On Doug's new personal survival kit page, I note that the prescription meds have been re-packed by custom shrink-wrapping them. Doug - did you do this yourself (if so, how?) or did you have this done for you (if so, where and how much did it cost?). This is a great space-saving idea and I'd like to do the same for my kits.<br><br><br>

I do the same with my Tilia Foodsaver Plus. That thing is "funner" than jello wrastlin' on a saturday afternoon! I seal meds, clothes, paracord (makes it real small)... a space blanket all but dissappears.<br><br>

Thanks! Can you really vacuum pack something as small as a few pills? Is this a standard kitchen "seal-a-meal" style vacuum sealer? If so, easier than I thought!<br><br><br>

I use a kitchen sealer as well, for just about everything. matches, tinder, bandanas, meds, sewing kits, clothing, etc. I even prepackage a complete meal with pre-measured water to rehydrate sealed in a double bag, so far it hasn't leaked. <br><br>

Yes, i've sealed as little as 2 advil. In my limited opinion, Tilia makes the best. (the one from the infomercials) I've also seen them for sale in Sportsman's Guide and at Bass Pro Shops.<br><br>

You can also get one at Wal-Mart for about $99. I haven't sprung for one yet, but if I ever meet someone who has one, I'm making a new friend.<br><br>

That vacuum packing sounds like a great idea. On thing I'm curious about, though... How hard is it to get into the package after it's sealed, assuming you don't have a cutting edge handy? Can you tear it open easliy like a bag of potato chips? Are there any tricks to making the package easy to open or otherwise suitable for survival equipment?<br><br>

Without a knife, you can still get into them if you have to. It's easier still if you slit one side like prepackaged meds come anyway.<br><br>

I broke down and bought my Tilia food saver yesterday. This is a great toy. I think it's best use is to create a container for a really tiny survival kit, something about 1/3 the size of Doug's mini kit. Something with just the barest essentials and small enough to literally drop into a shirt pocket and not notice it's there ("micro-kit?"). Vacuum packaging is ideal for that because it eliminates the bulk and weight of a rigid container and the problem of finding one just the right size. It also keeps everything dry, clean and secure inside so it will be in good shape when you need it. And you get a good view of the contents. This would probably work just as well on larger kits in the size range of Doug's personal and mini kits.<br><br>

Acr whistle(flat)<br>suunto watchband compass with bezel<br>Photon microlight 2<br>Sparklite and 3 tenders<br>dental floss<br>3 hooks<br>neosporin plus, advil, bandaid<br>gerber micro LST<br><br><br>

I vacuum packed:<br><br>Acme Tornado flat whistle (available at Pep Boy's)<br>a very small Cricket pocket electronic butane lighter<br>thick rubber band for tinder<br>15mm button compass (works through the package)<br>1 hook<br>monofilament fishing line<br>razor blade<br><br>I'ts not a comprehensive kit, but these are some of the very hardest things to improvise.<br><br>The bulk of the package is about the size of a Zippo lighter, just a little wider. I may add a needle, a match, a trick birthday candle and a pre-medicated bandaid or 2. I would have put in my Photon II, but I've been carrying that separately in my pocket lately.<br><br>

I'm also going to add Uncle Bill's tweezers and a large needle. That's it, I promise.<br><br>

Who's Uncle Bill?<br><br>As long as you are repacking, be sure to orient your Photon II flashlight so it can also be used without opening the vacuum-package. BTW, you may have to experiment with various arrangements if you get magnetic compass interferance from other objects in your kit. <br><br>Your tip on putting a starter slit in the edge of the vacuum bag was just what I was looking for. It makes opening a whole lot easier. Thanks.<br><br>

Uncle Bill's tweezers are short fat tweezers that are the real deal unlike the knockoffs that come in Adventure Medical Kits. You can get Uncle Bill's tweezers at REI.<br><br>

Thanks. Funny thing: I actally have those tweezers in my 1st aid kit. I had just forgotten what they were called.<br><br>I just re-vacuum-packed my micro kit. I ended up with:<br><br>Cricket pocket electronic lighter (tiny)<br>rubber band for tinder<br>trick birthday candle for tinder<br>Acme tornado flat whistle with retro-reflective tape added<br>15mm button compass<br>2 pre-medicated 3M "band-aids"<br>razor blade<br>needle<br>paper clip (a bit of wire for general improvising)<br>2 hooks, line and Trilene knot diagram for fishing<br><br>It is still very much a shirt-pocket-sized kit even though my list got a little longer.<br><br>I also determined that the Tilia vacuum bags can be used for tinder in a pinch. They are not an ideal tinder, but they support a flame pretty well and drip flaming drops of melted nylon that can be directed onto your kindling to help get it burning. So unlike regular tinder, you would burn this *over* what you want to light.<br><br>

For those of you with a FoodSaver, I have a new method for vacuum-packing survival gear. It makes small vacuum pouches easy to hang from a neck-lanyard or a safety pin.<br><br>See the illustration below. The process is:<br>(1) make an extra seal along one edge of the package (effectively making two separate pouches). <br>(2) cut the ends open in the second pouch.<br>(3) you will be left with a plastic tunnel through which a lanyard can be passed. <br><br>It's great for a micro-kit and also works well for protecting a signal mirror. It will keep the gear protected from sweat or moisture so it would be a good way to keep some gear handy during water sports.<br><br><pre> -------------------<br> / <- pass-thru -> \ <br> +---------------------+<br> | |<br> | |<br> | Gear goes |<br> | |<br> | in here. |<br> | |<br> | |<br> | |<br> | |<br> | |<br> | |<br> | |<br> +---------------------+</pre><p><br><br><br><br>

Good tip. Thanks for sharing<br><br>

How did you do the water????<br><br>