Anyone who’s read this blog for a while knows I wind up in the middle of nowhere every once in a while.  There might not be another person within 50 miles or more.  Before I really started doing stuff like this, I had a thought – I’d better be at least minimally prepared for an emergency.

Yes, I know it would be better to go with someone – two people are better than one in many ways.  The trouble with that is that I don’t always have someone to go with me.  If I waited for that, I’d never go anywhere.

This is by no means all I take with me, but I thought I’d show a few of the items that ride with me on a regular basis.  These come with me in a Camelbak backpack when I’m out in the desert and stay in the car when I’m on any road trip.

While it’s very limited, this first aid kit is still light years better than nothing.  I’ve added some Imodium and I’ll probably add a few other things in the future.

So what’s in the kit?  From the website:

Supply List

Bandage Materials
2 Dressing, Gauze, Sterile, 3″ x 3″, Pkg./2
2 Dressing, Gauze, Sterile, 2″ x 2″, Pkg./2
2 Bandage, Butterfly Closure
1 Bandage, Conforming Gauze, 2″
1 Dressing, Non-Adherent, Sterile, 3″ x 4″
4 Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, 1″ x 3″
2 Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, Knuckle

Blister / Burn
11 Moleskin, Pre-Cut & Shaped

Instrument
1 Splinter Picker/Tick Remover Forceps
3 Safety Pins

Medication
2 Ibuprofen (200 mg), Pkg./2
2 Antihistamine (Diphenhydramine 25 mg)
2 After Bite Wipe

Other
1 Aloksak Waterproof Bag, 4.5″ X 7″

Wound Care
1 Tape, 1/2″ x 10 Yards
1 Tincture of Benzoin Topical Adhesive, Vial
3 After Cuts & Scrapes Anethestic/Antiseptic Wipe
2 Triple Antibiotic Ointment, 1/32 oz

For more information on this kit, click here.  To see what I’m probably going to build in the near future, check out Nutnfancy’s Level 1 first aid kit by clicking here.

You really never know where I’m going to be on any given day or evening and so I figured it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have some sort of “survival kit.”  Again, this isn’t some sort of huge kit, but it’s got plenty of good stuff:

• Spark-Lite™ Firestarter – current U.S. military issue, waterproof, useable one-handed, over 1000 sparkings in tests
• 4 Spark-Lite™ Tinder-Quik™ – current U.S. military issue, waterproof, wax impregnated cotton tinder in zip-top plastic bag, each burns 2-3 minutes
• Fox-40® Rescue Howler™ Survival Whistle – designed exclusively for this kit, triple frequency, exceeds U.S. Coast Guard and SOLAS specifications, bright yellow with dual mode lanyard hole
• Rescue Flash™ Signal Mirror, 2 x 3 inches (5 x 7.6 cm) Lexan™ polycarbonate with mil-spec style retro-reflective aiming aid for one-handed use, instructions on back, protective cover to prevent scratches while stored in the kit, lanyard hole.
• 20mm Survival Compass – liquid damped with groove to accept an improvised lanyard ring
• Duct Tape – 26 inches x 2 inches (66 x 5 cm), rolled around plastic mandrel, repairs, first aid, the ultimate repair and improvisation component, uses limited only by your imagination
• Stainless Steel Utility Wire – 6 ft. of .020 inch (1.83 m x 0.5 mm) mil-spec grade, stronger than brass, won’t get brittle in frigid cold, multiple uses
• Braided Nylon Cord – 10 ft. (3 m) 150+ lb. (68+ kg) test, won’t unravel, shelter building, repairs and much more
• #69 Black Nylon Thread – 50 ft. (15.2 m), 10.5 lb. (4.8 kg) test, repairs, fishing line, light duty lashing and much more
• Fishing Kit – 4 x medium Fish Hooks, 2 x Split Shot and 1 x Snap Swivel, in a clear plastic vial with cap.
• Heavy Duty Sewing Needle – will penetrate heavy materials, easy to grip, large eye for easy threading
• 4 Safety Pins – repairs, secure items to prevent loss and much more
• Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil – 3 sq. ft. (0.9 sq. m), make container to boil water, reflect fire heat and much more
• #2 Pencil and Waterproof Notepaper – 2 pieces 2.125 x 3.667 inches (5.4 x 9.3 cm), leave notes, memory aid, keep log
• #22 Scalpel Blade – stainless steel, in sealed foil packaging, more functional than a single-edged razor blade
• Kit Specific Illustrated Survival Instructions – authored by Doug Ritter, 33 illustrations, on waterproof paper, detailed, easy to understand, practical information
• Contents List – viewable through pouch back so anyone can see what’s inside even if kit’s owner can no longer assist, annotated, complements Survival Instructions, can be used as tinder
• Fresnel Lens Magnifier – 2 x 3 inches (5 x 7.6 cm), in protective sleeve, read small type in survival instructions if glasses lost, start fire using sun
• Pocketsize Clear Vinyl Pouch – 4 x 5 inches (10.2 x 12.7 cm), 4 x 3.25 inches (10.2 x 8.3 cm) with top folded over, waterproof zip-top closure, lanyard hole, it really does fit in your pocket.
• Weight: 3.9 oz (111 g) – you will barely know it is there until you need it to save your life

I’ve added some water purification tablets that will even kill the tough pathogens and again, I’ll probably add a few more things.  At least I’ve got a whistle and mirror for signaling, fire starting equipment, aluminum foil to boil water with, a compass (it might help at night), and a few other things that might come in handy.

For more information, check out the Adventure Medical Kits website and the Equipped to Survive website as well.

I’m going to say that this is something that should be in everyone’s backpack, day pack, or even in a pocket if you’re out and about.  It’s under $1.00 at Wal Mart, keeps you dry, and can also be used to collect water among other things.

Last, but not least tonight is my night time signaling device.  This is a Firefly Plus by ACR Electronics – product page here.

From the manufacturer website:

Ideal for boaters, hunters, campers, or skiers

Includes wrist strap

Omni-directional strobe visible up to 2 miles (3.2 km)

Waterproof to 328 ft (100 m)

Floats if dropped overboard

Operates on 2 “AA” alkaline or two 1.5V lithium batteries

Operating life – Strobe: 10 hours, Flashlight: 2 hours continuous

Why would  I want a combination flashlight and strobe light?  Simple, really – I don’t know that I’d be found in the day time.  What if I’m stranded in a place without cell service (lots of those in Nevada) but within sight of a road?  What if it’s dark and I see a helicoper or plane searching for me?  Don’t laugh.  I’ve been some places in my cars that they really shouldn’t have been and I can only imagine something like that happening and me having to signal someone.  Don’t be surprised if I add some other sorts of signaling devices such as flares or smoke signals like Orion makes.

A couple of other items that come with me are my ham radio and my GPS receiver.  If someone’s trying to find me, I’ll probably be able to listen to them if not communicate with them (ham radio clubs are known for helping in search and rescue).  If I can communicate with the ham radio, I can give them my exact GPS derived latitude and longitude.  Even if I can’t talk to them, I can probably listen in on the aircraft communications and maybe know when they’re looking in my direction.

These are more contingency items like my guns.  I hope I never have to use them and maybe they’re a bit of overkill, but if I do have to use ‘em I’ll be really glad I have ‘em. When it comes to items like these, it’s much better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!

Speaking of guns, my pistols might make good audible signaling devices with blanks…

Have a great day, everyone