thirsty

Mar 06, 2010
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a key ingredient
by: Carl Rooker

The best way to figure out if your kit has what you need, and is not wasting space and weight with things you do not need, is to take it out into the wild and use it. Practice with it.

When I go wilderness camping I plan several activities to practice using my various kits. From shelter building to water procurement to fire starting to food. If it turns out that part of my kit is not used, I consider eliminating it. If I find that I have a problem with part of the kit, I consider what I have to do to fix it.

One example is water procurement. To carry enough water to last several days is very difficult. If you are at all active you could go through a gallon of water per person per day. A gallon is about 8 pounds. If you could find water instead you would have a much better chance to survive. You can carry a filter, iodine (Polar Pure is a good Iodine method), or even simply a way to boil water (a metal canteen works well for this) you would carry much less weight, and be able to provide much more water for yourself and others.

Food is the same way. You can live for quite awhile without food, but your energy levels will suffer. You can carry a lot of food, or include methods of finding it. Wild edible plants, fishing kit (see my compact kit), a gun, some knowlege of expedient field weapons to use for hunting, including knowing how to make traps (Practice making these, but do not use them unless it is a real emergency), even a gun.

First aid kit is a very good idea. However, learn how to make first aid supplies from what ever is at hand, in case you don't have the kit, or it is too small to handle the demand on it. Boiled water that has cooled enough to not scald is an excellent bacteria killer. Clothing can be used for bandages and dressing after being sterilized in boiling water, or even 15 minutes exposure to the bright sun.

Mirrors for signaling is good. Include a very loud whistle as well. If these aren't availble, can you make a whistle? How about a drum out of a hollow log? Or a reflector out of any trash you might find?

Kits are great, but practice with them, and learn to improvise by this practice. Have no fishing hooks, use thorns to make a throat gorge hook. Lost your canteen, plastic bags will work, and the SAS Survival manual suggests carrying condoms for emergency water carriers. Learn how to make spears, throwing sticks, clubs, traps, nets, fire without standard equipment.

Learn how to think survival.

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Mar 06, 2010
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Submitted by: Carl Rooker

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The best way to figure out if your kit has what you need, and is not wasting space and weight with things you do not need, is to take it out into the wild and use it. Practice with it. When I go wilderness camping I plan several activities to practice using my various kits. From shelter building to water procurement to fire starting to food. If it turns out that part of my kit is not used, I consider eliminating it. If I find that I have a problem with part of the kit, I consider what I have to do to fix it. One example is water procurement. To carry enough water to last several days is very difficult. If you are at all active you could go through a gallon of water per person per day. A gallon is about 8 pounds. If you could find water instead you would have a much better chance to survive. You can carry a filter, iodine (Polar Pure is a good Iodine method), or even simply a way to boil water (a metal canteen works well for this) you would carry much less weight, and be able to provide much more water for yourself and others. Food is the same way. You can live for quite awhile without food, but your energy levels will suffer. You can carry a lot of food, or include methods of finding it. Wild edible plants, fishing kit (see my compact kit), a gun, some knowlege of expedient field weapons to use for hunting, including knowing how to make traps (Practice making these, but do not use them unless it is a real emergency), even a gun. First aid kit is a very good idea. However, learn how to make first aid supplies from what ever is at hand, in case you don't have the kit, or it is too small to handle the demand on it. Boiled water that has cooled enough to not scald is an excellent bacteria killer. Clothing can be used for bandages and dressing after being sterilized in boiling water, or even 15 minutes exposure to the bright sun. Mirrors for signaling is good. Include a very loud whistle as well. If these aren't availble, can you make a whistle? How about a drum out of a hollow log? Or a reflector out of any trash you might find? Kits are great, but practice with them, and learn to improvise by this practice. Have no fishing hooks, use thorns to make a throat gorge hook. Lost your canteen, plastic bags will work, and the SAS Survival manual suggests carrying condoms for emergency water carriers. Learn how to make spears, throwing sticks, clubs, traps, nets, fire without standard equipment. Learn how to think survival.

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