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...I have been watching Survivorman on Discovery, and it is brilliant. It has been giving me ideas. Mr Kim gave his life for his family, but I also believe he gave it up for us too. His resourcefulness and struggle taught me more than any of his CNET videos. He has motivated me. As I am moving where it is rural an goes down to minus 40 with crappy cell phone coverage, an emergency pack seems in order.
I am considering those cheap water purification straws, several old newspapers as kindling, flint stone, a CB/single side band radio, emergency flares, and maybe a case of granola bars or several boxes of oatmeal. Peanut butter is a good food source, and also great bait for catching squirrels. Fatty things like peanut butter also are good for keeping up calories. A shake it to light it flash light is water proof and does not need batteries. It also is good for signaling to planes and helicopters. It is also a hammer. Mace is good for bears and cayotes. A small GPS or car GPS would also help navigate if you get out of the car. A GPS also allows you to tell rescuers on the phone or CB exactly where you are. CB's are also great for asking truckers stuff to prevent getting lost. If you are near a desert, consider water water water and sunblock and an umbrella as a parasol. Also consider salt pills in hot places to prevent seizures. If you are near water, the Coast guard uses a satelite emergency signal system that you can buy one of those devices for about 100-200 dollars. In emergencies it broadcasts a signal that the coast guard can home in on. Blankets are awesome, and I would carry several down filled camping blankets/sleeping bags in a vacuum bag(so they are small). A knife and a small metal shovel are musts. Maps are key. Several pairs of old pants can be used for warmth, kindling, and wet pants can be used to make smoke signals. Old shirts for the same reasons. A sheet of thick tin foil makes a quick pot to boil water or cook food. Duct tape can make shoe bindings, supports for splints, and can fix anything. It can even make rope. Cheap twine can help you carry things, bind wood for kindling, etc... I also have a tupperware that I keep in the car that fits 1 roll of toilet paper. Sure it could be used as kindling, but I prefer its primary use in the middle of no where. Several plastic zip lock bags. If you have a license, a gun is a hammer, a fire starter, a means to catch food, and a means to fend off aggressive animals and robbers(remember Deliverance?). Zip ties and remember most cats have some tools in the trunk which can be used. Clear plastic (like the stuff used in sofa protection) can be used to condense water from salt water/urine/fouled water. Copper wire or any wire can be used to make animal traps.
I know this sounds like alot, but I drive an SUV and a C900TC and all this fits in a 2x2x2 box.
Most of all, search your surroundings. If there are trees, there is wood. If there are connifers, there is also insulation and the ability to make shelter, if there are rocks, there is a safe place to make fire as well as tools to catch animals. My buddies and I horsed around with doing stuff like this on cmping trips. It seems that such goofing around may really come in useful.
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