What survival items do you keep in your wallet. I am currently stcking my wallet up with a few compact items. I have 2 wind/waterproof matches and trimmed striker, a BCB tool, and a tiny recipricating saw blade. What do you have?

i got:
-swisscard tool
-2x platypatches
-2x safetypins
-2x paperclips
-P 38
-1L ziploc bag
-note paper
-accident evaluation report
and various cards and money

I always keep a few normal size band-aids (what you Brits call plasters, I believe) in my wallet. There is also backup currency folded up and tucked away. When normally dressed, a Leatherman tool, photon II, and SA Classic are elsewhere on my person. Other items, including a real FAK, are my pack or briefcase, whichever I am carrying for the day.

Aside from the usual cash and cards...
1 fresnel lens
1 fishing hook w/ leader
1 x-acto blade
1 paper clip
2 hair pins (have gotten me and a friend into his house when he forgot his keys)
1 list of contact info

My other EDC consists of a leatherman squirt, SOG autoclip, fox 40 whistle (cut down like Doug's), white photon II, a red photon I, FAK, bic lighter, and cell phone.

One condom (for water carrying).

1. Cash
2. Credit Card
3. Debit/ATM Card
4. Spare Checks
5. I.D. in the form of Driver's License
6. a small piece of paper, folded, with these words (periodically updated) printed on it:

IF I AM INJURED OR UNABLE TO DO IT,
PLEASE CONTACT THESE PEOPLE FOR ME:
^^^^^^
Heidi Berthiaume home 972-del-eted
(Girlfriend) work 214-del-eted

Bill/Brenda Entzminger 972-del-eted
(Father/Stepmom) work 972-del-eted

Sally Lou K Entzminger 972-del-eted
(Mother) work 972-del-eted

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CARING AND HELP!
(I fold the piece of paper here, so it's very small.)
IF I'M INJURED OR UNABLE TO SPEAK
MY PERSONAL INFORMATION IS BELOW:

James Thad Entzminger (J.T., Jim)
Birthdate 3/13/64 Blood Type A+
drug-free non-drinking non-smoker
no medical allergies & conditions

18625 deleted Rd., Apt.# deleted
Dallas TX 75287 USA Information
972-del-eted home updated on
214-del-eted cell 08/13/2002

Hmm... boy, that formatting sure is screwed up above. If I could use tables, I could straighten this out. For instance, the
"Information
updated on
08/13/2002"
is very much separate from my address and phone numbers, but the forum doesn't give me the ability to format it so you can tell. Oh, well, I'm sure you can all interpret it sufficiently. <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

That's it for the wallet. I used to carry a spare car key, but now I drive a Wrangler w/ zip-out windows, so there's no need. I have never carried a condom there, since sitting on them crushes and weakens them, encouraging breakage. All else I carry elsewhere on or about my person.

In addition to my cards and cash I carry a spare R$50 note tucked away, a phone card, single edged razor blade, and I have a small tablet of paper that rides inside the fold that functions as my memory. I also have a cut down pen refill in the fold so my memory never runs out of ink.

One thing I have started doing here in Brazil that I never did back in the States is to carry a magnetized razor blade in my shoe. It is under the insole held in place with a piece of duct tape.

This is kidnapping insurance. Estrangeiros like me get kidnapped and tied up often enough that if it happens to me I will have the means to cut my bonds. The magnetized blade also functions as a compass when suspended from a thread. Thus may help to orient me as I would have arrived blindfolded or in the trunk of a car.

It is a slim chance this would ever happen but then again it is a slim blade in my shoe that is no bother at all. Mac

1. Various credit cards- work as ID also
2. Cash money and £20 note separately (for emergency)
3. Button compass (helped many times when I was in an unknown town)
4. Victorinox classic knife
5. Photos (sometimes necessary)
6. Very small pen
7. receipts- use them as paper for writting also
8. Amulets
I am also thinking to put some lighter into my wallet, but cannot find anything slim, except matches, but I do not trust matches because once they are used you cannot use them again. Also, some string and something instead of condom to carry water- I am married and my wife will not understand why I am carrying a condom in my wallet. <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Ebakeev,

If you were a truly committed survivor, your wife would actually believe that the condom in your wallet is an emergency water container. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

John

In addition to the usual, my already overstuffed wallet contains:

1. Telephone card;
2. Emergency notification list containing family, friends, neighbors' names, addresses, phone nos. It also includes such information as to hospitals, physicians, dentists, attornies, CPA, church & pastor, schools, insurance carriers with policy nos. & claims office phone nos. You never know what form an emergency may take;
3. Fresnel;
4. Assorted band aids (after all I have 2 active sons, not to mention miscellaneous Cub Scouts & Boy Scouts for whom I am occasionally responsible);
5. Auto Club card;
6. Health insurance card;
7. Birth dates, Social Security Nos., health insurance identification nos., & driver's license no. for each member of my immediate family;
8. Spare vehicle keys; and
9. Business cards (they make good note paper).

Incidentally, a goodly amount of cash can sometimes work wonders.

John

If you were a truly committed survivor, your wife would actually believe that the condom in your wallet is an emergency water container.
John

She doesn't... <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Aside from the typical contents I have one or two items which come in handy...
A couple of large bandaids... which have been used for more than stopping blood flow... such as hanging a sign on a door to let some know where we went, or holding a screw on the end of screw driver to allow insertion of said screw into a deep cavity with out loss. I carry the heavy fabric type bands which are incredibly strong (pound for pound stronger than steel... maybe not <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)
A credit card sized signal mirror, which has been used for the obvious as well as the clever... such as a make shift flash light (reflecting sun light to check for blown fuses under the dash of a car)
My favorite addition is an old credit card which has been rapped in 20 ft of 60 lb test dacron fishing line, which I then rapped with a foot of folded aluminum foil, then rapped with a couple feet of duct tape and high quality electrical tape (side by side)
This is a handy tape dispenser, I can even pull the fishing line off of one end without unrapping the whole thing... the only thing I can't get at easily is the foil... but its there if needed.
The whole thing is about the thickness of three credit cards, but the utility is easily worth the space. It does fit into a single card slot.
I love when someone wishes out loud for tape, and out of no where I hand them a piece... I always get the "where'd you get that"
<img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

PryBar,

I like the credit card idea, but are the tapes directly on top of the foil? If so, how can you separate the foil from the tapes?

Thanks,

John

Ebakeev,

Then you must lead her to a clearer understanding, unless of course she already has a clear understanding. In the latter event, you really do need to work on your survival skills. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Alternatively you could change the real purpose.

I suspect that if my wife found one in my wallet, her reaction would be to reproach me for carrying my emergency water container in such a poor way. And she'd be right. Oh, well ...

John

Moleskin, I'm constantly having to replace the square in my wallet.
-Biscuits

John
I decided to put an air baloon instead of condom. Now there are no complaints. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I carry a lazer pen and a magnifying glass in mine. <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

i would go for a ziploc bags, widely avaible, cheap, resealbe, waterproof,etc.

What is the best "card tool" for your wallet?

I cant tell you which is the best, but untill i lost my wallet i used a bcb tool. I really liked it

What's a BCB tool?

The toollogic range very good you can buy them in the uk for a very nice price at www.7dayshop.com. They have a nice blade andd some very useful features!

Mark

Clink on this link and scroll down to the bottem. Thats it

in a normal urban situation the swisscard rocks, i got one and its very handy for normal urban style use, but it isnt really a survival tool card. if i would chose for a survival creditcard sized tool, i would go for the spyderco card ( high on mine " i want list")...

I picked up 3 swiss tool cards at a lost and found auction.

They are neat little cards and are mildly usefull but not worth the crazy price they charge for them.

My leatherman micra on the key chain is a better product and gets way more use.

Mike

well same story here, but instead of the swiss tool being expensive, the leathermen is.
looking at the local cost, the swisstool gives more bang for the buck. location has a big effect on the cost of knife and tools.
mine keychain tool ( coast microtool box ) combine with the swisstool, cost less, but are combined proberbly much beter than the micra alone.

Absolutely, the best tool is the one you have with you and can afford.

Mike

Thank you! I hadn't seen that one before <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Yes, the tape is on top of the foil...

Here is the basic assembly:
1) wind a single layer of heavy braided fishing line around the credit card (since I've done this, I thought about using a signal mirror or frensel lens)
Keep the line tight by under rapping the first couple of winds... then just wind and keep pushing the line together to get the maximum on one layer. I tried more than one layer but upon pulling it out it became a huge mess.
2) Take a 10 X 12 inch piece of kitchen foil and fold it so it is narrower than the card is long... then rap this around the card as tight as possible. Remember to keep the end of the fishing line exposed.
3) In the same direction as the foil went on, rap a few layers of duct tape (keep it toward one end) You can rap on as much as you feel your wallet will handle (I started with 6 layers and I'm down to 3 currently, need to refill soon)
4) On the other end of the card I rapped the electrical tape, on top of the foil in the same direction as the duct tape. I matched the duct tape in thickness with about 8 raps.

Now it's ready for your pocket... you should be able to get at the fish line, E-tape or Duct tape easily at any time. It's the foil that is a true emergency only item since you have to take all the tape off to get at it.

The first one of these I built didn't use the foil and worked for a while... then the fishing line started getting gummy from the body heat and the duct tape. The foil works best rough side toward the fish line, seems the tape comes off the shiney side better.

Hope this helps...

PryBry

Bryan,

Am I right in concluding that you necessarily sacrifice the top layer of foil & the bottom layer of tape due to the 2 sticking to each other?

Thanks,

John

Ebakeev,

Sounds a lot safer, at least at home, although I do have some doubts about it as an emergency water vessel.

John

Now, she may call you "pretentious ".... !!!!!!!! <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

No, the tape will peel away from the foil... note my comment on the shiny side of the foil. Now, with body heat and the pressure of my big butt <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />, it might get more difficult to peel off with time. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

PryBry

Back before I found compressed dehydrated sponges in the painting section of my local crafts store or gourmet kitchen sponges at a local kitchenware store, I wanted to put some sort of sponge in my pocket tin, so I resorted to cutting a piece out of a local supermarket's sponge cloth.



I put it in my PSK...



...and all seemed well.

But, when I opened my tin for annual inspection and maintenance, I found...



...that something about the spongecloth had damaged the aluminum foil, merely by prolonged contact.



Please note that all of these pictures were taken after unpacking. The aluminum foil residue you see in the first image was not there when I packed it; nor was the rust you see in the second image. The rust, BTW, came from a safety pin, which was also ruined.

So...

The first lesson might seem to be:
This brand of sponge cloth is hard on metals. Don't use it. <img src="images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

The second lesson might seem to be:
Be careful with aluminum foil. Over time, and with pressure, it can be unexpectedly damaged, even in storage. <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

And the third lesson might seem to be:
We should all periodically unwrap, untape, open and inspect all contents of any kits, tins or packages we use, carry, store or (perhaps especially) sit on. <img src="images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

You must have a lot of fun when you go through the security check at the airport! <img src="images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Reminds me of what I just found, inspected several kits packed up about 6 months ago. I thought that I'd completely sealed my potable aqua in plastic soda straws (heat sealed with an iron). Uggg... two developed pinhole leaks and caused fishooks and other metal to rust.

Considering that Barry / Blueline still is out of the picture, is there anybody that has a couple of extra vials like he sold for sale? Looks like I'm now in the market.

Could this have been electrolysis between the safety pin (iron) and the foil (aluminium)? (i.e. nothing to do with the cloth?)

Just a thought - wrap the foil in a small baggie or cling wrap.

Oohhh... never thought of that. Clever. Time for more experimentation.

Thanks, bones. I'll let you know next year ... <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

PM me wtih your address and I will send some to you ASAP. Pete

Pete, PM sent. Thanks. Comanche7

Phone card
Phone contact numbers
Morse code chart
Band-aids
Safety pins (2)
Goody's BC powder packet
Extra cash
Dental floss
Normal everyday cards n cash

Not in the wallet but with me every day:
Photon II (white) attached to a set of nail clippers and a Cold Steel Mini Pal.
Tactical style folder (usually a Spyderco Delica)
PSK in coat pocket / larger one in briefcase
Leatherman Wave
Lighter
Bandanna
Keychain has a Photon I (blue), a small SAK and a CPR mask.

You say you keep a PSK in your coat pocket. I'm always trying to trim things down, myself. May I ask what's in your coat pocket PSK and what you use for a container?

I wonder how useful these "credit card" tools are.

You mean a fresnel lens or a real magnifying glass?

Craig,

I have a small coin purse looking thing with a zipper top (give-a-ways at a conference....they were mini-FAKs). These things are very useful for the little daily needs that may come up. I've got three separate ones made up with the same contents which include:

Tool logic card (knife blade, compass, mag. glass, can opener, flat screwdriver, tweezers & toothpick).
Band-aids (assorted sizes) - 8
Wound wipes - 3
Alcohol wipes - 4
First aid cream - 2 packets
Tylonol - 2 packets
Allergy meds (OTC) - 2 packets
Anti-diarhea tabs - 2 packets
Safety pins - 4
Needles - 2
Fish hooks - 4
Sinkers - 4
Large hook (gaff)
Match book
Small bic lighter
Fishing line - Approx. 12 feet wrapped around lighter.
Thread - Approx. 10 feet wrapped around lighter.
Dental floss - Approx 4 feet wrapped around match book
Single edge razor blade
Small cotton balls - 6
HD Foil
GI can opener
Morse code cheat cheat


I've also got three fire kits made up in Altoids tins. These fire kits go with me when I'm out of town, camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, etc. but are not normally carried daily. Contents include:

Mini bottle of hand sanitizer (great fire starter)
Bic lighter
Book matches
Strike anywhere matches (12)
Flint rod
Cotton balls (soaked)
Paper (4 pieces of small notpad)

Thanks for replying. What you have is what I'm doing now.

I just transferred the items on my super keychain (which had become bulky and started clanking) into a zippered nylon first aid pouch after removing the first aid bits. I took each item off the super keychain's big splitring and tucked it into the pouch. I attached a smaller splitring to the hole in the pouch's zipper pull and, using a carabiner-style keyring, attached the pouch to the keyring holding my house and car keys.

The pouch goes where I do. Before I start my car I slip the car keys off the 'biner keyring. Not a bad setup. The red nylon case has First Aid printed on it and looks entirely innocuous. And no more clanking.

Craig

this reminds me of my father's pack when I inherited it. It had been sitting foor so long that the toilet paper had become papier mache around the core, and the metal bits he had were all unuseable, except for the frame of the pack its self.

There is more to the story, but I do not want to bore people.

Rena