Snare wire: Like parachute cord, snare wire has a multitude of uses, the
most important of which is catching your potential dinner! Snare wire
meant for rabbits is the most appropriate.
Solar or “space” blanket (small): A solar blanket reflects your own body
heat back to you, which is effective if you need to get warm in a hurry.
Granted, it doesn’t feel warm and cozy, but it works better than anything
else you can get for the weight.
The potential danger with solar blankets is that they do not breathe
or permit perspiration to escape, so they have the potential to leave you
damper and colder than when you started. Don’t roll up in one or use it as
an underlayer inside a jacket; simply wrap it around you.
Solar blankets are terrific reflectors and can be used for signaling if
necessary, as a makeshift tarp to waterproof your shelter, or as a raincatch.
While surviving in the Canadian Rocky Mountains outside of Revelstoke,
British Columbia, I used one as a roof, and it made for the warmest shelter
I can remember. Be careful with solar blankets around fire, however. They
can melt within seconds when touched by flames.
SPOT satellite messenger: The SPOT enables you to send emails by sat
ellite, and includes your latitude and longitude coordinates. It will even
track you and send your coordinates to 10 contacts by email or text mes
sage every 10 minutes. The SPOT goes beyond a GPS to the next level of
safety. A GPS will tell you where you are. The SPOT will tell your rescuers
where you are.
Water purification tablets: Each iodinebased water purification tablet will
purify 1 to 2 quarts (1 to 2 L) of water, depending on the level of contami
nation.
Iodinebased tablets can also be used in first aid. Simply crush one
tablet and add about a teaspoon of water. This will yield a strong topical
solution of iodine, which can be used to disinfect wounds.
Waterpurifying straw: A relatively new innovation, the waterpurifying
straw uses a combination of iodine and resin to purify water as you drink.
Each straw is good for 20 to 25 gallons (75 to 95 L) of water, depending on
Survival Kits (^) | 29