Hot weather BOB suggestions...

[Andrew Colglazier]

A small portable AC.... How do you bear living in Houston....??

Ack.

Andy

 

[Anrkst6973]

"bump". 1 of my instructors started me on this...I keep ammo in my car because I shoot quite a bit and it maintains a pretty regular storage temp by keeping it in soft-side ice chest(or lunch boxes) like you get from a dept store. I'm guessing matches,lighters,dry packed food,ect would do just about as well stored like that.

 

[mdauben]

I have a presentation tomorrow where I am teaching people how to build a BOB for their cars.

Sorry for the late response. This sounds more like what I would consider an emergency bag than a bug-out bag, but still some very good stuff to have.

Tincture of Iodine.

Is this for topical disenfectant or water treatment? I think there are better options for both these days.

Space Blanket.

Check out the Adventure Medical Kits "Heatsheets" available in one and two person sizes. Only a tiny bit bulkier and more expensive than the cheap space blankets you can find in most sporting goods store, but much more durable.

Credit Card sized Fresnel lens.

I suppose this is small and light enough to be worth carrying, but I always questioned the real utility of the thing in a survival situation.

Carbon Steel knife with a lanyard.

personally, I would prefer stainless steel for a knife that will probably be sitting in the trunk of your car for months at a time. YMMV

Heavy Duty Space Blanket.

SInce you already have the regular space blanket, and being car based gives you a bit of flexibility, I would go with a wool or acrylic blanket instead.

Collapsible one to two gallon water container

I would actually include at least a couple liters of bottled water in your kit for immediate use. I prefer pre-package bottled water for long-term storage.

Two Candy or nutrition bars

Be sure this is something that can stand up to heat. Hard candy and/or the granola type nutrition bars are your best bet.

anything you would add to this list that can be easily carried to help with the heat?

Sun hats, sun glasses, lightweight tarp and LOTS of water.

 

[CWL]

Just to add onto this list, whether car kit or BOB.

1. Toilet paper. You never know when you might need this, especially if you are in a disaster situation and water/foods are contaminated (hurricane is a good example). Having to crap your guts out from tainted water and no TP will be a nightmare.

2. Immodium or similar pills, foil wrapped. Back to the tainted food/water scenario. People do die from dysentery because of the dehydration.

3. Windbreaker for everyone. The ones that can be scrunched into a small pouch. Keeps wind, water and night colds from taking their toll.

 

[Thomas Linton]

To go with the water: salt; one-a-day vitamin/mineral tablets (for the minerals) (one tablet + 1/4 tsp salt + 1 qt water = gatoraide [unsweetened])
See "Hyponatremia"