I've just put together this survival kit for use by me at scouts-btw i'm a scout (14years old)<br>I wondered if any of you guys would make any comments on the equipment i put in and anything you think i should take out or put in or replace! Thanks btw this kit is based for use in England!!!<br><br>Tobbaco tin<br>Lid-signal mirror improvised-polished with sticky back plastic to protect it!<br>Electricians tape wrapped round the outside - yellow<br>BCB wire saw<br>12cm drinking straw<br>Assortment of plasters<br>Oxo cube<br>Small magnifying glass<br>Strong balloon-couldn't get condon without spermicide!<br>2 paracetamol tablets<br>Cotton wool -primarily to stop rattling<br>10-20 strike anywhere matches<br>Small pair of scissors<br>10 water purifying tablets<br>Small amount of change(money)<br>1m of foil<br>1 block on cotton wool soaked in vaseline<br>BCBflint and striker<br>lifeboat whistle<br>button compass<br>fishing kit-ass.hooks,swivels,weights<br>20lb fishing line<br>small float<br>snare wire<br>folding tin opener<br>sachet of potassiom permangenate<br>2 antiseptic wipes<br>sewing kit<br><br>Thanks<br>Mark<br>

Nicely done!<br><br>In my opinion, your PSK might be improved by finding a better water carrier than a ballon (I am assuming it is latex ballon). There are many suggestions here on the forum. I like a roasting bag; others have touted mylar ballons, press-to-seal plastic bags, and so on.<br><br>Wrapping your kit with some small diameter nylon cord may be useful - see the pictures of Doug's kit. If you cannot obtain 550 cord, just use something like nylon mason's twine - but more metres of it than the 550 cord Doug wraps his with. Be sure to fuse the ends to prevent unraveling.<br><br>You could delete the Oxo if you need the room, but in my opinion it does no harm.<br><br>Not related to your question: What does your Scout Handbook list for "Outdoor Essentials"?<br><br>What Troop are you with?<br><br>Regards,<br><br>Scouter Tom<br>Troop 258, Crew 258<br>Chief Blackhawk District<br>Illowa Council, BSA

I never had much luck playing with the Balloon/Condom container, even putting it in a sock. You might want to try a plastic oven/cooking bag. More volume, but easier. Also maybe a calling card, and a list of phone numbers/emergency information. I used some Coughlins Firestarters to dampen the rattle, basically parafin soaked cotton balls. The only advantage is that there's a little less fuzz in the kit when you open it. <br><br>Have fun. I had a blast in scouting.

Thanks i will most certainly put a card with phone numbers on and will continue to look at the bags mentioned with regards water containers-thanks again!!!

Mark, Do you have a gaff hook for your fishing kit? This is a larger hook with a small nail capable of fitting in the eye into a wooden handle to help land fish. No tea with the cube? That is most un-british in a kit! Is this a cultural shift? You may want to add a small LED type light also. Welcome to the forum.

Just wondering what type of water purification tablets you used ?

active ingredient is silver and they are called micropur from a local chemist called boots they have a website boots.com<br>

thanks erm well the tea bag didn't go in because in past kits they made a mess and i felt that to save the hassel an oxo cube was better! with regards the micro lite i'll definetley think about!!<br> thanks

And no i don't have a gaff hook are they worth looking at and what can they be used for?

Gaff hooks are for the larger fish. You physically hook the body to help land them. The larger fish still have a lot of struggle in them and it is heartbreaking to lose one at the last minute. You will want to inscribe a small groove at the end of your stick to secure the shaft, nail the eye and wrap with a bit of string. In a maritime environment, secure some bait to the large hook and throw skyward to attract seabirds. Pull in with your line and prepare for a fight.

oasis tabs - I get them from British military ration packs

do you have a web site that i could buy these ration packe from<br>

No but do you seriously think they are that good!

Hi there and welcome aboard. I used to be a scout in my teens and I loved every minute of it. You have a very nice kit there and my suggestions would be a small sewing kit, ie. needle and thread in case you need to do some emergency clothes mending etc. I would also suggest including a small flat blade and definitely more cordage. You can get nice and compact nylon ropes form Victorinox' survival kit. I have these in my kits too.

well it happens i've just been on holiday and bought some para cord- and when i was packing i found some blades from an old knife which i intend to sharpn and put in! With regards a sewing kit i think i have one from a cracker at christmas-i thought it might come in useful!!!<br><br>thanks

yo friend i think thats a pretty good kit if u do have spare room put in the tea bags but herbel cause the others have caffien if your worried about it breaking wrap it in that cler wrap stuff?

I would add to Tom's suggestion about the wrapped cord. I then stretched a few ranger bands, made by cutting rings from a bicycle inner tube, around the whole package. The bands are useful in their own right, plus this keeps the card from sliding off the tin.

HI<br>All of things in your kit could be useful, and who am I to argue with Lofty Wiseman et al. Perhaps the most useful addition would be a Survival bag, not that you'de get that in the tin but stuffed in a pocket even it could save your life. Thinking of conceivable situations in the UK, you need something to protect you against exposure and something(s) signal for help. People who die accidentally in the Uk outdoors either do so from Hypothermia or hitting the ground at speed after falling off a mountain. So appropriate clothing, a survival bag, a whistle, mirror, mobile phone, first aid kit and the skills and knowledge that you'll learn on the DoE Scheme are what you really need here. Something to eat and make a hot drink will make a difference.<br><br>I guess there is little scope for hunting and trapping since you're rarely more than days walk from other people.<br><br>Justin

interestinbg comments i do normally carry my mobile knife tc. but a survival bag so perhaps that is one to keep inf uteure i will try and see how tighly packed i can get it!!!!! thanks!

Another reminder about UK knife laws, since I've just found out about them<br><br>1: No knives at School, it's specifically prohbiited by law unless you have good reason, eg you're a chef or a carpet layer!<br><br>2. You need to have good reason to carry a knife with more than a 3 inch blade or a fixed blade knife. Your leatherman Wave could come a cropper because, although it's a folding knife it does have a lock. Case law has resulted in decisions that mean that it is not in law regarded as a folding pocket knife. <br><br>Let's be careful out there <br>(Showing my age)<br><br>Justin

Thanks that very interesting