surgical blades: Light and small, these are for more than just dressing wounds.
They can be used for whittling, cleaning fish, or skinning and gutting game.
triangle bandages: Use these as wound dressings or as slings.Fishing lures (3), hooks, sinkers, a leader, and fishing line: As a rule, you’re
better off keeping heavier line in your survival kit. The weight and volume
difference between 10pound and 30pound test is nominal, but the dif
ference in strength is significant. Most people avoid lures, but they don’t
add much weight to your kit and can significantly improve your chances of
catching dinner. Throw in a leader as well, just in case you want to try for
“the big one.”
Flares: You want to be found, right? The more compact the flare, the bet
ter. They can also be used to start fires.
Flashlight (small, LED): These little lights can be very bright, which makes
them good not only for locating things at night, but for signaling too. You
might also consider packing a couple of extra batteries. When you buy a
flashlight, make sure you get one with a white, yellow, green, or blue light
(red LEDs are not very bright).
GPS (Global Positioning System), in addition to a map and compass:
The GPS has revolutionized wilderness travel. The beauty of a GPS is
that it provides you with precise, realtime information regarding your
location, at all times and in all weather conditions. As long as it has
enough battery power, a GPS will determine your latitude, longitude,
and altitude.
Garbage bags (2, orange, large): Garbage bags can make the difference
between life and death because of the multitude of purposes for which
they are useful. They fold down to practically nothing, don’t weigh much,
and fit easily into a pocket. But make sure you get the 45gallon (170L)
orange ones (which can be readily seen), not green bags (which can’t).
You can turn a garbage bag into a raincoat, or a makeshift jacket to
protect you from cold and wind, by tearing or cutting a hole in the top
for your head and holes in the sides for your arms. You can signal with it
Survival Kits (^) | 25