Silverleaf

Times being what they are, you never know exactly where you might find yourself. But when you find yourself there, will you be ready for it? I live in an urban setting, so I like to think that civilization is right outside the front door. Will this always be the case? If not, I'd like to be prepared for that day.


Above I have pictured my "Altoids Survival Kit", as it's often styled. Altoids are minty breath fresheners that come in nifty tin cans that find dozens of uses, one of which in survivalist culture is to make a miniature survival kit that is compact and easily carried. They can generally be constructed with things you have around the house or at little cost, and they are guaranteed to be of use in critical survival situations.

I have numbered the contents of my Altoids Survival Kit and explain them below.

1. Matchbook strike: Taped to the top of the Altoid canister to provide quick access and a firm surface against which to strike matches.
2. Seven matches: Again, easily accessible in the kit as they are taped firm against the cover.
3. Razor blade: Useful in a variety of situations that involve a sharp, precise edge. Taped tight against the cover and shielded with a thin strip of cardboard.
4. Cardstock: For taking notes, but could also be used to roll a tube, funnel, or paper cup.
5. Two regular fabric adhesive bandages: Self-explanatory.
6. One knuckle fabric adhesive bandage: See above.
7. Two packets pepper: Can be used to coagulate blood in cuts and scrapes that do not stop bleeding.
8. One packet triple antibiotic cream: In addition to being used on cuts, scrapes, and burns, it can also be used in conjunction with cotton as a firestarter. Bound in a rubber band.
9. Two asprins: Call me in the morning. Bound in a rubber band.
10. One paperclip: Useful in a variety of situations.
11. Bundle of matches: Additional matches bound in electrical tape.
12. One ziplock bag: For carrying water, food, items that are not water-resistant, etc. Bound in a rubber band.
13. One button: For obvious and not-so-obvious application.
14. 10ft electric tape: Generally waterproof, universally adhesive, and reusable. Wrapped in two 5ft strips around cardboard.
15. One cotton ball: Wrapped in scotch tape to fit snug. Also included are two Q-tips (I forgot to number them! They are between the pepper and the antibiotic cream). Can be used for medical purposes, firestarting, and more.
16. Seven safety pins: They come in handy and double as needles or fishhooks.
17. Pencil: For note-taking.
18. Lengths of twine and black cotton thread: For lashings, stitching clothes, and medical emergencies. Roughly 5ft of each, wrapped around an unsharpened pencil.
19. Set of eight sewing needles: Varying lengths and gauges.
20. Tin foil: Useful in a variety of situations. Could be flattened to make a mirror for signaling or used to collect water.
21. Victornox "Business Card" Pocket Knife: This really fits in quite perfectly with the compact and useful theme. This Swiss Army style comes with the following features:
    • 2 inch knife / file
    • Small scissors
    • Magnifying glass
    • Needle
    • Tweezers
    • Nail
    • Thumb-size screw driver with four heads (two gauges of philips and flathead)
    • Magnifying glass
    • Red LED flashlight
    • 3 inch ruler
22. Elastic headband
23. Large rubber band

Here's the kit all put together:


Sleek and compact, it snaps shut snug and is reinforced by two large elastic bands, easily slipped into a back pocket or backpack and forgotten (until needed).

I do plan to include several additional items to my Altoids Survival Kit:

1. Small compact mirror: These are often times made out of material that can be cut to size by scissors.
2. Water purification tablets
3. Two toothpicks
4. Fishing sinker
5. CPR mouth barrier
6. Inventory of items in survival kit

Do you carry a survival kit or anything similar for emergency preparedness? Is there anything missing from my miniature survival kit? Feedback and comments welcome!

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The Rev

Hey man. Long time no see.



The Rev

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Silverleaf

REV! I think of you fondly and more often than you might expect, good sir, and yes, in exactly the kind of way you're thinking.



BTW, I just realized -- November 2011 makes five years from November 2006 when I signed up this joint (pun intended) so where do I go for the greens?


















































I've waited so long to ask that question. For real.

Edit -- Oh there it is.

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The Rev

Yeah, it's kinda cool to move up in status. It's like all the blue guys are permanoobs until they get their dress greens.



The Rev

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Sir-Ex

Cool thread man.

I should put together a little survival kit too. I'm decent at stuff like making friction fires, I know the sorts of wood to use and some good technique, and I know how to build little lodges like sweat lodges and stuff with improvised covering.

But having a little kit like that could prove invaluable.


Also need to get a few guns. I'm sure those would help a hell of a lot for both defense and for hunting.

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Smile

Ditch the cigs!!!!!!

Lloydy

needs a firesteel and a proper knife

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Keep the red flag flying high

Bobbito Blaze

Yea my servical kit has one item and fits in the small of my back it's called Sig Saur 9mm is all I need. Just think I need a survival kit I"ll just jack you an take yours...lol It's your right go buy a Gun..

Silverleaf

As carrying a gun in my city is more of a chore than it would ever be worth, I invested in a sturdy slingshot (with option to add a wristbrace which makes the slingshot illegal here, go figure) in my larger rucksack that serves as my GTFO bag. Aside from the obvious advantage of not needing to spend much time seeking out ammo, the slingshot is also innocuous enough...



In an emergency/apocalypse, I think the last place I'd want to be is anywhere near the d-bag who thinks a gun is all he needs to survive. Good luck to you, pal.

I have been considering a flint, excellent point, moisture in the kit would leave me high and dry for sure. As for knives, the Victornox plus the Swiss I carry on my keys and the multi tool in my rucksack should provide enough in terms of blades tho now that you mention a hunting knife in the GTFO bag would probably be a good idea.

What I notice is that a lot of survivalists tend to be nutty folks who plan for disasters in part because they plan to cause them -- paramilitary organizations, anti-government movements, the looney tunes who leave the porch light on for Jesus... To be honest, my impetus for getting myself prepared for an emergency is in anticipation of all the trouble freaks like that might cause. OWS is only twenty blocks or so away from me, if there's one crazy hippie talking shit about firebombs and molotovs, what are the shy ones planning???

In all seriousness, a little emergency prep never hurt anybody. Actually, it kind of allows you to live life a bit easier, knowing you've done all you can to take steps to be ready when shit hits the fan.

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Sir-Ex

Are you talking to me when you refer to a d-bag who only needs a gun?

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Smile

Ditch the cigs!!!!!!

Silverleaf

No, sir, the gent who threatened to jack my survival kit with his gun, Bobo or what-the-fuck, haha! We good, brotha.

I actually meant to mention that fire starting skills for situations where you're without matches or flint would be priceless. I think I could jimmy something together with the twine and bark/branches all survivorman style but practice would probably be in order. Lots of survival techniques I haven't practiced since back in the day, I could afford to dust em off some.

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farmergiles

I'd probably cut myself by accident with the razor blade then asphyxiate from a coughing fit while trying to cauterise the cut with the pepper.

So I probably wouldn't need the other 21 items.

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Cultivate a stoic calmness

Silverleaf

Other items I consider including:

1. One non-lubricated condom: For fucking my way out of sticky situations, or more likely for carrying water
2. One bag spliff guts: For one last toke
3. One rolling paper: See above, or for fire starting

The stoner in me can't resist.

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Bobbito Blaze

And what are you gonna hunt with a sling shot any thing big enough to hit with it, it won't kill andwhat ever you can kill will NE a nightmare to try and hit. An if you shoot an attacker with it your only gonna Piss him off. And not trying to be a D - bag but think realalistic when shit hits the fan. Not everyone will be prepared and then it survival of the fittest. Then how smart you gonna look with your altoid case an sling shot. You don't need to carry I don't I keep it home mostly just for target shooting an protection. Or the apocalypse

ChiefBongWater

Yeah, If you take all of that "shit hitting the fan" stuff seriously then you definitely need a gun. What would be the advantage of carrying a slingshot over a gun??


Nice altoid case though.

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Silverleaf

In the event we're talking about what survival items we keep at home, then maybe a firearm enters the equation for me.

You have a legit point, in terms of self-protection, there's absolutely no advantage in comparison to a gun. But like you say, you mainly keep your piece at home. Doesn't do much good when you aren't at home, in that case.

The point of the survival kit here is that it can be easily stowed and carried, i.e., you don't know where you'll find yourself or if getting back home is even a possibility when the deal goes down. Again, given where I live and my circumstances, walking around town with a concealed weapon is the last thing I'd want to do, hence my legal-yet-less-effective alternative. Kind of like legal bud, you know.

I like the whole zombie apocalypse trend that's been getting so much play recently. I didn't really get the idea at first, I thought it was a pretty pointless subgenre, good for little more than sci-fi and storytelling, not really practical or worth losing sleep over. I mean, some people, they really get into it... When I was reading about other peoples' survival set-ups, I found a few blogs and youtubers who were definitely into it because they expected their neighbors to be coming over any minute for a cup of brains and a chunk of their neck. Crazies, I thought.

But forgetting for a moment the suspension of disbelief involved in granting the premise of a zombie invasion fueled by a biological disaster, the questions of how to cope after societal collapse are interesting. I like how the CDC took it and ran with its survival guide for post-apocalyptic populations. Harmless, imaginative, and fun, but still serves the purpose of being prepared, good god would Robert Baden-Powell be proud. The problems presented by a frankly unlikely disaster such as walkers are still problems after other catastrophes, natural, man-made, or otherwise.

Totally down for expanding the thread in terms of what supplies you stock at home in the event of an emergency, though. Let's celebrate five years of this silverleaf by getting each other in the right mindset to be ready for anything that comes traipsing down the street when all hell breaks loose. Like Merc.

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Man in Black

I try to be a survivalist. I'm going to steal all your ideas now, they are good. Thanks.

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When I was arrested I was dressed in black.

turmaline

that makes no sense...because once you get the persons items...it's just items...after a week or two you'll be fucked..what are you gonna do keep on killing people become a serial killer....you still dont have the survival skills to survive.. Jesus what if you come upon a person with a family...instead of taking the time to lear how to survive on your own you'd rather be lazy and put a cap in their ass?

Inevitably someone will find you so weak they will eat you for sunday dinner.

c'mon now.

I live too close to the border..and the city.

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"I'd rather a frontallabotomy...th an a bottleinfrontofme".

Silverleaf

It's what we do, brother, imitation is flattery.

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Man in Black

my good friend who was in the army and I discuss tactics quite often but haven't actually gotten down to the supplies. I buy at least one survival related thing out of every check.

but as far as planning...man have we got some tactics and strategy down.

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When I was arrested I was dressed in black.

turmaline

survival is my strategy...not afraid to bite through neck like entanglements.

i was building booby traps when i was a kid...deep holes covered with branches..actually cught a real kid in it..haha. thorn fences that snap back..i must have psychosemetically seen the rapture and all the lazy asses from the city coming my way.

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"I'd rather a frontallabotomy...th an a bottleinfrontofme".