Friday's Thoughts and Other Stuff

Dear Peppers and Survivalists,

Private First Class Robert LaPointe places an angel ornament
on top of a real Christmas tree,
at Camp Virginia, Kuwait (ca 2007)
photograph by
Staff Sgt. Nathan Hoskins

Christ's Mass
Katniss and I are Christians, so we celebrate Christmas. We decorate our home, have the Christmas tree, and give gifts to friends and family.

Being a prepper and a survivalist, we try to give gifts that will work during an event, so this year we are giving ...


Survival Kits
These kits can be simple or they can be complicated. Of course, the more complicated, usually, the greater the expense. Plus, if your family purchases a prepackaged kit, it will be a lot more expensive.

Either way, all of these kits should cover the basics.

So, ...

What do you need for short-term survival?

A Simple Tarpaulin Tent (ca 2007)
photograph by
Ryan Bushby(HighInBC)

Shelter
You can live for days without water, weeks without food, and years without medical care, but you will only live hours, maybe minutes, without proper shelter. This means any survival kit needs some form of shelter.

The most inexpensive shelter is the contractor trash bag. Slit the plastic bag along one side then cut the bottom open and you have a sheet of plastic.

Or, ...

You can purchase a hundred feet of 6 mil plastic sheeting for around $55 This purchase would allow you and your partner to give ten 10 X 10 sheets of plastic. Add some cordage and you have given someone a method of making a shelter.

A Campfire near Lake Millstatt in Carinthia, Austria (ca 1986)
photograph by
Joadl

Fire
A plastic tarp doesn't hold a lot of heat in the winter, so you need to have a means of making fire. I suggest at least three, a book of matches, a butane lighter (or another book of matches), and a firesteel with striker.

Why?

They are cheap, compact, lightweight, and a lifesaver. Add some tinder, then you don't have to hunt around for any during an event.

Lighthouse at Night (ca 2014)
photograph by
Janus Y

Method of Signalling
Next up, you need a way to signal potential rescuers.

That's right, more likely then not, you and your family are going to want to be found by the authorities, so you need to be able to make a fire, have a whistle to whistle, and something shiny to shine.

Pocket Knife Collection (ca 2007)
photgraph by
Alexander Rushing

Cutting Device
The last thing you need in a minimal survival kit is a method of cutting things, that plastic contractor bag, the cordage to make a shelter, the branch to make tinder, the seat belt of your partner, and numerous other things.


In Other Words
You need something like this, in a small plastic bag

Cordage, Whistle, Knife, Firesteel, and a Container with Tinder