Doug's personal kit includes several sheets of blank paper and several sheets with preprinted information that may be of use in an emergency. It lists that the info has some fishing knots and another sheet has the included drug information. And there was a thread about including morse code a few days ago. <br><br>1. What other information should one include?<br><br>It seems to me that this is a highly personalized, subjective question based upon one's skill level. A person that's able to send and receive morse code in their sleep would likely scoff at the idea of needing a cheat sheet. On the other hand, one could find themselves in a situation where you are Incapacitated and may have to rely upon a less experienced individual for survival. <br><br>2. Are there any word processing or PDF templates available to produce such information sheets?<br><br>3. Is laser cartridge toner acceptable or would it wear off?<br><br>I just received my Write In The Rain trial package that included two spiral pads, one for a shirt pocket and one for a hip pocket, an all weather pen, and a few sheets of sample copier/laser printer paper. I was contemplating using these to create my cheat sheets.<br><br><br>Willie Vannerson<br>McHenry, IL

In my kit, I include a list of parts in the kit. I used MS Excel to make the document. In the first column is the Quanity, the second is Description, and the third has Function. Some items the function is obvious but I tend to list the primary function and then several alternate functions.<br><br>For instance for Foil it reads,<br><br>1, Foil, aluminum, 12"x 72", Treat sucking chest wound, cook, watertight container, reflector, fire proofing<br><br>That way it gives people a list of things to do with the item. It also should help them to think about alternate uses that I have not listed. For my fanny pack kit, the listing fits on a single sheet of paper front only in landscape mode. I folded the paper twice and it fits just inside a sandwich size ziplock along with a bandanna, trash bag and foil.<br><br>You could always laminate whatever document you generate. All the big box office supply stores have laminaters in house and will laminate an 8x11.5 page for about $1. Of course that precludes using the paper as a fire starter and makes changes difficult. You can generate a smaller piece of paper and laminate it in the 8x11.5 page and then cut it down. They may also have a business card size laminator if you don't want to cut it down. <br><br>My wife has a business card laminator that she uses to make id cards for her organization. Periodically I make a document with phone numbers and laminate it to keep in my wallet. Just the right size for an Altoids box but it takes up more space than just a sheet of paper.<br><br><br>

I have made several cheat sheets to carry in my kits, the information I include is metric conversions, kitchen conversions (eg. pints in a gallon), water treatment info (drops of bleach to a pint), pictures of snare triggers (i can never remember the configurations).<br><br>Not as much for my survival kit, but for my Search and Rescue pack I have Map reading cheat sheets such as UTM grid readers, Compass protractors, etc.<br><br>Most of these I make the size of a credit card.<br>Ted Fisher<br>VCSAR Coordinator<br><br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by tfisher on 07/17/01 11:15 AM (server time).</EM></FONT></P>

>>3. Is laser cartridge toner acceptable or would it wear off?<br><<<br><br>FWIW, my experience has been that laser toner is pretty durable on most papers, but it is highly dependent on the paper. Some colored, glossy or pre-printed papers seem to cause it to wear very badly.<br><br>Art supply stores sell spray fixatives that artists use to keep completed charcoal and pastel drawings from smudging and to protect the surface. Just a thought.<br><br><br>

Another option is to treat with map sealer. You can write over the sealer, and it will burn. I bought mine from Campmor. Be careful when using, the paper becomes very delicate until dry.<br><br>

A second for mapseal. I've used it for inkjet cheatsheets and it is perfect.<br><br>

Could I trouble you to send a copy of the spreadsheet via private email?<br><br>The inventory list is a good idea, especially with the suggested uses, which addresses the "What if someone else needs to use you kit" issue. It would also make sense to keep a list of expiration dates for perishable items, such as medicine.<br><br>Willie Vannerson<br>McHenry, IL

I didn't even know map sealer existed. It's amazing what one can learn on this site.<br><br>Willie Vannerson<br>McHenry, IL

How do you transfer the info/images to your sheets? Do you hand draw them, use a copier, or can it be found on the web?<br><br>BTW, what are UTM Grid readers?<br><br>Willie Vannerson<br>McHenry, IL

I transfer the images that are printed on paper using a scanner attached to a computer. I hand draw some of the images that I don't have printed copies of. I then move the images to a software application called "PAGEMAKER" which is a desktop publisher. This application allows me a considerable amount of control of the final printed image.<br><br>After printing I laminate the paper using a heat laminator.<br><br>Other software applications could be used to create these reference cards, a good word processor, or a good graphics application. Some of the applications I use are Pagemaker, Microsoft Word, Excel, Photoshop, Autocad<br><br><br>UTM Grid readers: We use 7.5 minute Topo maps from the US Geological Service in most of our Search and Rescue missions. These maps have a system to find your position on the map called Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), similar to Latitude and Longitude that is also on these maps. Many GPS receivers also have an option showing your UTM position which is easily transferred to the map. We use the UTM grid readers to aid us in the coordinate translations and our land navigation. More info can be found at http://www.maptools.com/UsingUTM/<br><br>Ted Fisher EMT I/D<br>Vermilion County Search and Rescue<br><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by tfisher on 07/18/01 07:58 AM (server time).</EM></FONT></P>

What I would like are some ideas of what information to put on these reference cards. Any Ideas<br><br>Ted Fisher<br>Vermilion County Search and Rescue<br><br>

Ted,as you are in a search and rescue unit, I would have the ground to air code( l= serious injury, F= need food/water etc.), body signal codes ,Basic knots,water purification instructions for whatever product you carry, the signal of three universal distress symbol, the local constellations(by season) in your local nightsky and indicated direction, Basic first aid for hyper and hypo thermia. This is hardly complete. I try to think what I may forget,or worse mixup when fatiqued or injured, and what a complete novice would need to know. The SAS Gem and Flickbook are still the best. If I can carry a pocket kit,these small tomes are not that much more.<br><br>

I scribble UTM GPS coordinates of important nearby places; peaks, ranger stations, road intersections... With UTM, its useful even without a GPS. Phone numbers and a list of ailments or meds would be good if you were found in bad shape. Several months ago, my grandfather had a heart attack while driving home after a stress test. Fortunately, he was able to pull into a gas station and more fortunately, he had a paper typed up listing all of his health problems, history and meds that he made for his cardiologist. This was what he handed the store clerk before he passed out. The EMTs and emergency room staff found it to be very useful. Incidently, he had quadruple bypass a few days later and has since made a full recovery feeling and acting 10 years younger! <br><br>

Great Ideas I will look into these. I am also going to look up the SAS Flick book. If its already done no sense in reinventing the wheel.<br><br>Thanks<br>Ted Fisher<br><br>

Thanks for the link on UTM.<br><br>BTW, I have found Paintshop Pro to be an excellent graphics program. (http://www.jasc.com/)<br><br>Willie Vannerson<br>McHenry, IL

Check your email<br><br>

FWIW, I found some interesting fly fishing knot images on the GORP web site. http://www.gorp.com/gorp/publishers/menasha/fis_knot.htm<br><br>Willie Vannerson<br>McHenry, IL

And another site with even more and some improved graphics. <br><br>http://www.leadertec.com/tips_index2.html<br><br>Also, I'm thinking of laying out my cheat sheet in columns equal to the width of the tin, print front and back, trim width and then accordian fold the long, narrow strip. I recall seeing marketing specialty handouts that use this concept for wallet sized address books. At each end they have rigid pieces that are magnetic to hold the whole bundle together.<br><br>Someone mentioned business card lamination earlier. These could be used instead with the sheet glued to them at the ends. Although this would add additional thickness and weight, it could be useful if the laminated cards held durable information that needed additional protection, such as special medical instructions. The Write in the Rain product would be durable, but still subject to tearing.<br><br>Willie Vannerson<br>McHenry, IL

Hi,<br>though these can't be personalized,Campmor sells a cool little set of 5-3x5 plastic cards with survival info printed in small type and illustrations. I'ts 4.99- #81328<br>JB<br><br>Expect poison with the standing water.<br> -William Blake

FYI - I've added the STOP acronym and explanation to my cheat sheet contents. Stop - Think - Observe - Plan<br><br>I'm also using the list of priorities as a guideline for what to include. <br><br>1. Medical Care<br>2. Shelter & Fire<br>3. Signaling & Communication<br>4. Sustenance<br><br>So if I run out of space, I'll cull by going backwards. For example, I might drop a diagram on how to set up a snare instead of signalling info.<br><br>Since I'm using 8.5 x 11 sheets of Write in the Rain paper, I'll get two copies (landscape) of two sided content. I have it set up to make an accordian fold of five panels (ten frames total front and back). I am also considering printing a separate credit card size page with medical information that is specific to the individual. My medical requirements are different than my son's. I will than lamintate this info to protect it. Finally, I'll glue one edge of the accordian fold piece to an edge of the medical card. This package will go into the kit last with the STOP acronym and red stop sign image right on top.<br><br><br>Willie Vannerson<br>McHenry, IL

I have some experience with the laminated stuff, so I'll throw my two cents' worth in. I made up some "code cards" several years ago, with Morse and pattern signals and visual signals, and the whole nine yards (graphics cobbled off various sources), printed both sides of a sheet, about 8 1/2" x 5.5" before trimming, and had some laminated at a repro shop. They used stuff of less weight than a wallet or luggage card would normally have, but pretty substantial. I punched holes in one corner, set eyelets for running cord, and folded the cards in half, for inclusion in flotation and survival vests. They are the apotheosis of waterproof, and look very spiffy to boot. And you can read them without aids, unlike the Nading cards, which I otherwise admire.<br>Some of the posts in this thread mention Nalgene/Rite-in-Rain-sort of paper for the LaserJet, which was welcome news to me; I have experimented a little with printing on Tyvek "paper" from an inkjet, and use this for some things (maps), spraying with Krylon Krystal Klear or other product to waterproof the printing, 'cause inkjet ink seems smudgy to me. Tyvek is spun-bonded polyolefin or some such, the kind of stuff used as vapor barrier on houses and for evasion charts by the Defense Mapping Agency, tough and waterproof. I wish I could print large maps that way; I'm using 8 1/2 x 11 sheets. The other stuff is something I want to try; I do the personal info sheets, too, plus since I make up kits for friends of varying degrees of snap, I find it necessary to label everything, and include lots of instructional material, and the waterproof paper may be a godsend for the latter purpose.<br>The Nading cards mentioned previously are great, and there are some pocket cards for knots that aren't bad. I think they are called "Pro-Knots", but I am not sure.<br><br>