Survival Tin

[gazpacho]

This is my first try at a Survival Kit in an Altoids tin. It was a fun challenge seeing what I could fit into it and keep everything down to bare essentials. Here is the kit with the contents on display. The tin in the upper corner is all packed.

Contents:

Altoid Tin
Coast Cutlery multifunction micro pliers
Coghlan's magnesium fire starter
Princeton Tec pulsar LED light
Owner #10 Mosquito Hook, quantity 6
TYGer stainless steel leader, 15# test, 10 feet
Yo-Zuri monofilament line, 20# test, 30 feet
HART Triple Antibiotic Ointment, 3 packets
Generic latex-free bandage, 4 strips
Benadryl, 10 tablets
Potable Aqua, 24 tablets
Duct tape 2" x 16"

The three biggest medical concerns that I figure anyone could deal with are infected cuts, severe allergic reactions and finding safe drinking water, hense the Benadryl, Potable Aqua and antibiotic ointment. In a pinch, the monofilament line and a hook could make do for stitching up big wounds. Also the line and hooks can be used to catching fish and making snares. Fire is always good to have available. The multitool is very useful also. The duct tape serves a very important function. It keeps the kit closed, because everything is packed in very tight. I added the light because it is tiny and a flashlight is also useful. The inside of the tin is reflective, so it can be used as a signaling mirror.

Any observations, criticisms, suggestions etc. would be most welcome as I intend to make more of these for friends. Any improvements would be a good thing.

G

 

[sm]

Excellent!

Only things I added to mine in a Sucrets tin set up like yours - a small steel mirror for signaling and Coaches Whistle.

This is an great project for kids to make and have when out in the woods.

Oh, though it won't fit, a small emergency blanket is great for shade, warmth, gathering water, and can signal because of "reflective" foil like material. These can fit in a pocket somewhere...

Steve

 

[yhtomit]

A cool kit!

The only downside I see is that the duct-tape keeping it shut a) would be annoying to remove and b) once removed, would have little use as tape, at least if you need to open and close a few times ... unless I misinterpet how it's attached.

Also, a tiny whistle would be good in there, esp. if you don't have one with you at all times ... this is one of those things that I always intend to have with me and (only) sometimes actually do.

timothy

 

[OrvilleYertleson]

Don't forget a needle and some thread/dental floss.

Some safety pins as well, too many uses to go without.

Water purification tabs would be a plus also.

A small survival/signaling mirror would sit along the bottom of the tin and not occupy much space.

Pretty good start there.

Oh, and I agree with SM that the duct tape would be a pain in the ass. You could however, wrap some black electrical tape around the base of the tin without effecting it's ability to open and close.

 

[sm]

I just remembered...my forgetter works better than memory at times...

Electrical tape around a short pencil, paper, small Compass, and heavy cord/ rawhide boot lace...moleskin and liquid skin [clear liquid bandaid]

For me, electrical tape seems to work better for "fixin and stickin" while out and about.

Pencils can be re-sharpened to make compass notes / readings.

Take a Dr. Scholl's 3X5 Moleskin pad and cut to fit the tin. Great for blisters on heels for example.

Tin foil and balloon. The balloon is to *sigh* Store water in. Tin foil to signal, or make "cups" to hold water ...
The emergency blanket can gather rain ... or using a depression gather dew.

You can spit this water in the balloon to use as a canteen...

Yeah it works...just don't drop the durn thing...

 

[gazpacho]

The duct tape goes around 2 1/2 times. In a few practice attempts, if you carefully unwrap the tape and roll it back on itself, it remains perfectly useable.

The Potable Aqua tablets are water purification tablets, sufficient for 3 gallons.

I am considering life vest reflector tape on the outside for signaling, but the inside of the tin is highly reflective. Punch a hole through the lid for sighting and you have a very useable signal reflector.

I decided on the monofilament line instead of dental floss. Do you think dental floss would be better?

I will seriously consider the balloon and foil.

I haven't found a whistle small enough to put in there. Ditto a compass.

The tin is 95% packed. I could loose the flashlight for the compass or whistle.

 

[ctdonath]

Being short on space, consider replacing the magnesium fire starter with just a flint stick & compressed cotton balls.

 

[Car Knocker]

The tablets don't appear to be in waterproof packaging. What would happen to them if you were to fall into a stream or lake and the tin was immersed for a fair amount of time?

 

[OrvilleYertleson]

Sorry, I didn't realize you included water purification tablets in your original list.

Sunto makes a fantastic, small wrist compass that would fit into your tin no problem.

I don't know about dental floss vs. monofilament. Obviously, the fishing line is probably better for fishing, but it is hard to tie and isn't very good for small lashings, repair jobs, etc. because it is so slippery. I guess you had to decide on a compromise and the monofilament was it.

You might want to consider taking more stainless steel leader, it would probably make a great snare wire...ever make a squirrel pole?

 

[gazpacho]

When I get my bag sealer in a monthor two I'm gonna put the pills in sealed baggies. Or if I can find a source for tiny ziplocks I'll do that.

I was thinking about sawing a third off of the magnesium bar lengthwise so that it can fit upright in the tin.

I'll look into the Sunto compass.

 

[hso]

From Doug Ritters ETS website -


SIGNALING GROUP
- Polished case serves as improvised signal mirror. Polished aluminum tape applied to interior of lid, protected by peel-away sheet. Mediocre
EMERGENCY DEVICES GROUP
2 Razorknife Blades Good
1 Spark-Lite Firestarter Flint Excellent
5 Spark-Lite "Fire Tab" Tinders (squeezed one more in for final packing) Excellent
4 Windproof/Waterproof NATO Lifeboat Matches and Striker Strip Excellent
1 "Premium" BCB Wire Survival Saw Good
1 Fishing Kit in plastic vial: 13 asst. hooks, 6 swivels, 5 split shot Excellent
50 ft. 20 lb. Fishing Line Excellent
1 Extra Large Hook (use as gaff) Excellent
20 ft. Brass Snare Wire Adequate
1 Fishing Knot Information sheet Excellent
1 White narrow-angle Photon Micro-Light II (since replaced with Doug Ritter Special Edition Photon Freedom Micro-Light) Excellent
11 in. Teflon Tube (for water seeps) Excellent
1 Brunton 15MM Button Compass Good
MEDICAL GROUP
6 Vicodin ES Tabs* (pain killer, prescription required) vacuum packed Excellent
6 Zithromax Caps* (antibiotic, prescription req'd) vacuum packed Excellent
1 Drug Information Sheet Excellent
.6 cc Potassium Permanganate Crystals in plastic vial Good
WATER & FOOD GROUP
25 Potable-Aqua Iodine Water Disinfectant Tabs in glass vial* Excellent
2 Condoms (Penrith Survival Equipment)* (for water storage and treatment) Good
MISCELLANEOUS / MULTI-PURPOSE GROUP
9 ft. 550# Mil Spec. Parachute Cord wrapped around kit Excellent
2.5 ft. 3M Scotch "Super 33+" Electrical Tape (wrapped around kit to seal it) Excellent
10 ft. Twisted Nylon Line Good
16 in. Duct Tape Excellent
10 ft. H.D. Poly/Cotton Sewing Thread Excellent
2 Sewing Needles, 1 large, 1 medium Excellent
1 Heavy Duty Sewing Awl Excellent
7 Safety Pins, 2 each #1, #2 and 3 ea. of #3 Excellent
5 sq. ft. H.D. Aluminum Foil Excellent
1 Thin Pencil (unsharpened) Excellent
2 "Rite in the Rain" paper, 2 x 3 in. sheets Excellent
1 Two Piece Tinned Steel Container (tobacco tin stripped of paint, polished and clear coated), 3 3/4" x 2 5/16" x 15/16" Excellent
* Limited useful life. All medications and many medical supplies also have a limited useful life. Keep track of expiration dates and replace as required.
Weight = 5.9 ounces

 

[CWL]

Assuming this is a serious survival kit for only true emergencies:

Heavy rubber bands to hold tin shut. Perhaps stretched bike tire tubing. Cut to size as needed. Can also be used for tinder. May come in handy in emergency.

More duct tape.
Duct tape can be used for bandaging, is waterproof and will last longer than band aids.

Dump the band aids. Your band-aids are pretty wimpy for use in survival situation, any wounds small enough for that size band-aids are not "life-threatening" to need inclusion into survival kit. Band aids should go into separate first aid kit.

Golf pencil. This can be used to keep notes, leave messages, graphite shaving to use as dry lube. Wrap the duct tape around this after you open the survival kit.

some split shot for the fishing kit, you need some sinkers for those hooks.

small button compass.

condom rather than balloon for holding water. Put the condom in a sock to protect it.

You don't need that much magnesium to start a fire. Cut it to 1/2 - 1/3.

Fishing line can also be used for snare wire (don't allow the animal ability to chew on it.)

Couple sewing needles (large eye) & safety pins.

More wire if you can. Will there be enough snares to be able to subsist on?

As large a sheet of aluminum foil as possible, for cooking.

Polish the inside top of the tin to enhance mirror capability.

Immodium or other anti-diarrhea pills. You don't know what you may eat or drink. Diarrhea can dehydrate you to dangerous levels.

Couple of $20 dollar bills. (I don't like $100 bills because you may not be able to get change) You may need to eat or call for assistance after getting to safety.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I made a mini first aid kit that I carry in my laptop bag. Like you, I used an empty Altoids tin for the container. To make it more water resistant I went around the outside with electrical tape, then end of which I made into a short tab so that I don't have to futz around when opening it.

 

[kahr404life]

Very good idea!