Things to Have in a Survival Kit

A collection of basic supplies which helps in surviving disastrous or life-threatening situations is generally known as a survival kit. A 'Swiss Army Knife' is one of the popular items found in survival kits.

Survival Kit Contents

The purpose of including various items in a survival kit is to fulfill basic needs of the body. Protecting the body from adversities of the wild environment such as excessive heat, low temperature, etc. is necessary. Knowledge about the environment in which an expedition, backpacking trip, etc. is being organized, is necessary.

Important Things to Have in a Survival Kit
Food, water and first aid items are the most important in a disaster survival kit. Here is a list of items to be included in a disaster survival kit.

• In an emergency kit, one should keep 3 liters of water for every person. A seawater desalination kit is a must for lifeboat survival kits.
• Food items in survival kits should have a high calorie content. Hard bread is an example of such food items/rations.
• First aid items are important components of a survival kit. Along with basic supplies such as bandaids, aspirin, etc. oxytetracycline tablets are useful in the treatment of diarrhea and infections.
• Life jacket is a necessary item in case of emergencies.
• A GPS unit would be of great help if a person has to communicate his/her position to other people.
• Waterproof matches should also be included in the kit.

Hiking Survival Kit
In a trekking trip, the chances of a person getting lost can't be denied. Surviving in the wild without basic supplies is impossible. The following items should be included in the backpack to survive in the wild.

• Food and water are the basic things to have in a survival kit. One should take 8 lbs of water with him for every single day. Out of these 8 pounds, 2 quarts should be kept aside for drinking. The remaining 2 quarts are necessary for sanitation and cooking.
• The first aid kit should contain bandaids, aspirin, neosporin and other items such as gauze and sterile pads. A hand sanitizer is required for the purpose of cleanliness. Insect repellents prove to be of great help in the wild environment.
• A Swiss knife is a multi-purpose tool which proves to be useful in difficult situations.
• A compass would be of great help if a person is lost in a forest while hiking. Finding directions with a compass is easy; it is also used in deserts.
• To give the necessary warmth to the body, one should take space blankets. These are also known as emergency or first aid blankets.
• A searchlight is needed to find the way in the dark.
• Polarized glasses do the work of protecting eyes from the harmful effects of sun.
• Toilet paper, soap, antibiotic cream, etc. are amongst the other items which need to be packed in a survival kit.
• A magnifying glass would come in handy for starting a fire. Read more on how to pack a backpack.

For people who are unable to pack these items at home, or who find it difficult to get hold of these survival items, there are ready-made backpacking survival kits available in the market. These kits allow 2 people to survive for about 3-4 days, depending on the environment and the use of the kit, in case of any mishap.

While these survival kits may help you if you get stuck in the wild, or if you get into any unforeseen mishap, it is necessary to use these items with due care and sparingly in order to maximize the disaster recovery period. Also, making a checklist of things to have in a survival kit will ensure that you do not forget any important item while packing these.