Urban Survival Kit

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Salamander42

Joined
Mar 21, 2007
Messages
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Okay, I'm always seeing great posts here of the PSKs that everyone is always putting together, and I've started assembling a couple of my own, but it seems that they are all geared toward wilderness survival. I have seen a few ideas on "urban survival kits" which would be more appropriate for everyday carry in the city and wanted to ask if any of you have put one together or if you had any suggestions for one.

I already carry a Vic Swiss Tool and a Crawford/Kasper folder every day as well as a Mini Mag Light with the 3 LED conversion from Night Ize. I've recently started slipping a DMT diamond sharpening stone and a lighter (even tho I don't smoke) into my pocket every day too. I usually stay away from any areas where SD would be much of an issue for me, but if I know I'm planning on going to or passing through such an area for some reason I may clip on my Bear Claw or Polkowski/Kasper Companion.

The main thing that I think I want to add is a small first aid kit. I'm thinking about putting one together with just a few basics that would fit in a small cell phone type case. And I've also been considering breaking down and getting a cell phone, just for emergencies.

Any and all thoughts on this idea would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!
 
Sounds like a nice urban kit to me. A cell phone would definately be an essential for an urban survival kit. Maybe some pepper spray for self defense in different situations. I think some kinds are flamable so you could used it to help start a fire maybe.
 
You could make small psks in altoid tins. I have one that goes in a coat pocket, and its really handy. It's good for meds and stuff, mine contains a roll of tums tablets, a few aspirin, antibacterial wipes, bandaids, some matches with a piece of striker, and some money folded up at the bottom.

:thumbup: +1 to the cell phone, and first aid kit

mine is more of a comfort kit than a real first aid kit, but its easy to always have it with you, even without a pack or whatever.

always having a bit of money is a good idea too :)
 
I've been thinking similar thoughts about a USK. As much as I would like to always need a woodland/wilderness type kit, I simply don't. I only need that when I'm on holiday.

I bought a leather Samsonite camera case (cheap) for my USK. My job is going into schools to install and maintain PC networks, and trying to sell them more kit. I need to look 'smart' and my Maxpedition pouch just didn't look the part on my belt. The Samsonite is OK.

I haven't actually started carrying it yet (been on holiday this week, and putting the kit together).

Here's a pic of the current probable stuff:

usk1.jpg


I've just realised I have included my MP3 player and 'phone in the 'pic, they have been living in the case. I always have my works mobile on my belt anyway, so no 'phone is in the kit. I also have a spare one in the car. Neither is an MP3 player included (shame, though).

I keep a spare credit card in a hidden compartment in my car. Seems a good idea to have one in the USK along with a bit of cash. This CC's no longer valid, I'm not dumb enough to photograph a valid one.

Contents so far:
Lighter - I don't smoke, but I can't think of a PSK without fire!
Money and CC - for monetary emergencies (probably the most common).
Good flashlight - with 10-year lithium cell so I don't have to worry about it.
Leatherman - I can barely get away (legally) with this in the UK...
Strong thread - can't think of a specific use, but it's small.
Forceps - much better than tweezers.
Flash memory - really small, have (encoded!) all my bank and other details.
Potassium permanganate - steralising, colouring snow, might leave it out.
Ethanol wipes - the usual uses.

Need to add:
Some flat-packed gaffer tape (duct tape).
Pencil (or Space pen) and paper.
Basic first aid contents...
...A few sticking plasters - clients don't like to see blood dripping.
...Butterfly sutures.
...One small dressing with bandage.
...Mouth-to-mouth valve - I get cold sores, the patient has who-knows-what!
...Lip salve.
...Strong painkillers
...Anti-migraine pills (don't get them often, but I go practically blind within 30 minutes if I get one)

In the car, I have a good selection of tools, full first aid kit, fire extinguisher, tough waterproofs, etc.

Looking forward to reading everyone's ideas...

Rick.
 
Some nice ideas there, foxyrick. I like the case, and the flash drive. With flash drives so cheap and small now they're a great way to store any data that you might need or want to keep handy. I don't know that I personally would have much need to carry anything like that, but I love technology, so that's a really cool idea to me. I feel the same way about the SAK with the flash drive in it. . . think its extremely cool but I don't think I really need one.

I also have all kinds of useful tools and other goodies in the car (if I can ever find them in the mess). I may be switching to a combination of public transit and bicycle for most of my in town travel soon tho, and I'll probably carry a backpack or messenger bag with quite a bit of other gear in it such as a poncho and/or umbrella, extra layers, and who knows what else. . . haven't thought too much about that kit yet.
 
A small pack of sterile gause or even cotton balls with a roll of medical/electrical/duct tape will do the job of anything from a small paper cut (should you need to close it up) to a large wound. I also like the idea of lip balm, as it has uses from chapped lips to lubricating threads should the need arise.

One thing I like about my new phone is the camera has a built in 2-led flash! I always carry my photon II light on my keys, but man is that led light on my phone bright, and I've left it on all night with less drain than listening to the headphones all night...
 
the main things i see the need for in an urban environment would be things like a good multitool, a small med kit, and maybe some granola bars or some other kind of food bar.
the nice thing about an urban environment is that so much can be scavenged and scrounged that you don't really need to carry that much, at least in the case of the city shutting down or something really huge when all order is lost. for practical everyday use you might want to carry a couple of other things like rain gear, money, cell phones (those prepaid phones are great if you don't want to invest in a plan until you are sure about it) and other things like that.

i guess it is really just important to evaluate all of the different situations you run into the day and where each of those situations goes wrong. then make a kit that would be pheasible and allow you to deal with reasonable problems (an oxymoron?). you will want to carry a little more than nothing, but you also don't want to be lugging around a 50 pound pack everywhere, especially if you have to be in more formal clothing for your job.
 
BTW, cell phones were totally useless here for several weeks to months depending on your carrier after Katrina.
 
One thing that I would add, is Katadyn MP1 purification tablets. Just because you're in an urban situation, doesn't mean that you will always have clean water to drink. In fact, electricity and water are probably the first things to go in a major emergency.
 
A compass is a good addition, Its never a bad idea to know which way you are headed, unfamiliar buildings can all look alike, lust like mountains.

I carry an adventure medical Pocket pack as part of my EDC www.equippedtosurvive.org, it is small and contains alot of esentials, that can be of use in urban or wilderness environs.

I also carry a multi tool, and a lighter as well as two flashlights.

My first aid kit is an old Coleman pouch from walmart that I have filled with my own supplies, I also carry a CPR mask with gloves in the pouch.

Since a back pack or messenger bag is always part of my carry , I can carry a decent amount of gear.

Camera Bags are great for small Kits, Even in a larger bag, they are very inconspicuous even if someone happens to see it in your bag
 
A small pry bar could be useful. Maybe with some paracord wrapped round the handle?
My work briefcase has an NRA Otterbox of various items including water bags, puritabs, fauxton, cash, sewing kit, matches, lighter, flint, cable ties, plasters, eye irrigation vial, whistle & the other usual PSK items. I also carry more paracord, space blanket, emergency poncho, large dustbin liner, spork, 3 C-cell LED/Xenon light, SAK, work gloves, small collapsible umbrella, Safelight, "Dirty Stop-Out Kit" (soap, shampoo, tooth brush/paste, razor, condoms etc ) in a small plastic case, foam sit mat, 2 1 litre Nalgene bottles of water (both usually full), the CCW compartment (its a Maxped Last Resort!) also hides a Casco expandable baton & a Gerber Clip-lock.
Various odds & sods on the various D-rings of the bag, blue & green tritium glowrings, fauxton, jetscream whistle & a spy capsule with a £20 note in it.
Also have another fauxton INSIDE the bag to help me find stuff.
 
Lots of interesting ideas coming in here. As in wilderness kits, everyone's kit varies accoring to personal preference, experience with different items, means of transport and distance, job, perceived threats in their locality, willingness to carry/appropriateness of large kitbags, etc.

I fully subscribe to the 'scavange and improvise' philosophy, and carry accordingly. I have much more in my car, which is not usually far awaw from where I'm working. In a really serious situation, I would try to get back to the car for the kit, even if driving out was impossible. Also in such a situation, I would be filling my pockets with everything that looked useful!

I like StuToffee's "Dirty Stop-Out Kit". I've had one in the car for years. I used to carry enough kit in my car that I could head up to Scotland and 'camp out' without needing to pick up anything extra. I don't have as much these days, but still have the essentials.

Some more things I need to add to the USK, from people's ideas:
...Compass
...Water Bag
...Whistle
...Surgical Gloves
...Lightweight Bandana (Maybe in pocket)
...Extra lithium cell

I'm also interested in some sort of chemical/biologial protection, but I'll start another thread for that.

Rick.
 
If you know the situation you will encounter, you can easily make up an urban kit to answer the need or just avoid it. Most of us aren't prescient to the point of being reliable though so we just shotgun it and take stuff to cover all contingencies.

A small FAK needs to cover small to large cuts, splinters, headaches and abdominal issues. Being small it may only be good for one application, but it buys you time to get to a bigger kit or a clinic.

Tools: For me a good locking folder is always on me. A good multi-tool should also be included. But I recall the guys trapped in the WTC elevators and wonder what common lightweight tools would be useful across a wide range of situation, that you could carry in a small kit? They had to cut their way thru a wall to escape and all they had was a window washer's squeegee. A small steel prybar seems like a very useful tool, missing from my kit.

Flashlight: The Photon on my keyring is fine, but there are some excellent 1xAA and 1xAAA LED lights that put out more light and last longer. Batteries are cheaper too. This could be an EDC light outside the kit that is used everyday. Mine's a 1xAAA Peak Matterhorn. A bigger 4xAA is in my pack, but that's too big for a small urban kit, unless it doen't really need to be that small.

My EDC packpack is my urban kit. It carries a lot of good gear including a quart of water, snack bars, FAK (mine started as a AMK UL.3 and got bigger to include nitrile gloves and a face mask), towel, Leatherman Charge Ti, Ritter mini RSK, UK 4AA eLED flashlight, compass, GPS, magnifying glass and other small items. The water is used daily and refilled before I leave the house each day. The snack bars never get a chance to go stale. The rest of the gear is just there. In addition to the pack, cellphone is on my belt, EDC folder clipped to my pocket, and the Peak 1xAAA is in a Mission Wallet with some cash (small bills). You never know.
 
Other useful items would be a 10' piece of surgical tubing. Kept in a larger, obtainable bag, it would be a valuable part of your kit. A pair of goggles/safety glasses and a mask could also keep you healthy through an emergency. A good pair of walking/hiking shoes, gloves and hat. Even a fishing kit can get you fed on dry land, as well as secure shelter, etc.
 
bubbacatfish said:
I've read this article 3 or 4 times (urban survival vest) and as it's topical I'll post a link. http://outdoors-magazine.com/s_article.php?id_article=171
Click to expand...

Nice link, well worth a read. I scanned it at first, and wondered how on Earth the guy could walk carrying all that kit. Then I read that the 'desk kit' generally stays under the desk!

I have a prybar just like that in my car. Handy kit!

I also like the idea of a radio transceiver. I have passed the radio exams here years ago, but never got around to actually buying a license. Plus, I *really* object to all the red-tape around amateur radio use in the UK. Very good idea, though.

Rick.
 
A small AM/FM radio will be invaluable in an urban survival scenario. A cell phone is nice but the network tends to overload when there's a urban disaster occurring.

Walking home from work for two hours during the Northeast Blackout in August of 2003 (and contemplating whether the blackout was a prelude to a terrorist attack) was when I realized just how important having a radio is. In the middle of an urban disaster you are going to want a constant feed of updated information and a radio is the most reliable way to obtain it.

You should also have maps and the ability to carry and replenish a supply of water.
 
How about a small roll of duct tape? Could be handy for several things. You can make one yourself by re wrapping some around a small dowel. or maybe around another object already carried in your kit.
 
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