I know you guys have probably seen these before; I have as well. However, the ones I have seen both outside this app and in it have been very poor representations of what this little kit can be. This kit should be carried on your person at all times and can be a lifeline during a survival situation in which your B.O.B or complete kit gets lost. This kit should provide the basic essentials for survival. In this instructible I will present mine in hopes that those of you who take the time to read it will gain the knowledge of the importance of something like this and be able to apply it to your own kit.

Best regards,

Josh

Step 1: Aquire Your Altoids Tin

Assuming you do not have an Altoids tin, you can find them at most convenient marts and grocery stores. Then you can dump the mints into a bag and, if you're like me, eat them while making up your kit! Seems such a waste to trash such tasty little treats.

Step 2: Decide What Purpose the Contents Should Serve

For my kit, I wanted to have the bare basics. Obviously there isn't much room for luxury items or much to help in making shelter. However, my kit allows me to do the following:

1) Bandage and clean any wounds, and relieve pain, which should be your primary care in a survival situation.

2) Make fire. Fire is extremely important for several reasons. First, it keeps you warm. Second it allows you to cook food and sterilize water. Third, it helps your confidence. Fourth, it can help signal a rescuer. The list goes on and on.

3) Catch food. Big game is not an option here. The human body can go up to 3 months without food. Scavenging, gathering, and catching small game will keep you alive. You just have to make sure to not burn more calories than necessary.

4) Clean or dress a catch and whittle a snare or other tools. This is the closest thing to luxury this kit can have.

5) Repair minor tears in clothes or to make some makeshift clothes with cloth or skins. (This probably will not be an issue in a short term situation but that one nighter could turn into something worse very quickly.)

Step 3: The Contents

In the picture you will notice all of these things:

1) Tylenol wrapped in duct tape (top left)
2) A box of single edge razor blades
3) A small 3 blade pocket knife
4) 3 adhesive bandages
5) 6 wax covered matches with striking paper
6) A can tab which can be used as a makeshift hook or fishing lure.
7) A swivel, spinner, 3 hooks, and 2 lures for fishing (taped in the lid of the tin)
8) 2 small zip ties
9) 3 small wax candles
10) 2 nails
11) A roll of dental floss
12) A small stick of hot glue
13) 2 straws which contain cotton balls for fire starter
14) 2 paper clips
15) Fishing line (about 20 ft) wrapped around a paper clip
16) 2 sticks of charcoal
17) Alcohol prep pad
18) Small sewing kit
19) 12 inch x 12 inch square of foil
20) And of course the tin, which can be used to put berries in or boil water in or even make char cloth in.

* I also wrap 2 rubber bands around it to keep the top from popping open...you could count them but rubber bands tend to dry out and snap over time.

Step 4: Closing

I believe I have covered all the necessary bases here...other than shelter and water. Shelter will remain a product of your ability to fashion a shelter from what's around you. You will have to locate water, but once that's done, you can then boil it using the tin for a drink.

I can foresee questions about a few of the items...my ideas with the nails are that they can be fastened to a stick with either the rubber bands or the zip ties for a small spear for fish or what have you. The bands and ties could be used to aid in building a shelter once you have located the necessary resources.

Thanks for reading and please check out my YouTube channel "TruGearReviews" for my opinion on survival gear and my video on my complete Bug Out Bag! Have a great one guys and gals!