I've never really had a "kit". There's always been various stuff I'd take along whenever I'm going out to the fields or something. I grew up on a 1500 acre farm, which means spending 130 hours a week in the great outdoors. Now I work at a farm service company, and for the past 2 years spend about that much time riding on a 4-wheeler taking soil samples for farmers in the spring and fall. On the farm, I'd always bring plenty of water- I'd often drink over a gallon a day. I had to have a sturdy knife of some kind, and I never left home without my rifle and plenty of ammo, except a few times when I only had a pistol. Of course I'd also bring a whole pile of tools for the equipment I was operating- a pliers was bare minimum EDC. I didn't bother with little first aid stuff like band-aids and aspirin. Little wounds are simply ignored. They don't get any field treatment until stiches are required, and even then, I've just sewn myself up a few times. Usually, in the agriculture business, there is no middle ground. Either you get a small wound which is ignored, or you get an arm ripped off your body, or get wrapped around a PTO shaft like a rag doll, or you get instantly chopped into tiny pieces, or you're crushed under 40 Tons of steel, or you're pulled into a running machine, or you fall off a 60 foot tall silo, etc., etc. Did you know that more farmers are killed on the job than cops and firemen combined? (perhaps with the exception of Sept. 11) Thus a cell phone or means to summon an ambulance is far more important than a band-aid. Adequate protection from the sun is also required in the summer, so I wore a big hat& sunglasses. I'd wear either a light long sleeved shirt, or if I got caught with short sleeves, I'd just cover my arms with mud, which kept them cooler anyway. I cannot wear long pants or my legs will become covered with blisters. So I wore knee length shorts or cut off jeans. This provided enough ventilation for my legs, and protected them from the sun while sitting down on a tractor seat.
Now my "kit" has changed a bit. In addition to the stuff I need for my job, I bring the water and food, cell phone, flashlight, and my great big Bowie knife. Unfortunately, the rifle is against company policy, as well as Illinois law since I am no longer on my own property. I can get away with the Bowie though, since I often used it to clear the way for the 4-wheeler. I also almost had to use it on a few mean dogs, and kept it in my hand when I had to sleep in the truck- just in case. I will spare you most of the details about proper clothing, but will say it was very important. Weather conditions are very magnified when driving 30 mph on a 4-wheeler all day. It also has to be very adaptable since southern Illinois is known for drastic weather swings. Early morning and night are often like entirely different seasons from midday.
Now, if we talk about surviving a night in the "wilderness", here in southern Illinois, in most places you can't look around at night without seeing at least two dozen lights (pole lights at houses) in every direction. Thus in most cases I'd just want something that could signal for help from the neighbors, communication, such as a cell phone or radio, or whatever I'd need to help me limp that far. If we're talking strictly about wilderness, then I'd have to either go south to the Shawnee Forest area, or the nearby Kaskaskia River Corridor. In the Shawnee, my biggest concern would be falling off a cliff, or sliding down those big rock formations, and I'm not sure what to do about that. I guess pray my cell phone works. Otherwise, fire could make the night more enjoyable, and something to eat. I'd need my big Bowie knife to make any tools I needed from wood, and make shelter. I could make traps, spears, a digging stick (why does everyone want to dig with their knife? Use a stick!)for roots to make fishing line and find worms, and of course a bow and arrows for extended stays. Actually, I'd probably make a quick compound bow lashed together with string (Guess I'd need to bring good string, then) to last me until I could carve out a decent self bow. (though the compound bows are quite effective in their own right) I'd also bring a spool of thread for a thousand things, or just tear some from my shirt. And of course I'd memorize a map beforehand and bring a compass. In our woods in the Kaskaskia corridor, I'd bring most of the same stuff, and add the gun back into the package. It makes the whole food dilemma so much easier, and may possibly be used to signal for help. I guess I should start carrying some of my Sodium Metabisulfite (I have plenty of the stuff for making wine) for purifying water, and maybe some zip lock bags to hold water. My dad once almost got lost in our woods during deer season. He had to walk in about a mile, and then it started to snow. He said "When everything's white, one tree looks just like another." The clouds covered the sun, so maybe a compass could have helped him find his direction again.
So let's see...
I guess my "kit" would be a cell phone, rifle & ammo, big knife, smaller knife& sharpener, string, water and/or water purifying agents and containers, some food, (the gun and knife are all I need to get meat, and I know the plants) adequate clothing, perhaps a compass, something to make fire, and... OH! Almost forgot! TOILET PAPER!
/ Cut on the finger? wrap it with tape and drive on. Lay your knee or scalp open for 6" and band aids/ small gauze pads are useless, it'll take a T shirt or more to stop the mess (Kerlix & Ace wrap are still best basic trauma tools) then start limping, it ain't gonna get better with time.
Anyway, that is where I was coming from when I started sorting folks into camps. Truth is, I don't think anyone an idiot- I just wonder who is part of the problem as opposed to being part of the solution. Of course I tend to favor those who are better prepared.
