Goodevening Folks,

I said on an earlier post that I would list the items in the Personal Survival Kit assembled by the kids I recently taught a very basic wilderness survival course to. I apologise for no photographs, I do not have a digital camera.

The biggest constraint on this exercise was cost (we made 90 of these kits) items were purchased in large amounts and seperated. Due to the cost limitations the items were not of the "best quality" but were fully functional to use and start training with. Each complete kit cost approximately $15.00 (Can).

Container
Plastic, air-tight, yellow container, 3.5"x3.5"x1.5" size, orange reflective tape on sides, shiny aluminium tape on bottom, yellow label on lid with: name of person issued to and date, S.T.O.P Procedure and Contents List. Sealed with 2 feet of red electric tape and 2 wide elestic bands.

Fire
1- Mini Bic Butane Lighter (gas valve taped closed)
1- Pack Paper Matches (sealed in plastic)
6- Waterproof/Windproof Matches with striker (sealed in plastic)
1- Firestarter Packet (solid fuel, sealed in plastic wrapper)
1- Birthday Candle (bright colour, wrapped in aluminium foil)
3- Cotton Balls (untreated)
1- Magnifying Glass (part of 4 in 1 tool)

Signal
1- Mirror (2"x3" plastic, lanyard hole, use instructions on back)
1- Orange Flaggging Tape (6 feet long)
1- Whistle (plastic, pealess, with tie cord, part of 4 in 1 tool)

Illumination
1- LED Flashlight (small, squeeze to activate)

Navigation
1- Button Compass (part of 4 in 1 tool)

Hazard Protection
1- Insect Repellent Packet (Deep Woods OFF wipe)

Medical Group
3- Adhesive Bandages (1 medium, 2 large, Band-Aid Flex Fablic)
3- Alcohol Antiseptic Wipes (individual packets)

Miscellanous and Multi-Purpose
4- Safety Pins (4 sizes)
3- Sewing Needles (1 large/magnitized and indicated, 2 small)
1- Sewing Thread (10 feet, black colour, very strong)
3- Nails (1 Medium, 2 small)
1- Masons Cord (10 feet, 150lb strength, yellow colour)
1- Duct Tape (1 foot, wrapped around pencil, red colour)
1- Pencil (3 inches long)
3- Sheets Paper (Post-It notes, 3" x 3", yellow colour)
1- Emery Cloth (1 inch x 3 inch)
1- Coin (Quarter)
1- Thermometer (part of 4 in 1 tool)
1- Fishing Line (45 feet, 12lb mono. line)
6- Fishhooks (small to medium)
6- Fishing Sinkers (small to medium)
1- Snare Wire (20ga brass, 6 feet long)
1- Aluminum Foil (heavy duty type, 16" x 16")
1- Plastic Bag (medium size, zipper lock)
1- Hacksaw Blade (3 inch section)
1- Razor Blade (single edged, guarded)
1- Utility Blade (2.5 inch long, guarded)
1- Survival Instruction Sheet


As a seperate unit the following was elestic-banded together.

Shelter
1- Trash Bag (heavy duty, 127 litre size, orange colour)
1- Mylar Emergency Blanket (silver, in plastic packet)
1- Pack Paper Matches (in plastic packet with mylar blanket)

The kids (ages 12 to 17) were able to assemble these kits in 10 to 20 minutes (all items were prepared in advance).

I would like to include/change:
- Spark based fire-starting method (Spark-lite, Ferro Rod)
- Chemical based water purification system (Micro-pur)
- Folding Small Knife (with locking blade)
- A second quarter coin (pay phone is now 50 cents!)
- Packet of sunscreen (SPF 30+)
- Metal container instead of plastic
- Heetsheet blanket instead of mylar blanket

Unfortunately the above items would significantly add to the cost of each kit.

Any constructive comments or suggestions are most welcome as I will be teaching this basic course to a new group of kids in November and have time to change the contents before then.

Thanks,

Mike