My PSK with Pictures

Click on pictures for a larger one

--Personal Survival Kit--
stored in an Otterbox 1000
with a 12 ft 550 paracord lanyard (whipped down to 1 ft)

-Signaling

Fox 40 Resuce Howler whistle
2x3 signal mirror (protected with duct tape)

-Fire Starters

12 waterproofed strike anywhere matches w/ strike strip
re-light birthday candle
spark lite
5 quicktab tinders

-First Aid

3 tubes antibiotic ointment
5 wound closure strips
4 antiseptic alcohol pads
2 2x2 gauze pads

-Emergency Devices

2 razor blades
scalpel blade (#22)
hacksaw blade (18 tpi)
fishing kit
5 split shot sinkers
1 extra large hook
5 small hooks
5 med hooks
5 snap swivels
25 ft 20 lb test fishing line
photon micro light freedom
compass (20mm)
23 iodine tablets

-Multi Purpose

5 sq ft HD aluminum foil
2 Gerber bags
P-38 can opener
26 in duct tape
2 sheets Rite in Rain paper
1 space pen refill - (forgot to put it in the picture)
6 ft steel wire (0.020)
commando wire saw
3 twist ties
2 rubber bands
10 ft braided nylon line
1 large needle
1 medium needle
15 ft HD nylon thread
safety pins
2 large
2 med
2 small

So, what do you think? $0.02 welcome, I may have overlooked something that everyone else can point out.

I designed this kit to be a small SHTF backup for a camping/hiking/outdoor emergency. I am usually dressed properly (BDU pants, long underwear, waterproof jacket, solid boots, hat, etc) and I always carry a good knife (DR RSK M1 on the way), lighter, and bandanna in my pockets. When camping I have backpack, food, water in canteens, tent, sleeping bag, flashlight, first aid kit, etc. So again, this is a redundant backup for real emergencies, but I also think that I could get along OK with solely this kit.

- Matt

(My PSK for while on Coast Guard ships is the next project!)

My one concern... in about a month, take the duct tape off the mirror, see if it leaves anything behidnd. Or did you have something between the mirror and the tape.

I think I would dump some of the fishing items and add either some aspirin/tylenol/advil, immodium and or pepcid AC, possibly a few other meds, add a few bandaids, maybe switch out the iodine tabs for micropur tabs

The mirror I used came with the Ritter PSP. I left the protective film on the mirror side and used the duct tape for added protection and to insure that the film did not fall off with abuse.

I had 4 band aids but the kit wouldn't close. I did an analysis and decided that they were the odd man out. I know that food/fishing isn't a huge priority, but I also believe that band-aids are more for superficial wounds. The pads don't even fully encapsulate the wound, the side is left open for dirt to enter. With the antibiotics/antiseptics, wound closure strips, gauze, and duct tape from the kit as well as my pocketed bandanna, I'm fairly confident that I could handle a more severe wound. Though it would probably be a good idea to try and flatten some (maybe 2?) in a dictionary and then cram them in there ...

Hmmm, some pills might be good too, especially something like Immodium (if I do catch a bug). You have to be careful with aspirin - if you have a nasty injury, it can thin your blood and you'll start to bleed out again. Is the purpose of Advil/Tylenol in a survival kit just for pain management?

I read somewhere that MP-1 tablets needed to be kept in the foil packaging. I made a small compromise between quality and quantity. I hear that Potable Aqua is pretty effective and I was able to put 23 in there. Is there a huge difference in quality? Is the foil thing a correct representation of MP-1?

Nice kit. Good idea puting the whistle on the outside. Only thing I would do different it to go with better matches. I use the life boat ones and they have gotten some good reveiws.

I actually do have a vial of those around. I've never tried them out before but I do like what I've heard. Again, it came down to a quality vs quantity. The NATO lifeboat matches are much thicker then my stike anywheres, and I do like the prospect of being able to light a match without a special striker.

Can lifeboat matches be lit on any old match striker, or is the one on the lid of the vial special?

What does everyone else think, not just for my PSK but in general. In a limited amount of space, which are the best matches to use, keeping in mind that you can carry fewer lifeboat matches but the overall quality is arguably better?

Yes, MP-1 needs to be kept in their foil packaging, but doesn't potable aqua start to go bad as soon as you open the container? (ie transferring them into another container). Someone can probably clarify.

The reason people like MP-1 tabs is because they'll kill stuff the others won't. Potable Aqua won't nail viruses or cysts, like cryptosporidium, but MP-1 will. The way I look at it, there's no point in killing 90% of the bad things in the water, then getting sick anyway because of the things you couldn't kill.

I use MP-1 as primary water treatment in my PSK, but I also have AquaTabs as backup (they take up less room, but again don't kill as much as the MP-1 will)

Anything is better than nothing though <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Lifeboat matches should be able to utilize any striker designed for matches. They're nice... kind of like the NATO wind/waterproof matches. Burn like little flares. As far as what you use, it's up to you. Personally, if I could only have a handful of matches, I'd rather just go with a mini bic. If it does work, you get potentially hundreds of fires compared to a dozen for matches. If it malfunctions, you have your spark lite.

Still, you're right... you have to weigh quality vs. quantity when space is at a premium.

PA goes funny if you open it after about a year, or three years if closed. Now that I'm repacking PA, I replace it every six months. 8 bucks a year is a decent investment.

The reason I use PA still, now that MP is available in my area has to do with the smiple fact that water that's pure doesn't help if you can't get it down. Tried it, and almost hurled.

When in doubt, BOIL. 100C destroys pretty much everything.

However, now that I double checked, I see that you are using a clear/colorless bottle, Coastie. Wrap a label around the bottle, becuase they do break down due to light. Amber bottles are much better if you can get them.

You "hurled" with MP-1 or PA? I thought that iodine was the one to leave a funny taste, not the chlorine dioxide?

I'm hoping that the foil could be used to boil if the need came to that, that's one of the main reasons it's in there. Are there any other uses for foil other than boiling/cooking?

With the MP. I hate the smell of chlorine, which is probably the issue here. Psychosomatic or not, it's real enough to screw me up. The suvenier of nearly drowning in a pool when I was very little, probably.

PA I'm fine with. It gives me heartburn for the first few liters, but that's about it. And as small as the vials are, PA+ is worth looking into if you don't like PA's taste. Although, I'd rather have ten Immodium in a second tab.

My question is how did you get that many into the vial? It looks like a 5/8 dram, right? I can only get 18 into one of those.

I don't know the exact size, I ordered it off Exploration Products, as per Doug's recommendation. I think that he fit 23 in as well, based on his "Mini Survival Kit" page.

What I did was tapped the vial after every 3 or 4 tablets to get it all to settle, then added 3 or 4, then tapped, etc.

I left the original sheet of protective film on the mirror, the duct tape just went over it for added durability and abuse resistance. It's a thick Lexan (I think) material, its the mirror from the Ritter PSP. Do you still think it'll eat through? That could be a problem...

Cardboard sleeve - good idea.

I carry the REI stormproof matches in my PSK. I have had to use them to start a fire when my bic would not stay lit and the strike anywhere matches would not light properly, (the phosphorus would ignite but the wood would not, it was 18 F at 5am and windy).

I use the lifeboat matches because they are many time more reliable than the strike anywhere’s. What is the point of have twice as many matches if half of them do not work?
The use of the lifeboat matches also almost guaranties the matche will get to the tender before being blown out.
If I had to choose between a 5 lifeboat matches and 25 strike anywhere’s I would go with the lifeboats.
I would like to here why others would choose the strike anywhere's over the Life boats or maybe a combination.

Availability and cost, pure and simple.

I've used lifeboats in the past, and I find that a thrice lacquered strike anywhere is almost as good and easier to find something to light it on. I've also never been fond of the strikers that are needed for the lifeboats. I've heard people say that they can light them on standard strikers, but the manufacturers say otherwise.

If I could find a local source of the Colhgans (sp) water/windproofs, I'd give them a try.

I covered the strike anywheres in a heavy coat of clear nail polish (imagine the jokes I got for that - I live in a barracks) stick and all, to keep them waterproof. After such treatment, I have dunked them in water for a few seconds, pulled it out and then lit it - I used both a real striker and my zipper. It takes an extra strike or two sometimes to work through the heavy coat of polish, but with patience you can get a solid blaze going. I also have a small "re-light" birthday candle to help combat the wind, all I need to do is get an easy to light candle to catch, then use the candle to light the tinder. What if Murphy is lurking around the corner and you lose the strike strip, or the stike strip gets wet, then those NATO matches are deadweight IMHO.

Speaking from personal experiance: If there is any sort of wind no match is going to be satisfactory nor any lighter for that matter. Rule 1 of survival: GET OUT OF THE WEATHER! Even with an accellerant fire lighting is touch and go at the very best of times. Use your poncho or whatever to shield you fire when lighting it. If you have to make a choice of matches carry no more than 4 lifeboat matches (your striker will crap out after 4 or so strikes). Lifeboats where not designed for fire lighting. Their original use was to burn trough the waterproof laquire covering on a distress rockets fuse.A mini clipper will at least allow you to apply a longer lasting flame to your tinder. If you want to proof strike anywhere matches use a large candle and dip the heads into the wax. gives a most satisfactory result.

You are right about the strikeing surface getting lost or damaged. I will take that in to consideration with my kits.
Thanks for the reply

One other thing I might suggest regarding MP-1. Lifesystems stock a neutralising tablet that removes the tast & smell from tabbed water. Not sure if it works with MP-1. I'll try it and let you know.

Good kit

He wrote

"The mirror I used came with the Ritter PSP. I left the protective film on the mirror side and used the duct tape for added protection and to insure that the film did not fall off with abuse."

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

So, a small update...

I smashed 4 large bandaids in a nautical almanac (VERY heavy books) and then crammed them in there. Given this match debate, I thought "Hey, sparklites are pretty reliable, not too affected by water, and don't need anything special" so I added another Tinderquick (total of 6). Then I put a turn of electrical tape around my clear iodine vial, someone was kind enough to point out that the tabs degrade in light (might scrouge up an amber vial one of these days) - do you think that'll take care of most of the light issues - it's also stored in a dark box.

I do have a question about the reliablility of Otterboxes. The extra stuff I added made an already tight fit quite a squeeze, but I was able to get the latch closed with a little bit of effort. Is there any record of those latches failing? The box seems nearly indestructable, but I just wanted to make sure that even at supermax capacity the box will maintain it's integrity (and stay waterproof). Thanks

I've been using an Otter for a battery box for a while, and that is pretty well packed. Should be fine, but I've heard soewm stories about having to pry them open after a flight.

And the tape around the vial should be fine. In addition to the amber glass, I use a label around the vial that has all the directions for using PA. The bottom is open, just so I can tell quickly which vial I'm using- the Immodium in the other vial won't make bad water good. I figure that what little light reaches them during the monthy repack of the PSK should be too bad, becuase the origional bottle had an uncovered bottom.

Portable Aqua markets it under thier name PA+. It nuetralizes the iodine. I think it's just vitamin C, but I'm not sure on that, or if it will work on chlorine.

Yes they are & yes they will.
Might be a fallback source of Vitamin C if things take a turn for the worse. In many situations vitamin deficiencies are a major worry, even before you get to scurvy levels of Vit C diff.

Chew on some pine needles - they are rich in Vitamin C

04/04/06 at 22.40 BST. I have it from Ray Mears, who might be considered the definative expert in these matters, that the best way to obtain Vit C from pine needles is to put a quantity in a cup or container of some description and pour hot water over them. The resulting infusion is very high in Vit C. Don't ask me what pine needle tea tastes like as it's something I haven't yet tried. There are other Vitamin and mineral deficiencie issues as well. As I understand it your body needs various V&M's in order to operate properly. I don't know exactly how long you have before hitting that particular wall. Comments from the medically inclined members might prove interesting.

Use the very fresh ones, that are just coming out htis time of year. It's... interesting. Or as my lady friend at the time said, "you taste like a car airfreshener". :P

That should do it. Just remember to dry it out nice and good if it should ever get wet.
Yeah it will hold. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Mine has been packed to the brim with no failures. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

BTW I replyed to your PM.

i find pine needle trea to be pretty good. I actually like it more than the "normal" english blend style tea.

In that case, I might have done it wrong. There was a distinct evergreen undertone in what I made. *YUCK*