I recently saw this question on another forum, thought i'd get the opinion of you all. I think this will be a great way for us to determine what we need in our BOB's. So...what are your 10 most important tools? Of course, personal knowledge is assumed, so don't include that. Make up your own "scenario," I want to leave this as open as possible.<br><br>My choices would be (in no order):<br><br>Livesay RTAK Bushblade<br>Gerber Legend 800<br>Military Tri-Fold Shovel<br>15" Sven Saw<br>12'x12' Tarp<br>5qt. Clear Plastic Bag<br>100ft. 550 Para-Cord<br>25ft. brass snare wire<br>CC Crane Tektite Expedition 7 LED Light<br>Spark-Lite Firestarter Kit (Includes 10pcs. Tinder)<br><br>Although I change my mind every five minutes about what to carry, I feel quite confident that with these, I can make it almost anywhere.<br><br>John McIntire

My 10+++++. My primary concern in BOB is shelter from elements. Of course, I cannot actually limit myself to 10 but sneek a few items in at the end.<br><br>Reeve Shadow III<br>Granfors Bruks Scandinavian Forest Ax<br>Felco Pruning Saw<br>12 x 12 tarp<br>Paracord, 100'<br>Hotspark<br>Tinder kit, Cotton Vaseline<br>Water Filter, Katadyne<br>Water Bottles<br>Sleeping Bag<br><br>plus <br>Repair kit, sewing and Wave<br>Decent Clothing set (coat, hat, sweater, gloves, boots, sox)<br>Cook pot, 4L<br>Bivi Sack<br>Additional Plastic Sheet, groundcloth

1. A decent sheath knife. I would name my current favorite, but envision the scene in Carrie when Mom got hers. You people get to passionate on this one ;O) 2. ferrocerium rod 3. SAS GEM survival manual 4.bladder canteen full of favorite electrolyte drink ( beer) 5. Wiggy sleeping bag 6. tarp. 7. whistle 8. mirror 9. paracord 10. teddy bear ( in lieu of religous tracts for spiritual comfort)

10 fingers<br>

Hi John. I'd like to question you on your choice of brass snare wire. Brass is awful soft. Wouldn't stainless steel be a better choice? I'd be afraid of the critter I'm trying to catch breaking the brass and getting away.

Yeah, I plan on "upgrading" soon, but for now it's all I have. However, i'm not very good at trapping...and prefer deadfalls & balance traps to snares, which is another reason I choose to bring so much paracord. Thanks for the info.<br><br>John McIntire

My 10 Most Important Tools Are; in no particular order.<br>1 KA-BAR<br>2 Gerber Scout<br>3 Heat and Light Kit<br>4 Tarp<br>5 Sewing Kit<br>6 First Aid Kit<br>7 Fishing Kit<br>8 Duct Tape<br>9 A.L.I.C.E Harness Set<br>10. Mustang Floater Suit.<br><br>The next item on the list would be an AR-7, 10/22, or an over and under single shot. Want some real agonizing? Cut your lists down to 5.

Here's my stuff (not in prioprity order):<br><br>1)firestarter kit (ignition devices + tinder)<br>2)Tikka headlamp<br>3)FAK<br>4)8x10siltarp w/cordage ties & alu stakes (sometimes this is a somewhat smaller sil poncho)<br>5)water container(s) w/ 1/2-1 liter of H2O<br>6)L tool (either PST or Wave)<br>7)best map of area (usually topographic at scale of 1:24,000 up to 1:50,000)<br>8)signal mirror<br>9)whistle<br>10)sleeping bag, appropriately warm, and as light as possible<br><br>In the real world the map mentioned above is always accompanied by a compass, a nice Silva K-20 I have carried for years, but I mention the map because in 98 of 100 situations the map alone is far more valuable than the compass. I am a little surprised we have not had a discussion about maps on this forum. <br><br> The wording of the question seems to exclude clothing, food, and the like, but again in most situations, I usually carry at least a coated nylon parka( very lightweight), some kind of synthetic sweater, a full brim hat, comfortable hiking boots, and at least some food (usually Clif bars at a minimum). I am also fond of a 1/2 liter aluminum pot w/lid and a lightweight cartridge stove - it really simplifies life.<br><br>Spiritual support is certainly very important, but that is carried in my head, along with a certain amount of knowledge and skill, all very light weight and generally adequate to the situation (so far at least!).<br><br>Looking over the responses so far, we are clearly preparing for different environments. The above has worked for me in southwestern deserts and mountains in generally dry situations (hence the inclusion of a water supply). Priorities would vary for different environments.<br><br>Another way to prioritize, and probably the way most of us approach the problem, is - What would include if you could only carry five pounds, ten pounds, etc.

Scenario not given - Taking the focus of this web-site; unexpected short-term survival until rescue which is expected in short order (72 hrs to three weeks) - I am not setting up a colony or hiding out from the bad people.<br><br>knife (minimum for survival)<br>fire <br>water (now I can eat and drink<br>cord<br>tarp (now I can find shelter)<br>whistle<br>mirror (now I can signal for help)<br>compass (now I can find help)<br>DuctTape (FAK, and Sewing Kit and cordage and ... all rolled up ;>).<br><br><br>I carry these tools everywhere and always. The particular brand and model changes and I often carry redundancy in the important first three (knife, fire, water). For example, right now (urban env at a desk) I am carrying:<br>knives: leatherman wave<br> Mini multi tool with built-in flashlight<br> 4 safety razors<br> 2 Xacto blades<br><br>Fire: mini Bic lighter<br> Spark light fire starter and 5 tinder tabs<br><br>Water:<br> 20 Potable Aqua tabs<br><br>Cord: 10 ft of paracord<br> 100 ft of strong nylong line<br> 30 ft of nylong string<br><br>Tarp: large garbage bag<br><br>Whistle: aluminum key-chain whistle<br><br>Mirror: Inner surface of the Altoids tin<br><br>Compass: Button compass liberated from REI key fob<br><br>DuctTape: 10 ft folded flat rolled on itself.<br><br>In my car in my belly pack I have<br>knife: Cold Steel Bushman with cord wrapped handle<br><br>fire: More mini-Bic's <br> Mil Surplus Magnesium bar with flint and striker<br> <br>Water: 1 Gallon water bottle<br> 1 liter water bottle with cordage for slinging over sholder<br> 1 bottle of Potable Aqua tabs<br> Katadyn filter<br><br>Much of the above listed items are part of the Altoids tin PSK that I carry which includes more than the first 10 essentials including a wire saw a couple of snares, photon II, .... (See earlier post here)<br><br>I also carry a mini FAK containing bandaids, moleskin, scissors, tweezers, CPR mask, gloves, super glue, antiseptic, aspirin, ibuprofin, benedryl, magnifying glass, Xacto blades, safty razors, Potable Aqua tabs.

I've been thinking about this "10 most important tool" one for a while now. (I'm taking for granted that, by your being in this forum, you mean tools for 'survival'). The 'best tools', I think, depend on your location and scenario. Surviving a car breakdown in New York City will have different 'survival' needs than a breakdown a few miles from of Fairbanks, Alaska. In the city, 'survival' might just be as simple as another battery for your cell phone (although I'd still keep some blankets in the trunk!). <br>I think shelter would be first. What kind of tools would help me build and maintain a shelter? I'd have some type of knife/saw. (Due to size limitations, I carry a folder with a locking knife blade and a saw. The RTAK would be much better than the knife I carry in some cases, but walking down some city streets with an RTAK on your belt will get you some interesting 'looks', especially by the cops. I'm aiming for something I can carry all the time, regardless of where I am). Some type of cord. Fire-starting supplies (matches, lighters, small candles, SparkLite & tinder) and fuel gathering tools. A tarp and some type of rope would be great to have, as would a sleeping bag or some blankets. A signal mirror and whistle are absolutes. <br>Second would be water. That means a way to store it (Keep a few bottles in the trunk), get and transport it (Nalgene bottles) and purify it (PUR filter/ Potable-Aqua), etc. <br>Third, food - Most people put food too high on their list. If you're like me, you've got enough food around your middle to last you for a few days, or in my case, a few weeks! :-) <br> I remember someone saying "You can't make an appointment to have an emergency." I figure if you don't have this stuff on you right now, you probably aren't going to have it on you when you need it most. I carry a pouch on my belt that is both small enough to carry every day, and yet big enough to actually be some help if I need it. In it are a Victorinox Rucksack knife, a Leatherman Supertool, a roll of thin nylon cord, a Sterling sharpener, a Spark-lite firestarter & a few pieces of tinder, 2 birthday candles, an extra flint rod, a Starflash 2x3 plastic mirror, an ACR whistle and an 3AA LED-type flashlight. I guess you could call them some of my 'most important tools' simply because I have them on me if I need them.

In no particular order:<br><br>Becker C/U-7 w/sheath and pistol belt<br>L tool<br>poncho w/liner<br>water purification <br>water container(s)<br>paracord<br>spark-lite fire starter kit w/tender<br>longbow w/quiver of arrows<br>sharpener<br>sleep pad<br><br>Actually I guess I'm cheating a bit, because the sheath pocket has a mint tin mini kit :o)

Looking through my Jeep last night, I thought of this post. I guess the below would be my "can't take but only 10 items" list, if it came down to it. <br><br>1 - Leatherman Wave<br>2 - Pair of eyeglasses (since I usually wear contacts)<br>3 - Blast match<br>4 - 12'x12' tarp<br>5 - 1.5 liter dromendary bag<br>6 - Polar Pure water purification<br>7 - Ontario machete <br>8 - dental floss<br>9 - 550 cord<br>10 - Trifold shovel<br><br><br>

Most of you haven't chosen much signaling devices - why? Maybe using all the stuff and knowledge to stay alive would be a challenging and pleasant (?) experience, but I'd prefer to be rescued quickly. I mostly travel in central and western Europe, where help would be relatively near. My choice for a marine disaster would be: 1) lifejacket 2) thermal suit 3) EPIRB 4) water 5) strong flashlight 6) marine band UHF radio 7) handheld flare 8) cordage 9) multi-tool 10) camera to make pictures for ETS . For a land accident, replace 1) and 2) with sleeping bag and tarp and 6) with a cell phone. What do you think of that choice?

Greetings, <br><br>ETS has changed my life. By that I mean that I can't stop reading posts! I'm addicted! Anyway, a question: Do you guys really carry water purification and flints with you just to go a few miles down the street from your house to the grocery store? I completely understand and myself carry an LED, whistle, mini-lighter and SAK, (and as a dad, I also carry a first-aid tin) but are these other more wilderness-type items really necessary in an urban situation? I'm a huge fan of being prepared, and I definitely always have these things with me when I go backpacking, but I cannot think of a realistic *urban* scenario where these things would be necessary for EDC. As such, I have a "wilderness" PSK much like Doug's, and an urban "convenience kit" with the following:<br><br>-2 Xacto blades (remove for commercial flights)<br>-2 mini rectangular adhesive bandages<br>-2 small rectangular adhesive bandages<br>-1 antibacterial wipe<br>-1 large, 1 small sewing needle<br>-2 yards ea. dark gray thread, tan thread<br>-1 threader<br>-1 large, 1 small safety pin<br>-1 large, 1 small paper clip<br>-1 medium brown button<br>-1 small clear button<br>-1 small roll duct tape<br>-1 small piece glue stick<br>-1 wire twist tie<br>-1 one-inch pencil<br>-3 quarters<br>-2 elastic bands<br>-2 yards twine<br>-1 Bic butane mini lighter<br>-2 Immodium caplets<br>-2 Tylenol Cold caplets<br>-2 Tylenol PM caplets, 6 Motrin IB caplets in glass vial<br>-3 sheets Post-it paper, 1 business card inside lid<br><br>Thoughts?

I do carry firemaking, water purification, and shelter making tools with me every day.<br><br>Here is an urban scenario.<br><br>Leave work to go to lunch across street, March in Seattle, light misting rain....just across street really do not need coat.<br><br>Massive earthquake hits, worksite tumbles to the ground.<br>(maybe you did not go to lunch but got out of this building with only the clothes on your back, maybe injured)<br><br>You are now outside, in the middle of a disaster, coworkers buried, communications non-existant...hum light rain seems to be soaking in...<br><br>You can fill in the rest based on your possible actions.<br><br>March 7, 2001 we had a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Western Washington. Many of the buildings near my worksite caved in or crumbled. My building stood standing but we just today are "celebrating" the reconstruction.<br><br>I carry a plastic tube tent, firemaking tools, cord, PotableAqua, bag, and a fairly large pile of other stuff everyday, everywhere on my body. (See urban PSK and Vest threads). It is not that much of a burden, it is a piece of mind, sure I have never needed to build a fire in the parking lot out front but....Seattle is due for a large quake.....what will happen then?<br><br>Evaluate the likely threats to you in your daily life, natural disasters (earthquake, storms, volcanic); manmade disasters (Hazardous materials, dam burst); terrorism....and develop both Wilderness PSK and plans and different Urban PSK and plans. In my view the planning is the most important....the tools are easy (and fun) once you evaluate the risks.

Based on a hypothetical survival situation, I'd rank the top ten as:<br><br>01 FAK<br>02 8 x 8 silnylon tarp<br>03 50 ft 550 paracord<br>04 Cricket electronic lighter<br>05 Fox 40 whistle<br>06 Starflash mirror<br>07 Potable Aqua<br>08 1 L Platypus<br>09 Spyderco Native<br>10 Suunto Clipper compass<br><br>In my real-life day-to-day experience, the 10 most important gadgets are:<br><br>01 Palm m100 PDA<br>02 Spyderco Native (or other EDC user)<br>03 Photon II<br>04 Leatherman PST<br>05 Sony Z series cell phone<br>06 Compact reading glasses<br>07 Credit cards<br>08 Colt Mustang Pocketlite 380<br>09 Cricket electronic lighter<br>10 Leatherman Micra<br>

Okay, I can believe the scenario about an earthquake in Seattle taking down an office building. Admittedly, a tragic scenario, but still not one in which I'm convinced one would find themselves desperately needing to purify puddle water, erect a tube tent on-site, or snare pigeons. If you survive the quake, you're simply not going to die from thirst, hunger, or exposure in the middle of a major metropolitan area. You're just not. It's not like being in remote wilderness. If you're trapped in the rubble, none of your survival gear that involves roaming for food, water or shelter is going to help. The whistle would be the most important piece of gear at that point. After tending to victims with the best of your ability until the professionals arrive, you walk out (unless you're one of those professionals). Get away from the epicenter. The point is that even an earthquake does not immediately vaporize every molecule of civilization surrounding the disaster. Adequate water, food, and shelter will be in walking distance - not necessarily a short walk, but not one of sufficient length to kill you. I definitely agree that planning is essential and that the tools are easy and fun to learn, I'm still just not convinced you need some of them in an urban situation.

Gear,<br><br>You are absolutely right. The moderate earthquake did not result in the need to erect shelter, purify water or certainly procure food. It certainly did disrupt the abilty to get around in the city, shut down cell phone communiations, made our cars inaccessible (in damaged garage), and left many people without adequate clothing, car or house keys, money, ATM cards, credit cards etc.<br><br>This was all more of a big inconvienience than a dire life-threatening emergency. Some people were cold waiting around in the parking lot, but it was a fairly pleasant day, not raining or windy. This was a moderate earthquake. Should we experience the expected large quake, I am not so sure we will fare so well. <br><br>Rescue workers did not arrive at the building within minutes after this moderate quake, I would not expect them to arrive for a long time after a large quake. If we would have had seriously injured people we would have needed, at a minimum the ability to protect them from wind and rain, and possibly needed or wanted "clean" water.<br><br>To me, carrying around a few additional tools to assist in the provision of life sustaining basics is worth the trouble. I consider shelter and water to be the bare minimum that I should cover. Admittedly, a tube tent is certainly not ideal for shelter nor is iodine treated or boiled water an absolute requirement in this scenario....both are just something I have decided to have, along with a whistle, adequate shoes, gloves, knives, flashlite, garbage sack, contact info, etc all which may be more traditional Urban PSK items.<br><br>Certainly the exclusion of certain PSK items may be appropriate in your likely scenarios...I just have not been able to convince myself that fire, treated water or shelter is not going to be necessary in the city in a major disaster.<br>

I live ,as most of us must,in an urban environment. I can get in a car and be in desert, forest or mountain and on the ocean within an hour. People freeze,drown or die of exposure in view of the twinkling lights of Los Angeles regulary. It doesn't take a whole lot of planning to walk 100 feet off a roadside driving to Vegas for the weekend and break a leg, get disoriented or left behind. My avocation and vocation can take me off the beaten path on short notice. So yes, my psk is in my pocket.

Thanks for your replies, guys. I'll take these comments to heart. I do have a bottle of Potable Aqua tablets that I take backpacking, and have been wanting to transfer it to a smaller glass vial as offered from one of the vendors associated with ETS to make it fit in my tin. What I'm wondering is, how do you actually get more than a few ounces of water into an unlubed condom? It seems like with just holding the end open and pouring water in, the elasticity would overcome the weight of the water. I have some Reynold's oven roasting bags that I take backpacking, so maybe I'll fold one of those up in the tin for an emergency water container.

I carry an oven bag and an empty 1L or 0.5L Platypus bag in my vest. I figure in an Urban setting I will be able to find empty bottles cans etc that would do. I also keep 2-5, 0.5L bottles of water at my desk. I grab my carry bag and at least one water bottle when the fire alarm rings or the building starts to rock .<br><br>There is Great Water Container Test and many other discussions on this forum that covers condoms, bags and whatnot. <br><br>I do not carry a condom as container, and have never tried to use one for water.

The 20th of this month our local chemical plant had a railcar blow up around 9:30 a.m. My wife and I were getting her flat tire fixed about 900 yards from the explosion. The windows shook violently. I could not see a smoke plume and became very worried. A lot of the surrounding area was ordered , sheltered in place. Streets were closed off and the schools were locked down with the children. We have a lot of crazies out there right now. I go everywhere prepared. My goal in an emergency is to get back to my family any way I must. Being Equipped to Survive is the first step. <br><br>Hunter

I prefer the roasting bags for compact emergency water containers. Cord or cord plus a little duct tape extends their utility. Like all the "last resort" equipment, it's best to experiment with it in realistic conditions to winnow out what works and what does not work for you.<br><br>BTW, try rolling the bags for your PSK - in my opinion they are just as compact as folded (albeit differently shaped) and seem to be less likely to develop "storage leaks" from creases.

Don't forget the signal mirror. Light, low-tech, and they work. Carrying one reflects well on you....

I managed to fit a ziploc double guard one gallon freezer bag into my Altoids mini kit without having to give up anything to make room. I did have to tape the container closed though. :o)<br><br>I also folded another of the bags up and placed it into a film canister (cleaned) and it lives in my Vest kit along with the purification tablets.

I did some experimentation with various ziplock bags, oven bags, tropical fish bags, and condoms, and posted results here awhile back.<br><br>I, too, was very skeptical of the condom solution, but it worked surprisingly well. No solution that fits in an Altoids tin or a wallet is going to be perfect, but it turns out that just the weight of the water expands the condom, and I think it would be possible to fill it from a seep, hopefully with a little tubing to help.<br><br>The main point of the test was to check for resistance to deterioration from the iodine water purification tablets. The condom was the first to fail, but it lasted weeks... and I'd say there's virtually no chance of any of these containers lasting that long in real use anyway.<br><br>Personally, I prefer some of the other bags for my kits. The oven bags (they no longer seem to be available in small or medium sizes) and tropical fish bags were just about as compact, and I think they are a little sturdier, but most of my objections to the condom idea proved to be unfounded.<br><br>The glass vials from Barry at Blue Line work very well, and they make a huge difference in bulk- they are so tiny that it starts to seem silly not to include them in any kit. I even include the tablets in the urban kits now. Some urban areas have had problems maintaining water purity without any emergency at all- I have little faith in their performance in really bad times.

Does anyone have first hand knowlege of or experience with this device ? Supposedly it purifies water with UV light. Small (7"x1.6"x1.5"), light (8oz.), capacity limited only by battery life. Pricey : ~ $200.00. The company claims it removes 99.9 % of microorganisms. Thanks for any replies !!

I prefer freezer bags. The bags have several advantages over condoms. They are designed to hold food and they can take higher storage temperatures without deterioration.<br>I also recommend rolling the bag from the bottom. If the outer layer of the roll suffers damage, you usually keep a large portion that can hold water. When you fold it, the bag might leak on the creases and the bottom part can be damaged due to abrasion or sharp edges. <br>I don´t bother using condoms for water storage. They need almost as much space as the plastic bag and they can´t be used for collecting other things.

Louis,<br><br>No first hand experience with it, but I did research it several months ago and it appears that it does what it claims. There might be some question about oocysts, specifically cryptosporodium parvo (sp?), IIRC - those are tough rascals - but (IIRC) it does better than chemicals against them. Filtration or floculation + filtration is best non-boiling defense against oocystic critters from what I've researched...<br><br>The UV pen appears to do very well on everything else, and of course it (UV) is used for sterilization of municipal water in SOME places (it's expensive at the municipal level).<br><br>HTH,<br><br>Tom

Doesn't it depend on where you are and what you are doing?<br>For example:<br><br>Taking scouts camping:-<br>1)Duck Tape<br>2)Laetherman Wave<br>3)Cell phone<br>4)Lots of DRY matches<br>5)Para cord<br>6)Sheath Knife<br>7)petzl Duo head torch with extra batteries<br>8) First Aid kit<br>9)PSK<br>10)Chocolate bars/energy bars!<br><br>As opposed to tope ten items for a bob<br><br>1)Sheath Knife<br>2)Wave<br>3)2x2 tarp<br>3)flint and striker<br>4)water purifying pump-like a katadyn+spare filter<br>5)Paracord<br>6)First Aid kit<br>7)Tri-fold spade<br>8)Chang of clothes including spare boots<br>9)Big box of matches<br>10) shot gun + Ammo<br><br>Any comments?<br><br><br>

Mark, YES! If I was lost on a scottish mountain in winter a sleeping bag takes priority over a knife. If I was climbing into a tree in floodwaters cordage to tie myself on and attending a foo fighter's concert a pocket first aid kit. These hypothetical lists are usefull in stimulating thought about essential gear. The danger is building a kit on popularity instead of real need. I have fishing gear. I live near the ocean and it makes sense. An hour's drive and I'm in the desert. Water replaces the fishing tackle.

Thanks for the information, Tom. I neglected to mention that purification is accomplished in less than 1 minute according to the company. Do you feel that the C. Parvo oocysts are common enough to render use of the Steri-Pen alone a hazardous practice ? What are the symptoms and prognosis for C. Parvo infection ? The simplicity of the device and its use as well as its size make it a serious consideration for me. Thanks.

Louis,<br><br>Heck, I have no idea. It killed about 100 folks in the US many years ago (late 80s???) - Milwaukee and Texas, IIRC. Got in the municipal water systems. From what I've read, a good chunk of the populace is either immune or asymptotic - no ill effects. At least 40% suffer no ill effects, near as they can figure, although that's hardly gospel. L. giardia, the "more common" oocystic critter, for sure does not adversely affect everyone - that's well documented. Cryptosporodium p. seems to be nastier, but it also seems like it is not very common in the concentration required to infect folks. I'd suggest checking with the Penn Dept of Public Health and see what they say.<br><br>I've been intrigued by the UV pen ever since I stumbled across it a few months ago. There's some 3rd world water treatment techniques I posted a while back that rely on natural UV as the disinfection mechanism - a bit too involved and time consuming for casual use, but UV clearly works well for disinfection. I think the cost of the UV pen is outrageous, though - it's hard for me to believe that they are very expensive to manufacture. The cost is perhaps a reflection of low volume production....? Or it's so new that the early buyers are paying off the R&D sunk costs - I dunno. $200 buys a lot of Polar Pure or iodine tabs... or a really nice filter unit.<br><br>To tell the truth, I don't worry too much about my water. If I had one of those UV pens, I'd use it - I just don't like the cost. Depending on where I am, I often simply drink the water and so far it's never made me sick. If I'm not sure, I use iodine tabs. On a few trips I've used bleach. YMMV, so that's NOT advice!!! I am more concerned about personal hygene than a few cooties in the water - dirty hands and bits of spoiled food on utinsels are FAR more likely to make one sick than most water, IMHO (and experience).<br><br>All there is to go on is the labwork on the UV pen - just like any other water disinfection. IIRC, there are a couple of guys on the forum that have the capability to scientifically test disinfection efficacy, but I'm not one of them!<br><br>I don't know anyone who has one of these devices, but the technology seems to be up to snuff. Sorry I can't be of more help - it's your call. <br><br>Regards,<br><br>Tom

Hi, you may want to check out some previous posts on the Steri-pen made several months ago. I have the pen and have checked it in my lab. It works and works well, although I had to use 2 rounds (2X 60 secs) to achieve sterilization in some heavily contaminated test samples. It is effective against spores. I think for the cost, filtration is the better way to go. Let me know if you need more information. Pete

Thanks for the comprehensive reply, Tom ! I suppose I'll hold off on purchase anticipating technology advancement, cost reduction, and substantiating studies.

Thanks for the reply, Pete. The cost is somewhat mitigated by the savings resulting from the elimination of frequent cartridge purchases. The size, speed and ease of use are worth a great deal to me. Patience would probably be rewarded as no doubt another manufacturer will produce a similar device, competition resulting in more realistic pricing.

Possible, but unlikely. Some of the reasons the cost is so high may be due to the limited market and validation testing, since it is EPA registered. Also keep in mind, cost of operation and potential pitfalls - battery usage, malfunction, does not work well in cloudy water and does not remove chemical contaminates, Also don't forget where there is no water, i.e. the lip of the container, sterilization does not occur. Don't get me wrong, I have one and use it, but only as a backup to filtration. I find it more useful in a travel situation where the water is visibly clear, but may have biological contamination or after filtration to ensure safety from viral contamination, when the filter does not have a viracidal component. I was lucky to have gotten mine from REI, when they distributed dividends and provided a 10% discount if you used your dividend. Pete

Thanks again, Pete ! You probably saved me $200. Compromised effectiveness with cloudy water is an especially serious flaw, IMHO. Sadly, twenty years ago, I made a prediction to my children that within their expected life span , the only safe drinking water will be that which is distilled.

Hey paramedicpete,<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>Also don't forget where there is no water, i.e. the lip of the container, sterilization does not occur.<p><hr></blockquote><p>Are you sure? Light travels just fine through air. Why would the presence or absence of water make any difference? The inner lip of the container would be exposed to UV light, just like the water in the container, and, after you zap the water, you could just zap a second time and run the pen around the outer lip of the glass, couldn't you?

The literature that accompanies the pen indicates that the UV light bounces off the surface of the water back into the body of the water. This is why you can use the pen without fear of receiving a UV burn to the eyes, otherwise you would have to wear protective goggles each time you used the light. The pen has a safety feature (a probe that must be submerged in water) that prevents the light from being activated in the air. Pete

miniMe,<br><br>I gotta ask, when you mention, "For example, right now (urban env at a desk) I am carrying...," what kind of container are you using? I'm using a cosmetics bag at the moment.<br><br>Craig

snoman,<br><br>You said, "I carry a pouch on my belt that is both small enough to carry every day, and yet big enough to actually be some help if I need it." Can you tell the dimensions, make, and model of this pouch?<br><br>Craig

Yeah, me too. I'm happily addicted.

I am suprised I havent heard anyone say anything about small bottles of super glue. makes a great fix all and good for medical use on wounds.<br><br>ballonman

Craig,<br> Mode of carry detailed as below.<br><br>knives: leatherman wave - Belt sheath<br>Mini multi tool with built-in flashlight - key chain<br>4 safety razors - Altoids tin psk<br>2 Xacto blades - altoids tin psk<br><br>Fire: mini Bic lighter - pocket<br>Spark light fire starter and 5 tinder tabs - Altoids tin PSK<br><br>Water:<br>20 Potable Aqua tabs - Altoids tin PSK<br><br>Cord: 10 ft of paracord - wrapped around the Altoids tin<br>100 ft of strong nylong line - pocket<br>30 ft of nylong string - altoids Tin<br><br>Tarp: large garbage bag - altoids tin<br><br>Whistle: aluminum key-chain whistle - key chain<br><br>Mirror: Inner surface of the Altoids tin<br><br>Compass: Button compass liberated from REI key fob - Altoids Tin<br><br>DuctTape: 10 ft folded flat rolled on itself. - Altoids Tin

We have had several discussions on the use of super glue for wound care. I would suggest you check out those threads before using on any wounds. Pete

Super glue may provide a quick fix for many things but it also has serious drawbacks. The glue isn´t elastic and it deteriotates in alkaline substances and mild heat. Once you open the the bottle, it should be stored refrigerated to prevent it from hardening. <br>I saw more than one person accidently glue fingers to something because the glue hardens that fast (as the glue needs moisture to harden you can actually glue your fingers to two objects and the objects still don´t stick together). That could be more than a minor mishap.<br>So generally super glue may be a nice-to-have item but it doesn´t make it to my important items list.

Thanks, miniMe. <br><br>I must ask, however, the make and model of your "Mini multi tool with built-in flashlight." Okay, so I'm a gear nut. I confess. Grin.<br><br>Also, since you carry your Leatherman Wave out in the open, so to speak, on your belt, you must work in a non-conservative office environment. Couldn't be a law office, for instance. Did you get any comments when you first started carrying it on your belt? Do you get any comments now?<br><br>Craig<br><br>

I found the mini-multitool as a counter item at the Cumberland Farms convenience store. Seems well constructed and fits nicely on the key-chain. About 2.5 inches long, One handle holds the light which folds out like a blade. It is powered by a stack of four watch batteries and is about 1.5 inches long and 1/2 inch diameter. Other handle holds a serated blade, straight blade, small philips head and flat head with a bottle opener on the flat head blade. The pliers have spring loaded jaws and a small wire cutter at the base along with quite pointed nose.<br><br>I wear the leatherman in the open and I have only gotten comments when I use it. I work as a software engineer and I get more comments on my beard than on the leatherman.<br>

about the super glue. I havent heard of it drying up or anything. The reason its not a problem or hasard is because you clean and close the wound. The glue just coats the top. duct tape does the same job but not on weird joints. I am taling about the little tubes.

the main issue is properly cleaning a wound in the field. In most cases you will not be able to properly clean a deep wound in the field and closing that wound with anything from ductape to sutures to super-glue will result in a closed infection leading quickly to gangrene. Better to leave the wound open and allow it to drain and allow you to irrigate it to remove whatever necrotic tissue develops. The wound will clense itself eventually if you allow the dead stuff from that process to be washed out but if you prematurely bottle up that infection by closing the wound then it will rot under the skin and create an infection that can be fatal. <br><br>bottom line - unless you are about to bleed to death from the wound then leave it open and put a loose sterile dressing ( or as clean as you can get bandanna ) over it to keep out further contamination, irrigate it regularly and replace the dressing after each irrigation. Use only boiled sterile water for irragation unless you have some betadine solution or can create similar disinfectant. Avoid the harsh disinfectants since they can kill tissue as well as germs and the dead tissue merely feeds the infectious agents. <br><br>If you are in the field for a very long time with a wound that is becomming infected it is rumorred that maggots will only eat the dead tissue and keep the wound clean. IIRC this was standard war-time treatment during the US civil war. I personally wouldn't want to have to resort to that. The point is that back then they certainly knew of the risk of infection and had the skill to suture close a wound but couldn't create a clean enough envirionment in the field for that to be successfull, OTOH they did have some luck with maggots in an open wound preventing fatal infections.

I agree. That stuff is toxic. We used it a few times in the field to repair dentures. When we got back to civilization the poor dentist almost died because we had used it.

>> I agree. That stuff is toxic. We used it a few times in the field to repair dentures. When we got back to civilization the poor dentist almost died because we had used it.<br><br>In what way? Are you speaking metaphorically, or did you actually poison the dentist?

>>the main issue is properly cleaning a wound in the field. In most cases you will not be able to properly clean a deep wound in the field and closing that wound with anything from ductape to sutures to super-glue will result in a closed infection leading quickly to gangrene. <br><br>Yes, except that with duct tape, or better yet a proper sterile dressing and bandage, you can change the dressings on a regular basis, and it's important to cover the wound to prevent further infection. You can't change the dressing if the wound is crazy-glued shut. And there are a lot of things that can go wrong with crazy-glue - it's very easy to glue your fingers together; that's inconvenient enough in the field, but it's one of the least hazardous mishaps that can occur. If the tube bursts and it squirts in your eye, which I understand is a fairly common injury, you're going to need an emergency Medevac. I personally would never carry CG in the backcountry.<br><br>Besides, I can't conceive of a wound serious enough to be life-threatening that is small enough to be fixed with CG.

How big is the tube tent, that you can carry it around with you all the time? I can see stuffing a space blanket in my inside suit pocket, I carry at least two of them in my car (I also have a number of plastic tarpaulins). Mountain Equipment Co-op sells an emergency bivy bag made of space blanket material that would probably stuff inside a wool tuque or watch cap; is your tube tent about that size? I personally couldn't see carrying anything larger than that.

>>Yes, except that with duct tape<<<br>It doesn´t matter how you close the wound. Closing the wound can result in infections. Sometimes doctors put the steril dressing into the wound to prevent the skin from closing to early.<br>Duct tape for holding the dressing might be acceptable, if you don´t have anything better. But it shouldn´t have direct contact to the wound. The glue can contain some toxic substances, which might cause complications.<br><br>>>Besides, I can't conceive of a wound serious enough to be life-threatening that is small enough to be fixed with CG<<<br>Even if the wound is not life-threatening, it´s neccessary to treat it properly. Besides I think that CG isn´t good for treating wounds anyway.<br>

I second that: <br>some years back I had an accident at work where molten brass flying at high speed hit me on the right side of my chest,leaving a nice hole where you could put a thumb inside,all covered/surrounded with necrotic tissue- not a nice view. <br><br>The good lads at the plastic surgery dept washed the place with a solution of plain tap water and some chloride tables dissolved in it.<br><br>The treatment was nothing more exotic than keeping the bandages wet, with some stuffed deep into the hole, to let the new tissue grow from inside out.<br><br>Took about one month to heal completely.<br><br>(the worst part was when I was just hit and the whole body gets into a "shock mode")<br><br>BRRRRRR... take care

If you want to find the latest info on the use of maggots in wound care then visit http://www.smtl.co.uk . These people are doing a lot of research, of course they're using specially bred sterile maggots, not the kind laid by some nasty germ ridden fly out in the wilderness.<br><br>Justin

Not sure. He called us all a bunch of ass--les and we left it at that. He fixxed it up and left it at that.

aardwolfe,<br><br>My tube tent is the Tacoma Mountain Rescue Unit tent. It is 80 x 96 inches and weighs 5 oz. It is folded into 12 x 15 x 1 cm plastic pouch. <br><br>It is not particularily sturdy for long term use, but should suffice for a day or two while more substantial shelters can be improvised.<br><br>I carry it inside of a boiled wool, goofy-looking, Austrian ski hat, in the back pocket of my vest. I also have a hank of paracord (~5m) in the back pocket.<br><br>The tube shelter is available from REI for about $6. Here is the Tacoma Mountain Rescue Site

Your comments on wound care in the field are correct. There is no emergency to "close" a wound in the field. Closing a wound that is not properly prepared invites the risk of serious, life threatening infection.<br><br>Maggots are tolerated in third world countries as they only consume dead tissue.<br><br>During the War of Northern Aggression (Civil War to you Yankees), there was no concern about infection and no knowledge of sterility, germs, etc. The prevailing thinking was that a would would not heal properly without infection (laudable pus). The re-used contaminated instruments, bandages, and sponges and wiped their hands on filthy aprons. That our ancestors survived at all is amazing.<br>

If a wound is "serious" enough to require closure, you should be evacuated. If the CA adhesive gets in your eye, you need medevac. Why mess with a wound and not just leave the field?<br><br>

Reinforces my position that there is no wound that requires repair in the field. Simply packing a wound open, changing the dressing and irrigating the wound daily, and not for the faint-of-heart doing simple debridement.

Mora Sweden 5 inch sheath Knife with Swedish Fire Steel attatched, any length of paracord I have on me, Lighter, Photon micro-light 3, Petzl Tikka head torch, Opinel Saw, .............................

hi to all<br>were i live (germany) there are no earthquakes,hurrikanes,tornados or other <br><br>but i carry always a knife(gerbertool) a flashlight(mightylight)<br>and other stuff <br>i have an old (very old) car that could break every moment<br>and i have some blankets,mre and tools in it so if i am driving<br>through a forrest at night in winter and my car dies i am a little<br>bit prepared<br><br>but the most important thing why i carry that stuf is <br>BECOUSE I FEEL BETHER AND MORE COMFORTABLE

Welcome Sid! No natural disaster threats in Deutschland? Didn't you have severe floods there recently? You were prepared better than most :O)

We all seem to be furiously agreeing on this point, hi-hi. (LOL for Internet speakers).<br><br>I guess maybe one point that might need clarification for some folk (me included, though I should have known better) is that there's a big difference between dressing a wound and closing it. I hope nobody here is opposed to putting a clean dressing on a wound and applying direct pressure if necessary to stop the bleeding; closing a wound is a different matter, and (according to Wayne Merry's book) should not be done unless at least 4 days have passed. (At least in the field; in a hospital setting I'd expect to have guys like you, who know far more about wound treatment than I ever will, to make the decisions.) I guess the point is that Crazy Glue can't be used to dress a wound, only to close it; and if you're ever in a situation where you need to close a wound and all you have to use is CG, then your preparation must have been Pretty Pathetic. (Either that, or you're a POW on the run.)

There is a surgical principle that is re-learned in each war. Contaminated wounds are not to be closed for three days or more. Wound treatment is initially oriented toward bleeding control, removal of foreign material and dead tissue, and irrigation. The wound cavity is then packed with sterile gauze, saline soaked gauze, gauze soaked in 1/2 strength Betadine, or 1/10th strength Clorox (Dakins Solution). The dressing is changed and the wound irrigated and further debrided as needed daily. When there is no evidence of either non viable tissue or infection, it can be closed with suture.<br><br>I will look at home for a poem that describes effective debridement.

hi Chris<br>well those floods were in the lower north and i live<br>in the higher south on a mountain <br>if a flood would come so far south and high.. the world would have a BIG problem<br>the only natural disaster threat we have here is the snow<br>and i am prepared for that :-)

Hi sid,<br>I live in Franken and around here you could think that snow in the winter is totally unusual. At least many people are not prepared properly or not prepared at all. Even 2 inches of snow regularly create some chaos. So being prepared can pay off even if there´s no disaster. I know some people who learnt the hard way why they should keep some basic equipment in their car (actually they still don´t keep equipment now).

The only thing worse than learning the hard way is not learning the hard way. :-)

Craig, I apologize for taking so long to reply to your question. To tell the truth, I don't get into this forum as much as I would like. The pouch I carry is made by "New Sun" and I purchased it through Brigade Quartermasters. It's not perfect, but it does allow me to keep a knife (Victorinox Rucksack), Leatherman tool, Sharpener (Sterling "Superior Sharpener), Fire-starting (Spark-lite, tinder & spare flint rod), signal mirror (Starflash 2x3 plastic), Whistle (Perry), Compass (button) and a Flashlight (Lightwave 2000) on my person. I use some of the stuff everyday and would truly be lost without it.
BTW, I've been using a Princeton Tec "Attitude" 4AAA LED flashlight for a few days now and I like it a lot. It's small, yet bright.

Beachdoc,
about maggots eating dead tissue i've read that they also consume healthy tissue and you should keep a close eye on the wound when treating it with maggots. This infromation came from the book SURVIVAL.

reinhardt

Using duct tape for closing wounds.
Apart from the danger of (further) infection the chemicals also present a danger. when my girlfriend fixed her bra strap she used duct tape. Now on the place where the tape was the skin has become insensitive

reinhardt

There was an excellent show on The Learning Channel (TCL) examining "alternative" forms of treatment. Medical leaches (those bred under strictly sterile conditions) were used to reduce fluid retention in reattached digits (fingers and toes). Medical maggots were used in wound care especially in diabetics with chronic wounds. Treatment was extremely successful in both cases. Keep in mind the medical maggots were raised in germfree condition and were changed daily. Pete

Recently, a paper was published on the use of duct tape in treating warts. Success was achieved in eliminating the wart, by covering the wart for several weeks to months with duct tape. It was thought to work by acting as an irritant, causing the body to mount an immune response, in which special immune cells migrate to the site. These cells, in addition to reacting to the irritation also attack the wart. Also, sold in pharmacies are special dressings, that when used over a long period of time, reduce the presence of scar tissue; it is believed the mechanism of action is similar to that of the duct tape. Pete

In the "been there, done that department" dating back to my days in construction work, I had occassion to use duct and/or electricians tape to >>temporarily<< close / protect wounds (mostly smaller cuts in the 1 to 3" range on digits and limbs).

1. Make sure to have some sort of clean dressing/bandage/pad immediately over the wound.

2. If possible, I always tried to have some bandaging, even paper napkins around the area of the wound, around the hand / finger / arm / leg, then apply the duct tape using just enough tightness to stem the bleeding, and only having the duct tape touch the bandage/napkins etc. This may not be readily possible with wounds in other areas of the body and each individual situation is different, so YMMV.

Two reasons, neither tape sticks to blood, and when it comes time to properly treat the wound at the doctors office, it is really nice to be able to use scissors to cut the bandage off, instead having to "peel or yank" it off and risk increasing the trauma.

I'd shy away from using any sort of liquid to remove the adhesive tape though, really hate to have to get that cleaned out of the wound too.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nor do I purport to dispense medical advice. This is simply sharing a method that I've used in emergency situations, until proper medical help was available.

I reiterate my objection to closing any wound in the field under any circumstances. Doing so will only subject the patient to an unnecesary risk of serious, potentially life threatening and certainly limb threatening infection.

Packing a wound is the only suitable way to deal with a wound in the field. It is the course I take with dirty wounds in the office to protect my patients.

No problem. I don't visit here as often as I want to anymore, either. Got laid off last March and I'm still picking up the pieces.

Do you know what model of New Sun pouch you have? They have an entire line of pouches. The one you have would seem perfect for my survival keychain gear as that keychain is getting big enough to poke a hole through my coat pocket. Grin.

By the way, my wife and I both carry Princeton Tec lights everywhere. The Blast is always in my pants pocket, and the Attitude is always in my coat pocket. I recommend them highly.

What other forum, and how cool is it?

Plainsman's Cabin, here's a link: Plainsman's Cabin. I like ETS better though! <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

John McIntire

ETS Rocks! But thank you for the link. I enjoy comparing and contrasting the ideas presented on various gear and survival forums I visit. I'm adding this new one to my list.

Craig, I believe it's the New Sun "Handyman", which BQ carries. Like I said, it's not perfect, but at least it lets me keep this stuff on me at all times.

Thanks for the answer, snoman. New Sun has quite a nice line of gear pouches. I recently read on another forum a review of the New Sun Gear Liberty Pouch. They all sound cool, but the pouch I bought would have to hold my coat pocket gear.

My wife got a bit cold the other day while we shopping, so I put my coat on her, cautioning her that it might feel a bit heavy. She instantly agreed, saying, "Dear god! What have you got in these pockets?" The question may perhaps be more accurately phrased as what haven't I got in these pockets! Grin. I just try to be prepared, that's all.

During the drive back, she was still wearing my coat, and her curiousity got the better of her. She started rooting around in the coat's pockets to see what cool stuff she could find. She declared that going through the coat was somewhat akin to opening packages at Christmas. I couldn't agree more.

I know what people think the 10 post important tools are, but what are the 5 most important tools??

Frank

Funny story about somthing like that happening.

I was trying to attach a badge to the sleeve of my army cadet uniform before a parade (sewing would have taken too long) and ended up with my finger stuck to my shirt sleeve.

Chris

The Barry Davis,BEM Survival Books also Spend some Time Addressing the Use of Maggots for Wound Care,-Complete with some Cautions. [color:"black"] [/color] [email]JustinTime[/email]

were i live (germany) there are no earthquakes,hurrikanes,tornados or other

Hi sid,

I live in Germany (city of Hamburg), too. Do we talk about the same 'Germany'?

We have many tornados (Windhosen), hurricans (Orkane), earthquakes (!!!) and heavy floods per year! In 1968 a heavy tornado strikes the city of Pforzheim with a fatal strength of 'F4'. Some days ago while the storm 'Gerda' was blowing a tornado hits the town of Drochtersen near Hamburg. It was 'only' a F1...

So here we have the same reasons to be prepared like our friends in the USA.

Greetings,

Sir Vivor

Based on the number of situations I've been in where I've actually needed this kind of stuff, here's what I've found to be most useful:

Each is actually "Number One" depending on the situation

1. Leatherman "Wave" Tool (Not a DAY goes by that I dont' use this tool at least once!)

2. Bic Lighter

3. Priceton Tec Attitude LED Flashlight
4. Blanket - ideally, space all weather, any will do.
5. First Aid Kit
6. Zip-Loc Bags - quart and bigger
7.Folding Saw (Don't recall what brand, it's nice - poss Stihl?)
8. Rope - any kind, any size, moe the better
9. Water Container - anything from a 2 liter soda bottle to Platypus packs
10. Money - as in cash.

of course, I'd rather have a top 150 items, to match what's in my pack in the Jeep!

Chris, About the knives, you noticed that too? I don't care what knives folks carry as long as they have something that works. Bill

Wow, old thread revival.

10 most important by what I use day to day will be different from the 10 top survival items, a few of which are squirreled away for just in case.

1. Leatherman Wave
2. AAA Mag lite
3. My Laptop (what can I say, I'm a computer geek)
4. Stylus Plus
5. Makita 9.6v cordless drill
6. Short stubby 4 in 1 screwdriver from an HP server class
7. A little tiny (3") adjustable wrench
8. Keys to my truck
9. Cell Phone
10. TV remote <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Much to my surprise, I found I can go through an entire day without having to pull out my Wave -- or any other tool, for that matter. In fact, I can go several days in a row without sufficient reason to deploy any of the tools I used to carry.

I say "used to" because I have since lightened up on the number and size of tools I carry on my person. My beloved Wave now lives in the briefcase I take to work, rather than on my belt. I really never used the SwissChamp that was also on my belt, so that's at home.

The EDC tools I carry are my Victorinox Midnite MiniChamp II, with red and turquoise Photon II's attached, and my Micra with attached ARC AAA. I don't use them very much, either. Sad, isn't it?

The tools I do use every day and find indispensible? My SureFire E1e, which does live on my belt, and my SureFire E2e, which lives in my coat pocket.

Does anyone here work in a city such as NYC or Washington, D.C., where our beloved gear may draw unwanted attention? If so, how you work around it? What compromises do you make?

I work as a programmer in NYC for a big financial institution and I also work as an EMT. Needless to say EMT work gives me no problem as far as being prepared. Short of a sidearm I can carry whatever I want. Office work is more of the challenge. I have Wave on my belt and nylon pouch with 2 pairs of gloves. In my pocket on the clip I have a Spyderco Assist that I started to carry more frequently than Sebenza. Inside my pockets I have a lighter (Windmill) and ARC LS. Now I’m more in the relaxed environment since I don’t deal with clients except for occasional support call. Also being an EMT helps since I can write off all of the above as tools of the trade that I “need” 24/7.

But I also carry a backpack with me all the time which has a big expanded FAK inside and my keychain resides there as well when not on my belt or pocket. My key chain has ARC AA, ARC AAA (UV), Photon, SwissTech Tool and roll of 1 inch med tape.

Honestly my bosses kind of gave up. They know I was never an office type and since I always had stuff on me and I’m ex military they leave me alone. Plus occasional band aid and Tylenol helps.

Matt

>>Does anyone here work in a city such as NYC or Washington, D.C., where our beloved gear may draw unwanted attention? If so, how you work around it? What compromises do you make?<<

I do, from time to time- though the last 6 months have been suburban, that may be changing again.

I change my set-up to suit my commute. I use a shoulder pouch/soft briefcase for the subway, and rely more on the vehicle when I'm driving. I've had to deal with metal detectors on one gig, and that certainly limits things a lot more... though probably not as much as they intended.

Urban requirements are different- no fishhooks or snares, less need for firestarting or water containers. A lot of equipment (Photon 3, tiny REI aluminum whistle, Hot Spark firestarter, P38 can opener) that would attract unwanted attention in a tin box attracts none at all on a keyring. A firestarter in a tin box is an "incindiary device", a cheap lighter in a pocket is ignored. Appearances matter.

Since the gig with the metal detectors ended, mostly the restrictions I've been dealing with are what's visible- so, a lot of things stay in jacket or pants pockets, or desk drawers.

Was there something specific you were wondering about?

Well, yeah.

I'd like to visit Washington, D.C. to see the Smithsonian and other atttractions, but I don't know what kind of security I'm going to run into.

Security precautions are kept under wraps, so I don't know whether I should leave my gear behind or not. It seems as though just saying such words such as "security" and "War on Terror" gives any mortal the right to paw through the contents of your pockets and pass judgement. I actually had to explain what a Space Pen was to one of these very morons. They are polite enough, but come on!

How can I possibly visit places where I'd be likely to be wanded or frisked or searched and still be minimally prepared? Are The Powers That Be simply going to take my stuff, or what?

PS - In my family, carrying a drivers license, house key, car key, and a credit card is generally considered being prepared. Carry more and you're carrying too much. I am exaggerating here for effect, but you get the idea.

The needed tools will vary greatly by venu and circumstances. Most situations that are coming to my mind require a knife or safer cutter, a first aid kit just in case, appropriate environmental insulation or modification (heat, light, weather) and hand/foot/eye/breathing protection to start with.
Scenarios:
Car wreck, passengers trapped by seatbelts:
seatbelt cutter or one hander knife real handy, not buried in pocket or glovebox
glass breaker maybe
FAK
Cell Phone - handy, not crushed under dashboard in handsfree cradle...
fire extinguisher? Used to have palm size halon unit that I carried everywhere.

Earthquake at home, moderate damage:
Gas and water turnoff tool
Flashlights, not candles or oil lamps
One had opening knife, preferrably one hand closing also.
dust mask for the breathing impared at least
whistle and cellphone in the hand(s) of anyone trapped
Glass proof shoes for anyone able to walk
Broom
Gloves
"Bottled" water because water pipes busted and would have to boil with shutoff gas stove anyway...
lots of superglue, plastic and duct tape...

Interstate gridlock/accident, stuck on exit ramp for 4 to 14 hours (been there)
Extra gas or keep the tank fullish at all times
PortaPotty or reasonable substitute for climate and culture
Water
Jumper cables or portable battery for the car in front that ran the radio and lights till the battery died...
Blankets/Sleeping bags for all passengers to conserve gas in winter
CO and low oxygen detecter in car to avoid death from snow blocked tailpipe
Bolt cutters for opening alternative exits for the ambulance...


Flat tire, cold, dark, rainy night out of celphone coverage:
good spare
Jack
Tire Iron
Block for under jack
Flashlight,flares/lightsticks
Poncho
Gloves

Plane Crash or misplacement:
Doug has this covered quite nicely elsewhere... <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The answer to all your problems.....Move to the country. I can carry whatever I want all the time: Fixed blade knifes, saws, axes, guns. Alright, maybe not guns, this is the UK. And OK, maybe I have to go to a town every weekday for college, but hey, I'm a student, I can carry what I want in my backpack <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

1. Knife
2. Lighter (and flint sparker)
3. Multitool
4. Flashlight
5. Whistle
6. Metal cup
7. Large Plastic trash bags
8. Bandana
9. Length of paracord
10. Bottle of water
(11. Cell Phone)

For my everyday use I find those to be my most commonly used/carried/needed items.

I hardly use my Wave sadly <img src="images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> but when i do, it works fine. I am in Texas and and any gov. buildings, a knife is forbidden.

>>Scenarios:
>>Car wreck, passengers trapped by seatbelts:
>>seatbelt cutter or one hander knife real handy,

With very, very few exceptions, unless you're a working paramedic on duty you should have no reason to cut somebody's seatbelt to get them out of the car. If the car is so badly damaged that the seatbelt release won't function, then you're almost guaranteed to cause more injury to the casualty by hauling them out of the car than you would leaving them where they are. (And you shouldn't be taking them out of the car anyway, regardless of how - or whether - you undid the seat belt.)

I suppose someone's going to say, what about the situation where the car is on fire, or under water? But despite what you see on the movies, those cases are unbelievably rare, and in the cases that do occur, you'd be faster simply reaching in and unbuckling the seat belt than fumbling around for your BenchHook.

>>FAK

and a current First Aid/CPR certificate to go with it, of course <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

>>Cell Phone - handy, not crushed under dashboard in handsfree cradle...

If your car is so badly trashed that you're unable to retrieve a cell-phone from its handsfree cradle, then I'll bet:

(a) there's a good chance that the cell-phone won't even be in the hands-free cradle, it'll be under the back seat, or 30 feet away in the trees;

(b) any cell-phone you had in your pocket will be sitting next to it; and

(c) you'll be in no shape to use it anyway (because you'll most likely be under a 20 foot thick layer of Los Angeles freeway <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> )

Yeah, there are always exceptions, but it seems to me you're more busy worrying about the 1 in 10 billion chance that might, conceivably, happen somewhere in the world to one person sometime this century, rather than preparing for the vastly more common, but mundane accidents that could occur.

Don't get me wrong, if the car is on fire, the passenger is screaming in pain, and you can't reach into the car to undo the seat belt because of the flames, then the seat-belt cutter would be a great thing to have. But I'm afraid that many people are going to be so eager to use their "toy" that they'll end up crippling or killing some poor schlub who would have lived to walk again if the good Samaritans hadn't severed his spinal chord, or ruptured his spleen, by "saving" him.

Sorry for the rant - for all I know, you're a working paramedic who's trained in how to extract injured passengers from a vehicle. (I'm not, btw, so any working paramedics or ER docs out there who wish to correct me are welcome to do so.) But people who talk blithely about slicing away seat belts to extract severely injured passengers from car crashes give me the willies. <img src="images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I wish I could be more encouraging.

I've only been down to the Smithsonian (actually something like 16 museums, only most of which are on the Mall) once since 9/11. Security was different in different museums, some just looked at you and waved you through (no idea what they thought they were looking for), others hand-searched every purse and bag. I don't know if it's permanently different in different museums, or they stagger the searches, and I'm sure not going to ask. I didn't see any metal detectors or anyone being patted down that day, but neither would surprise me a bit.

You haven't specified what "minimally prepared" means to you, but I doubt if we're worried about a compass and matches here, and at the other extreme I doubt if you're planning to pack a gun, so let me just volunteer the information that carrying any pocketknife with a blade over 3 inches in DC is flat out illegal. They're serious. If they find such a knife on your person, you will be very lucky if the worst they do is confiscate it. In at least some government buildings the standing policy at the metal detectors was to call the police and have you arrested- and that was before 9/11. These days, I would guess that smaller knives would be confiscated, and later sold on eBay. The TSA gets away with this at the airports, so now they all think they should be doing it.

Quite frankly, the attitude expressed in your message troubles me. Not that you're wrong, I'm not saying that, but just that it won't work. Yes, they do think they have the right to paw through your pockets and pass judgement, and if you give them a hard time about it, they will give you a hard time about it, and they have vastly more potential in that direction than you do, with far fewer consequences.

IMHO, the best way to approach a visit to DC is to realize that you're going to a very troubled area under something approaching martial law. Think Belfast in the '70s, or Beirut. DC is one of the few areas in the country where the mere posession of a handgun is completely forbidden. Anyone daring to quote "shall not be infringed" is considered backward and ignorant at best, or subversive, possibly treasonous at worst, which means that in areas of the city gang members can shoot in the general direction of each other in the secure knowledge that no ordinary citizen can do a thing to stop them. This periodically earns DC the title "Murder Capital of the US" (greatest per-capita murder rate). Amazingly, most residents of the area think you're insane if you feel this is a failure of gun control. To them, it's obvious that it means that gun control must be expanded to neighboring states, then all states, then worldwide, because they always claim their problem is guns coming in from places where their laws aren't in force yet. Of course, they'll have that argument so long as there is any such place on earth.

As in DC, the level of scrutiny in NYC varies quite a bit -- the Metropolitan Museum checks all bags (even makes you turn on laptop computers, just like the TSA at the airport), but nobody searches anything at Grand Central Terminal (though armed guards are everywhere). I haven't been to places like the Empire State Building or the courthouses in a long time, though I bet the security at those places is now pretty intrusive.

None of my city EDC items have raised any eyebrows or even attracted much attention (but that may be because I'm short, Asian-heritage & female). I have a CMG Sonic flashlight on my keychain and, in a zipped mesh bag: extra Metrocard, heavy-duty cable-ties, SAK, mini-FAK, matches, HD needle & thread, HD plastic trash bags and safety pins. (After reading some of the other posts, I think I'll add a whistle and some para cord, too.) I usually also have a couple of protein bars and some water in my briefcase.

Mostly, you're probably right. Especially about removing injured people from a non-burning, non-sinking vehicle.

BUT, I've been in the position where, had I had one, I would have used it. The day my car caught fire (in a parking lot -- spark + disconnected carburator hose), I found that I had clipped the end of my shirt into the seatbelt buckle. Smoke was pouring out from under the dash & around the edges of the hood, and I COULD NOT get that seatbelt loose. Panic gives us great strength, and I finally managed to pull on the fabric and press the seatbelt button & the thing finally released.

I also left my purse & paycheck on the seat, if that gives you any idea... <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Well, I did say there were probably exceptions to the rule, and that's certainly one of them <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

On the other hand, I have personally come upon an accident scene involving a single vehicle rollover in which "helpful" bystanders had already dragged both occupants out of the car, and I once stopped at the scene of a motorcycle accident in time to stop the unconscious cyclists two buddies from rolling him over by hauling on his ankle. So I stand by my belief that there are probably more people killed by "seat belt cutters" (in the hands of well-meaning Good Samaritans) than will ever be saved by them. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

How do you carry your P38 can opener safely on your keychain? How useful do you find it? I'd think a Vic Classic would be better.

I didn't expect encouragement. The last time I visited Washington, D.C. was before 9/11. I had a great time, but I have not been back since, and I really don't intend to go. I would love to, though.

I'd be happy to play the tourist and see the sights and pump some money into the economy. I am reluctant, however, to put the time, effort, and money into doing that, knowing I'm going to be put under a microsope simply by virtue of being physically present.

I recognize the necessity but resent the intrusion. One is basically paying hard-earned money to be treated like a suspect. It doesn't make sense to me.

May I ask what kind of SAK you carry? Has it raised any security concerns in D.C?

i got a P-38 on mine keychain, with a Wenger exsecutive, led light, glowring and ferrosiumrod. Haven't had problems with it.

It's a plain-vanilla SAK: 2 blades, scissors, can opener, tweezers, pointy awl-like thing, corkscrew, etc. Mostly it gets used at picnics to open/cut/spread stuff, or when I can't be bothered to dig a real screwdriver out of my toolbox.

Removing from vehicles...

Only once in 25 years (unless I was the responding EMS provider) did I remove victims from a vehicle - it was rubber side up and gasoline was running out in streams and puddling on the road.

I sent two civilians to block traffic 1/4 mile in each direction and thought for a full 20 seconds before even deciding to approach the vehicle.

Fortunately, both girls were belted, conscious and reported nothing but bruises from the belts.

I had my friend hold shoulders while I cut the belts (carefully) with the short (1 1/2 ) blade on my good old Ulster Barlow.

I've questioned trropers, firefighters and cataloged my own experience. Twice in a combined 65 or 70 years did we see a vehicle burn. THis, of course, does NOT include RV's that overheat on the grades around here.

Top 10/EDC

LM Wave
Spydie (Work dropped blade length so I an't carry my BM 710, Endura or Delica.)
CMG Infinity (or Mini-Mag) on belt
Streamlight Key Mate and V-Nox classic on keys
Gloves and Moleskine in Coat Pocket
Fisher pen and PDA in shirt pocket
SPare fisher bullet in with Nokia Cell on belt

PSK, Sak(s), Scorpion, Water, food, 2 emergency blankets in my Kely Eagle man-purs as EDC,several bic lighters, waterproof mathccontainer, FAK, etc

I carry a ferocium rod, photon 2, paracord keyfob, aluminium whistle, maya stick and a silva button compass on my keychain. I carry it on a retractable ski pass holder. This works very well, so if I want to you any of the gear, I just give it a pull and when I don't need it, I just let go and it retracts back up.

i forgot i got a whistle on mine too, i got them on a quick release link on mine keychain. I have thought of the skipass holder, but i use it in such a fashion that the tring will get in the way..

Very much my feeling; I won't pay to be treated as an uncivilized person. In my case, that also translates, from time to time, to putting down merchandise and walking out of a store, rather than waiting in huge lines, or lines that do not move, or walking out of restaurants rather than fighting to get served. I keep hoping that if we vote with our wallets, they'll eventually get the message (I'm not convinced that they care at all about any other vote). I haven't yet flown since 9/11. I flew a few times a year before- it's not fear of terrorism, it's a low tolerance to being treated like either like a criminal or cattle. I've rescheduled vacations within driving distance for the time being.

Unfortunately, in the case of government or government-subsidized organizations, the financial incentive just does not apply, since they take the money by force anyway.

Agreed.

The rest of my family, including My Better Half, has a You Can't Fight City Hall attitude toward this. They think I'm, well, stubborn if not crazy for thinking this way. At least thought is not subject to being searched and wanded.

... In most of America, Yet....

1. Leatherman SuperTool 200 (i like the fact that everything locks)
2. p-38 can opener (keychain)
3. one standard red mechanics rag
4. folding knife (needs upgrade, not happy with it or the sheath, Frost Cutlery <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> plus the blade is over 3 inches, not good for city living)
5. money
6. a roll of 550 paracord
7. FAK (contains some extra miscellany as well, carpenters pencil, compass, pepper spray in it's own pocket, etc)
8. food and water
9. AA maglight (needs upgrade)
10. zippo lighter and backup bic lighter (i smoke)

since i live in a city, i have found it best to make as many items as possible, discreet and low-detection, and don't really have the need for fishing hooks or things like that. Though i wear my leatherman on my belt just 'cause it's cool! <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

these are all extra personal items that don't include the cell phone issued by my job and pens and paper etc...or any tools in the trunk...i do think it is horrible the way the government tries to warn/scare us into preparing ourselves (Hurry!!! Duct tape and Plastic Sheeting!!!! Run!!!) but we are looked down upon sometimes for carrying things you can find in most stores... <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Depending upon scenario

<img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Cash
rolling papers
pocket postal scale
lighter
ziplock stash
hip flask
9mm Glock
Spare Mag
Cell Phone
Bus Locker key
<img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /><img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />


EDC urban / suburban
leatherman wave
keys
wallet with cash
Cell phone
Hat
Gloves
Sensible Shoes
Asp Saphire lite
Whistle
Lighter


This is just the top ten I usually carry over 7 pounds of gear total in my vest, pants pockets, belt. I have two or more options for each of the following needs:

Shelter - Tarp, trash bag, poncho, space blanket
Fire - bic, storm lighter, match safe, spark-lite,
Tinder - spark-lite tinder, lint, vaseline soaked cotton, atm reciepts and lottery tickets
Blade - Leatherman Wave, mini-mult-tool on key chain, Xacto blades, Razor blades
Signalling - Whistle, Mirror, Cell phone, Ham HandyTalkie
Water - 1 liter bottle, Potable Acqua, Filter Straw, Latex Tube
Food - Power Bar, Snare-wire, Slingshot band,
First Aid - CPR Mask, Gloves, pocket FAK, EMT-B First-In bag
Entertainment - Chess Board, Cosmic Wimpout dice.
Edification - Buddhist teachings, biblical tracts


That doesn't cover all of my EDC just the major categories.

Perhaps I'm over prepared, paranoid, Or just plain crazy but after a while folks just expect me to be wearing my vest and carrying a small bag of goodies.

I feel kind of silly about my P38. I have carried it on my keychain for 4 or 5 years now, and have not used it once. I am happy that I have never needed it, but also happy that should the need exist, I have it.

I did have a problem with it opening and causing some "discomfort". I stopped that with a couple of turns of tape. I have to retape once a year or so.

I used some shrink tubing to keep my can opener closed. There´s no need to feel silly about a can opener on the key chain. Many people have truely useless items on their key chains.
On one occasion my can opener was extraordinarily useful. A coworker tried to demonstrate how silly I am. He took a can with his would be breakfast, reached for the pull ring while telling how useless my can opener was in the age of pull ring cans. Everybody around laughed out loud when he discovered that this particular can was the old fashioned style. Being a generous person, I permitted him to use my can opener free of charge.
BTW: That can opener earned me a couple of food offers from people who had canned food but no can opener.

Well, maybe the feeling silly part is because both the large SAK in my pocket and my "pen knife" (Midnight Manager with pen, light, etc.) on my beltloop also have can openers, and I have never opened a can with any of them. So it is not so much that I have something "useless" on the keyring as much as that I have 3 of them on me. <img src="images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

But then, I have 5 knives, 4 lights, 3 pens and I do not know how much stuff distributed on me and rarely use more than one at a time of the duplicates.

I actually have a leather key case (Ghurka), and it fits in a flat pocket behind the keys. For years I did carry one, taped closed, on a split ring attached to a key ring. I currently have another in my wallet (in a folded, cut corner of a plastic bag, taped) that I have to remember to take out before I fly next time.

I wouldn't want to be without one. They weigh almost nothing, they're small and flat, and so long as you get real ones and not knockoffs, they work very well. I use them very, very rarely... but when you need one...

Case in point.. many years ago, I had agreed to feed the cat of a lady friend's sister while she was on vacation. The first day we had a huge blizzard, car travel was impossible, and I ended up walking (postholing through snow) for about 3 miles ("but I have promises to keep, and miles to go...").

When I got there the cat food was all laid out, but they'd taken the canopener with them on vacation. My choices were to use a $250 knife to open a can, search someone else's house for other possibilities and possibly ruin assorted implements not belonging to me, or posthole back a mile and a half or so to the nearest convenience store, buy a canopener, then back the same distance... until I remembered the P38. Problem solved, Tabby happy, I'm happy.

I have ALWAYS carried one backpacking. There's no other convenient way to open a can that's nearly as lightwieight, and it's so light it's worth having just on the odd chance you buy some canned food in a country store somewhere, or trade for some on the trail.

They also work fine as a striker for ferrocerium sparkers like the BSA Sparklite, so- throw the striker away, substitute a P38, gain in weight barely measurable with expensive scale, gain in utility huge. I keep a dozen or so spares in a drawer- they're cheap, so if one gets lost (or confiscated at a metal detector) someday, no big deal.

So how can a mere mortal tell the real deal from the knockoff?

Craig,
__________________________________
So how can a mere mortal tell the real deal from the knockoff?
_________________________________

That's easy- the knockoffs bend or break when you use them.

Sorry. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Let me get back to you. I remember that all or almost all of the "real" ones seemed to have one of two contractor's names on them, may as well wait until I can check my hoard.

I bought a dozen from somebody on eBay who advertised them as "real US GI" or somesuch, and they did prove to be the genuine article. Since then I bought a few more at a surplus store where they were out in a can and you could handle them.

A few of the knockoffs I've seen were actually larger... IFIRC, at least 20 percent larger than the real thing. Seems like that might be a good thing- more leverage- but they bent. That was a long time ago, though, so they may no longer be on the market.

Presumed Lost. The P38 certainly ranks up there with the discovery of fire. The P38 has a big brother, the P51. We used to refer to the P51 as the Officers Model. You can get either at a Army Surplus Store for about a dollar. American ingenuity.

Craig,

I've check my hoard- most of them (including some that are almost black with age and carry) are labeled "US SPEAKER". Some are labeled "MIL-J 0387". The "Speakers" seem to be a tad better- looks like heavier plating, and they have a little more resistance to falling open, but they all lose the plating with pretty quickly and they all fall open and need to be taped or contained, so I wouln't worry about the difference. Both work fine.

The oldest-looking of them all is labeled "US G G GREENE 1956". It probably came out of a c-rat box in the '70s. It's pretty black, has seen a lot of use and carry, and still works fine.

I'd check surplus stores. I've seen them wrapped in brown paper, or loose. I wouldn't buy any that came in a retail bubble pack.

"ranks up there with the discovery of fire"

Yup. There are a lot of fields where Americans can be proud of our ingenuity, but very few where we've come up with the tiniest, lightest solution to a problem. Not exactly what we're know for. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The thing is, it's much rarer now to come across a can without some sort of easy-open device... so, in this day and age, it's still worth carrying the tiny P38 against that eventuality. I don't think it would be worth carrying anything larger or heavier.

The p-51 usually comes with the T ration packs (feeding a dozen souls per meal), is designed to open LARGE tins....

I don't know anything about purifying water with UV- light, but I do know about a pen that uses a variaty of filters. Its about 3 inches long and purifyes about 100 litres before you have to clean it .
For more info look at careplus.nl

In order of importance and when not tweaking for a specific environment..

1 Knife
2 Fire Starter
3 Communication Device (Radio or Cell Phone etc)
4 Flashlight
5 Whistle
6 Mirror
7 Water Purification
8 Water Storage
9 Compass
10 Cordage

That's whats most important above all else IMO. After that comes FA supplies, particularly wound managment and meds for dealing with fever, allegies and stomach problems that could cause dehydration.

After that I'd say duct tape is next on the list. Everything else (pocket saws, other tools, food rations, etc) is much less necessary or more easily improvised (for me anyway YMMV) IMO or simply more easily done without in a short term (72hr) survival situation.

Keep in mind this is my list for my knowledge level, mindset and skillset. YMMV greatly.

One more note. I find the first 3 items to be trememdously more important than the rest (but you asked for ten so I gave you ten ). A reliable knife, fire starter and communication device (one that will actually work inthe area you're in of course) will take you a looong way with the right skills and mindset

1. Leatherman Wave
2. Remington 870 12ga w/ 18"&26" barrels and slugs, buckshot, birdshot, & flares for ammo
3. Samsung SCH-A650 cellphone w/ car charger & amp
4. Bendix King DPH P25 VHF radio w/ extra AAclamshell
5. Garmin ETrex GPS w/ extra AA's
6. Fusees
7. Survival Blanket
8. 32oz Nalgene and Camp Cup
9. Brunton Crux stove, lighter, and fuel can
10. p-cord, duct tape, baling wire, or strapping tape

I have two lists, one for the field and one for home (urban). These take that I'd be wearing appropriate clothing and footware as a given.

Field:

• KaBar “Stealth Short Fighting Knife”
  
• Full Camelbak (any will do)
  
• Magnesium fire starter
  
• Petzl Tactika LED headlamp
  
• Suunto GPS Plotter Compass (and area maps of course)
  
• Adventure Medical Heatsheet or Thermo-lite Bivy
  
• Adventure Medical Ultralight 0.9 FAK
  
• Starflash signal mirror
  
• 20-30’ or 550 cord
  
• Cell Phone (Nokia 5140i with GPS shell)

THese are my next 5 for field

• Leatherman Wave
  
• SIG P220
  
• GPS (now a Garmin GPS60CSx with 512mb card loaded with topo & city select data)
  
• JetBoil
  
• Leki Trekking Poles
  

Urban/Home

• Leatherman h503 Knife
• Surefire L1
• Cell phone
• SIG P220
• Adventure Medical Ultralight 0.5 or 0.7 FAK
• Full Nalgene 1L bottle
• Adventure Medical Heatsheet
• 10-20’ of 550 cord
• Leatherman Wave w/ bit kit
• Cigar lighter
  

I was in an 8 in 1968 (Okinawa). Talk about rocking and rolling. Keep my kit with me no matter where I go, might not be able to run back inside...

I guess I'm either lucky or stupid I'm not sure which. i read quite a few posts that keep very austere kits. I don't work in an office bulding anymore and cars are kept in the clear.

We have a system and a plan. The plan is based on a worst case situation, (whole world goes to hell in a handbag), The system is designed for stages.

I have a tool box in my truck with more than enough for five people for five days. My wife's Montana has enough for five people for three days.

we have prepositioned supplies like a 1964 popup camper with stoves, lanterns fuel bedding and food..
A trailer with food, additional ammo, shelter, and other supplies.

my wife and I have checklists, rondivous points and communications.

I can't give you 10 items.

Our thoughts are plan for the worst and hope for the best.

This is an interesting thread, well, my list goes on:

Swisstool rs
Magnesium fire starter
Nalgene/sigg bottle
Emergency blanket
Stainless cooking box
Compass
Mirror
Cell phone
Fishing kit
Backpack