Survival and first aid kits are the back bone of your backpack. Every outdoors person needs to be ready for an unexpected overnight stay in the woods, to treat personal injuries or possibly a member of their party. My Uncle was a survival instructor for the Airforce and taught me to “Hope for the best but be ready for the worst.”
Survival and first aid kits may change based on your location, activity, weather and additional factors. If you are on a short hike or fishing on a nearby lake does not require a massive survival kit, but a late season deer hunting trip in northern Minnesota requires special gear. If the weather turns and you are going to be stuck for a couple days will require certain things to survive. If you push yourself on a backcountry hunting trip by yourself with no one to help you right away, you need to have your bases covered in the event of an incident happening.
As we go through these lists, you will see some items that are listed in the utility kit blog. This link will open a new tab to the What is in a utility kit blog. If they are repeated here, it is important to have the items listed and still have space for other items needed in your kit.
Survival Kit Basics
Different activities need different survival items because of location, time of year and other factors. Shuffling the items in your survival kit based on these factors will help if the situation should arise. Again, “Hope for the best but be ready for the worst.” Be cautious as in most cases you will be away from civilization and possibly cell service.
Things in my survival kit include:
- 2 lighters wrapped in several layers duct tape
- Compass
- Emergency blanket/Space blanket
- Extra batteries
- Extra headlamp
- GPS unit
- Magnesium striker as a waterproof backup lighter
- Multi-tool
- Paper maps
- Paracord (50 ft.)
- Pocket knife
- Signal mirror
- Water bottle
- Water purification system: UV filter and iodine tablets
- Waterproof fire starter kit: cotton balls rubbed with petroleum jelly, small bag of corn chips, etc.
- Rescue Whistle
- Protein Bars
- Freeze Dried Meals
It is always possible that you might be spending the night. Please consider taking a small tarp and sleeping bag in the event you need an emergency shelter. A cook pot and small stove or jetboil stove with fuel, broth or soup mix can make a bad situation bearable.
In the event of a remote area trip, it is a good idea to have a satellite phone. You can rent them and have a scheduled check in with someone or call for help if needed. Even when close to home, all outdoors enthusiasts should carry an emergency personal locator beacon because you never know what could happen.
First Aid Kit Basics
There are a number of first aid kits that can be bought from retailers. Some are basic and only have the minimal amount of supplies and others are so bulky and kitted out that you can’t fit them in your pack or want to carry them anyplace.
Twin Oaks Northern Outdoors Pro Tip: Start with a basic first aid kit. Overtime, add the things you hope to never use but can’t be leave behind.
Things in my First Aid kit include:
- Adhesive bandages
- Alcohol cleansing pads
- Antacid tablets
- Antibacterial ointment
- Antihistamine allergy pills
- Antiseptic wipes
- Butterfly bandages
- Cloth triangular bandage for sling/splint
- Cough drop
- Diarrhea medication
- Gauze pads
- Hemostatic wound pad
- Irrigation syringe
- Moleskin for blisters – duct tape will do in a bind.
- Needle and thread
- Painkillers: ibuprofen, acetaminophen or aspirin
- Prescription medication – as prescribed.
- Razor blade
- Rolled gauze
- Safety pins
- SAM splint
- Super Glue
- Tweezers
- Waterproof gel wound pads
One of the most important things to remember is everyone should become first aid and CPR certified. Visit the Red Cross; this link will redirect you to their website to find available classes near you. These classes can help save someone’s life, even your own. There is also a wilderness first aid course that covers more information including advanced back country skills.
Most emergency and survival situations are the result of poor planning and poor choices. If you hear that voice that says this is risky, dangerous, or stupid: listen to that voice and reduce the chance of needing survival or first aid kit. Be safe out there and “Hope for the best but be ready for the worst.”
Survival and first aid kits are the back bone of your backpack. Every outdoors person needs to be ready for an unexpected overnight stay in the woods, to treat personal injuries or possibly a member of their party.
