Wilderness survival should be taught to everyone. It can save lives, thus is an important body of knowledge. A survival kit should be cheap, and it should be simple, as this encourages more people to carry them when they go into the outdoors. In this instructable I will show, and explain how to make wilderness survival kit, and how to use it.
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I must say, thank you all for making this THE highest rated survival kit instructable on this entire site! Thank You All!
Remember to rate it if you like it!
I must say, thank you all for making this THE highest rated survival kit instructable on this entire site! Thank You All!
Step 1: Materials Needed.
Fishing line
Whistle
Chemical light stick
Emergency Candles (optional)
Small LED keychain flashlight
Tinfoil
Piece of paper
Duct tape
Bic pen
Razor blade
Box of WATERPROOF matches
Water treatment (for example iodine or chlorine. I use drops i bought at Coast Mountain Sports)
Poncho, OR a space blanket. (I used a Poncho because it doesnt rip as easily, although this sacrifices space.)
Whistle
Chemical light stick
Emergency Candles (optional)
Small LED keychain flashlight
Tinfoil
Piece of paper
Duct tape
Bic pen
Razor blade
Box of WATERPROOF matches
Water treatment (for example iodine or chlorine. I use drops i bought at Coast Mountain Sports)
Poncho, OR a space blanket. (I used a Poncho because it doesnt rip as easily, although this sacrifices space.)
Step 2: Fishing Line.
Fishing line can be very useful. It is strong, small and cheap. I suggest using 20 pound line or higher.
What you are going to do is wind several meters of fishing line onto the grip of a Bic pen.
To do this simply, make a loop at the end of the fishing line.
Then take the grip of the pen off the pen.
Then tie the loop to the middle of the grip of the pen.
Start to wind the fishing line around the grip until you feel you have enough fishing line.
Cut the line leaving about 1 foot at the end.
Put the end through the middle of the grip a few times, to prevent it from unraveling.
You now have a fair amount of fishing line that will go into your kit.
What you are going to do is wind several meters of fishing line onto the grip of a Bic pen.
To do this simply, make a loop at the end of the fishing line.
Then take the grip of the pen off the pen.
Then tie the loop to the middle of the grip of the pen.
Start to wind the fishing line around the grip until you feel you have enough fishing line.
Cut the line leaving about 1 foot at the end.
Put the end through the middle of the grip a few times, to prevent it from unraveling.
You now have a fair amount of fishing line that will go into your kit.
Step 3: Whistle
The whistle is a fairly simple tool, but also a fairly effective tool. In the mountains, forests, and even across bodies of water (like lakes) sound can carry very far. This makes the whistle a very effective signaling tool.
To signal with a whistle, put the end in your mouth, take a deep breath, plug your ears with your fingers, and blow into the whistle as hard as you can. Do this in quick bursts and in sets of three. Three of anything is the international distress signal.
To save space, you may want to take the cord off of your whistle if it has one.
To signal with a whistle, put the end in your mouth, take a deep breath, plug your ears with your fingers, and blow into the whistle as hard as you can. Do this in quick bursts and in sets of three. Three of anything is the international distress signal.
To save space, you may want to take the cord off of your whistle if it has one.
Step 4: Chemical Light Stick.
Chemical light sticks are great in that they almost never expire and they are very multipurpose. It will not be used for what most people think it is used for. Most people use these chemical light sticks as lights for tents, or even just parties. But the light stick can also make an amazing signaling tool at night.
The human eye tends to notice things that are perfect. Whether it be a perfectly straight line, or a perfect circle. This is because nothing in nature is perfect. With the light stick, you will tie about 8 feet of fishing line, or cordage to the end of it. Then simply spin it in a circle. This creates a bright perfect circle, which at night, can be very useful for signaling. This technique is done by the special forces, and the helicopter pilots can see them very well.
The human eye tends to notice things that are perfect. Whether it be a perfectly straight line, or a perfect circle. This is because nothing in nature is perfect. With the light stick, you will tie about 8 feet of fishing line, or cordage to the end of it. Then simply spin it in a circle. This creates a bright perfect circle, which at night, can be very useful for signaling. This technique is done by the special forces, and the helicopter pilots can see them very well.
Step 5: Emergency Candles.
Although these are not needed, they can be useful by providing light at night in places that you cannot build a fire (for example small caves and shelters). Night time can be some of the worst times for you in a survival situation. It is the time when your mind plays with you, so sleeping at night can be very difficult. This is why even a small light can give the largest moral boost.
Emergency candles are cheap (I got mine for 49 cents each at Army&Navy). They often have burn times of 8-12 hours.
These can also raise the temperature of a well built shelter by about 2 degrees, so put a couple of these in your kit.
Emergency candles are cheap (I got mine for 49 cents each at Army&Navy). They often have burn times of 8-12 hours.
These can also raise the temperature of a well built shelter by about 2 degrees, so put a couple of these in your kit.
Step 6: Small LED Keychain Flashlight.
LED technology is amazing. With such small power, an LED can create such large amounts of light. Costing less than 10 dollars, and coming in less then a centimeter thick, this is strongly recommended for your kit because it provides a large amount of light at night.
Step 7: Tinfoil
Tinfoil really is a underrated material, as it can be used to signal, cook, collect water, etc. This is where tinfoil shines (literally), because it is so shiny, it can be used to signal as long as you use a piece that is flat and uncrinkled. It can also be folded into a box shape, and be used to cook. Also, sometimes the mouth of a water bottle cannot fit into a confined space where water may be flowing, this is where tinfoil comes in handy. Because you can flex tinfoil, you can create a funnel-like object to get the water, and you can even store water with it.
Unroll and rip off a few feet of tinfoil. Then fold it in half,and continue to fold it in half until you have a credit card sized piece of tinfoil. Try not to crinkle it when you do this
Unroll and rip off a few feet of tinfoil. Then fold it in half,and continue to fold it in half until you have a credit card sized piece of tinfoil. Try not to crinkle it when you do this
Step 8: Duct Tape
Duct tape is your friend. It is used to keep the universe together. The only problem with duct tape is that it is pretty big. This is why you are going to cast it off onto a smaller soft core center.
To do this get a piece of paper (I used pink for demonstration purposes), and put the roll of duct tape on top of it. Measure how wide the roll of duct tape is and cut a strip of paper as wide as the roll is. Then twrap the paper around that good ol' bic pen. Then start wrapping duct tape around the paper. Keep on doing so until you feel you have enough. You now have compact duct tape.
To do this get a piece of paper (I used pink for demonstration purposes), and put the roll of duct tape on top of it. Measure how wide the roll of duct tape is and cut a strip of paper as wide as the roll is. Then twrap the paper around that good ol' bic pen. Then start wrapping duct tape around the paper. Keep on doing so until you feel you have enough. You now have compact duct tape.
Step 9: Razor Blade
If there is one thing that you should take into the wild, it's a knife. While a lot of knives are quite bulky and big, a razor blade is small, and very sharp. Although it has no handle, you can always attach it to one, but often enough you are doing something very small, such as whittling notches into a stick, so a handle may not be needed.
Step 10: Box of Waterproof Matches
A fire produces heat, light, and it fends off the animals and insects. Fires can be great tools, and you should always try to make one, this is why a box of waterproof matches is recommended. You can also use other things such as flint sticks, but matches can be easier to light fires with. Make sure that the matches are waterproof, and make sure that you know how to make a fire before going out into the wild. Remember to put small sticks into a tepee fashion. Put some tinder in the middle, and light it.
Dont always expect to light a fire though. If the wood is wet, then usually don't waste your time trying to make a fire. I say usually because there are certain tree barks that contain high amounts of resin, and burn when wet. If you can find birch bark, then you may have a chance at building a fire.
Dont always expect to light a fire though. If the wood is wet, then usually don't waste your time trying to make a fire. I say usually because there are certain tree barks that contain high amounts of resin, and burn when wet. If you can find birch bark, then you may have a chance at building a fire.
Step 11: Water Treatment
There are many ways that you can treat your water. There are filters, chemicals, and you can boil it. Since filters are too large for a small kit, chemicals are best suited. Iodine can be a dangerous chemical to play with, because if you put too much of it in you wont know it, and you can damage organs. With chlorine, if you put too much into it then it will taste bad enough that you wont be able to drink it. Also chlorine, if left uncovered, will dissipate from water after a day or two.
If you run out of, or lose your chemicals, then remember that you can boil your water.
Remember to read, and follow the directions on your purifier carefully before purifying the water.
If you run out of, or lose your chemicals, then remember that you can boil your water.
Remember to read, and follow the directions on your purifier carefully before purifying the water.
Step 12: Poncho/Space Blanket
Ponchos and space blankets can be very good for keeping you dry, and making shelters. Ponchos can be bigger and add volume to your kit, but they are usually stronger, thus a better material to make a shelter out of. Space blankets are more compact, and can keep heat in better, but can tear very easily. I went with a poncho because a space blanket is useless if it tears in half.
Remember to take one of these two, or possibly both if you really want to play it safe, because they both vital pieces of your kit.
Remember to take one of these two, or possibly both if you really want to play it safe, because they both vital pieces of your kit.
Step 13: Optional-Vacuum Pack It
If you do not have a vacuum packer (such as a Food Saver), then skip this step and put the kit in a ziplock bag.
Vacuum packing will make it much more compact, and it will keep the kit together better.
Cut the vacuum pack bag so that it is just a bit longer than the largest object (most likely the poncho or light stick). Then carefully put everything in the bag, and simply vacuum pack it. When you pack it a smart thing to do is tape a small blade onto the side of the bag, and put some tape over the sharp edge. If you don't have something sharp, it will be hard to rip the bag open.
Vacuum packing will make it much more compact, and it will keep the kit together better.
Cut the vacuum pack bag so that it is just a bit longer than the largest object (most likely the poncho or light stick). Then carefully put everything in the bag, and simply vacuum pack it. When you pack it a smart thing to do is tape a small blade onto the side of the bag, and put some tape over the sharp edge. If you don't have something sharp, it will be hard to rip the bag open.
Step 14: And Your Kit is Done!
Well done! You now have a survival kit. Remember to have fun, but stay safe!
Step 15: Additional Information
I did not include a compass in the kit because there are other ways to find north:
If you are in the northern hemisphere hold your watch horizontally. Point the hour hand at the sun and bisect the angle between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock mark. this gives a north south line.
If you are in the southern hemisphere point the 12 o'clock mark at the sun and bisect the angle between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock mark
Another way to find which way is north is by remembering, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. At noon in the northern hemisphere the sun will be due south at noon . If you are in the southern hemisphere the sun will be due north at noon.
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A medical kit was not included in my kit, but if you want to bring one, then bring polysporin and some tylenol and some anti-diarrheal medicine.
=========================================================================
There is a common rule, it is known as the rule of 3's. A person can go 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. So food is not your main priority.
=========================================================================
A triangle, or 3 of anything is the international distress signal. 3 whistle blows, 3 logs put into a triangle, or 3 flashes of a signal mirror, will be known by search and rescue as someone thats in trouble.
=========================================================================
Remember to keep your core temperature up. Your core is your head, heart and lungs. If one of those organs fail everything fails. And remember the saying "If your feet are cold, put on a better hat". Your head is where most of your heat is lost, so wear a hat or toque
=========================================================================
A fire needs 3 things (so many three's), air, fuel, and heat. Without 1 of these the fire will fail.
=========================================================================
Remember that prevention is 99% of the cure. Plan your trip ahead, follow trails closely, and ALWAYS tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.
=========================================================================
If you did tell someone when you will be back, and your not back by that time, then the chances are that there is someone looking for you (search and rescue). Most rescues are done in a few days, so think positive and don't think negative.
=========================================================================
Search and Rescue likes things that are multi-purpose. They call it "highly-repurposable"
=========================================================================
If you are very low on water, do not eat food. Food takes water to digest, so not eating food saves water.
=========================================================================
Always leave 2 hours before sunset to build shelter and possibly make a fire. To find 2 hours, hold your fist out at a distance. The number of fists you can fit between the horizon and the top of the sun show how many hours of sunlight is left. Each fist is equal to around 1 hour of sunlight. So if you can fit 2 fists between the horizon and the top of the sun, then you have about 2 hours of sunlight left.
=========================================================================
There is something called the "edibility test". It is a rather long test, and it can be found here
=========================================================================
Do not eat mushrooms. Treat them all as poisonous, unless you are 101% sure that the mushroom is edible
=========================================================================
If walking through the woods, make a small rock structure every 100 yards to show search and rescue where you are going if they happen to pick up on your trail. To find 100 yards, go to a football field and count how many left steps it takes to walk the length of it, this will give you an approximite distance of 100 yards when walking through the woods. To make a rock structure take a large rock and put it on the trail, then a rock slightly smaller, and put it on top of the large rock, then a rock much smaller than the large rock and put it on top of the slightly smaller rock. This creates a bit of a tower that is easy to see.
So go out there, have fun, and stay safe! But first rate, comment, and Vote!
If you are in the northern hemisphere hold your watch horizontally. Point the hour hand at the sun and bisect the angle between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock mark. this gives a north south line.
If you are in the southern hemisphere point the 12 o'clock mark at the sun and bisect the angle between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock mark
Another way to find which way is north is by remembering, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. At noon in the northern hemisphere the sun will be due south at noon . If you are in the southern hemisphere the sun will be due north at noon.
=========================================================================
A medical kit was not included in my kit, but if you want to bring one, then bring polysporin and some tylenol and some anti-diarrheal medicine.
=========================================================================
There is a common rule, it is known as the rule of 3's. A person can go 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. So food is not your main priority.
=========================================================================
A triangle, or 3 of anything is the international distress signal. 3 whistle blows, 3 logs put into a triangle, or 3 flashes of a signal mirror, will be known by search and rescue as someone thats in trouble.
=========================================================================
Remember to keep your core temperature up. Your core is your head, heart and lungs. If one of those organs fail everything fails. And remember the saying "If your feet are cold, put on a better hat". Your head is where most of your heat is lost, so wear a hat or toque
=========================================================================
A fire needs 3 things (so many three's), air, fuel, and heat. Without 1 of these the fire will fail.
=========================================================================
Remember that prevention is 99% of the cure. Plan your trip ahead, follow trails closely, and ALWAYS tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.
=========================================================================
If you did tell someone when you will be back, and your not back by that time, then the chances are that there is someone looking for you (search and rescue). Most rescues are done in a few days, so think positive and don't think negative.
=========================================================================
Search and Rescue likes things that are multi-purpose. They call it "highly-repurposable"
=========================================================================
If you are very low on water, do not eat food. Food takes water to digest, so not eating food saves water.
=========================================================================
Always leave 2 hours before sunset to build shelter and possibly make a fire. To find 2 hours, hold your fist out at a distance. The number of fists you can fit between the horizon and the top of the sun show how many hours of sunlight is left. Each fist is equal to around 1 hour of sunlight. So if you can fit 2 fists between the horizon and the top of the sun, then you have about 2 hours of sunlight left.
=========================================================================
There is something called the "edibility test". It is a rather long test, and it can be found here
=========================================================================
Do not eat mushrooms. Treat them all as poisonous, unless you are 101% sure that the mushroom is edible
=========================================================================
If walking through the woods, make a small rock structure every 100 yards to show search and rescue where you are going if they happen to pick up on your trail. To find 100 yards, go to a football field and count how many left steps it takes to walk the length of it, this will give you an approximite distance of 100 yards when walking through the woods. To make a rock structure take a large rock and put it on the trail, then a rock slightly smaller, and put it on top of the large rock, then a rock much smaller than the large rock and put it on top of the slightly smaller rock. This creates a bit of a tower that is easy to see.
So go out there, have fun, and stay safe! But first rate, comment, and Vote!
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Just guessing! :P
They are reflective for signaling and keep you warmer
Sorry but this is wrong, shelf life on lightsticks is about a year, and yes I know they can last along time too. Oxygen depletes them (that’s why there in a foil wrapper). Also cold will slow down (Dim) or even stop the chemical reaction. Hold it next to your body if cold, to warm prior to snapping. Also there are two types of lightsticks the regular long lasting, 6-12hrs and Hi-intensity, about 30 min, but at least twice as bright! (Better for signaling!)
Thanks!
Good info So far
The reason behind this is that toward the violet end of the spectrum the colors have shorter wavelengths (higher frequency), and therefore more energy is required to produce those colors of light. T1ZKeR in his earlier comment had the theory right, but had the wavelengths backwards. He is correct in that the higher-frequency colors penetrate better, and so can be more easily seen in less-than-clear conditions.
In most outdoor situations, you'll find a lot of green foliage, depending on the season. A green light illuminates this best, and the further a color of light is from the color of the surrounding terrain, the more poorly it will illuminate it, for the most part. In the dark, you'll find that red illuminates poorly compared to the other colors, which is a reason why it is often used when one wants to preserve their night vision.
I find that yellow is the best blend of visibility, illumination, and runtime, as it tends to last 8 or 9 hours and is quite bright. It would definitely be my choice in a survival situation.
so put a bit of tape on the edge...
patrick
armageddonoutfittersonline.com
You can now get durable emergency blankets at camping stores, much better than the mylar films and orange on one side, they serve multi purposes as heat reflectors, rain protection, signaling, even water carry.
Dental floss makes better snares (imho) and is in a easy to carry spool. (I get some that are the size of 4 nickels stacked up.) I like the idea of the aluminum foil.
This is truly a great kit. The only thing I really see missing is grey matter. A person should know how to use it all before ever needing it. The FM21-76_SurvivalManual is one such place to start.
Red light wavelengths (think infrared) are the shortest light wavelengths visible to the naked human eye. In saltwater, for instance, they penetrate the shortest distance before appearing 'black'. (On average 30-40 ft)
UV, ultraviolet, from the other end of the spectrum, penetrates the deepest.(Over 70 ft usually)
This, and the fact we don't usually encounter purple lights, suggests that UV or purple/blue/green light would be more effective as they penetrate further and are less seldom encountered by most folks. (At least outside of the local bar/cathouse areas ;)
And to add to earlier observations, if signaling at night, any light swung in a circle is considered an SOS by most aviators.
Just my $0.02
Very True!! Also Fire or the smell of fire makes the Lions, Tigers and Bears, as well as a mutitude of other criders uneasy and will make them less likely to bunder into your camp! (Oh My!)
They can also add burning time (wax(fuel)) to your tinder if your kindeling is wet or green.
Thanks
I used to keep a Garrity on my keychain until I discovered the Photon II, which I wear around my neck on paracord. I'll never waste my money on a Garrity keychain light again.
The only drawback to the Photon II is it's tiny size. I have large hands so I sometimes find it difficult to hold.
you can get 10 micro lights for under 5 bucks on that site, i have 20 of them and they are great, i have them on the zippers of all my packs and camping gear and also in all my key chains.