Mini survival kits
Encyclopedia
Survival kit
A survival kit is a package of basic tools and supplies prepared in advance as an aid to survival in an emergency. Military aircraft, lifeboats, and spacecraft are equipped with survival kits....
which consists of those most essential outdoor survival tools and supplies which are the hardest to improvise or replace. A mini survival kit is intended to be carried along all the time and is usually designed to complement other survival tools carried along in a larger, separate bag. These kits may be referred to as BOATs, or Bug-Out Altoids Tins.
Many items included in such a kit are difficult if not impossible to manufacture or obtain in real world survival situations. A mini survival kit is intended to remain on ones person always, be appropriate to all environments, and be a comprehensive kit without being too large. Other personal gear will primarily offer additional serviceability and ease of use, but the mini survival kit should provide for the basic needs of a survival situation, followed by self rescue, assistance, or a return to normalcy in optimum situations.
Container
The survival tools and supplies found in a mini survival kit are generally kept in a container that is small enough to fit in a pocket. AltoidsAltoids
-Flavors and varieties:-Mints:Altoids mints are available in eight flavors: peppermint, wintergreen, spearmint, cinnamon, ginger, liquorice, crème de menthe and cool honey. "Sugar-Free Smalls", tiny square mints sweetened with sorbitol and sucralose, are also available in peppermint, wintergreen,...
tins are commonly used (hence the name), but many other options exist, including specially purchased mini-survival kit tins, regular tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
boxes, life capsule
Life capsule
A life capsule is an elongated egg-form container, used to protect valuable items and keep it on the body, within grasp. It is used extensively to store mini-survival kit items. Best known brands are TAD Gear and Witz Sport Cases....
s, film canister
Canister
The term canister comes from Latin or Greek . It means:* Originally, from Greek καννα , a basket of woven reeds...
s, plastic bottles, or boxes. The popular Altoids-type tins measure approximately 9.3 centimetres (3.7 in) x 5.8 centimetres (2.3 in) x 2.1 centimetre (0.826771653543307 in). Some kinds of containers benefit from waterproofing, which may be done with adhesive tape or dipping the closed container in paraffin wax.
An alternative approach is to carry mini-survival kit items in no container at all, but loose on a neck-chain , or directly in a satchel
Satchel (bag)
A satchel is a bag, often with a strap. The strap is often worn so that it diagonally crosses the body, with the bag hanging on the opposite hip, rather than hanging directly down from the shoulder. They are tradionally used for carrying books....
, pouch
Pouch
Pouch may refer to:* A small bag such as a pocket, teabag, money pouch, sporran, etc* Cadaver pouch, body bag * Diplomatic pouch* Electric heating pouch, medical apparatus, electric heating device for curative treatment...
or waist belt
Belt (clothing)
A belt is a flexible band or strap, typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worn around the waist. A belt supports trousers or other articles of clothing.-History:...
pouch
Pouch
Pouch may refer to:* A small bag such as a pocket, teabag, money pouch, sporran, etc* Cadaver pouch, body bag * Diplomatic pouch* Electric heating pouch, medical apparatus, electric heating device for curative treatment...
. Additionally, it may also be included into the belt itself (as is done in money belt
Money belt
A money belt is a belt with a pouch attached to the front which is worn under a shirt to protect valuables from thieves and/or pickpockets. Money belts are often worn by tourists as a precaution against theft. Items typically placed in a money belt would include passport, travel tickets, driver's...
s ).
Contents
Note that the list below is not the contents of an actual mini survival kit. Rather, each category lists some of the supplies or tools from which kit-makers choose when they are making a mini survival kit.Fire, light, signaling and heat
- Fire source: butane lighter, matches, tinderTinderTinder is easily combustible material used to ignite fires by rudimentary methods. A small fire consisting of tinder is then used to ignite kindling. Anything that can be ignited by a match can be considered tinder; or by more rigorous definition, anything that begins to glow under a shower of...
and sparker (or processed flintFlintFlint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
and striker) or "life boat matches" and striker board - Signal device: processed flint and striker, LED micro light, small mirror, or survival whistle
- Candle: can be used for emergency food if made from tallowTallowTallow is a rendered form of beef or mutton fat, processed from suet. It is solid at room temperature. Unlike suet, tallow can be stored for extended periods without the need for refrigeration to prevent decomposition, provided it is kept in an airtight container to prevent oxidation.In industry,...
Food and water procurement
- Fishing line: (30 feet (9.1 m) to 100 feet (30.5 m) or all that will fit on a bobbin)
- Assorted fishing hooks: "split shot" lead balls, snap swivels
- Snare wire: copper or brass wire is best for workability without tools or steel 'trip wire' or utility wire for durability
- Dental floss: for any uses that rope might be helpful; lightweight and strong.
- Water purification bag: small capacity plastic bag, 10 USoz, to keep tinder dry or for water storage/transportation
- Food/energy source: glucose tablets, bouillon, tea bags or hard candy
- Water purification source: fire plus a tin for purification or chemical purification means; Potassium permanganate or bleach for chlorinationChlorinationChlorination is the process of adding the element chlorine to water as a method of water purification to make it fit for human consumption as drinking water...
First aid
- Potassium permanganatePotassium permanganatePotassium permanganate is an inorganic chemical compound with the formula KMnO4. It is a salt consisting of K+ and MnO4− ions. Formerly known as permanganate of potash or Condy's crystals, it is a strong oxidizing agent. It dissolves in water to give intensely purple solutions, the...
or iodine tablets: wound treatment/water treatment/antiseptic - ScalpelScalpelA scalpel, or lancet, is a small and extremely sharp bladed instrument used for surgery, anatomical dissection, and various arts and crafts . Scalpels may be single-use disposable or re-usable. Re-usable scalpels can have attached, resharpenable blades or, more commonly, non-attached, replaceable...
or X-actoX-actoX-Acto is a brand name for a variety of cutting tools and office products owned by Elmer's Products, Inc. Cutting tools include hobby and utility knives, saws, carving tools and many small-scale precision knives used for crafts and other applications....
blades: minor surgery and fine work - Plasters/bandages
Miscellaneous
- Pocket knife
- Tweezers
- File
- Information cards with regionally selected information, knots for fishing, multi-use listings for kit contents.
In addition to the items marked above, the following items are also frequently found in many mini-survival kits (depending on the area the operator is expecting to be in, personal experience, multiple use considerations, serviceability, and durability). In some kits, certain items marked above can also have been completely replaced by certain items below. Items and many of their uses are listed along with alternative uses and/or alternative items to perform the role in the kit.
- Candle kit component: effectively replaced with 'ready-made' tinder i.e., tinder quick tabs, to save on space. Fire Kit components are further well filled by 4-6 LifeBoat/Storm Matches
- Alcohol wipes or Povidone-Iodine Prep Pad: wound cleaning, alcohol pads may also be used as fire tinder
- Needles or sewing awl and durable, thin threadThread (yarn)Thread is a kind of yarn used for sewing.-Materials:Thread is made from just about everything. Following table lists common materials, a general description and what they are supposed to be good for. If your machine will sew with the thread, any thread can used for just about any purpose. This...
: used for equipment repair, attaching fletching to arrows, and creating sutures. - Butterfly closure, medium
- Braided nylon cord (10 feet (3 m) 150 pounds (68 kg) test): shelter building, lashing, repairs, 550 Parachute cord is a widely accepted kit component for its versatility being used whole or in its constituent parts i.e., with the inner threads removed and used individually.
- Waxed dental floss
- Water proof paper: note taking or used as tinder
- Micro LED flashlight: signaling, work light, or fishing aid to attract fish.
- Additional water scavenging items in large kits include:
- Medium plastic bags 10x20in used in Transpiration water traps, bandannas
- Compressed sponges to collect dew.
- Small mirror 3 inches (7.6 cm) by 4 inches (10.2 cm): first aid, signaling
- Aluminum foil 1 square foot (0.09290304 m²): boiling water, cooking, signaling, reflecting fire or body heat
- Butane lighter or butane torch as a more "capable" flame to ignite damp tinder
- Electrical tapeElectrical tapeElectrical tape is a type of pressure-sensitive tape used to insulate electrical wires and other material that conduct electricity. It can be made of many plastics, but vinyl is most popular, as it stretches well and gives an effective and long lasting insulation...
(18 inch (0.4572 m)) or teflon tape to water proof the container. - Parachute cord (20 feet (6.1 m)) wound about the outside of the container or tin: tool and weapon improvising, lashing, fishing line, sewing repairs, to create lanyards for the kits contents.
- Duct tapeDuct tapeDuct tape, or duck tape, is cloth- or scrim-backed pressure sensitive tape often sealed with polyethylene. It is very similar to gaffer tape but differs in that gaffer tape was designed to be cleanly removed, while duct tape was not. It has a standard width of and is generally silver or black...
(18 inch (0.4572 m)): hasty repairs, waterproofing, one of the most versatile kit components. - Safety pins: for hasty repairs.
- Sharpening stoneSharpening stoneSharpening stones, water stones or whetstones are used to grind and hone the edges of steel tools and implements. Examples of items that may be sharpened with a sharpening stone include scissors, scythes, knives, razors and tools such as chisels, hand scrapers and plane blades...
- systemic Analgesics such as aspirinAspirinAspirin , also known as acetylsalicylic acid , is a salicylate drug, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, as an antipyretic to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication. It was discovered by Arthur Eichengrun, a chemist with the German company Bayer...
or acetaminophen - Anti-malaria tablets: for jungle or regionally specific kits
- Antibiotics: broad spectrum ones such as AzithromycinAzithromycinAzithromycin is an azalide, a subclass of macrolide antibiotics. Azithromycin is one of the world's best-selling antibiotics...
cover staphylococcus bacteria and can treat ear infections, pneumonia, strep throat, and sinusitis - AntihistamineAntihistamineAn H1 antagonist is a histamine antagonist of the H1 receptor that serves to reduce or eliminate effects mediated by histamine, an endogenous chemical mediator released during allergic reactions...
: first aid against insect bites and stings and allergies - Anti-diarrhea medication such as LoperamideLoperamideLoperamide , a synthetic piperidine derivative, is an opioid drug used against diarrhea resulting from gastroenteritis or inflammatory bowel disease. In most countries it is available generically and under brand names such as Lopex, Imodium, Dimor, Fortasec, and Pepto Diarrhea Control...
- Beta Light, battery-less/waterproof light: work light or as an attractant fishing lure
- TritiumTritiumTritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. The nucleus of tritium contains one proton and two neutrons, whereas the nucleus of protium contains one proton and no neutrons...
or Superluminova kit marker - Magnifying glassMagnifying glassA magnifying glass is a convex lens that is used to produce a magnified image of an object. The lens is usually mounted in a frame with a handle ....
or credit card sized Fresnel lensFresnel lensA Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
: igniting charcloth, many first aid applications - Ziploc type bagZipper storage bagZipper storage bags were patented by Robert W. Vergobbi on May 18, 1959. In the same year, Minigrip licensed them as pencil bags. Not until 1968 did Dow Chemical Company begin marketing for them...
: container to collect, treat, store, and transport water and to keep tinder dry