My Urban Survival Pack: improvement suggestions sought!

You've gotten some excellent advice here!

I concur with those that suggest the following. A titanium crowbar, a Sure Fire Nitrolon and an extra set of batteries, Zip-ties of various sizes, a little electrical tape, another lighter, and some REI Storm Proof matches.

I would also NOT be carrying around so much cash. I a dire situation cash may be no good, or a pack of cigarettes might get you just as far. I would carry no more than $100 cash, then diversify into a FEW silver coins and maybe a 1/10th ounce gold coin or two. A couple of packs of cigarettes could get you a long way on the street.

As far as what type of pack? You will have to make your own decision, but being in an urban area you could try to look like a college student or any of the other non descript sheeple OR you can look like "THE DUDE" that know's what's up and we don't want to mess with. I would probably try to blend in, but I'm not from a city. Looking the part might just attract too much attention from people that will want what they think you might have (like $1000 cash!). Some pepper spray might be a good idea come to think of it!

As far as ropes go, make sure you get an actual climbing rope. Make sure you know how to use it, tie basic knots, and carry one locking and at least two non locking carabiners. You might also want a real rappelling harness.

Good luck to you and hopefully you never have to use any of it!
 
Did anyone mention aspirin or benadryl or anti biotics? How about some
caffeine pills? What about some sunglasses in your eye prescription?
 
fixer27 said:
Did anyone mention aspirin or benadryl or anti biotics? How about some
caffeine pills? What about some sunglasses in your eye prescription?
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For me, my prescription headache meds and my prescription sunglasses go without saying. I always include them without thinking about it now. I'm not getting far without them. Grin.
 
Just a thought, I know if I had to walk out of SF I would prefer to walk
at like 3 am and my meds would be suited to the task if the adrenaline
wears off.
 
Excellent thread! I was searching for something else and this came up. It would nbe great to get some updates on how your kits have evolved,
 
Let me preface my minimalist post with my experience with urban survival...

I have lived through one WTC bombing, the 9/11 attacks, the big Blackout of '03 and a few other blackouts, and a few riots here in NYC and as far as I can see, all one needs to survive almost any situation in an urban enviornment is footwear appropriate to the season, a bottle of water, a protein and carbohydrate bar and lots of cash. No matter how bad it gets, someone's gonna sell you what you need. If the situation is dire or bad enough, people will GIVE you what you need. If you work inside one of those windowless buildings or take the subway a lot, you might wanna add a flashlight, but beyond that, the point of living in an urban enviornment is your proximity to goods and services.

One could argue that society totally collapses or government services are totally unable to help, but making preparations for that is as realistic as taking medication to prevent a second head from growing out of your neck.
 
MelancholyMutt said:
Affected Animal
Crazy Canine
Dizzy Dog
Homely Hound
Perturbed Puppy
Quirky Quadraped
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That should actually be "Quirky Quadruped." My apologies. My inner English major is showing. ;)
 
HEY!

I'm not much of an experienced survivor-type, but how's about you throw in a pair of gloves?
 
Midget said:
HEY!

I'm not much of an experienced survivor-type, but how's about you throw in a pair of gloves?
Click to expand...

I am never without a pair of leather driver gloves, plain for warmer weather, flannel-lined for winter. Once I got used to carrying them, toting them everywhere became a habit.
 
ayzianboy said:
you forgot your tinfoil hat
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It doesn't do you any good to survive the braineating zombies if you're going to be zapped by the space alien mind control rays!
Gene :D
 
This thread got me thinking, so I put together an "urban" kit in a bi-fold OmniSeal.

Side 1: 4 J & J Butterflies; 4 3M Steri Strips; 2 fabric bandaids; 2 triple antibiotic packets; fresnel magnifying glass; #10 scalpel blade; 2 1/2" 18g injection needle.

Side 2: a VERY good pair of splinter tweezers; segment of ceramic sharpener; Pacific Handi-cutter with spare single edge blade; 2 5-0 Prolene suture sets; 5' of braided nylon line; 6 blister packed Imodium tabs [stop diahrea]; 12 200mg Ibuprophen; and 6 10mg Methadone tabs.

The object of the game is to stop bleeding, pick fragments out of wounds, get lacerations managable, and manage pain and diahrea (the two most common sources of performance reduction and debilitation). Bleeding all over yourself and your gear is, minimally, distracting. Elsewhere are 2 Cinch-Tight bandage packs [which have replaced GI field dressings in the USMC].

I think the good tweezers/forceps are important. Nothing will reduce your performance like cut and bleeding hands with glass fragments or wood splinters in them. The tweezers are strong enough to serve as a needle holder, but naturally because they are short and don't lock can's push a suture needle through the front of the skin very easily. I understand that Fred Perrin keeps a surgical stapler handy for these reasons. Bulky, though.

Comments?
 
I'd think obtaining and explaining methadone tablets would prove kinda tricky for most folks....along with the 18ga hypo needle, illegal in some municipalities.
 
This thread got me thinking, so I put together an "urban" kit in a bi-fold OmniSeal.

Side 1: 4 J & J Butterflies; 4 3M Steri Strips; 2 fabric bandaids; 2 triple antibiotic packets; fresnel magnifying glass; #10 scalpel blade; 2 1/2" 18g injection needle.

Side 2: a VERY good pair of splinter tweezers; segment of ceramic sharpener; Pacific Handi-cutter with spare single edge blade; 2 5-0 Prolene suture sets; 5' of braided nylon line; 6 blister packed Imodium tabs [stop diahrea]; 12 200mg Ibuprophen; and 6 10mg Methadone tabs.

The object of the game is to stop bleeding, pick fragments out of wounds, get lacerations managable, and manage pain and diahrea (the two most common sources of performance reduction and debilitation). Bleeding all over yourself and your gear is, minimally, distracting. Elsewhere are 2 Cinch-Tight bandage packs [which have replaced GI field dressings in the USMC].

I think the good tweezers/forceps are important. Nothing will reduce your performance like cut and bleeding hands with glass fragments or wood splinters in them. The tweezers are strong enough to serve as a needle holder, but naturally because they are short and don't lock can's push a suture needle through the front of the skin very easily. I understand that Fred Perrin keeps a surgical stapler handy for these reasons. Bulky, though.

Comments?
 
thatmguy said:
I'd think obtaining and explaining methadone tablets would prove kinda tricky for most folks....along with the 18ga hypo needle, illegal in some municipalities.
Click to expand...

Get a prescription written.
 
randjack said:
Get a prescription written.
Click to expand...

A prescription goes without saying, I would hope.

This could possibly be accompanied by a written note of explanation from your physician for you to take with you on your travels.
 
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