kayakwriter
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- Joined
- Feb 27, 2006
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I was so impressed by the collect wisdom of the WCP hive mind on the “What’s in your first aid kit?” thread I thought a similar discussion on bailout kits might benefit us all. To get the bag rolling, here’s my current kit.
Since I carry a VHF, and on more remote trips, a PBL, both on my PFD, the idea was to create a kit that would keep me alive for 24-48 hours on the well-watered PNW coast, with the assumption I’d been separated from my boat, but had made it to shore. Everything goes into a Sealine bags Sealpak. http://cascadedesigns.com/sealline/pack ... ak/product. I’ve tested it fully packed to confirm it’s positively buoyant, even in fresh water (it’d be ironic to be dragged down and drowned by your survival kit.) It rides clipped to the daisy chains on the back of my PFD (if you don’t have it on your person, you don’t have it.)
Roughly clockwise from top left, the contents and their intended possible uses include:
An Integral Designs Siliponcho http://www.integraldesigns.com/product_ ... N=99279112 It can be tarp/tent, a wind/rainshell, and a location marker/signal flag – I choose yellow for this reason.
Coghlan’s wire “Commando saw” (cutting wood for fires and shelters) To be used in conjunction with the knife on my PFD.
Eyeglasses (I wear daily wear contacts while paddling and would eventually have to remove them. Being half-blind in a survival situation would be awkward). In the eyeglasses case ride several hanks of Amourcord, a very thin and light cord to be used for rigging the tarp/tent and poles.
MEC Turtle light, which has a flashing mode for signalling.
Several tablets of Aquatabs water purification. Each treats one litre.
Coghlan’s “storm” water and windproof matches.
Several firetabs for starting fires in wet weather.
A Tatonka cooking pan with waterproof latching lid, which holds pretty much all the kit contents aside from the poncho, glasses and waterbottle.
A couple of wrapped candies for quick energy.
Several packets of bouillon. Less for food energy than for a hot drink.
Several bars of lifeboat rations, vacuum bag repacked from the original foil 20-bar pack. These bars are formulated to maximize food energy while minimizing thirst.
One litre folding water bottle, sized to match the purification tablets.
Two Mylar “space blankets” for windbreaks, body wrapping, and reflecting heat from fires.
FYI, I know from spending a night bivied away from my main camp that the neoprene deck of my sprayskirt makes an adequate fetal-position sleeping pad.
Additions/modifications I’m contemplating include:
Oral rehydration salts. I carry some in my main First Aid kit, but I wouldn’t have that with me in an abandon-ship situation. I know from a near drowning experience that swallowing salt water can make you puke yourself pretty dry.
A Primus Ignition Steel Fire Starter in lieu of the matches. I’m getting pretty good with this lighting my Trangia stove, and unlike matches or a lighter, there’s not much to go wrong with it.
So, what sayeth the collective? What obviously useless stuff have I got and what outrageous oversights have I made? (Bare in mind that the carrying capacity of my kit is pretty much maxed out, so if you suggest an addition, be prepared to suggest an offsetting removal.)
Let the games begin!
Since I carry a VHF, and on more remote trips, a PBL, both on my PFD, the idea was to create a kit that would keep me alive for 24-48 hours on the well-watered PNW coast, with the assumption I’d been separated from my boat, but had made it to shore. Everything goes into a Sealine bags Sealpak. http://cascadedesigns.com/sealline/pack ... ak/product. I’ve tested it fully packed to confirm it’s positively buoyant, even in fresh water (it’d be ironic to be dragged down and drowned by your survival kit.) It rides clipped to the daisy chains on the back of my PFD (if you don’t have it on your person, you don’t have it.)
Roughly clockwise from top left, the contents and their intended possible uses include:
An Integral Designs Siliponcho http://www.integraldesigns.com/product_ ... N=99279112 It can be tarp/tent, a wind/rainshell, and a location marker/signal flag – I choose yellow for this reason.
Coghlan’s wire “Commando saw” (cutting wood for fires and shelters) To be used in conjunction with the knife on my PFD.
Eyeglasses (I wear daily wear contacts while paddling and would eventually have to remove them. Being half-blind in a survival situation would be awkward). In the eyeglasses case ride several hanks of Amourcord, a very thin and light cord to be used for rigging the tarp/tent and poles.
MEC Turtle light, which has a flashing mode for signalling.
Several tablets of Aquatabs water purification. Each treats one litre.
Coghlan’s “storm” water and windproof matches.
Several firetabs for starting fires in wet weather.
A Tatonka cooking pan with waterproof latching lid, which holds pretty much all the kit contents aside from the poncho, glasses and waterbottle.
A couple of wrapped candies for quick energy.
Several packets of bouillon. Less for food energy than for a hot drink.
Several bars of lifeboat rations, vacuum bag repacked from the original foil 20-bar pack. These bars are formulated to maximize food energy while minimizing thirst.
One litre folding water bottle, sized to match the purification tablets.
Two Mylar “space blankets” for windbreaks, body wrapping, and reflecting heat from fires.
FYI, I know from spending a night bivied away from my main camp that the neoprene deck of my sprayskirt makes an adequate fetal-position sleeping pad.
Additions/modifications I’m contemplating include:
Oral rehydration salts. I carry some in my main First Aid kit, but I wouldn’t have that with me in an abandon-ship situation. I know from a near drowning experience that swallowing salt water can make you puke yourself pretty dry.
A Primus Ignition Steel Fire Starter in lieu of the matches. I’m getting pretty good with this lighting my Trangia stove, and unlike matches or a lighter, there’s not much to go wrong with it.
So, what sayeth the collective? What obviously useless stuff have I got and what outrageous oversights have I made? (Bare in mind that the carrying capacity of my kit is pretty much maxed out, so if you suggest an addition, be prepared to suggest an offsetting removal.)
Let the games begin!
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