Emergency Kits By: Eileen Russell

Introduction: What are “Kits” used for? Why do you need a Survival Kit?

Survival training teaches us that your brain is your most important survival tool, and it is your experience, know-how and good judgement that will get you through most survival situations However, when you travel, whether it be out in the woods, the water, the desert or for a simple trip shopping, a survival kit is your insurance policy, it is there to help you should something go wrong You will have the basics to survive. A survival kit, no matter how small, helps you “stack the deck” in your favor, and in a survival situation, you will need all the help you can get!

Types of Kits: Premade Kits Expensive Basic Needs Not Personalized Personalized Survival Kits Yes, KITS plural – You will need more than one kit! Cost Effective Beyond the Basics Needs Personalized to YOUR Needs

Situations Where Kits have been used: Ruby Stories Hiking Shopping Airplane Boat Ride ATV Other Situations? (Discussion)

Have You driven in your car without a basic survival kit? Do you have? Spare Tire? Jack and Lug Wrench? This is a BASIC Kit! A kit not complete…but a start. You not only need these essential items but you need to have the basic equipment to help you survive.

Survival Kits: A Survival Kit should be with you at ALL times! Some items can be carried on your person A small Kit can also be carried in your pocket or on your belt The combination of equipment and skill that you have on you when a survival situation occurs is all you will have. A Survival Kit will do no good if you don’t have it! Having a Survival Kit with you is important, but more important is to know how to use the items in your kit! Practice with your Kits prior to needing them. A survival situation is no time to learn how to use an item you have in your kit. Example, man on walk falls off of cliff…

This Class: This class is about making survival kits – it is not a survival instruction class. For this reason, you should practice starting fires, navigation, signaling, making shelters, water purification, knife & tool usage, and other skills BEFORE a survival situation occurs. This class will teach you the fundamentals of making a survival kit that will help you in any survival situation. You will learn there are many sizes and types of Kits. After this class, you will have knowledge on how to survive with the kit you rebuild. Always remember to keep your personal Kit close at hand because only then can it become the PERFECT Survival Kit.

Types of Kits: Every Day Carry Kit- EDC Bug Out Bags - BOB 72 Hr Kit -3 Days of Emergency Supplies Emergency Kits go beyond these..

Survival Kit Breakdowns: Personal and Vehicle Kits 1.Personal Kits The foundation for Basic Survival. Your first line of defense. “Always carry it with you!” Traveling, Hiking, Snow Skiing, Horseback Riding, Camping, Hunting, Shopping, etc… 2. Vehicle Kits Aircraft, ATV, Boat, Automobile, Snowmobile, Truck, Horseback Riding

Commercial Kits vs. Self Made Kits

Commercial Survival Kits Many types of commercial kits sold Ranges in prices from $5 to hundreds of dollars Some of these kits are well made and provide basics Some are sufficient and some are lacking in serious survival components Although many of the commercial kits provide basics, the quality of the components MUST fit the selling price of the kit. (*The components are not chosen on the quality of the item but on the price of the item. Space/Survival Blankets *If you choose a Commercial Survival Kit, be sure you become familiar with is BEFORE an emergency occurs!

Self-Made Survival Kits Highest Quality Components I recommend that you spend as much as you can afford on the basic survival items needed for your kit. After all, your life might depend on this kit for your survival. Therefore, this is no place to be frugal Your Kit should be designed on an item by item basis. You will be familiar with each component You will have flexibility in choosing the container/backpack This offers you extra space for items you desire to add You Will Be Familiar with Each Component Making your own personal kit is EASY and you can customize it to your personal needs!

Container Examples: Commercial Containers Self-Made Containers

Backpack Examples – Don’t be a target! Commercial Survival Kit Backpack Self Made Kit Backpacks

Kit sizes: Personal Survival Kits can be broken down further into various sizes. *The size of your kit will depend on what you are doing and what you are willing to carry Mini Every Day Carry, BOB Kits, Bug Out Bags Small/Medium Kits Can be carried in a backpack/fanny pack Large Kits Carried in a vehicle, boat, plane, etc… Combination of Kits Sometimes a combination of kits are desired such as a min-kit in your pocket or a single keychain.

The Basics: When putting your Kits together, keep the basics in mind Identify Specific Functions for Survival 1.Build a fire using more than one technique 2.Signal for help using more than one technique 3.Gather & purify drinking water and gather food 4.Navigate back to civilization 5.Construct a shelter in various environments 6.Carry out basic first aid

Combination Kits/Redundancy: Sometimes a combination of kits are desired such as a mini-kit in your pocket or a simple key chain. Keep in mind that multi-purpose and redundancy is very acceptable.

Start building your kit: 1 – Plan it – What do you want your kit to be? EDC, BOB, 72 hr, etc… Mini, Small, Medium or Large 2 – Pick it – Find the appropriate functional components for your size of kit 3 – Pay for it – Determine a budget 4 – Pack it– You must pack your kit Correct container Correct sized items

Selecting Kit Components: 1 – Fire and Light 2 – Signaling 3 - Navigation 4 - Food Collection & Water 5 - Shelter & Personal Protection 6 – Medical 7 – Knives and Tools 8 – Multi-Purpose Items When assembling your survival Kit, you should choose at least one component from each of the basics headings. These are the BASICS of Survival

Keep in mind each one of the following categories could be a complete survival class by themselves. Not everything I know will be covered here. I am just giving you ideas – you have to learn the skills! :

Component #1 - Fire and Light: Your FIRST multi-tool! One of the most important skills in any survival situation is the ability to start a fire Provides us with: Warmth Light Signal for help Water Purification Cook Food Make Tools Dry Wet Clothing/Tools Morale Booster

Component #1 - Fire and Light: You should choose two or more methods for making fire in your Kit! Matches Large, small, wind resistant, water resistant, box matches, wooden matches, flint/steel, disposable lighters, flint w/strikes, magnesium fire starters, tinder candles, lenses, magnifying glass, broken glass, flashlights, light sticks, bow bearing/socket just to name a few. Continued…

Component #2- Signaling: You need to call for help! Fire is a great signaling device Other signaling options: Signal Mirrors Whistles (Small flat, no pea whistles) Smoke Signals Flares – Backpackers Dye Markers Emergency Strobes

Component #3- Navigation: Getting lost could be deadly! The ability to navigate back home in a survival situation is extremely important Any good survival school will thoroughly cover navigation, and they would cover… Compasses Button Compass Watch Pedometer Orienteering Compass Maps GPS Pace Beads Landmarks Magnetized Needle

Component #4- Food and Water Water – water is a necessity! Without carrying anything in your kit, water can be purified by boiling A must-have is a container that can be used to boil water Purification Water Filters Water Containers Snares/Snare Wires Cup or Small Pot Food – is important but not as essential as water A person can go 30 days without foodA person can go 30 days without food Snares/Snare WiresSnares/Snare Wires Emergency FoodEmergency Food Emergency Rations – BarsEmergency Rations – Bars Small StovesSmall Stoves Fishing KitFishing Kit

Component #5 – Shelter & Protection Extremely Important! Hyperthermia – heat that raises your core temperature above 98.6 degrees Hypothermia – Cold that causes your temperature to drop below 98.6 degrees Both conditions cause your mental and physical abilities to drop rapidly Your chances of making a fire, signaling, navigating, etc…are drastically reduced! If your body enters either of these conditions your mental and physical abilities drop rapidly and so will your bodily functions. Your chances of making a fire, signaling, navigating, etc…are DRASTICALLY reduced! The same is true of severe sunburn, swollen insect bite or toothache!The same is true of severe sunburn, swollen insect bite or toothache!

Component #6 – Personal Protection Clothes you are wearing: Survival Blankets Poncho or Rain Gear Tarps Tube Tents Tents Parachute Cords Head Nets Hats Sunglasses Sunscreen Lip Balm Bug Repellent Extra ClothesExtra Clothes

Component #7 – Medical An emergency is NOT the time to figure out first-aid or medical care Red Cross Wilderness First Aid Class Useful medical components to carry in your emergency kits Items to clean a wound or manage infection Wound Management Medications Misc. Item Packaging a Medical Kit Having a separate marked container for first-aid supplies can make a difference when you need it! Mini to Small Kits, Med to Large Kits, Commercial Kits – First Responders Kit

Component #7 – Medical

Component #8 – Knives and Tools If you could choose one item for survival, it should be a knife! A GOOD knife can be used to make almost anything else you need for survival What is a good knife? Personal preference Make of high-carbon steel or hardened stainless steel I suggest a Drop Point or Clip-Point Reputable Manufacturer – Do your research! Becker, Browning, Buck, Cammulus, Cold Steel, Columbia River, Gerber, Ka-bar, Kershaw, Schracle, Timberline

Component #8- Knives and Tools: Should I choose a “fixed blade” or a “folder blade”? Personal preference Folding Choose one that will lock into it’s open position Sometimes one of each in kit SOLID vs BREAKING POINTS Don’t wait for an emergency to find out that your knife is a piece of junk! Razor Blades, Multi-Function Knives, Specialty Knives Folding Knives, Fixed Blade, Large Fixed Blade, Multi- Purpose Tools Hacksaw Blades Wire Survival Saws, Pocket Chain Saws, Small Folding Saw, Large Folding Saw, Small Folding Trowel Large and Small Shovels Continued…

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Component 9 – Multi-Purpose Tools Aluminum Foil Snare Wire Duct Tape Large Garbage Bags Bandannas Surgical Tubing Clear Plastic Tubing Zip Lock Bags Dental Floss Sewing Thread Surgical Needles Glue SticksGlue Sticks Safety PinsSafety Pins Flexible Cable TiesFlexible Cable Ties

Miscellaneous Components Extra Prescription Glasses Thermometer Survival Manual Knife Sharpener Pencil/Paper Toilet Paper Cell Phone Seasonal and Environmental Specific Items

Making Mini-Kits Aluminum Foil Cigar-Case Altoids Tin Walking Stick Knife Sharpen Rifle Belt Pouch Camera Case

F.R.E.E Survival Kits From Recyclable Everyday Expendables

Thank you!