Pocket Survival Kits (PSK's)

[mitunnelrat]

After doing the AAR on my winter exercise, I realized there was a piece of kit I totally forgot about. My PSK. Mostly because I rarely use it for anything short of a real emergency , or as an icebreaker in discussing preps. I'd say I never use its contents, but I depleted a good bit of it helping ease a cross country road trip.


My tin is highly modified with the lid serving double duty as a miniature frying pan, and the fairly common pot on the lower. I used a wire coat hanger for the handles and a retaining pin. Its also packed quite full after I read John D. McCann's book, "Build the Perfect Survival Kit".



My contents, following his format for gear selection:
Fire and Light
-Lifeboat Matches, 4 ea.; Maglite Solitaire
Signaling
-a small survival mirror rescued from a junk survival knife. I stuck the abrasive striker for the matches to this.
Navigation
-Button compass from same junk knife.
Food & Water Collection
-Tin, as described above; non-lubed condom; Micropur tablets, 2 ea.; Chicken Bouillon packet
Shelter & Personal Protection
-None, due to size limitations.
Medical
-Alcohol prep pad; butterfly closures, 2 ea.
Knives & Tools
-Scalpel blades, 2 ea. (I grooved the retention pin for my "frying pan" handle to accept the blades); a SwissCard Lite screwdriver tool since I modded the card to hang with and behind my work ID, and chose not to cut a groove into this piece; P-38 can opener
Multi-Purpose Items
-Magnetized sewing needle (sewing/ Navigation); 8# test "no memory" fish line, 10 ft. (sewing, fishing, light cordage); Gutted 550 cord, 3 ft.; 100 mph tape, 3 ft.; Tinfoil, 1 sq. ft. (drinking, cooking, signaling, etc.); .22lr cartridges, 5 ea. (ammunition, fire, split shot... you can even groove the jacketed bullets)

Miscellaneous
-Pencil Stub; Paper; Safety Pin

This kit is currently only 99% done though. I still have to dig my fishing kit out of storage and add: 3 hooks and 6 small split shot. Once I've done that I'll be content with it. I would like to get rid of the "frying pan" portion, but it brings such great discussion on creative thinking and solutions to survive that I can't bring myself to do it. I like to provoke thought at times.

[LUNCHBOX]

A snare wire might not be a bad item to add....I have that and a couple triple antibiotic cream packs. (my tin is a empty watch tin, about twice as big as the Altoid tin) I will get a photo up soon. Also, I place cotton balls in where there is room to cut down on rattle.

[mitunnelrat]

Hmm, I put it together with what I had in front of me at the time, and gave it little thought since, but a PJ cottonball and some snare wire, and antibiotic ointment would be great additions. As is, the tin is almost over packed, but in consideration I could create space for them by removing the pencil stub/ paper, and the bouillon packet. Thanks LUNCHBOX!

I also just realized I deleted the wrong pic to add the one of my improv'ed knife. My bad. I'll edit to reflect the kit unpacked so people can get a better idea of just how much is in there.

[mitunnelrat]

As an update, I managed to shove a PJ Cottonball and a packet of antibiotic ointment in it without removing anything. I think I might be able to get some snare wire in there too. That'll be cool if so.

[mitunnelrat]

Final update. This kit is 100% complete. I was able to add the PJ cottonball and ointment as I stated above, my 3 fishhooks, 6 small split shot, and 5' of black 20 ga. wire without removing any of the original contents. It might burst if I try for anything more though!

[The Stig]

Are there other uses for the condom besides the obvious intended use?

[mitunnelrat]

There's a couple that I know of, but I haven't tried either of them. The first is as an emergency canteen. The second is to use the (full) condom to start a fire:
The Condom Survival Fire | Field & Stream

It apparently takes a long, long time to get a fire going that way, but I'd definitely try it if I was out of other options.

[bacpacker]

Very nice idea's on the altoids kit. I have a bunch of tins I've saved, but haven't gotten around to setting on up. Need to get that done.

[Stg1swret]

I make seperate kits , each one specialized - First Aid, Fire starting, Fishing/Trapping, Emergency comm, etc. They take up little space and organize small items very well.

[The Stig]

I make seperate kits , each one specialized - First Aid, Fire starting, Fishing/Trapping, Emergency comm, etc. They take up little space and organize small items very well.

How do you separate the kits? Different pouches? Ziploc bags?

I'm a fan of having smaller kits also.