A great many pixels have been spilled by various gunbloggers about what someone should have in their emergency survival kit, the basic essential gear needed to keep yourself alive if things go south in a big way and you have to run for the hills.
Sometimes it can get rather involved, as posts are written about which brand of gear is best, or how to prepare common household items so they will be ready to be packed away against need.
I never much went in for all of that. Oh, don't get me wrong, the advice offered is usually pretty good as far as it goes. But the people offering it suffers from the same infodump affliction that most firearm enthusiasts develop when faced with a new shooter who asks for their advice. They want to cover every single aspect of the subject right then! Follow their advice and you would have to spend every waking moment for a month working on your gear to get ready for the end times.
Me, I've always said that each member of family should have a backpack stuffed with what they need to go hiking for two days, and the adults each have to be equipped with a primary arm (rifle or shotgun) and a secondary defensive weapon (handgun). If anyone doesn't know what is needed to go backpacking for two days then they need to buy a Boy Scout manual. If they don't know which firearms would suit them best then they need to go to the shooting range.
The film I Am Legend will be opening on December 14, 2007, and they are offering prize giveaway to promote the film. Details are here, but the thing I found interesting is that the grand prize is a "Lifegear Survival Kit", which seems to be little more than a backpack with a few cheap items you could find on the bargain shelf at your local outfitters. They claim that you can survive for three days using only the backpack and it's contents.
Of course you could also survive for three days without any of that stuff before dying of thirst, but their claims are technically correct.
You might get the impression by reading this cynical post that I did not enter the contest myself, but that would be completely false. I mean, c'mon! If I win I get a free backpack! They are always useful.
Comments (12)
Given that it contains no foodstuffs at all, that I can see, you'd be pretty hungry after 3 days. If we assume that the "hygiene kit" contains water tablets, then it's barely adequate. No mention of any first-aide supplies either.
Pretty lame for $100, if you ask me.
Posted by jed | December 1, 2007 2:03 PM
Posted on December 1, 2007 14:03
Pretty lame for $100, if you ask me.
I agree!
So how much would it take to buy similar items on your own, including the backpack? I figure about $40 to $60, depending on the quality of the multitool.
James
Posted by James R. Rummel | December 1, 2007 5:17 PM
Posted on December 1, 2007 17:17
are you subject to all kinds of junk mail when you enter their contest? It isn't worth it to me. I was overmwhelmed trying to figure out their disclaimer, which I didn't.
Posted by HKL | December 2, 2007 1:05 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 13:05
As as avid backpacker and hiker I can say from experience that all you truly need to survive for 2 days most anywhere, depending on weather conditions of course, is dry clothing and a gallon of drinking water.
Posted by Jim Lee | December 2, 2007 1:47 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 13:47
But it's a neat backpack if you can get it for free. :-)
Posted by Tully | December 2, 2007 2:21 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 14:21
Actually, you don't need a backpack, at least not for minimal "survival." A medium-sized canvas briefcase with a shoulder strap should do, maybe even a messenger bag. As for what's in it, something to light your way, something to start fires with, something to hold water, something to purify water, something to cut with, something to wash with, something to handle small to moderate injuries, some sort of painkiller, a folded trash bag for rain protection, and depending on your climate, cold temperature protection, and a few dozen yards of 3/16" nylon rope. I'd think a medium frame revolver would be useful as well, as might one change of clothes, including socks; long pants and sleeves can be shortened, but it doesn't work the other way around.
You can add as much more as you want, but those are the basic categories, and whatever you add you'll have to carry, and the more you carry the more you have to take care of and the more attention you attract.
Maybe $50-75, with the benefit of being tailored to YOUR habits and needs, rather than what some marketing wizard thought you'd need.
Posted by Homer | December 2, 2007 2:38 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 14:38
Your commenters appear intrigued by how much the backpack might cost. Just google "wings of life backpack," and presumably you will see, as I did, that Walmart is the first hit, with a price of $54.98. As they provide it, it contains a "[m]ultifunction tool sleeve," so the "I am Legend" folks have added an unspecified multifunction tool, which could easily double the price.
Thanks for the recommendation. Any idea what rating the MPAA gave it? The website doesn't say.
Posted by docduke | December 2, 2007 3:59 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 15:59
Your commenters appear intrigued by how much the backpack might cost. Just google "wings of life backpack," and presumably you will see, as I did, that Walmart is the first hit, with a price of $54.98.
That's amazing! The manufacturer's own website lists the very same backpack at about $100. So go to WalMart to get 50% off, and avoid shipping charges to boot!
Heck, I'll probably go there later tonight. Get some last minute Christmas shopping done.
Any idea what rating the MPAA gave it?
I'm afraid I have no idea, doc.
James
Posted by James R. Rummel | December 2, 2007 4:20 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 16:20
One of the problems of "survival kits" is that they are generic: what you need depends on where you live.
In Minnesota, I had one in my car, to survive if we got caught in a snowstorm.
But when I moved to Oklahoma, we didn't really need our sub zero sleeping bags in the trunk. So I added a water filter and food. The problem? It was fine for blackouts but if we ever got blown away by a tornado, the car would probably end up in Kansas.
If you live in a city, the danger of riots or earthquakes mean you need food at home, and a gun for protection.
Here in the Philippines, we have no "disaster plan: in case of a disaster (here the danger is earthquakes), we move to our farm where we have backup clothing etc. and survive on rice.
Chose your disaster before doing your planning.
Posted by Nancy Reyes | December 2, 2007 5:14 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 17:14
TO: James, et al.
RE: Survival Kits
I've got a duffle-bag (military) packed by the jeep. Along with several jerry-cans. The ruck-sacks are stored in the basement, with the rest of the camping gear. The hardware is readily available....always.
60 minutes and we're on our way...if we have to get away.
However, considering the household is built like a [c. 1901] fortress, i.e., Festung Pelto Pueblo, we don't see much a necessity to depart. Especially since we moved out of a targeted area in the first place to come to this smaller city.
I counsel anyone living in a major city to 'reconsider'.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
[Chance favors the prepared mind. -- Louis Pasteur, father of microbiology]
Posted by Chuck Pelto | December 2, 2007 7:12 PM
Posted on December 2, 2007 19:12
The tough part isn't what you might need, it's keeping it all portable and managable. For my family of five just food and water for three days is about all I can carry on my back since my kids are too small to carry their own water. If I were to put all our bug out supplies in my suv, we'd barely have room for ourselves. Five sleeping bags, thermarests, shelter, 45 MREs, medicines, KI, 30 liters of water, clothing, shoes, flashlights, batteries, com gear, maybe even guns n' ammo, etc, it's a ton of crap.
Basically I hope to weather any minor disturbance at home, if that's not possible I have arranged fallback positions locally with friends and family. If the disaster is regional, or supra regional and we need to bug out to another state, were probably screwed because we'll die on the highway with everybody else. I don't think it's possible to prepare for every concievable contingincy, but you can prepare for emergencies that are likely for your area.
Posted by el duderino | December 3, 2007 2:31 AM
Posted on December 3, 2007 02:31
Our fire department in the Washington, DC area teaches an "urban disaster school." The target audience includes municipal employees, most particularly families of police officers, sheriff's deputies, fire fighters, EMS, public health and public works, as well as volunteer members of Community Emergency Response Teams, Medical Reserve Corps and Neighborhood Watch.
Families of responders must be self-reliant while the employee is "on the job" which can include being deployed for several weeks to a month out of the County under the Emergency Mutual Aid Compact. Course instructors are members of our urban search & rescue team and have been deployed worldwide on multiple occasions.
They teach us to prepare in three levels.
"Level 1" is the "Minimum Personal Kit" you carry daily, all the time, without fail, in your pockets, brief case or a small belt pouch.
As I write this in my office I have on my person my wristwatch (with a military issue button compass on its band) and eyeglasses. The zipper pull on my coat has a thermometer, another button compass and a Photon Micro-Light II. In my pockets are a cell phone, handkerchief and Mil-K-818 pocket knife. My key ring has a Fox 40 Micro whistle, Sparklite tool and CMG Infinity Task Light. Today is an office day. On days when I will do field work I carry in my BDU pockets a first aid pouch, snacks, personal hygiene items and a water bottle to last through a 12-hour operational period while at work.
"Level 2" is your "Grab & Go Bag" which should sustain you easily for 24 hours, but must be capable of stretching to 72 hours while accepting moderate discomfort.
Mine is stashed in a military aviator's helmet bag which hangs over my bedpost at night. It goes in my work truck during the day, into the office when there, and home with me at night. It has a first aid kit, stuffable Gore tex rain suit and hat, dry socks in ziplok bag, fleece jacket, SureFire E2E flashlight, pepper spray (creds or carry permit, weapon and ammo, if authorized) Leatherman Super Tool, MRE, and two quart water bottles. Each family member has their own bag, tailored to their needs, to sustain them for 24 hours.
"Level 3" is the "Evacuation Bag." It contains extra clothing, shelter, tools, food, water, other expendables such as batteries, to sustain a temporary relocation away from home for 72 to 96 hours. Mine is packed in an aviator's kit bag stowed in the vehicle. Each family member has their own, in their vehicle. We also keep a GI wool blanket, spade, K-Bar, kindling axe, bow saw, 10L water can, six MREs and heaters, 36 hour candle and matches in a Rubbermaid Brute Box in each vehicle.
The course material for Disaster Survival Skills for the Urban Environment is at this URL- http://www.w4ava.org/races/KKauxcomm33.htm
References:
Build the Perfect Survival Kit, John D. McCann, ISBN: 0-87349-967-0, KP Books, Iola, WI 54990, 800-258-0929
Six Ways In and Twelve Ways Out, George Jasper, USRSOG, 4600 N. Hardesty, Kansas City, MO 64117 http://www.usrsog.org/manu.htm
98.6 Degrees - The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive, Cody Lundin, Gibbs-Smith Publishers P.O. Box 667, Layton, UT 84041, www.gibbs-smith.com, 800-835-4993
Posted by ke4sky | February 15, 2008 3:09 PM
Posted on February 15, 2008 15:09