Wilderness Survival ?

[kittle 10]

Can someone help me, please. My son goes to camp Sunday and he is supposed to do requirement 5 before he goes. The only problem is, we were going to work on this tommorrow and Saturday, but we left his book in his bag (which we left at the shakedown). I can't go get the book because it is 30 miles away and the church that it is in is locked.

 

What I need to know is what the survival kit is supposed to consist of.

 

Kittle

[madkins007 10]

Requirement 5 reads "Make up a personal survival kit and be able to explain how each item in it is useful."

 

You don't need ot follow any specific list.

You can learn about good kits at a lot of websites, but MY kit is:

 

On lanyard around neck or in pockets at all times:

- LOUD whistle

- Multi-blade pocket knife with saw blade and tweezers

- Disposable lighter

- Notepad and pencil

- Ultra-light LED keychain flashlight

- Small first-aid kit tucked in wallet

- Wallet with ID and extra money

 

In a pocket-sized waterproof metal container (mine is a Japanese sushi lunch box!) Inside of the lid is polished as a mirror, and the box is wrapped in reflective tape, and extra secured with a couple rubber bands cut from bike inner tubes.

- Folded HD aluminum foil

- Several wind/waterproof matches and striker

- Several tabs of waxed cotton tinder

- Several yards each of filiment tape, dental floss, thin wire, and hot pink flagging tape

- A tool with a whistle and compass combined

- A AAA flashlight

- A wire saw and two finger rings

- Tiny fishing kit with a few hooks, a small lure, line, sinkers

- Sewing needles (to use with either floss or thin wire)

- Water purification tablets and two gallon-sized Zip Lock bags

- Jammed into spare corners- flint sparking tool, salt and sugar packets, hard candy/gum, and additional first-aid items.

 

This drops into a belt pouch with:

- Metal canteen cup (Actually- the cup fits over a 32oz Lexan bottle, and the pouch is home-made to hold the water bottle and cup. The other stuff sits under the cup. My sushi box slips in a side pocket.)

- Space blanket

- Thin nylon cord- about 50'

- Small roll of duct tape

- Survival reference booklet

- Small first-aid kit (based on BSA personal kit refill packet!)

- And whatever else I can shove in there- food bars or spare socks if hiking, handwarmers in cooler weather, etc.

(This message has been edited by madkins007)

[kenk 11]

Though I am a Cub Scout leader, I am interested in survival methods so a few weeks ago while visiting the summer camp I bought the merit badge book and entered the list of items into my Palm, which I happen to have with me.

 

By the way, an EXCELLENT reference is http://www.equipped.com - it is listed at the end of the merit badge book. Doug Ritter, who runs this site, has put together a Personal Survival Pak that contains much of this stuff - the highest of quality items - at a fairly low price (about $25). This PSP is described in the web site. You local outdoor shop probably carries it.

 

The book says that a Scout should carry:

 

SCOUTING 10 ESSENTIALS:

Pocketknife

First-aid kit

Extra clothing

Rain gear

Water bottle - filled

Flashlight - w/ fresh batteries

Trail food - not to be stored in tents

Matches and fire starters - consider a lighter or sparker - many use cotton balls smeared w/ Vaseline

Sunscreen - sun protection - hat, sunscreen, lip balm

Map and Compass

 

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED ITEMS:

Garbage bag - 30+ gallon, bright color - contact your local road dept. for orange ones

Whistle on coiled wrist lanyard or break-away neck lanyard - blow in bursts of 3 to call for help

 

OTHER ITEMS TO CARRY:

Duct tape

Signal devices - mirror, bright orange bandanna

Two or three bouillon cubes

Two or three flavored drink-mix packets

Two or three adhesive bandages

Money for a phone call

Nylon fishing line (50 ft) and hooks

Thin (18 guage)wire (24 ft)

Cell phone - or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)

Personal Medications

 

They also recommend a partro-level first aid kit, but I don't have that written down with me.

 

Other items you might consider:

water purification gear - Micropur tablets - stored in 1 quart Ziploc freezer bag (acts as container)

bright plastic flagging tape w/ Sharpie marker - for writting notes on the flags - Staples sells 1/2-sized Sharpie markers

Sewing/Repair kit

Metal cup suitable for boiling water - Nalgene bottle or Sierra type

Insect Repellent w/ DEET

Sitting pad - small closed cell foam pad or Tyvek envelope stuffed with leaves

Paracord or braided polyester cord - 1-4 rolls

Pencil & Paper

Toilet Paper in ziplock bag - decent tinder too

 

Other recommendations:

Leave a trip plan with a responsible person

Use the buddy-system ALWAYS

Dress or take clothing for the weather

STOP as soon as you realize you are lost or in trouble!!! Stay where you are! Don't try to keep walking. Help will find you.

Make it easy for searchers to find you - find a clearing if possible

Make a signal - blow your whistle, hang a bright flag, signal with your mirror

Know your parents and searchers are worried and looking for you, they are not angry

Stay away from deep or fast water, marshes

Only drink clean water

Don't climb high onto trees or steep surfaces

Carry a walking stick and watch your step - not really applicable if you've STOPPED

[kittle 10]

Thank You very much for the information. It helped my son very much. Now all I have to do is wait and see how he did (is doind) at camp.

 

Kittle

[kenk 11]

Glad to help.

 

Don't forget to look through http://www.equipped.com and share what you find with your whole family.

 

It is a great site devoted to saving people from the unexpected. The forum is great too, though you will find some visitors who tend a little too much toward survivalist thinking (preping for "the end of the world as we know it" or TEOTWAWKI).

 

Ken