survival kit

A

ajcz

Joined
Oct 14, 2005
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ok, i am 14 and i a going to boyscout camp and taking the merit badge can you guess what it is well if you dont know what the merit badges are ill tell you it is Wilderness survival and one of the requirements is to make a survival kit and explain the purpose of each item in it and i need help making the kit and finding a bag or something to put it in and i was hoping all of you could help me do this. soooooo...... will all of you guys help me in my quest for a merit badge also im taking pioneering merit badge and i need to brush up on my knots and lashigs and such so will you all help me? and a big thankyou n advance.
 
wow but i still need help with the bag for it all and more items so ........ shameless bumpage
 
ajcz,

Be careful, it's not just a merit badge, it could easily become an addiction. The perfect survival kit is always "the next one" that you plan to put together.

Seriously, a survival kit is very personal and needs to be adapted to both you and the enviromment where you may have to use it.

I keep mine in an Altoids candy tin in the pocket of my Becker BK-7 knife sheath. The knife itself has other components attached to the sheath.

My Tin: Compass & LED light on neck cord made of braided #4 waxed line, Sparklite & tinder, 6 waterproofed strike anywhere matches, PJ treated cotton in drinking straw, Starflash mirror, Moleskin, Needle & thread, Salt, 10 Motrin, sterile scalpel blade.

Knife Sheath: 5 liter water bag, Space blanket, snare wire, 3 meters paracord, Duct tape, ACR whistle, single edge razor, 3 birthday candles, PJ treated cotton, stainless steel wire, 30 chlorine water purification tablets, tool for removing knife scales.

Handle of knife: Fishing kit, assorted hooks, line and sinkers, sealed and held in place with wax.

A survival kit sould give you the ability to: Make fire, shelter, water, navigate, signal. I give food gathering a low priority. Mac
 
This is a matter of personal opinion. Do you want something that you put in a pocket, like an Altoids tin or empty medication bottle? Would you rather have a kit with belt loops or clips directly to a belt, like a pager pouch? Something bigger like a shoulder bag or utility vest with all the pockets full? The options are almost endless. Some containers I have or do use: Vest, Altoids tin, Med bottle, knife pouch, knife handle, plastic soap container, plastic toothbrush holder, Ziplocs, shoulder bag, 2 empty shotshells nested together, etc. etc. One thing that I see again and again at camp is Scouts who use the plastic box that comes with the BSA Individual First Aid kit. They trim a few of the first aid supplies and add the survival goodies.

In my opinion, wilderness survival is more mental than physical. THe basics include fire, water, shelter, signaling, 1st aid, food. How you acheive these are up to your training and imagination.

Be prepared.
 
Hi ajcz as the others have said and suggested previously.It's true survival is a question on mental outlook but a few pieces of kit with you that you know how to use to help you will increase that positive mental state.As a lot of people will tell you keep it simple,although flint strikers etc have a lot of advantages over lighters/ matches if you are not used to one or able to make fire with one in any condition then make sure you have lighter/matches and hexi/trioxane.At the end of the day it's what works for yourself.As mentioned before the priorities are first aid, signaling,shelter/fire,water,food .Try and find one to two pieces of kit to meet these priorities get used to using them until you are proficient and happy you may need more than two items for the first aid but you get the idea. All the best with the fun and frustration of getting your "perfect" survival kit.
 
All the gear in the world won't help you to survive and if your leaders have any savy at all, might not get you a merit badge. That is, unless you've practiced with the items and know exactly how they can be used. In reality, they should know who is practiced and who isn't, just from seeing their kit and listening to their description of the items and their uses.
 
acjz, Good to see you doing your research, youngin.

Heed Pict carefully, he knows what he speaks.
 
As pict and the others have stated Knowledge with some gear can go a long way.
pict ,my self and others have learned if it is not on your person its of no use when you need it " Murphy's Law prevails:eek: "
acjz one of the links opening page is" Psycology of Survival".Your quest has started:D
 
#4 waxed line is a heavy polyester string treated with soft wax. It is often used for stitching saddles, shoes, and sheaths as well as packs. It's good stuff that lends itself to a variety of uses. I use it to repair gear, but it also works for snares, braided as neck cords, etc.

Cordage is very important. You can make it from nature if you know your environment but in a "survival situation" you won't have time. You need to carry enough to secure a shelter. The #4 waxed line is good enough in a pinch.

Check craft stores, you'll be the only guy there... OK, if there are any other guys there, ask a lady for help. You can find all sorts of nifty stuff. Mac
 
A. Accept/Adapt/Improvise/Overcome. Know what these words mean in any sudden emergency.

B. Think in terms of survival activities. What items have the most "bang for the buck" (utility as compared to weight and bulk) for:

1. 98.6 - keeping from getting too hot/cold
2. water
3. signaling/communication
4. navigation
5. food
6. first aid
7. Morale ("positive mental atitude")

For example, a couple of plastic trash bags can work for shelter, gathering water, and -- if brightly colored - signaling. They may even serve for fire-starting (98.6/water purification/ signaling/first aid [sterilize bandanna for dressing]/food [cook]/morale)

For example, a bandanna can work for first aid, signaling, filtering water (Explain why less is more.), 98.6.

Assembling the kit is an exercise in seeing if you understand the activities you may need to perform in a wilderness survival situation. There is no single "correct" answer. [ed. unless you omit a metal container of some kind - like a cup. ]

C. The primitive fire-starting is the great decider. Those who pass tend to get the Badge. Try to get it done with a magnifying glass the first sunny day you have. Then you have the easy choices of batteries/steel wool and fire steel (AKA "Hot Spark"). A high-quality, large magnifying glass helps. Steel wolol is great tinder.

D. It is required that you memorize priorities as listed. This is questionable (at best) because priorities depend on the situation. That is inherent to the "STOP" system (act based on thought, observation and resource survey)and the requirement to duscuss how to survive in different conditions (cold/wet, etc.). Even the priorities list is wishy-washy ("many think" "might be") although the requirement stands as written in the previous version of the MB book. In any sudden emergency, you cannot escape the critical task of deciding what is the most important thing to do first

D. "Don't move when lost" should be usually don't move much -- unless you have to. In the west, fire may make you move, lost or not, as can need for water.

E. The goal of shelter-building is to impress on you how much time and effort is takes to build a brush shelter. My teacher at the Barstow Moutain and Desert Survival School used to say: "Need a shelter first? 9 AM? Time to start."

F. The best way to have a PMA? Have a "tool box" of things you know you can do to meet the problem. Do them. See, you're not helpless.

G. Here's a fun one. How do two hard rocks fit your list of survival activities?
 
Hi Ajcz. I can't add much to the advise that's already been posted here. But as to your question about a bag to put it all in. A good belt pouch, about 6" high, by 5" wide, by 2" deep, with a main compartment, and maybe a side pocket would work fine. You can find them at any Outdoor or Army surplus store. And don't forget a Swiss Army knife, or a good knock-off of one. Good luck with that merit badge. :) :thumbup:
 
i was thinking a 3 day training pack and what would be a good relativatly cheap fixed blade knife?
 
Keep it light and tight ,plus doubles as Daypack/book bag
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=252305
Lots of stuff
http://countycomm.com/index.htm
http://www.majorsurplusnsurvival.co...en=PROD&Product_Code=0855981&Category_Code=92
you can search and find a new one for maybe $10.00 more, one tough bag. the nice thing about it is no compartment's,ah you say why?
put a liner bag with indvidual zip lock bag's, pull the liner out and Hang Up High!
Now you have the main bag to use as day pack and forage bag {water is heavy}
 
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