I know a radio is supposed to be a part of a good kit. Recommended by FEMA and the Red Cross. But, could somebody please tell me why? Bulk is bulk and so is weight even if it is "small and light." I recently posted about this earlier with hurricane Isabel as seen in this link I took my AM/FM radio out and put in a wide range receiver I recently obtained. It is better listening to the police bands.

Like everything good information can be gold....but evaluating the quality of that information is everything.

A couple of years ago we had a moderate earthquake here and looking back on it I would rate my information gathering quality like this...best to worst.

HAM radio emergency net, AM/FM radio, then nothing, then TV. TV was complete and total garbage and served no useful purpose during or after the quake. AM and FM radio was decent, and the HAM's were giving first eye accounts only, no speculation...superb.

Information during a disaster is good to have so a radio is one more piece of the puzzle...figuring out if the info is good is the reason for HAM radio in my view.

I participate in two local emergency communications groups, getting to know the operators, practicing in drills, is the best way I know of to make sure the information quality is valuable.

I just bought new HAM radios for myself and recently licensed wife that have wide frequency receive, this way I can hear NOAA weather, local AM and FM radio, and TV in addition to the various volunteer HAM operators and emergency response systems we have in place.

I rank communication in an urban setting up with shelter in my priority list.

I'm a fan of the Sangean DT300VW. Never without it when traveling: http://www.sangean.com/pocket.html

I am assuming you carry all of this equipment in a bag and not just your pockets?? Thats a lot of stuff to carry in your pockets. But maybe I am not visualizing correctly.

Just wondering,

garrett

Schwert: which wide-receive/narrow transmit radio did you buy? How happy have you been with it?

I'm a "low skill" ham myself (no code). A transceiver that receives police/ham/AM/FM/WX and transmits 2m would be great.

Great kit!

Re: Maglights.

You may want to investigate replacing one or both of your maglites with LED-based lights (eg. ARC AAA, CMG Sonic for the solitaire)

You'll get longer battery life along with losing the worry of blown/broken bulbs.

kf

I think that it's also good to have a radio that has shortwave to listen to the BBC world & VOA for information.

I know I'm going to sound like a broken record (anyone else remember those?) but that's not a FAK in your Altoids tin, IMNSHO. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

What is the purpose of your FAK? Is it to treat yourself, to treat friends and family, or to handle any accident you come across? I would certainly recommend at least one pair of protective gloves, preferably vinyl, some sterile gauze, and some tape. If you have to give CPR or mouth-to-mouth, you'll probably wish you had a pocket mask, although even the smallest of those likely won't fit in an Altoids tin. (I carry one on my keyring, tho.)

Personally, I don't carry sterile gauze pads or triangular bandages in my EDC, but if you're going to carry that much stuff anyway, a couple of 4" x 4" sterile gauze pads and a pair of vinyl surgical gloves isn't likely to overload you. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

All good points - I suppose it's more of a "convenience kit." Basically, if myself or someone else gets some minor injury or isn't feeling well I take a pill or a band-aid, or hand them one to use. As for strangers, well, no matter how sick I'm feeling I don't think I'd take a pill some strange guy just pulled out of his pocket, anyway. But that's just me.

Most of the "tools" are mostly for convenience/hygiene - cuticle scissor, nail clipper, eyeglass screwdriver, toothpick, sewing kit, dental floss, tweezers, insect sting relief pads.

Anything more serious and I get on the horn and call in the pros.

The gloves are a good idea, and so is the CPR mask (though I must get the required training first).

So I guess you're right in that it's not a traditional FAK, just a collection of some stuff that might be useful without trying to be comprehensive. If I go away from civilization, I supplement all of this of course with a more comprehensive kit (obviously much larger than can be fit in a pocket).

Nope - all in pockets or on my best - I wear jeans so I have more room.


The rundown is something like:

Front L pocket: Keys, Altoids FAK, most of the smaller tools and gadgets on a separate keychain (solitaire, nail clipper, spare pen, bottle opener, P-38)

Front R pocket: 2nd wallet (the one with the credit cards and large bills), signal mirror, pen, cell phone spare battery, cig lighter

Rear L pocket: 1st wallet

Rear R pocket: change purse, extension cord, eye drops (if I'm wearing contacts that day)

On belt: cell phone, leatherman w/tool adapter, Nite-Ize holster with the rest of the stuff (maglite, laser pointer, and the rest of the tools)

Fox-40 around neck

If I'm carrying anything else, it'll usually be in a bag or in my coat pockets.