://www.willywhitefeather.com/). Home page has a story of an 8 year old who was unexpectingly thrown into a survival situation (both parents killed in a car wreck) but survived because of a little preparation. Looks like a worthwhile book.
 
cucharadedragon said:
I always try to go into the woods prepared even on a short hike for anything that might come up. I also try to equip my kids in case they get separated or lost. My daughter, age 10, has her own backpack with water bladder, whistle, extra food, emergency blanket, etc. I just got my 4 year old a really cool Camelbak Mini Mule for Christmas with a few basics to start off his kit. One question that I have is would anyone here recommend a knife to add to the 10 year olds kit and if so what kind. I am still a little unsure about this at her age but you never know what might happen. Also, what are the main/basic things that you all would recommend for a “childs/kids” survival kit? I don’t know if they could utilize some of the things that I would include in my kit and weight is definitely a factor if I expect them to carry their packs and have them with them instead of having it strapped to mine when they tire of carrying it. I did allow my older child to take some waterproof matches last time we went hiking but put them up for safe keeping once we returned home. Please keep in mind that this needs to be geared for a youger childs kit not an adult.
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For a knife a basic sak should work...make sure you teach them knife safety and care
 
photo ID...light sticks...thank you.



On a more out there kind of level, would surveying tape make sense at all? to kind of mark thier trail and area?

Granted, ideally we want them to stay put, but....
 
I know i carry surveying tape along, If im more less exploring, i'll "tape up" my trail as I move.
 
If you trust your ten year old with a knife blade that has a piont the Victorinox Cadet might be a good choice. It is just a smaller version of the Soilder and has the same basic tools as a boy scout knife. Check out the Victorinox web site and look at all the models. Then do a search on ebay for the mod. that you want. I have gotten some great deals on used vics that were confiscated at airports and are now being sold on Ebay.
 
this is a great thread guys...my son's not old enough yet, but you guys have put a weath of hiking and camping w/ children experience here...thanks!
 
The thing about survey tape is it works 24/7. Hug a tree is a great concept but kids no matter what will get scared, exhausted/tired and sleep.
IMO string out the tape THEN hug your tree.
 
ON THE SUBJECT OF FLAGGING TAPE:

Gemplers makes over 40 different colors of flagging/loggers tape, (http://www.gemplers.com/groups/flagging-tape.aspx). Pick one that isn't used commonly in your area and pair it up with a mini Sharpie marker of contrasting color.

This way, individual flags can be numbered if the person is on the move (1, 2, 3...) or contain short messages (Heading east to river, etc.).

This is a good strategy for us big kids too.

(Yeah, I know the kids ar supposed to stay put, this is general info as much as it is kid specific.)
 
Maybe "snug" a tree? That is why I suggest having a second large trash bag. Kids - and adults - just don't like to sit in the damp forest floor. I tend to suggest that they find something to sit up against, like a log or a tree for a sense of security.

I tend to use survey tape to mark my camp gear (mine is orange, my son's is green, my daughter's is pink), but I'm not so sure survey tape is visible enough to be seen from a long distant. Maybe tying a third large orange trash bag above your perch could assist in being seen.

BTW, I ordered my bags from here: http://www.spectrumbagsonline.com/categories.php?cat=11
 
kenk said:
Maybe "snug" a tree? That is why I suggest having a second large trash bag. Kids - and adults - just don't like to sit in the damp forest floor. I tend to suggest that they find something to sit up against, like a log or a tree for a sense of security.

I tend to use survey tape to mark my camp gear (mine is orange, my son's is green, my daughter's is pink), but I'm not so sure survey tape is visible enough to be seen from a long distant. Maybe tying a third large orange trash bag above your perch could assist in being seen.

BTW, I ordered my bags from here: http://www.spectrumbagsonline.com/categories.php?cat=11
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Thanks for the link. I decided to get some bags after reading the posts here and reading through one of Skammer's links but didn't have a clue where to get them. From the info I've found those shiney aluminum looking blankets that I got from Wal-Mart aren't very highly recommended.
 
Although this will not be cheap, consider Garmin Rhino FRS radios for the whole family. Having each kid LoJacked while in the woods would be a godsend the moment one of them went missing. The kids can have the cheaper models (but it still is a radio and a GPS) and the adults can have the more advanced units with mapping.

A similar idea that will work in areas with cell coverage is the cell phones with integral GPS and you can see your friends/family members as "dots".

Having your family dog trained to find your kids ahead of time could resolve many scary situations before ever having to get SAR involved. "C'mon Champ! Let's find [child's name]!" This would be a fun game for your family and your dog to play.

-- FLIX
 
FLIX said:
Although this will not be cheap, consider Garmin Rhino FRS radios for the whole family. Having each kid LoJacked while in the woods would be a godsend the moment one of them went missing. The kids can have the cheaper models (but it still is a radio and a GPS) and the adults can have the more advanced units with mapping.

A similar idea that will work in areas with cell coverage is the cell phones with integral GPS and you can see your friends/family members as "dots".

Having your family dog trained to find your kids ahead of time could resolve many scary situations before ever having to get SAR involved. "C'mon Champ! Let's find [child's name]!" This would be a fun game for your family and your dog to play.

-- FLIX
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Do these radios have some sort of locater or GPS tracking on them?
 
Yes, they have a built-in GPS which shows each radio in relation to the others. Look here.

Kidlets can be taught how to conserve batteries, how to change them, and how to talk clearly on the radio. They can also be taught how to find clear enough areas to get a GPS signal.

In respect to some of the more "grown up" components of a survival kit, those items can be added as the child learns the associated skills and shows the necessary maturity.

-- FLIX
 
This is a great thread people.!

The danger of equiping children is overloading them with info and gear.

A 6 year old has no business hauling a 3lb fanny pack around in the woods full of gear.

It should weigh a lb or less up till the age of 8 -12. After that some real training in the form of fun should happen. Then the child will ask for more gear and if your lucky will want to practice with it.

Always make it fun and remember their attention span is %95 less than adults so make it quick, fun and often.

Flagging tape is ok but weighs a lot IMHO. I wouldn't include it in a small kids kit personally.

I like light sticks and the kids think they are fun. Remember white is the most visable at distance. A small LED unit on the zipper would be fine in addition. Remember that light sticks have an expiry date ;).

One of the most important pieces of kit a kid should carry is the toy family photo combo as they will cling to it like life itself. YOu have to think like a child.

Simple effective and lightweight. They need to get used to carrying it while outside at all times while out of their known area. Kids with epi pens do it all the time this is no different.

Of course I am preaching to the choir on this forum haha.

Skam
 
FLIX said:
Although this will not be cheap, consider Garmin Rhino FRS radios for the whole family. Having each kid LoJacked while in the woods would be a godsend the moment one of them went missing. The kids can have the cheaper models (but it still is a radio and a GPS) and the adults can have the more advanced units with mapping.

A similar idea that will work in areas with cell coverage is the cell phones with integral GPS and you can see your friends/family members as "dots".

Having your family dog trained to find your kids ahead of time could resolve many scary situations before ever having to get SAR involved. "C'mon Champ! Let's find [child's name]!" This would be a fun game for your family and your dog to play.

-- FLIX
Click to expand...

Never make the mistake of not calling in SAR/Police ASAP as the stats for missing children for evey minute missing is VERY sobering.:eek:

Very often it is the parents arrogance and the delayed call for help that ultimately seals their childs fate in many cases.

I would run the area for 15 minutes with some help and check likely spots and question people then I would be on the horn for help.

It takes 1-2 hrs for help to come and set up and get into the woods looking in most cases. You do not want to delay it.

Skam
 
150 ft of flag tape might weight 2 oz. tops.
Ground searchers might not see it from a great distance ( unless it's the aluminum shiny type) but they will run into it bump into it then follow it to the victim.
 
skammer said:
A 6 year old has no business hauling a 3lb fanny pack around in the woods full of gear.
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I agree 100%... less is more (it increases the chance of being carried). These items don't weight much and will be helpful:
A ID card
2-3 large bright orange trash bags
loud whistle on breakaway lanyard
pocket LED light
bright bandanna

My favorite sources:
Trash bags - http://www.spectrumbagsonline.com/categories.php?cat=11
Whistles - orange Fox40 Howler w/ breakaway lanyard from http://www.countycomm.com
Pocket LED - the Photons are the best. I like the little $1 orange LED lights from countycomm.com, though the switch may be too hard for a young child to use
Bandanna - http://www.bandanas.net/index.htm

I'm not that big a fan of light sticks since they can't be turned off, will only last so long, and don't really put out that much light anyway. A better bet is to find an LED light that can be turned on when needed and then turned off to save batteries.

By the way, anyone leaving a trail of survey tape will need to go back and pick it up. Not doing so is called littering.
 
For a light check out the 9volt led light @ edcdepot.com. They work like 20 hrs on high and have a strobe mode also. Right now they are buy 1 get 1. They are bigger than you think, but they work well. Something like that a kid could leave on all night, and it would still be working fine in the morning. As far as a kid having a knife, I think that they should be capable with it. You don't want a lost kid bleeding badly in the middle of nowhere. If you do decide on a knife, that same site has the Opinel #6. It is small, light, and has a blade that locks closed and open.
 
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