Inventory for Basic Survival Kit
by Daniel C. Friend
Originally published in American Survival Guide, March 1990

Shelter and Warmth

• "Emergency" space blanket or bag
• Heavy duty plastic trash bag (2.5 mil)
• 550 parachute cord 25'
• 9' transparent vinyl mending tape (wrap around flashlight)

Water

• Heavy-duty plastic water bag (large heavy-duty ziplock bag will do)
• Iodine-based water tablets
• Large cotton bandana or triangular bandage

Heat, Light, and Signalling

• 9-hour candle
• Waterproof match case
• Waterproof strike-anywhere matches
• 2 bithday candles
• Disposable lighter
• Mmagnesuim firestarter
• Ccard-type magnifying lens [fresnel?]
• Police whistle on lanyard [beware of metal whistles they freeze to lips in cold]
• Stainless steel double-surface signal mirror
• AA or AAA flashlight with fresh batteries
• 50' surveyor's tape
• 3"x5" cards and pen

Knives and Tools

• Swiss ary knife or leathermean tool
• Knife sharpener (opposed tungsten carbide tips)
• Hemostats
• Small "ignition point" file
• 6" sharpened piece of hacksaw blade
• 4" extra-heavy duty sewing needle
• 6 heavy duty rubber bands

Direction Finding

• Good quality liquid-filled luminous compass

First Aid

• Clean cotton bandana or triangular bandage (see WATER)
• Hemostats (see KNIVES and TOOLS)
• Flexible fabric band-aids of various sizes
• Handiwipes
• Insect repellant
• Aspirins or Tylenol
• Moleskin or mole foam
• Pepto Bismol

General

• Mosquito headnet (for fishing or insects)
• Safety pins, 2 large 4 medium
• Telephone change
• Snare wire, brass or copper
• Survival cards

In Addition to the Basic Survival Kit Always Include the Following Items in Your Pack

• Individual ready-to-eat canned food (sardines, etc)
• Detailed map
• Separate first-aid kit, including prescription medications
• Small transistor radio
• Extra pair eyeglasses in unbreakable case

Inventory for Augmentation Kit

First Aid

• 4 3"x3" sterile pads
• 1 roll 2" cling bandage
• Trial size pack Coricidin D decongestant tablets
• Blister pack of 9 Cepacol throat lozenges
• Blister pack Pepto Bismol tablets
• Neosporin antibiotic ointment
• Extra sefety pins
• 6 flexible fabric band-aids

Shelter and Warmth

• 4'x7' poly blanket or extra space blanket
• 9-hour candle
• 25' 550 parachute cord
• Small disposable lighter

Food and Water

• 2 tins sardines
• Heavy duty nylon spoon
• Snare wire
• Mosquito head net
• Iodine water purification tablets
• Plastic water bag

Signalling

• Spare batteries for flashlight