Survival Kit ??? Yes / No ????

[Tharwood]

have been told all my life" Carry some sort of " survival kit..everywhere you hike. My current kit contains. firesteel, bandaids X2, needles,floss,whistle, super glue, 50ft black tarred string,goodys powders X4, Tampon ( Hey... it makes a awesome wound dressing) Pre-paid Debit card $25.00. Alot of this comes from being a boy scout for years and from being a Paramedic for several years as well. I have read hundreds of articals on the trail and pack list. I was wondering how many acctually carry one an those who dont. the ones who do ... whats in yours . mine is a plactic soap holder from the Walmart. weighs...4.4oz filled... I only have the luxury of section hiking.. ( untill I turn 52 and have my 30yr in...hahaha)....

[hikerboy57]

ziplock w/ 3 regular size bandaids, a half dozen 2x4 bandaids, moleskin,small tube of neosporin,single edge razor blade, couple of alcohol wipes, stormproof matches, cotton balls in small plastic baggies

[Tharwood]

sorry forgot about the 2 razor blades..... and 2 betadine wipes...

[coach lou]

ziplock w/ 3 regular size bandaids, a half dozen 2x4 bandaids, moleskin,small tube of neosporin,single edge razor blade, couple of alcohol wipes, stormproof matches, cotton balls in small plastic baggies

You forgot screens

[hikerboy57]

You forgot screens

oh yeah screens. and zigzags

[leaftye]

Almost everything I carry is part of my survival kit. If something is missing, I may have a difficult time surviving.

Most of what you listed is part of a first aid kit. The whistle is the exception. If you cook, the firesteel is your fire starter.

As far as what is really needed, on the big trails, there's usually enough hikers around that will donate items from their own first aid kits. You may think you're hiking as an individual, but if you get hurt, fixing you up will very likely be a group affair. It's something to think about when you try to decide how much of a certain item you'll need.

[coach lou]

I took the snare wire out, and the waxed matches, and the signal mirror.

[hikerboy57]

i find the regular small size bandaids to be mostly useless, they sweat off too easily, so ive opted to carry the patch type bandaids instead

[coach lou]

I took the snare wire out, and the waxed matches, and the signal mirror.

Curved needle for doing a Rambo.

[Tharwood]

I also downsize what I carry that was multipul... Firesteel used for lighting stove etc. I have used and will use super glue gel for large Lacerations, and cloth band aids wrapped with duct tape from my poles. and yep you guessed it floss and needle for sewing things up .. pack, tent, clothes, skin... ( I can do a mean running matress stitch )..most of the items in my pack have multi uses. But, being on the AT you are NEVER too far from others (unfortun). The only thing i would like to have is a mirror.. Only for medicl reasons.. ( can look in my own eye, or see how bad that Lac. on my head really is)..

[Tharwood]

cant use screens or zigzags.. quit smoking last JAN. .. no Weed since 1990...id rather have a shot of Wild Turkey 101

[Hosaphone]

I have never understood why people keep bandaids in a "survival" kit. Those are for fixing ouchie boo boos, not keeping people alive. If saving lives is the goal, considering carrying a QuickClot pouch and maybe a CAT tourniquet (can be applied with one hand and weighs ~2oz).

I also find firesteels to be a bit mediocre. Think about the situations where you will "NEED" a fire - when you're cold, wet and hypothermic. That means it's probably cold, wet and windy outside, which means it would be tough to get a fire going with a firesteel even if you weren't shivering violently. A backup lighter and a couple firestarters seems like a better choice to me (WetFire cubes, Esbit, etc).

[Papa D]

Survival Kit (backpack)
latex gloves
roller gauze
ibuprophen
tums
lancet (super sharp surgical needle)
sharpie marker
super glue
duct tape (on poles or water bottle)
pocket knife, cord, cell phone, cash, and everything else on board including liquor and possibly safety materials

if I'm guiding, I'll also have benedryl and epinephrine, and possibly steriods

Survival Kit (Car)
All of the above stuff in the backpack plus
Cable Style Snow Chains (to fit the 4-wheel drive Subaru) - in season
Paramedic Jump Bag (First Aid Kit) - nasopharyngeal airway (NPT), Lactated Ringer's, Pain Meds, the works
20M of 10mm climbing rope, carabiners and webbing - - can set up hauling system to tow things out of ditches, rivers, etc.
2 Big Flashlights
Flares
Spare White Gas
About 1 gallon of water
bag of tools
am/fm radio plus CB radio

Survival Kit (Home)
all of the above plus about 1 month of food and water carboys, a well stocked liquor cabinet
about 25 gallons of gasoline
2 cans of white gas and a whole basement full of backpacking equipment
a big tank of liquid propane and a few little tanks

no guns

[Maddoxsjohnston]

All I have in terms of survival/first aid is moleskin, ibuprofen, duct tape, and flint+steel. Call me unprepared, but I have never needed anything more. I've found that mental preparedness is the best survival kit, especially on the AT.

[Hosaphone]

no guns

I suppose you can use your hiking poles to fend off the zombies...

[Rasty]

i find the regular small size bandaids to be mostly useless, they sweat off too easily, so ive opted to carry the patch type bandaids instead

I like the foam bandaids best.

[leaftye]

I suppose you can use your hiking poles to fend off the zombies...

That's what blue M&M's are for. Throw a pile on the ground to attract thru hikers for the zombies to feast on.

[Papa D]

I suppose you can use your hiking poles to fend off the zombies...

i might be a zombie

[Wise Old Owl]

Well Tharwood, if you come back later on - my take is its just walking Section or thru - most folks here take very little stock in survival as bugging out or off the well marked trail puts you back into civilization. From scouting to the AT Hosaphone and MaddoxsJ. are on to something here. What is great to learn as a kid, you will learn so much more here.


And then there is Papa D, are practicing to be a Dr. Prepper too? funny about the similarities in life.

[Mountain Mike]

Papa D has a pretty great list. I haven't carried one for year per say. Think about how you can improvise what you normally carry. I used to be an EMT, then I took a Woffer Course(Wilderness First Responder) Much of the training focused on using what you normally had. Foam pads for splints, hiking poles to make a traction splint. I always have duct tape when hiking wrapped around a fuel or water bottle. Floss makes great heavy duty repair thread. ETC. Check out SOLO http://www.soloschools.com/# or Nols http://www.nols.edu/ .