Do you use your PSK or is it for emergencies only?

Is your PSK used for daily needs or saved for emergencies. I see some PSK containers all taped or sealed up where you would not want to use it except for emergencies. Other kits seem to be used as regular supplies when out in the woods or away from home. I lean towards the regular use kit but you have to remember not to use it up. Maybe you need an emergency only area inside a larger daily use kit.

Thanks,

David Enoch

You will probably find as many answers to this question as there are ETS forum members. You may want to do a search for this topic using the forum's search engine, since I remember similar threads recently.

As for myself, most of my items are daily use. As a matter of fact, yesterday, I used the compass in my PSP, without opening the pack. Needed to know if I was going north or south, and I was short on time, so I pulled out the pack, got a quick bearing and put it away. Got to my destination ahead of schedule too <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I am a big fan of Schwert's "concentric ring" theory of PSK. A lot of my EDC can be used day to day or in an emergency situation. I always have a Fisher Space pen close at hand, although I've found that they are VERY uncomfortable for writing essay exam answers! I have a Pack Rat that fits into a THE Pack which I carry most of the time. I carry my laptop and items I will be using that day in the THE Pack. But I also carry the Pack Rat if I don't need the bigger bag. I am still working on the set up, but so far it is working well. I just got a Maxpedition Proteus which I'm stocking with redundant items, such as PSP, knife, etc. This is primarily for situations where my EDC is not as convienent as usual, like when I go to exercise at the rec center. It's a lot easier to go dressed in workout clothes than in the cargos I usually wear. I'll have a basic stash in the Proteus and then I can drop in my wallet, cell phone, etc. and I don't have to switch a lot of gear around.

Use it, or lose it works for PSK and EDC IMHO <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

After banging two pieces of flint together while out for short walk in the woods this afternoon I noticed my finger was bleeding slightly. Rather than raid my PSK for a bandaid I just flicked off the blood and kept going. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I consider my PSK to be for unusual situations. I have a mega-sized first aid kits in my car, my backpack (when hiking) and in my daughter's diaper bag. At work I'm a "First Responder" and so I have a complete kit there. One or the other is just about always close. The first aid supplies in my PSK are for when none of these regular kits are nearby. I was less than five minutes from my car so I didn't see the need to open the PSK.

On the other hand, the lighter, saftey pins, and other non-first aid stuff are used much more freely. Hmm, kind of odd, really...

-Mark

Sorry for the momentary hijack here, but how does one become a First Responder? Classes at a local hospital, community college or Red Cross?

Try Red Cross they have a course.

Lee

If this link doesnt work just do a search for phrase "psk poll".

Link

I did a poll some time ago about your usage of PSK and there were some interesting results.

I have a PSK totally vacuum encapsulated awaiting emergencies, and an identical one, not encapsulated, and available for use, practice or trial, anytime.

My kits are for emergencies only and I have lots of reasons for this. I choose the items and pack them very carefuly (particularly in my smallest kit) to make them as small and light as possible and still higher quality and more effective than other simlarly used larger, heavier items. This also adds a great deal of expense with regards to a lot of the items.

That said I don't vacuum seal my kit or tape it up with 300 feet of 2 different kinds of tape either. However my reason for that is not so I can get in to my kit whenever I need something in contains in a non-emergency situation. The reason I make my kits relatively easy to open is so that I can get into them when injured and/or under a lot of stress.

The company I work for does a lot of dangerous stuff so we have an extensive saftey system. I volunteered to be a First Responder so once a year I get a full day of first aid training from the local Red Cross plus one hour a month training from our head of safety. It's pretty great. I've been trained to use the automatic defiblirators and everything. Plus I get a neat pin for my lab coat and a special hard hat. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

-Mark

I live in Arizona where any hunting trip or excursion cross country can turn ugly. I have one of those tool boxes that go across the bed of my truck with a little of everything in it. I rotate the consumables like bottled water and foodstuff the rest is just always withme whether I get stuck in the desert or SHTF.

I would say for emergencies. I carry a small FAK and use it quite a bit. I also carry a SAK, whistle, folding knife with clip, AAA Dorcy LED, lighter, P-38 and a watch with built in compass. however, I have had to use my paracord to tie down some water pipes that I was carrying on the side of the truck.

My PSK is also my EDC. I have it in my pockets and on me at all times. I work in an office, so I must dress business casual, and not look like Batman. My keychain is used all the time and it has a compass, BSA hotspark, whistle, safety pin, P38, Photon light and USB drive. In my wallet I have basic firstaid, duck tape, spare batteries for Photon, razor blade, large paper clip. I also carry a PSK wallet that has such items as leatherman micra, spare AA, meds, lighter, firestarter, 12' of paracord, duct tape, sliver griper, sewing kit. I also have my knife, Leatherman Juice KF4 and Fenix L1P with me always. I use most of this stuff just about every day. You know the saying about the best survival knife is the one you have with you. When I am out in the woods, I have extra equipment in a backpack for wilderness needs.

Ready

Cody Lundin says to have one kit to play with and one to keep for emergencies. I’m bad!

I have stuff in my pockets, Camelbak, SUV, at home and work. For me it makes the most sense to use every item, any chance I get. I want to be as familiar with my stuff as possible. I want to find out what really is useful and what is junk. It does not matter how expensive something is, if it is not useful; it is junk!

Useful: Coghlan’s emergency tinder.
I went camping with our Cub Scout pack last weekend. We used the Emergency Tinder so each scout and adult could see that it is possible to start a fire with a ferro rod instead of matches. Each person had a turn to start a piece of Emergency Tinder with a ferro rod. I was surprised how excited some of the adults were at starting a fire with a ferro rod and Emergency Tinder. The boys always love starting fire. Some of the older boys then wanted to find natural tinder that would light with a spark. I pointed out some dry grasses I had tried before.

Useful: Band-Aid in wallet.
On a short hike (¾ mile), we were picking up trash as we hiked. My son got a small cut on his hand. I was able to pull one out of my wallet faster than you can read this.

Not useful:
Knives you have to use two hands to open. Sorry SAK fans! Let me pull my finger out of your eye.

If you are not using your PSK items as often as possible, you will not be familiar with them or know what works best for you. To me, a PSK that sealed in a container and not practiced with; is going to provide less utility than one you have become familiar with. If you have been using your stuff you will know when things should be replaced.

Desert Rat, where in Arizona are you located?

I lived in Tonopah last but now live in Kingman I was a down winder of PNGS when in Tonopah. I was born and raised here, worked for the BLM in my younger days, so between hunting and fishing as a kid, and wandering the desert for the BLM I have a couple of safe havens up my sleeve.

I have a number of PSK's scattered around in various places. These are sealed and are not meant to be used unless in a emergency. I also have a PSK - "Personal Support Kit" version that is meant for every day use. There isn't a heck of a lot of difference in my personal survival kits and my personal support kit.
Stu

Hmmm - I kinda like that.

Desert Rat,

You are lucky!

There is no escape from Phoenix. Every Friday afternoon the freeways out of Phoenix are a big parking lot. If there was an emergency it would be total gridlock. I wish I could live in a smaller city or town.

Craig,
Alternate routes of departure are very important. Freeways will always get clogged anytime there is an emergency. Buy a PHX city map and a map that is 1:10,000 or 1: 20,000 plan for other routes. some surface streets are faster than the highway, and some surface streets work better than others.

Write me privately and I'll give you some options.
Luke

For me it's a bit of both. A lot of every day stuff I keep on key-rings or otherwise accessible. I don't seal any of my kits, but some are so carefully packed that I'd hesitate to open them because it would be hard to pack them again.