what is your survival kit?

[nothinghappenedtoday]

Wow, awesome looking blade. Never seen one like that before. I like.

Thanks! I love this knife. The blade is only a hair over 2 inches, but it get's EVERYTHING done. CRKT makes a production version that is great too. Having the CRKT version made me want the custom even more.

Now I'm just trying to find a perfect small, flat whistle for my EDC kit...

 

[333rm]

Here's one of my kits that I had put together. The pouch is a Tactical Tailor E/E pouch that is capable of holding a ton of stuff. There's Frontier water filtration straw inside and also a 1 Qt water bag with 12 Katadyn chlorine dioxide pills. There's about 35ft of paracord that's wound up and kept inside next to the survival tin that's about twice as big as an Altoids tin, it's got a rubber seal on it but I also duct taped it to keep it water tight. I have a fishing kit, and a medical kit inside also.

 

[nothinghappenedtoday]

Those water filtration straws are fantastic! :thumbup:

 

[ohski]

Mine... everything I need... http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/product.php?product=151

Ski

Took some pics... top pic is my full woods walking bag, went out today to test some gear.

PSK

Tarp

F.A.K.

Shelter

 

[nemoaz]

I remember reading sometime ago that heart attack was reponsible for more deaths whilst outdoors in the US than either Hypothermia or dehydration.

Interesting link. Accidents and illnesses happen in the field just as they do in the home, no doubt. I guess we should all carry aspirin, nitroglycerine, morphine, a mobile cardiac cath or balloon angioplasty team with us.

I meant among the things which might occur AFTER you're lost or otherwise not capable of traveling due to a change of weather or whatever. The things your survival kit might address.

Obviously, if you have a heart condition, diabetes, etc, you should take appropriate preparations. Trauma is likely in the bush too, so a first aid class that includes some emphasis on improvisation might be good. Many of the military texts are good for this, and they're free and available.

 

[Thomas Linton]

Lots or really nice gear and good thinking.

I have looked for years and can only find two statistical studies of wilderness fatalities. One was a study of fatalities in western National parks. One was collected data for New Hampshire SAR cases. Different areas but very close results. About 75% died of almost equal quantities of heart attack, drowning, and falls. Hypothermia and hyperthermia were statistically far less insignificant - 1-3%, or in the range of gunshot and motor vehicle accidents. (One issue not addressed was the extent to which the apx 25% who drowned did so after hyperthermia weakened their ability to stay afloat, thus being a contributing cause. However, the safety lesson is unchanged.)

The numbers suggest more attention might be paid to physical conditioning, physical exams, and knowing one's limits; safety around water; and fall prevention. Many publications on survival in the wilderness (such as the B.S.A. Wilderness Survival Merit Badge pamphlet) neglect all of these topics. Few publications cover them all.

As for a "positive mental attitude," realistic thinking acknowledges risks while not giving way to panic. A positive attitude has it limits and is not a substitute for minimal gear any more than gear alone can cure panic, ignorance, or excessive optimism. (A good many have died of terminal optimism. The "Gold Rush" and western migrations are full of examples.)