Help me potentially save a life with your bug out bag (B.O.B) knowledge.

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
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Okay people of WSS - I am giving a presentation on how to build a bug out bag for your vehicle in April at my college. I want to teach the general public how to build a small survival kit for their vehicle and how to use it.

Here are my parameters:

I would like this kit to fit inside of a Fanny Pack (it is easy for them to buy - and they would be more likely to wear it when they possibly need it).

I would also like this kit to include the type of material that a person with VERY little knowledge could use with a few minutes practice.

Because this is Houston and most people do not travel that far - I want something that will help them survive for 72 hours.

I am going to use Cody Lundin's book as a basis for this kit:

Two Freezer Bags
Iodine in plastic bottle 2%
Non Lubricated Condom.
Space Blanket
Dental Floss
Surveyors Tape
Survival Whistle
Strike Anywhere Matches in a Plastic Safe.
Butane Lighter
Doans Magnesium and Ferro Block
PJ soaked Cotton Balls in Film Case.
Small Flashlight with extra AA batteries.
SAK or Mora Knife
Collapsible Canteen. 1 to 2 gallons.
Trash Bags (55 Gallon) 2 of them.
Heavy Duty Space Blanket.
Fleece Stocking Cap.
Cotton Bandanna
100 Feet of Paracord.
Signal Mirror
Small First Aid kit.
Small Compass
Two Candy Bars.


Here is what I want from you - can you think of anything else I might need to add to this for the average untrained user?

TF
 
Maybe a small fishing kit or snare wire? Some laminated cards with basic signals, and firestarting methods.
 
Make sure there is some sort of first aid instructional in the FAK. If not, add a small book on basic first aid.

A couple pair of non-latex surgical type gloves.

A small AM/FM radio that runs on batteries for keeping up with situations in the event of a black-out, tornado, ar anything else that might cause wide spread power outages.

Tylenol, Imodium, Motrin, Benadryl.
 
Is the bag designed for use when a car breaks down on the side of the highway until help arrives or for wilderness type survival?

I would suggest some sort of basic manual since we are talking about a general kit for the inexperienced.

SDS
 
I agree on the Manual - Suggestions for these would be awesome - something small and easy to use.

SDS,

This is for when the car breaks down -and no one is coming! I am assuming there will be a wilderness aspect to it as well - because if you are out that far - you are likely out in the boonies.

I also want it to double in case they do some Geo Caching and they get lost - a portable bag that would be a carry all - but stay in their car - so they would be more inclined to use it.

TF
 
Talfuchre said:
Okay people of WSS - I am giving a presentation on how to build a bug out bag for your vehicle in April at my college. I want to teach the general public how to build a small survival kit for their vehicle and how to use it.

Here are my parameters:

I would like this kit to fit inside of a Fanny Pack (it is easy for them to buy - and they would be more likely to wear it when they possibly need it).

I would also like this kit to include the type of material that a person with VERY little knowledge could use with a few minutes practice.

Because this is Houston and most people do not travel that far - I want something that will help them survive for 72 hours.

I am going to use Cody Lundin's book as a basis for this kit:

Two Freezer Bags
Iodine in plastic bottle 2%
Non Lubricated Condom.
Space Blanket
Dental Floss
Surveyors Tape
Survival Whistle
Strike Anywhere Matches in a Plastic Safe.
Butane Lighter
Doans Magnesium and Ferro Block
PJ soaked Cotton Balls in Film Case.
Small Flashlight with extra AA batteries.
SAK or Mora Knife
Collapsible Canteen. 1 to 2 gallons.
Trash Bags (55 Gallon) 2 of them.
Heavy Duty Space Blanket.
Fleece Stocking Cap.
Cotton Bandanna
100 Feet of Paracord.
Signal Mirror
Small First Aid kit.
Small Compass
Two Candy Bars.


Here is what I want from you - can you think of anything else I might need to add to this for the average untrained user?

TF
Click to expand...
As was mentioned in this thread already, add Pepto, Immodium, and Benadryl to the first aid kit. I also recommend a roll of 1" adhesive tape and a 2" ace bandage.

Finally, throw in one of these Fenix E01 lights for 10+ hours of non-dimming 5-6 lumen light (about the same level as a mini-mag with FRESH batteries). I linked to the "gold" finish, because it's high visibility.
 
Your college sounds great, especially compared to mine since right now I am trying to make it through finals week.

Anyway, I know its not quite what your looking for, but I would suggest adding some tools to fix a car. Jumper cables, anti-freeze, wrenches, that sort of thing.
 
If this is for urban situations... I like to include some cash and some quarters.
 
for inexperienced users, i would put the main priorities in this order:
signalling (getting found is priority #1)
shelter (something that is easy for anyone to setup/use-with no experience or practice)
fire (foolproof, so that even if you are used to using newspaper and firelighting sticks you can get a fire going outside)
water (something simple and easy to use-again should be good to go regardless of experience level)
food (more for psychological reasons for a 72 hr kit, but some higher calorie things could be good. full meal replacement bars are a good idea)

it looks like you have a pretty good list going there, which pretty much agrees with my list of priorities.

i would also suggest packing things in order of importance. attach whistles to the outside of the bag with a lanyard, put shelter on the top to make it easy to pull it out and wrap up quickly, etc.
 
andrew7978 said:
Your college sounds great, especially compared to mine since right now I am trying to make it through finals week.

Anyway, I know its not quite what your looking for, but I would suggest adding some tools to fix a car. Jumper cables, anti-freeze, wrenches, that sort of thing.
Click to expand...

Andrew,

I am a professor there - WE have the obligation to make it cool. But as a member of the school - you can do one of these any time. Check out the Life Long Learning sections of your school.

TF
 
+1 on the radio and +1 on some cash

I walked home during the 2003 East Coast blackout and the one thing I wish I'd had with me was a radio.

A collapsible canteen is real nice to have - but you'll still need to locate water and purify it. Most people in an emergency will focus on where they need to go and what they need to do - they probably won't be terribly focused on preventing dehydration until a bit later than they should. Once they do get thirsty enough they'll still need to locate water and purify it. So I'd suggest a small quart-sized canteen - like a GI canteen - strapped to the belt of the fanny pack. A person's more likely to drink water if they already have it.

Trash bags and heavy-duty space blankets are great items for providing shelter. But maybe also throw in one of those cheapo emergency rain jackets or ponchos - a trash bag doesn't have a hood.

c-poncho.jpg


And a small umbrella might come in real handy - it's not usually thought of as a survival item but it does work really well at keeping a person dry.

If it'll fit an emergency tube tent will probably serve a person better than trying to construct a tarp out of trash bags - I'm guessing they're not going out into the field to practice their trashbag-to-tarp skills ;)

liberty-mountain-two-man-emergency-tube-tent.jpg


And a spare pair of socks secured in a ziploc bag will go a long way to preventing wet feet from promoting hypothermia.

And one more thing - Duct Tape - it's awesome stuff with a million uses! Don't leave home without it! :thumbup:
 
Keep it simple. Some water might help, just a thought.

A bit concerned you have a fanny pack based kit as this will promote leaving the vehicle which under most situations is very wrong.

I teach survival often and the biggest issue I have is not teaching the kit but how to use all its components. Owning gear is only half the problem. ;)

Skam
 
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akennedy73 said:
+1 on the radio and +1 on some cash

I walked home during the 2003 East Coast blackout and the one thing I wish I'd had with me was a radio.
Click to expand...

I recently bought an Eton FR150 radio for camping.
It is "Solar-Powered, Self-Powered AM/FM/Weatherband Portable Radio with Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger".
Great little radio and (triple LED) light. Sturdy, good sound and very bright clear led light. Its 5x1.75x2.5 inches, around 9 ounces, has a lanyard.

Its about the same size as those handcrank flashlights you can get at most department stores.
The Eton cost $20-$30 Canadian.
For the Canuck forumites i got mine at Canadian Tire!
:D
 
CountyComms has an excellent VERY small SW radio. GP-4L. Prefect for the fanny pack style kits.
 
I think a reasonably priced pliers based multi-tool would be a good idea instead of / or in addition to a SAK or Mora. -DT
 
MrCoffee said:
CountyComms has an excellent VERY small SW radio. GP-4L. Prefect for the fanny pack style kits.
Click to expand...
They have nice stuff but only sell within the U.S.
"International Orders: Currently we do not ship outside the 50 United States. We hope this will change in the future."
Thats the same quote they had posted when i checked their site this time last year.
Guess they need more time to think about it?

honestly they'd have a lot of my money in their wallets if they sold internationally!
:D
 
Duct tape
toilet paper
candle (mag bars require knowledge and practice, most people can get a candle lit and then use it to get a fire going)
tea, oatmeal, bullion cubes
a small bread pan - can hold lots of stuff and you can boil water and cook in it
rough duty knife - use it to dig and pry
skip the Mora and go with a SAK Farmer or Huntsman. Less chance of slicing off and appendage, more tools, plus the saw is indispensable
set of survival cards, Brunton used to make them, has a fresnal lens and lots of good survival info - same size as a credit card
 
iodine in GLASS BOTTLE, wrap it up in foam or duct tape or whatever. It's important. a 5 line instruction sheet on how to purify water and clean wounds is easy.

2 or 3 space blankets. one is rarely enough. cheap lined leather "driving gloves"- it's houston. you may NEED hand warmth, but -10 temperatures are ridiculously unlikely.

I'd choose an SAK and a pair of dedicated channel lock or smallish vise grips. you simply often NEED two tools at the same time, and the two most common two tools to need are pliers and a screwdriver or pliers and pliers.
 
Maybe add some life savers or something to suck on. It may not be of nutritional value, but it will keep your mouth wet, which I think is a good thing. Especailly if it is only meant for 72 hours, you likely won't be snaring food.

Just something to think about..
 
Great suggestions - I'd add a wool hat, or baseball cap for heat preservation - especially at night and keeping the sun off your head.
 
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