OK,

Thanks for the replies all. You all have pretty much the same ideas I have. Knife, fire starter of some sort, cord/rope, canteen or cup.

Yes, wildman800, you got it right. I'm asking about actual, physical items you want to get first. The tools you need to get what you need.

Let me put it another way. You are suddenly thrust into a situation. You can only have 5 things. What are they?

Hear's a kicker: You have no idea what that "situation" is. It could be artic plane crash, maybe local, door-to-door civil unrest, You stop your car to take a leak in a remote wilderness area and the car catches on fire and burns to the ground (Seen it happen). Or [insert sudden situation here], whatever.

Anyway, I hope that's clear as mud.

DLR