Survival tin (with pictures)

From the top left: waterproof note paper, HD aluminium foil, 'signal mirror', tin, fishing kit, safety pins, sewing needle/ thread, wire-saw, flint&steel, magnefying glass, paperclip, band-aid's, utility knife blades, salt, waterproof bags, cotton, trail tape, copper brass wire, 2 acetamethophen, dental floss, button compass, photon microlight, pencil, tweezers, bandages, alcohol prep-pad, Povodine-ionine pad, stop/ fishing knots instructions sheet, wind/waterproof matches, tinder, glucose tabs, whistle, tea candle, 10 micropur tablets and duct-tape

My EDC is a FAK, Wave, Survival bag, LED Flashlight, watch, cell phone, bandanna and additional matches/tinder

YOu might want to get yourself some tiny ziplocks. One to keep the matches in so they are a little more protected, and one to put the tealight in. Those get nasty in the summer.

Pretty nice kit you have there. To me it seems like you have all the basics well covered.

That tin seems a little bigger than an Altoids. Do you have the dimensons and know how to procure one? Containers for PSKs seems to be a never ending quest.

Nice Kit Jim! I'm really curious where you got that whistle. I'm looking for a flat and thin one just such as that!

Oh, and what's the "signal" made from? Why not go with at least one of the cheap steel ones? Would that be too thick for your kit? Seems like you have it packed pretty well, so that may be the case.

the whistle is the perry whistle made by BCB. It really isn't that small, but has nice shape for these small kinds of kits.

Kits lacks waterpurification tabs and a proper signal mirror. Waterproof bags, appears to be very friagile and lacking in the closure section.

I looked at the BCB site, and I saw this whistle in their survival kits but not for individual sale. Also, is there anywhere in the states to get their kit?

There are 10 micropur purifying tabs( bottom left, grey pack)
Waterbags are not the best available, will be replaced with something better when I find one.
I agree with you on the signal mirror.

their kit can be purchased almost on every serious outdoor-website.
Whistle isn't sold individually. I got mine from a BCB tin

Your right about the 'signal', but as you said that would become to bulky. Also I carry a small mirror with my EDC.

Overall dimensions are 10 / 9 / 3 cm.
It's a one-off, so I don't know where you could get one.
I also don't know anything about american addresses.
(Dutch you know)

It is to bad that a lot of stuff you take for granted in the US, isn't available in Europe and The Netherlands. It can only be purchased on the web. You guy's can get anything in huge survival stores.

Examples: Povodine-Iodine swabs, Antibiotic Ointment, Pyrotechnics, Sure-Fire, doug's PSP, Epirb's, etc.

jim : your survival tin is spot on... i like what i see...what type of tin/case do you use ?? for one i do'nt like the altiods tin its to darn small and i only use the B.C.B. size tin to carry my modified contents.... keeping with the brit.S.A.S survival theme do you also carry a survival pouch when in the field?? i'd like to see the contents to compare notes <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.. vince g. 11b inf...

Jim,

Please tell us about your survival bag. To me the survival shelter is the big white elephant in the room no one talks about much. I have read more than once that if it is cold and wet a natural shelter like a debris hut is not going to keep you warm and dry.

Thanks!

heh... I live at least an hours drive from any sporting goods stores. There are more hiking/camping/sporting stores around, but I'd hardly call them "survival stores". Sure, they usually have an aisle or half an aisle dedicated to survival kit, but the rest of it is spread around as specific sporting goods. There aren't any climbing/hiking/camping type sporting stores in the malls there? I have to think there are at least smaller shops that deal with this sort of gear. For sure there are marine suppliers that have some gear.

Follow the link on the E.T.S. site to Outdoorcode in the U.K. Your within the E.U. so he orght to be able to supply all your needs. I used him to obtain 3 P.S.P's, 2 B.C.B fireball strikers and 2 wire saws. Service is very good.

these whistles are for sale seperatly. I know, i bought many of them. They are just harder to find online. I buy them locally.

Hmm... since my post I've located this for individual sale and they call it a Perry Whistle, but it doesn't look like the one in the kit here or in some of the BCB Kits. Looks like they use two different whistles?

It's the orange survival bag from Coghlan's
It provides instand protection against wind and rain.
The cold in Holland isn't that much, so additional thermal protection isn't a priority.
I also have some emergency space bags, but I prefer the orange bag because it's a lot ness noisy, it's tougher and makes a good ground signal and/or tarp
I'm also thinking about a orange tube tent. Is it any good??

I bought my original BCB kit about 9 years ago, so it could have changed overtime

*chuckles*

I live in "the country", and I can't get most of this stuff locally. Exotic means potable aqua and really bad knock off magnesium firestarters. I can't even get Fox40s without having to order them. It's only been a year that I could get Nalgene bottles.

Mail order is a symptom of the illness known as "tin-fu".

The problem in the Netherlands is that it's a small country. There aren't a lot of places were you could get into a survival situation.
Therefore there aren't many people that have the same hobby as me: making survival kits. And that's the reason that there aren't many shops that have outdoor, let alone survival stuff.

I do have the BCB folding pouch, but I don't use it anymore.
I do carry some stuff on my belt and in my pockets.(my EDC)
Here we go:

On belt
Leatherman/ Maglite combo
FAK
Orange survival bag
cell phone

In my pocket:
Survival tin
wallet/ID
Bandanna
tinder/matches
dental floss
Duct-tape
mirror with rope wrapped on it

Of course this could all be put in a pouch.....
Please let me know what you carry

Do they have mylar oven bags in Europe? It's a bag of nonmetallised mylar bag that is used for cooking things like chickens.

I carry them along with metal clips to keep them close. Very light, very strong, and boiling water doesn't faze it.

Nope, only flimsy aluminium foil.
At my hardware store they even didn't have HD aluminium foil

Skip the hardware store for these guys. Grocery store, in with the wax paper, aluminum foil and the like. Tell the clerk you are looking for a plastic oven bag, for moist cooking of chickens. If they look at you funny, tell them truth- the technique was developed by the french years ago.

While you are there, look at the aluminim foils. They should list thier length. Weigh them by hand, and take the one that feels heaviest compaired to the length of the roll.

And breast milk bags. Very good, best zip seals ever, and great water bags. And don't forget the value of feminine hygine producets in both first aid and firestarting.

Yeah, our addiction requires a certain lack of shame. :P

If I remeber correctly, Jim is 16. Asking for breast milk bags at that age, requires definatly al lack of shame <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

But I'm impressed what he does at his young age, especially living in the Netherlands.

well being also dutch, HD alluminium foil is indeed very very hard to find. So are ovenbag and breast milk bags. I work in a store that sells many things, which include alluminium foil, oventrays and babymilk things. But no bags...

Oh.

Wow.

OK, never mind.

At any age when you are a guy, tampons are kinda odd to buy. But they burn sooooo well. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

jim : i only carry the survival pouch in the field...its a green heavy web pouch...the contents are a 1/2 british/dutch issue messtin,survival bag, pen flares,matches,small mag light,food items,esbit/stove,550cord,large signal mirror,orange panel...again the survival tin goes in the pocket on your body and the pouch on the belt....the kit listing comes out of the S.A.S survival handbook....vince g. 11b inf.....

Asking for breast milk bags at that age, requires definatly al lack of shame


absolutely!!

I use the sas handbook to, but I can't get pencil flares.
Prohibited in Holland

Uh, Jim, PC, no offense, but what ISN"T illegal or unavaiable in Holland sounds like a shorter list. I'm sorry guys. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

In fact, unless you are stoner or way to into tulips, it sounds like everything fun is just not in your country. What do you do there to not go crazy?

Absolutly right, their are so many laws in Holland that you would go crazy. Weapons, pyrotechnics,knifes. You name it, there are laws over and against it. It sometimes is really frustrating, you can get allmost anything in The States. I can only order from the internet.
( No povidine-iodine swabs, antibiotic ointment, pyrothechnics, manchete's, Epirbs, PSP...........


So I have to spent my time on this forum! <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Actually the dutch law regarding to firearms, knifes and pyrotechnics aren't extreamly strict.

Knifes with a cutting blade shorter than 9cm are allowed, 7cm if the blade is in the middle thinner than 15mm. Locking blades are allowed. You just have to find a good excuse to carry them. Anything can be a weapon and if the police officer see's it as a weapon you will have problem or a ticket...

You'r allowed to shoot firearms at gunclubs, you only need paper that says you'r no criminal. After joining a gunclub for a year, you'r allowed to buy a gun. Your allowed to own up to 7 guns. Many calibers from small to large are allowed, except the .50. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

pyrotechnics have strict storage rules, but the prime reason why they are hard to get is the fact that very little places sells them. Flares that is, you can get smoke pods and stuff more easier.

You can't buy basic FAK supplies? That's crazy. Can't you get some of thst stuff at a chemists? Even if you have to buy a full kit... I would think at least antibiotic ointment is available. You can get that stuff in convenience stores (gas stations) here in the states!

Dutch weaponlicenses are strict compaired to almost all other countries( exept the UK)
Doesn't make much sence, if you are a criminal, why would you want your weapon to be registerd with the police?

I know, it's terrible. I wanted to buy antibiotic ointment, It's on prescription, they said. So I went to the doctor, who didn't want to give me one. To young he said and to much paperwork (all prescriptions has to go to the insurance.)
They also don't have samples or single-use pack.
And Povodine-Oidine Swabs are just not available in Holland.

(If you can buy it everywhere, send me some!!) <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

antibiotic are always on prescription, because in holland antibiotic is only given to those that really need them. There isn't a time is money, so we have to take antibiotic to heal quicker kind of thought here. It has protected use a little from resistant bacteria.

And first aid equipment are availible, just just have to know where to look for. And indeed Povodine-Oidine swabs are not for sale, Povodine-Oidine cream, plasters, gauze, etc are.

Interesting. I for one agree with the policy and tend to stay away from anti-biotics in general. However, because virtually nobody else does that, we now have some serious strains of resistant bacteria now.

Anyway, if I can get away with shipping them to you, I'd be happy to send you a box. I just don't want your customs saying "who's this chap sending a box of antibiotic ointment to a 16 year old boy?" Hehe... I don't need that kinda hassle! But seriously, I could probably pack a small FAK with some extras if you like. If there aren't any rules against buying those items abroad and having them shipped, cool. But if there are, I have to think that one of us sending them is probably not a smart idea.

OK, just to be fair, if we Americans are going to put JIM on the hot seat for his hillbilly remark, let's at least show a little restraint with our own sweeping generalities and stereotypical comments about the Dutch and their entire country, shall we? I know it was meant as a joke, but still. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

You guys DID PUT me in the hotseat for that, sorry BTW

Jim,

It must be hell being a subject instead of a citizen!

Hopefully you will never know!!

Getting off-topic here, but the Dutch have an excellent record of reducing antibiotic-resistant staph infections (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), and I assume that the strict control of antibiotic compounds (including ointments/creams) is one part of their national program to combat antibiotic-resistant infections. The Dutch began the program a long time ago, when antibiotic-resistant bacteria first started becoming a problem. Today, in US hospitals, roughly half of hospital-acquired staph infections are antibiotic-resistant. In Holland, it's less than 1%--among the lowest in Europe.

That's right.
But who thinks about that when you are in a survival situation with a infected wound <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

One aspect to consider that may influence this initial observation of a significantly reduced number of antibiotic resistant organisms in Dutch hospitals could be due to social-economic and various population diversity factors.

The fact that the Dutch have a significantly lower incidence of antibiotic resistant organisms may be due not so much as the prevention of creating such organisms, but the limited introduction of such organisms into the Dutch population.

Just a thought-

Pete

So does Holland have a low crime rate? If so, are they due to these laws?

It isn't the topical treatment of wounds with stuff like mycitracin or neosporin that causes resistance but rather the systemic use of antibiotics on a frequent basis. For example, we go to the doctor for colds and sore throats. It is a known fact that unless you still have your tonsils most likely your sore throat is of viral origin. That notwithstanding, you will receive a 10-day course of whatever the latest broad spectrum antibiotic the last drug rep was by with (I used to be one years ago). IF the sort throat was bacterial and not viral the most likely pathogen would be strep. Then the drug of choice is STILL penicillin. Not only would it work but it would cost pennies. You wouldn't get that. You would probably get Levaquin for a small fortune. That's why the cost of medical care has skyrocketed and bacterial resistance to antibiotics has become such a real problem. Nothing more complicated than that.

we have low crime rate compaired to many other countrys, but it's not just the laws that is the cause, it's way more complex than that.

That's just because we are very nice people <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

But now seriously, gang wars are are not so common overhere. They are gangs not as big and organised , but drive by shootings etc don't happen to often overhere. I think there is less crime, but what the influence of the laws is....

Furthermore, I did read the remark about being stoned. I can also comment on that. It's true that you can buy a little amount of softdrugs (somewhat legally). But it doesn't mean that everybody here uses drugs (most of us don't). I live near the border, and (sorry frenchy) most of the drugs customers here are from France. A positive thing about this system is that the dealing is taken out of the criminal circuit, what posibly reduces crime.

I just have to say poor Jim. I am sitting laughing my a$$ off. This young adult (obviously not a kid ) Is still around after all the flack ETSer’s have give him. He has stuck to his guns (no pun intended) through all of this. I have to say kudos to Jim for showing us your mature side. You have earned my respect and admiration.

Interesting... I've often wondered about our healthcare systems willingness to push drugs for the pharmacorps at obvious cost to our long term health. We always think that the next great antibiotic is just around the corner, but we've painted ourselves into that corner (or had it painted for us!).

After reading that antibiotics are present in drinking water all over, I found this article to be of interest: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-04/idso-lau041706.php

yes, but coffee-shops can legally sell drugs, but can't legally purchase it

I'm very happy you do.

So, the argument is that the reason for the infrequent spread of MRSA in Dutch hospitals is because there's naturally little MRSA in the general Dutch population. We're getting into a chicken-and-egg situation here, but I would say that the general consensus is that there is little MRSA in Dutch hospitals (and therefore in the general population) because they have worked hard to block transmission of MRSA between patients and to cure the few who have it. MRSA is an increasing problem in many countries throughout Europe, so it's unlikely that the Dutch are somehow spared from exposure to it. The UK's rate is not far below the US, and Germany and Austria have seen a rapid rise recently.

Like I said, limiting antibiotic use is just a part of their overall strategy and not the main reason for their success. The part that the British wish they could emulate is the Dutch screening, isolation, and treatment strategy, usually referred to as "search and destroy". More than anything, that's the reason why Holland has been able to keep their hospitals relatively free of MRSA. A large proportion of the MRSA they see are in patients who originally acquired it in in a non-Dutch hospital, so their hospitals are being exposed to it, but they've been able to identify it, contain it and keep it from becoming endemic. Once a hospital has become thoroughly colonized with MRSA, it's pretty tough to get rid of and continues to infect more and more patients.

Xterior, although you can legally buy "soft drugs", we have one of the lowest amount of "soft drugs" users per 1000 persons, compaired to other western country's.
Trying to make something very hard to get, appears to make them more attractive to experimenting young people.

Arney,

Yes, your explanation supports my theory that social/medical protocol practices are in part responsible for the reduction/prevention of MRSA in entering the Dutch Hospital environment. As you state, many other European countries have higher rates then Holland. This, in part is not necessarily due to the restrictive use of antibiotics, but the thoughtful identification and isolation of patients with MRSA.

Once an organism develops antibiotic resistance, the best way to deal with control (not on an individual basis but the population as a whole), is not necessarily developing additional drugs to which the organism is sensitive, but to institute practices to prevent spread.

As you know, one main problem with the development of antibiotic resistant organisms is not only over prescribing and inappropriate treatment (giving antibiotics for viral infections), but incomplete or inappropriate treatment regimes by a patient’s actions. Many will discontinue to take a full course of antibiotics because they either “feel better’ or are unable to afford a complete course of treatment. Many also fail to take the meds at the proper time; ensuring therapeutic thresholds are maintained or are they are taken inappropriately (sometimes with meals sometimes without or with drugs/supplements that inactivate the drug).

Many of these factors are social-economically based. Populations, who are not given the proper education or for whatever reason do not follow proper treatment regimes or demand treatment when no treatment is appropriate, are just as guilty as the medical community for the development of antibiotic resistant organisms.

Pete

In a discussion, I once heard the following argument :

" If you want to stop mafia/gangs/criminals' monopoly on drugs (and all the profits they make on that market), just make the selling of drugs a state's monopoly (like tabacco).
Then you can :
- control the quality of the products,
- control the conditions under which they are bought and -somewhat - used (medical controls),
- control and lower the price,
- prevent the criminals to make a lot of money,
- make some money anyway and use it to (try to) cure drugs user's and/or cure drugs' related illnesses, (money you will have to spend, one way or another... anyway...)
- etc... "
....

There were other benefits listed, but I don't remember them all...


OTOH, I think this thread is going way off of it's initial subject ... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
BTW, nice kit !

Same in France : I have not been able to find any !!

and before some of you guys ask, no, AFAIK, there is no law preventing breast milk bags carry, concealed or not ! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ah, the Dutch population and their behavior, like medication compliance. I see where you were going with your original post now. Yes, I would agree with your reasoning.

Funny, now we've got a couple Dutch themed subthreads going now. The other one is on drug use. Umm, what were we originally talking about? Oh, yes, JIM's survival tin. Nice kit, by the way! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Wow ! 9 years ago. If you are 16, that means you were already "prepared" at the age of 7 !!!
That should inspire some respect, even to those, whose feathers you DID ruffle with your "hillbilly" comment. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Are you really 16 yo?

You're right, Arney.

Sorry, PC2K and Jim. It's a reaction based on my ala matter's horticulture club, which is takes a trip for tulip season every other year, and the fact that most of the people in the club aren't very sober. It was a nasty joke at your expense, and I aplogize.

Jim,
In spite of the obstacles you have listed you have a really good kit.

Agreed frenchy. He seems to have "seen the light" pretty early on...
Jim,
You must have very understanding parents, to let you get a BCB kit at that age... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> good for you!

In most countries, antibiotics (ointment or otherwise) are via prescription only. Same in Singapore. But of course, being a physician, i stock my kit with pretty much anything.
Count your blessings, you fellows in the states, for your easy access to what other mere mortals can only aspire to.... <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Yes I certainly am. I got the BCB kit as a present from my parents, for my grades at school.
(they did remove the scalpel blades, when I asked for them a couple of weeks ago, you should have seen their faces!!) <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

There's no need to apologise. Just keep posting! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

And making somethink very hard to get legally, incurages people to get it the easier way using illigal way's

Yes. And the using of the heavily promoted drugs isn't diabolical. It's just that someone was just by with some talking about it. So here comes someone with a case of strep pharyngitis and I have this new stuff over here that will hit it so I give it to them. Problem is, the new antibiotic would have been better saved in reserve for something more difficult to eradicate in a perfect world. As I said before, in this specific example, Penicillin VK would be the drug of choice, but no one promotes that anymore and so the physician won't have any of that around to hand out prior to the prescription being filled. Also, as another post mentioned the consumer bears some responsibility, too, because of noncompliance by not completing courses of therapy. We also insist on antibiotics that the physician would just as soon not prescribe, but they want to please us to, just like anyone else would. So the problem is multi-faceted and I didn't intend to lay the blame at one set of feet. Also, industry should be credited for continuing to outsmart the bugs, at least to now.

While I'm certain most don't have bad intentions, the mainstay of our health industry is money. Everything factors down to this it seems. Some pharma rep needs to make their sales quota for club, a doctor makes the easy choice instead of the responsible one, and the patient either knowingly or otherwise contributes to the cycle by not reading or understanding the instructions (or simply not caring).

I agree that the industry has come up with some amazing drugs, but the bugs are starting to outpace our ability to control them by every account I've read. I hope we can come up with some magic bullets because we are probably going to need them sooner rather than later.

The one bad thing about capitalism is that the market is often ignorant or apathetic to that which harms them over time. Thus the feedback loop gets broken until it's far to late and great damage has been done. Of course corporations have a vested interest in keeping that loop from completing. Consumers (which we are bred to be from birth) are very myopic when it comes to long term problems. We are addicted to quick and cheap... much to our detriment. The old "penny-wise and pound-foolish" has never been more true than in our current society.

Overuse of antibiotics is not the only reason for organisms to develop resistance it is merely one factor. Many antibiotics work to either prevent the formation of a cell wall or block other key metabolic functions. Different classes of antibiotics will generally work on different types of bacteria.

Bacteria can gain resistance in at least two ways:

First, most antibiotics will not “kill” or prevent the growth of all its’ intended targets. Bacteria will have range of susceptibility. The goal is to reduce the numbers substantially so that the body’s’ own defenses can kill the remaining organisms. The remaining organisms, which either had greater resistance (genetic or mechanism development) or may have been in parts of the body in which the antibiotic was sub-therapeutic, survive. These bacteria multiply, with future generations, which have developed genetic resistance or develop mechanism to increase their chances of survival (slime, adherence factors).

The other way is for one type of bacteria, which has a natural resistance to a certain class of antibiotic, becoming infected with a bacterial phage (a virus that infects bacteria). The bacterial phage “latches” on the genetic material responsible for resistance to a particular class of antibiotics and infects the bacteria without that natural resistance and imparts the newly acquired genetic resistance factor to the new bacterial host. Subsequent generations of these altered bacteria will now also possess the antibiotic resistance.


Sorry if this is confusing or unclear, it is a lot easer to explain then to write.

Pete

Not hard to understand at all and I know that antibiotics are only part of the story. I wasn't suggesting otherwise. Even without antibiotics, some natural selection could render a group of pathogens completely resistant to a particular type of medication spontaneously (without ever having encountered it), although it's much more likely to happen non-spontaneously. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I believe that, current research is looking into viral antibiotics meant to target very specific bacteria. Nanotech aims to do the same thing by affixing themselves either chemically or physically to bacterial receptors. The magic bullets may not be a theory too long...

Sorry if I gave the impression I was responding to your post specifically. It just happened to be the next in line.

The idea of directed or targeted drug delivery is very hot right now. We have an entire nanotechnology group looking at both treatment and detection, everything from infectious agents to cancerous cells. Although, I will reserve judgment for now as to their ultimate use or usefulness in clinical applications. I can remember when immuno-modulators like interleukins were going to be the magic bullet-cure all and while it is true, many have been useful; they still have their limitations.

Pete

No problem Pete... And your information was sound and obviously from an experienced professional.

I agree, genetic and nanotech are being looked at most carefully, and at some point their therapies will be integrated, but it's going to take time, lives, and money, and even then they may not be the miracles we are looking for. Every time a new whiz bang product comes out, we realize just how complex biology can be. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Coastie,
I'm new here, but the wife came through for me when we discussed putting together our kit's......she had gone out on some errands, and on her way stopped at several Thrift Stores, (Salvation Army/Goodwill), types.
Next thing I know she's honking the horn, and I'm carrying in a large selection of Tin's in all manner of shapes and sizes! And all for less than a Dollar apiece!
Hope this help's some!

Krell

There is one other factor: Sex (in a way).

Bacteria can exchange genetic material with neighboring cells, often even across species lines. Can be proven like this:

Put, let's say, a strain of streptococcus on a growth medium. Let this strain be resistant to penicilin. Add another, radically different, bacterium (or even something that blurs the lines, like Anthrax).

After a few days, add large amounts of penicillin, wait 15 minutes, and examine under a microscope. You will find d lot of dead bacteria of the second species, but still, a large portion (sometimes nearly all of them) will have survived, which means they had a resistance against Penicillin, the only source of which were the streptococcus' genes.

Voila, bacterial sex <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Not quite, bacteria reproduce through binary fission, one cell becoming two and so forth. In general bacteria themselves are not able to naturally take on the genetic material of other bacterial organisms, since they do not recombine for reproduction. Where genetic material from one type of bacteria is introduced into another, is through bacterial phages, viruses that infect bacteria. Viruses reproduce by hijacking the host internal machinery; this includes reproduction of its genetic material as well as proteins for the construction of the various structural elements of the new virus. The virus then is either “shed”/released from the host cell’s membrane/cell wall or is released when the cell is lysed/”blown up”. The bacterial phage/virus can and does incorporate genetic material from the host cell (i.e. antibiotic resistance, pathogenic factors, etc.) and then passes it along to the next bacteria it infects.

Pete

Quote:
Do bacteria indulge in sex?: Bacteria don&#8217;t have sex in the traditional sense of the term. They multiply asexually. However, they can reproduce sexually using a technique known as plasmid (rings of DNA) migration. They wander around, bump into each other and &#8220;talk&#8221; to each other as to whether they want each other&#8217;s genetic material. With mutual consent plasmid(s) are exchanged through the cell membrane. Usually, this is done for survival to fight antibiotics and other toxins that are detrimental to them. Vegetative bacteria unite by a conjugation bridge through which all or part of a male genome migrates into the female cell. The gametic cells then separate. The ex-conjugant male goes on to multiply unaltered, surviving by virtue of its remaining DNA. The ex-conjugant female generates a mixed clone, some its own original copy (unaltered) and others modified slightly by virtue of the conjugal event, but still all are immortal.

from: http://www.chennaionline.com/science/BiotechCorner/14biotech.asp

You are absolutely correct that plasmid transfer is a major method of genetic material transfer in bacteria. I still object to the use of "sex" to describe the process, although I can see how one, in describing the process would use the term familiar to many readers. You may also want to check these web sites:

Bacterophages

Bacteria

Bacteria

Pete

A Wise Man said, the only stupid question, is the one that is not asked.......so here goes.......I have heard of using Tampon's for Tinder, but I also heard a reference earlier, as to using them in the FA Kit......can someone tell me Why?

Krell

Tampons are designed to be very absorbent, so they make a good wound-dressing.

Another ''stupid'' question: If you use a condom for water storage,
does it matter if there's some sort of lubricant on it, or not?

I'm glad some people are still replying on this thread.
Since my original post I made some changes to my survival tin:

-The utility knifes have been replaced by scalpel-blades.
-The 'waterproof' bags are replaced with a single Ziplock.
- I managed to add 3 meters of cord to the kit.
- also added a P-38

The ''signal mirror'' isn't replaced because a propper one is to bulky for the kit and because I also carry a small mirror in my EDC.

I have also made another survival tin, with similar contents as a birthday-present for my dad.

Any plain water-based lubrication probably wouldn't hurt, but it would be gross. And you certainly want to stay away from any spermicidal ones with N-9 or chemicals on it... same goes for ones with "heating", etc.