It's a typical day at work. Suddenly, the floor/ground opens up and you find yourself in a sub-tropical environment. You've only got what was on your person at the time (no grabbing bags, coats, etc.). Can you make it for an extended period of time?

And I know...some may say this is invalid because we all prepare for different scenerios and environments. I'm just wandering if what we have with us could allow us to survive in a typical wilderness type setting.

At one time, my answer would have been "NO". When I first began getting "formally" prepared, I depended a lot on keeping useful items nearby..but not exactly on me. I depended a lot on my briefcase, my coat, my car or my home. Don't get me wrong...I still keep a lot of stuff in those places...but I now keep more with me on a daily basis.

As I sit at my desk typing...if the above scenerio were to occur, with me is the following:

Glock 23 with 1 extra mag.
Spyderco Endura
Small SAK, nail clippers & white Photon II all attached together.
Leatherman Wave
Bandanna
Wallet with bandaids, floss, safety pins and usual stuff.
Lighter
Ink pen
Keychain with CPR Microshield, small SAK, blue Photon I, keys
Small PSK (softsided case) which includes:
Candle (Trick birthday style)
Condom
Water pur tabs (4)
Matches (10) / striker
Needle (2)
Safety pins (2)
Bic lighter
Thread (10 ft...wrapped around lighter)
Spyderwire (10 ft...wrapped around lighter)
Medical tape (1ft...wrapped around lighter)
Fish hooks (10)
Sinkers (5)
Small compass
Small cotton balls (6)
Bandaids (6)
Wound wipes (2)
Asprin (2 packets)
Alcohol pads (4)
Wire saw
P38 can opener

Give me the chance to grab my coat, and I get an extra bandanna, gloves, a Surefire 6P, another lighter, 20 feet of para cord, an additional (and slightly larger) PSK, some hard candy and a CRKT Stiff KISS.

Let me take my briefcase (softside expandable) and I add a third PSK, a small fixed blade Buck, a small folding Buck, a Poncho, a small pack of kleenex, a roll of medical tape, a full water bottle, a bottle of water pur. tabs, 50 feet of para cord, a small tube of crazy glue, a mag block, a whistle, a large garbage bag,a small sewing kit, a mini-mag (AAA) with extra batts (2 sets), a pretty decent FAK, small bottle of hand sanitizer (great as a fire starter), a compass, some localized maps, a couple of magazines to pass the time and plenty of work to keep myself busy <img src="images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Ooooh, thats a tough one <img src="images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

I would have the following on me:
1. Benchmade 705 BT
2. a two AA Mini-Maglight.
3. Benchmade 5BLK rescue hook
4. Butane lighter
5. Wallet with all the regular stuff plus bandaides, Swiss Card, and metal money clip.
6. My cell phone (Model 720c Motorola)
7. Leatherman wave
8. Keyring with my keys, photon micro light 2, and a Leatherman Squirt S4.
9. A hand assembled first aid kit that fits in my back pocket.
10. On a seperate keyring is a CPR microshield, Flint firestarter bar, and a whistel/compass/thermometer thing.
11. A Back pocket survival kit made out of an altoids can, sealed with electrical tape.
11. An analog watch
12. A bandana or 2
13. Probibly my favorite pen

In the little back pocket survival kit I have:
-A small Swiss Army Knife
-Waterproof matches (one of which is wrapped in black thread) with 2 waterproof strikers.
-A few bandaids
-A few butterfly bandages
-Alchohol pad
-Folded heavy duty tinfoil
-Tweezers
- about a foot and a half of that thin flat white cord
- 2 different size saftey pins and a needle
- solid fuel tabs
- a Suunto wrist compass (minus the strap)
- a roll of dental floss
- bullion cube (Chicken flavored)
- a 2 inch length of natural fiber rope
- a P-38 can opener
- a small salt packet
- 2 razor blades
- A length of black electrical tape sealing the case
- The "altoids can kit" is kept in a little handmade soft leather "sheath" that stops it from wearing out my back pockets.

I would list the first aid kit contents but I don't feel like going through it since its packed pretty tight.

I would say I could survive, but I would have to do a lot of improv. I good machete might come in handy in a situation like that, but unfortunately I don't carry one in my pocket <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

1 good sharp knife is the only thing you should need.

Honestly my 6 inch belt knife (machette is ideal) and a gerber strike force is all I would need in that environment for a long term stay. The fire starter is only for convenience.

The jungle provides everything you need.

In a long term stay scenario your little bit of supplies would run out anyway then your left with the basics. Infections and injury will kill you long before you starve.

To be fare to the scenario my SAK and bic lighter should do me well for a while.

There are much tougher environments to survive in than a jungle.

Mike

"There are much tougher environments to survive in than a jungle."

Very true. But instead of true tropical...I was thinking along the lines of sub-tropical. In these areas, the temps can get pretty cool.

As for the 6 inch belt knife being the only thing you need...I guess that depends on the background of the person in question. I would have some serious reservations about totally depending on one knife for all my needs when it's a fairly simple matter to have a few handy items with you.

Also....in my daily work attire (hence the spirit of this little scenerio) , a 6 inch belt knife is a little difficult for me to add...a smaller fixed blade wouldn't be too much trouble...but I've already got a load on my belt! <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Kev,

I think you need to rethink your scenario.

How long is this scenario for?

I fail to see how 5 matches a 12 hr photon light and a power bar will help when your in this situation for more than a couple of days. Simple stuff in your pocket will only help you for so long then its up to you and your basic gear and brain to make the best of it.

You did say what is in your pockets or on you. So I assume its ranges from an altoids tin SK with a lighter and maybe a SAK or leatherman type deal. Most people do not carry much more than this in their pockets at any time. If you are talking about a larger kit then thats a different scenario all together.

Knife & Fire

Hell I know people that could pretty much live out their lives with a rusty tuna can lid. But they are the acception and certainly not the rule.

BTW, I am canadian so anything that isn't white is summer to me subtropic or not haha.

Mike

How do you carry all that? I have a Leatherman wave, cell phone and blackberry pager on my belt. AAA Maglite in back pocket, Wallet in other back pocket, keys and change in the other pockets. I used to carry a PDA and comb when I was a con$ultant and travaled to customer sites a lot. Even with just a few things I get called "batman" or inspector gadget". Seriuosly though, how can I carry more without my pants falling down or having pockets stuffed full. Where do you fit your stuff?

Funny you say that Eugene,

I dont even carry my keys in my pocket because I have a AAA minimag and compass themometer and leatherman micra and it will pull my pant down haha. My key chain is kept in my coat.

The following items are in my pant pockets about 365 days per year.

1 bic lighter
1 3 inch swiss army knife
1 wallet with swiss tool inside
1 bandana hanky
spare change
lint for fire starting haha
somedays I carry the leatherman on the belt

Given the scenario kevin gives. I am confident that I can go weeks in a warmer climate, but thats me.

Water purify tabs and tape and little nifty gadgets will run out in short time, then what? Of course they are nice to have but my life won't end because of the lack of a P38 can opener.
What is with the P38 can opener anyway?
Almost every list I read here has it, yes it opens cans. Like if i'm real hungry a can is going to stop me from eating the contents haha please. A fist sized rock solves that problem quicker than a can opener.

I swear that if you really need all this to "survive" you need more practice.

Makes me wonder how the indians even made it out of their tipee's.

Mike

I don't need all the stuff I carry but it makes everything easier. Also, a lot of the stuff is reusable or can be changed into something else. Sure the water purification tabs will run out but they last long enough to make/find another way to purify or gather water such as a still. Sure, I could get around without them but it makes everything much easier which can mean a lot in a survival situation. After all, if your going to be fustrated doing something as simple as building a fire it will be bad for your moral and your overall survival attitude. After all, Be Prepared <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
P.S. This is a P-38:
(let me know if you can't see it)

Paul,

I have used p38 openers in the military for 20 years and never ever thought of them as a survival tool.

I get the feeling people these days have this mortal fear of water being poisoned.
Yes, I do own and use filters and use iodine tabs. But I remember a day when we would dip the mug into the water of a well used lake full of pollutants and never got sick.

Remember to always drink purified or not. Deal with the consequences later if any. Makes you wonder if our lifestyles are so sterile that our bodies have lost the ability to fight common illnesses caused buy questionable water.

Again, the Indians drank giardia and crypto laced water and thrived long before iodine, Mexicans today eat tainted food their entire lives with no ill effect. Why? Because their bodies are tollerant to such bugs, we used to have this tollerance. Another argument for banning antibacterial soap, our stomachs are getting soft in this modern sterile society.

Mike

hehehe - Mike, when I lived in Central Alaska, we had a more diverse climate than you - 4 seasons, yup. Winter, June, July, and August - well, early August anyway...