Survival Kits for Scouting activities need not be any different to those used by anybody else, it is as always with these things a matter of personal taste as to what you want to include in your kit. At the end of the day, as long as you make sure you cover the survival priorities and you can use the kit you can carry, then you can do as you like.
I personally carry one of the tobbaco tin survival kits and a drawstring bag for the items which are slightly larger than the tin.
My Survival Kit List is detailed below, along with an explanation of what it is used for by all means use this as a guide. The kit itself was modified from a BCB Tobbaco Tin Survival Kit. I added a few bits of my own and tailored it slightly.
o Knife
This is probably the most important item to carry. Buy the best one you can and keep it sharp and clean. With it you can do everything from preparing firewood to cleaning game and making shelters. For basic use consider a 3 inch blade. I don't carry this in my tin but in my pocket or drawstring bag.
o Matches
As many of the strike anywhere variety as you can fit into the tin comfortably. Consider a minimum of 20. A useful addition is a few Water & Windproof matches.
o Flint & Striker
This is essential, if you want to keep lighting fires when you run out of matches. I now prefer to light fires by this method rather than matches. This will work when wet and will last for thousands of strikes. You will need to practice with it.
o Candle
If you light a match, light a candle, this will help save your matches. Shave the candle square so it will fit into your tin more comforatably.
o Scalpel Blade
This is useful as an emergency blade and if you need a razor sharp edge for a delicate task. They usually come in a foil packet of five, with the blades wrapped individually inside, keep the blade in this inner wrap. Carry the largest one you can get.
o Wire Saw
This is used to cut wood for shelters, fire etc. Take your time with these as they can break. Buy a multistranded one as these are stronger. They will also cut bone and metal.
o Brass Wire
Carry as much as possible, this should be thin and flexible. You can use it for snaring and improvising pot hangers.
o String
I carry a couple of metres of kite string in my tin, enough so I can make a few knots and lashings if required. The reason I use kite string is that it is strong and lightweight.
o Needle and Thread
Carry at least 2 needles, one must have a big eye, in case you need to thread gut or improvised thread. Wrap this with a good length of strong thread.
o Fishing kit
Carry at least 20 m of strong fishing line. Note this will have to be replaced periodically as it degrades in sunlight and with old age. You also want a few swivels, split shot and 3-4 hooks. You need large and small hooks, a big hook will catch big fish. A small hook will catch small and large fish.
o Potassium Permanganate Crystals
These have lots of uses, from mixing with sugar for firelighting, adding to water to purify it, adding more as antiseptic and making the water deep purple to treat Fungal infections like Athletes Foot. It can also be used on snow as a marker. This will turn the snow purple.
o First Aid Supplies
What you can carry in the tine is rather limited, due to space but I would try and fit in 2-3 plasters, a Steri-wipe and definitely some Water Purifying tablets, these are a must and make sure you know how to use them.
o Heliograph
The one in my kit is not the best in the world, it is silvered plasticard, but it will do the job adequately and doesn't take up much room. See my Signalling page for how to use it.
o Button Compass
The one supplied with my tin is adequate for pointing North , but little else, after all, it sits in a metal tin for most of its life which we all knoe does nothing for a compass.
o Cotton Wool
This is very useful from making swabs for washes to providing tinder for fire lighting. It also stops the contents of the tin from rattling around.
Wrap the outside of the tin with a wide strip of electricians tape, this will help to keep the tin waterproof and it also provides you with a nice length of tape to use. e.g top of a fishing float, hold a dressing in place etc. You could also add a few thick elastic bands as well. They take up very little space and can be used for Spring Traps and loads of other little jobs.
Well thats the tin that I carry and one reccommendation is that if you want to make one, buy a commercial kit with the bulk of what you want and then modify it to suit yourself. A good list to start with can be found in the SAS Survival Handbook by John Wiseman. I had the privelege to attend a course with him and i can say that the guy's knowledge is Awesome!
The idea for this bag came from Ray Mears, another well known UK Backwoodsman. This was written in his book The Complete Book of Survival. The idea of this is that it holds all the small items you commonly carry for everyday use and for in emergency situations all together so they do not get lost or forgotten. I took this to heart and have carried one ever since. It usually sits in the top pocket of my rucksack which I use for work and moves to my bum bag or pack when I go elsewhere.
The Kit List
Bag
The bag is a nylon brawstring bag which comes with one of those spring lock buttons to stop it from coming undone prematurely. You could probably make your own very easily if you need to.
o Maglite
I carry a 2AA Maglite as standard, this is a good compromise between bright light, battery size and working life. They are also nearly indestructable.
o Opinel Knife
These French made knives are excellent, they lock when you open them and are carbon steel(Keep Oiled) so they hold a razor edge. I also use a locking Victorinox knife in there as well.
o Sharpening Stone
This is a Arkansas Stone for Honing and touching edge and a tungsten carbide sharpener for heavy duty rework.
o Sewing Kit
This is my main sewing kit and has an assortment of needles and threads. The container is an old Aluminium Cigar tube which has had a Turks head whipped onto the outside of it in 3mm polyprop rope. This wiould also give me in an emergency a couple of extra metres of strong cord. I must admit though the main reason for it is purely decorative.
o Match Case
This is an orange plactic case with an O-ring to make it waterproof. The striker paper is fitted to the top of the neck so this is kept waterproof at the same time. I carry in here some ordinary strike anywhere matches and some wind/waterproof one as well.
o Magnesium Block (aka Ranger firelighter)
This is an addition to the flint I carry in my tin. Together with the tinder I carry wrapped in a poly bag, I can light a fire.
Blister Kit
Nothing worse than blisters when walking, even well worn in boots can cause them if your feet get wet. I carry a packet of Compeed and some Spenco Knit tape
Whistle
If you're in the hills. don't leave home without one. Possibly one of the most important rescue aids known to man. This is a plastic one, so it doen't get hot or cold in any weather.
Well that's the main items of emergency kit, as you can see, a lot of importance is put on having a blade of some description and being able to light a fire. if you are considering making a kit, here are some possiblities for containers : 35mm Film Cannisters, Zip Loc Plastic Bags, Tobbaco Tins, Drawcord bags and anything else that comes to your imagination. The main thing about Survival and Backwoodsmanship is the Mental mindset, here it comes into play again.
If you have any good ideas for other items, or want to swap lists them please let me know, you can E-mail me at Scott@home-cov.demon.co.uk
Survival Skils & Backwoodsmanship Homepage
Scott Wiggins - July 1997