water-bottle emergency kit?

[Dedicated_Dad]

Hi all. I'm working on putting together some water-bottle emergency kits.

As noted, the stuff needs to fit into a quart-sized water bottle. Being realistic about things, I'm trying to keep it to situations we're somewhat likely to encounter. Total EOTWAWKI isn't really on that list at this point...

So, with that in mind, here's what I'm thinking so far. Everything will - as much as possible - be packed together/inside other stuff to maximize space.

(2) homemade cloth bags, gallon-sized, with 550-cord draw-strings. Made from thin nylon material for strength/compactness - each should fit in 35mm canister
(2) industrial-strength "dry" condoms
(1) PUR water packet
(1) Altoids tin, lid covered in aluminum (real) duct-tape, small hole for signal-mirror
duct tape
small pocketknife with can opener, scissors, etc.
sewing bobbin full of high-test fishing line
needle (magnetized
button compass
space blanket
heavy (4 mil) trash bag
(2) cheap/thin trash bags
small bic lighter
small LED flashlight
BSA "hot spark"
"tea" candle
cotton balls with vaseline in film-canister
triox bar
heavy alum. foil
"drinking tube"
safety pins
small hunk of "sham-wow"
gauze pad
(2) OB tampons
small tube of super-glue
bandanna
handful of honey packets
couple of pieces of hard candy
"protein" bar
tinted swim goggles (eye protection)
cheap 1xAAA FM radio and earphone
whistle
small DEET
small alcohol-gel sanitizer
(2) nitrile gloves stuffed in film can
Few ibuprophen tabs
small net bag to carry above out of water-bottle

Water: Put condom in bag, fill, add pur-pack and filter through bandanna into other condom/bag combo. The condom/bag combo could have tube inserted and used like "canteen" or just tied off and siphon into/drink from water bottle. Could cut bottom from a film-can and use as a "neck" to ease filling...

Shelter: trash bags/space blanket, string, pegs made from sticks using knife...

Fire: multiple methods.

Foil can be used for many things (stove, cup, think on...)

In a REAL emergency, the string and safety-pin could be used for fishing, using film-can as a bobber.

I skipped on "medical" stuff because I figure the "sanitizer" gel (alcohol) and a bit of gauze and duct-tape would do for a band-aid. Likewise mole-skin (duct-tape)... and so on.

Thoughts - as always - appreciated!

DD

[Erik]

In a REAL emergency, the string and safety-pin could be used for fishing, using film-can as a bobber.

This I have a problem with. I've been through military survival training where they had similar suggestions, but I seriously dont believe anyone has ever tried it with success. It's just a very bad method of fishing, and it takes a lot of effort to fish with it. I honestly think you'd be wasting more energy than you would gain.

My idea for a survival fishing kit is:
Get a braided line of some sort, one that is abrasion resistant, and very strong. Forget about nylon line, even if some fish might shy away from the braided line, the benefits make it a better option anyway. It can be used for anything nylon line can be used for, it's easier to tie and still keep a good knot strength, and it's stronger and doesnt degrade as much over time.

Get some good medium sized hooks. They dont take much room, and they're worth it. Hook the bait and toss it out freeline, and let it sink to the bottom, where most fish will pick it up anyway, make a loop in the line and put it over a branch or something, and watch the branch for movement when the fish swim away. That way you can have several lines running and watch them all from some distance, and increase your odds a lot more.
If you absolutley feel you need a bobber, any wooden stick will do well and be more practical and sensitive than an air filled container.
To improve the kit, add some different sizes of hooks and some nylon for hooklengths for the shy fish.

And I would seriously add some wire for making snares, and learning how to do snares and other traps. If it's a real survival situation, there are even several land animals that can be caught with the fishing rig I described above. It's not a method I'd ever want to try, but if it's truly a survival situation...

[Dedicated_Dad]

I agree with you - I never managed to catch a fish with a safety-pin, and I tried.

Honestly though, I really don't foresee ever being in a situation where I NEEDED to fish and didn't have anything more than this little water-bottle kit.

I'm thinking of this for "get home" (or at least "get out") type situations. Something to be carried all the time - in the car, on trips, whatever... It seems like every bag has a water-bottle compartment any more, and I hope that with this the (HS/college) kids would actually carry it along at all times, likewise Wifey in her "laptop bag."

Most of the stuff I expect to include has other uses that may come in handy for them, and most of it could literally keep them alive in a (G*d-forbid) bad situation.

Example: Eldest is away at college but going on a bus-trip - through the mountains in winter. G*d forbid the bus were to break down or wreck, she could wrap up in the "space blanket", crawl inside the 4-mil bag, and hopefully keep herself alive. The cheaper/thinner (still large) bags could be used as a poncho if caught in the rain... If she were passenger in a car that breaks down the condoms could potentially carry a couple of gallons of water... Even the filthiest mud-puddle mess will come clean with those pur-packets...

Safety pins, needle & thread, duct-tape, flashlight, knife... All have every-day use capability, this will be the hard-part... getting them to replace things if they use them.

Bottom line, I'm hoping that forcing them to get in the habit of carrying this bottle will encourage them to think in a more "aware" or "prepared" manner - IOW not wandering around in "condition white."

DD

[Termite]

DD,

Fifty 2/O or 3/O catfish hooks take up very little room, and you can throw in a 300ft roll of 170# twisted nylon string as well. Congratulations, with 30 min work you have a 200 ft trotline. Or a bunch or limb-lines. Bait with night crawlers, large grubs, small crayfish, etc.