Emergency Kit for your excursions?

Down here where I hunt, I wouldn't even think about trying to purify water. The swampy creeks are so full of "yuk" that it would probably take a still to get the water into drinkable conditon. We have to pack our own in with us.
 
I wouldn't even think about trying to purify water

I believe the systems available would adequately treat most any water. Maybe you wouldn't like the thought of drinking some of the stuff, but it could be made safe.:)
 
Everybody's mentioned a lot of good things to put in a kit....

I broke my big toe awhile back...and can vouch for having plenty of aspirin on hand<in my case, several packs of orange flavored Goodys powders to last for a week) made a big difference in my ability cope well with the situation. Of course, if your taking meds.like aspirin, you're going to need plenty of WATER, so a purification system is a very good idea. If you're waaay out there in the wet and wild, I'd also recommend a fishing kit. A good fishing kit can be very compact, and a nice fish dinner beats having only nuts, berries, and bugs to eat.;)


Iodine is also wonderful thing!
 
For myself I want shelter,water, and fire in a kit. How much gear,weight,and expense those entail are up to your skill level. I carry an Adventure Medical Kits space blanket,Stormproof matches,Firesteel and tinder(vaseline soaked cottonballs), and water purification tabs. All of it will fit in pockets or a small day pack along with other wants. Try to practice with whatever gear you choose and even try using some of the gear 1 handed to see how it can be done. You probably won't be using the stuff for real unless things have gone bad so simulate an injury.
 
I've just returned from a weeks hunting in remote mountains. Although I made it back to camp each day my backpack contained asprin, ammo , knife, sharpener, gatorade, maglite, GPS, radio, map, compass, museli bar , mars bar,disposable cigarette lighter, toilet paper, various permits,& $50 cash. I wear layered clothing, so as the day warms up, the top layer comes off & into the day pack. Depending on local conditions that I hunt in, I may add insect repellant & raincoat, but you have to draw the line somewhere as you will be the one lugging all this gear over the mountains. I figure that with GPS & radio I shouldn't have to spend more than a night away from camp. I know you may think the $50 cash might seem unusual, but if you do get caught out & someone has to come & find you or help you the 50 bucks will at least buy them a round of drinks.
 
OK most of my hunts are one day deals and this is what I carry in a fanny pack:
1 Qt. water
Deer drag
20 feet of good parachute cord
1 military MRE (food, matches,drink mix, long lasting)
1 GMRS radio with weather channels
Spare ammo
Boy Scout knife
Small first aid kit and one trauma dressing
magnisum fire starter
large plastic leaf bag also known as a contractors bag (oversize garbage bag)

In my pockets:
Folding Gerber pocket knife
20 year old Leatherman tool
Cell phone

I used to carry a mylar space blanket until I had to use it one night and almost froze to death. I now put up a wind break made from limbs and trees cost= 0 The leaf bag makes a ground cover of rain cover and has more uses than a space blanket.
 
Thanks Bill! I also will not carry a big pack of extra stuff. I always carry my knife.
I do the waterproof matches and a bic lighter. Water purif. tablets, T.P. paracord and a bottle of water. I carry an MRE on most all day hunt hikes. I have one of those silver emergency blankets that folds into wallet size. I also always carry an LED flashlight and extra batteries, compas, sufficient ammo and sometimes a G.P.S.
Everything including the MRE and Bottle of water fit into a small day pack.
If I am black powder hunting, there is an extra possibles bag.
If I am bow hunting, I carry a little more camo and some sprays, so I use a bigger back pack.
 
for me, first aid kit (think military med kit) adn throw in a snake bite kit since I am in mucho snake country. I also have a signal light (with strobe) and I carry a cell phone and hand held CB. I also have one of those thermal blankets that folds up. I also like to carry a few pouches of the 800mg ibuprofen to help when you twist and ankle or such and it starts to swell.

Make sure to have some windproof and water proof matches and a windproof lighter. Also a good knife is a must along with some energy bars like power bars or the high protein bars or an MRE. Also, some bottles of water or a camelbak is a must no matter where you are at and what temps. Also, if you get hurt, make sure you know how fix yourself up. A red cross handbook is a lifesaver to read and also bring with you.
 
I've got a clear plastic tube, the kind they use for real estate flyers, it has rope and the items that others have listed inside. I wrapped several yards of duct tape around the top sections, I can still see the contents and it's waterproof.

I keep a pack of wire in my pack too, it has plenty of applications including snares.
 
cylum sticks

add to what everyone else has mentioned, a couple of cylum sticks for emergency light. They last 12 hours give you light and help rescuers locate you in the dark. You may need it if you can't get that darn fire started. They are more dependable than the batteries that are always dead when you need them. I have a crank up flashlight that is amazing. Those cylum sticks come in different colors. You just snap them and they glow for many hours. I use them when doing 100 mile endurance rides with my horse in the dark. Just put one on his breast color and I can see the trail as he walks.

I would recommend Propel sports drink instead of water. It has some electrolytes in it that help with dehydration. A whistle is also a good thing to have. You can get an orange one with a compass top. Screw it off and you have a waterproof compartment for your matches.
 
Really, I would take water, more clothing than you expect to need, andcommon sense.
If you are really out there invest in a SPOT locater. Carry a few extra water treatment tablets. If you need to drink untreated water, just realize you will probably get giardia

But on the other things I would say:
snake bite kit
These absolutely do not work for anything except high profit margins for retailers. Also, if you suck the poison out you will likely get just as sick as the other person, now who is evac'ing both of you?

Water filter:
unless you work very very hard at keeping the ends from cross contaminating these filters are useless. Most people who get Giardia were using filtration systems. Also they can clog without warning. Use chem tabs, preferably chlorine b/c your body has likely already accommodated to it. Iodine tabs used over long periods of time damage your stomach. Ask a Park ranger from the 70's. (not 5 days a week for a year). Chem tabs are also much lighter

SAM splints are what you want to carry if you are really worried about some sort of sprain/break. It will work as well as anything you can hobble together in the field and packs well.



1)Anti-biotic ointment (consider Staph-strength)-polysporin is fine. All the really bad germs are in hospitals, not nature.
2)Band-aid strips and pads of various sizes.-superglue. seals it and will clot most cuts.
3)individual sanitary wipes to cleans irritations-crotch rot if you have that problems, otherwise unnecessary
4)Alcohol gel (for cleaning hands before treatment)-roflcopter. This isn't a hospital give antibiotics when you return to civilization
5) Deet-based insect repellent-be very careful with anyone who has not used this before some have terrible reactions
6)Tweezers to pull out splinters, etc. forget it
7)Sting-ease for the wasp or hornet sting-screw it
8)Clear advanced care adhesive pads (to cover scrapes)-screw it
9)Rolled gauzeshirtsleeve if you really need it
10)Elastic bandage roll to wrap an arm or leg no need. Splint and hobble if you need to
11)2-3 bandanas or strips of cloth 3'-6' long rolled up (for splinting)-tear clothes with sticks or take an adjustable splint.
12)Hydrogen Peroxide or Betadine sollution for washing puncture wounds, cuts or abrasionsTake care of it when you get out. you will probably not be able to keep it clean anyways
13)Small sissors-Knife only
14)knife
15)waterproof sunscreen (30-50)
16)aspirin or ibupropen in sealed packs get one aspirin bottle pour it out put a couple aspirin, ibuprofen, peptobismo caplets, and any other medicine you regularly use
17)
Diagramed first aid instructions
either you know it or you don't you probably aren't going to have time to read over this booklet. Some booklets are crap anyways.
18)First Aid basic training-very valuable. Your employer may get a discount for having a first responder on staff and would be willing to pay for training(mine is funding my Wilderness First Responder class next year for the discount)

If I had a dollar for every boyscout I met wearing a 50# pack with machete, saw, and hatchet on a 3 day trip...

TOILET PAPER.
-in a survival kit? leaves, grass, rocks, whatever has always worked for me in a pinch.
 
Emergency should have...

compass ( other than the SIlva Ranger 15T, in shirt pocket)
minimag light ( fresh batteries in at season start)
matches / lighters
Triox firetabs for fire starting
Buck 110
space blanket
Peanut block (hard candy) or peanut butter cups

Just bought a "SPOT" for tramping here in the Casades!
 
Flagging, leather and tape

I have many of what others carry but here are a few that I don't think were mentioned: (And if I missed them, my apologies)

I have found a variety of uses over the years for flagging and carry it with me in a fanny/shoulder pack.

I also carry leather strips, kind of like leather boot laces, also have found a lot of uses over the years.

A little bit of electrical tape.

Happy Trails
 
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compass ( other than the SIlva Ranger 15T, in shirt pocket)- Only if you actually know land nav. Land nav isn't that difficult, but you probably won't get much out of a compass if you plan to figure it out when you need it. If you haven't done some land nave a compass is just an expensive paperweight.
How do you like the SPOT? I bought one to do the AT this Summer, but one of my partners became ill and I had to cancel my trip. Have not come up with a good excuse to use it yet.
 
Haven't set-up the SPOT yet,

but it seems fairly straight forward.
I like what I read as I have a 16 ft boat and it covers the coastal waters here.

I'm usually doing solo hunts or hikes and this seems to be ideal.
 
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