Short Term Survival... Ideas for a 72 Hour Survival and Minor Medical Kit

Sometimes the most daunting task in putting together any kit is selecting the container for the kit as well as the contents. Sure you could go out and buy something pre-packaged, but that is not always the best solution. They tend to be overkill or inadequate for your own needs and many times the quality can be lacking, for the sake of convenience.

My goal was to create a small kit for injuries and survival. This was only to be for 3 days and was a "lost in the woods" concept. Something I could throw in the car for emergencies, throw in a day pack for a hike, or have in my get home bag for minor emergencies. This was not designed to be for injuries requiring any additional medical care.

So to start I bought two pouches, one for the medical kit and one for the survival kit. This set the size parameters for the kit. I wanted something fairly compact and durable. What I selected were the British Army small utility pouch (NSN 8415-99-461-4935) and the British Army medical pouch (NSN 8465-99-480-8051), both of which were designed for the British Army Tactical Load Carrying Ensemble Vest (NSN 8415-99-461-4932). The small utility pouch was introduced into service in 2007 and the medical pouch was introduced into service in 2005. The pouches are made of heavy duty nylon with quick release catches that are easy to open and close with only one hand. They also are rubberized on the inside for added water repellency.

One I'd settled on the containers, it was time to settle on the contents. I'd done a fair bot of online research and finally used the packing lists for the USAF medical and survival kits as my jumping off point. Designed for short duration, perhaps 2 1/2 days, they did not go too far in their list and provided some items of which I had not thought previously.

The Survival Kit is fairly basic and designed to provide fire lighting capabilities, clean water, and devices to be found if "lost in the woods." This I packed in the British Army small utility pouch. The products were selected based on suppliers used by the USAF. The Leatherman Squirt provides a small but useful multi tool. The watertight match case is packed with lifeboat/hurricane matches which will light in rain and high winds and burn like a flare. Also in the case is a mini compass. The water purification tablets will produce 2 1/2 gallons of safe drinking water. The Wetfire cubes might be unknown to many, but they will burn even when wet and are an incredible fire starter. You just cut off shavings and place them over the kindling you have collected and they will help get the fire started in the most wet conditions. The signal mirror, like the whistle is for signaling help if you are "lost in the woods." And the Camovat cravat is both water repellant as well as has an anti-microbial treatment, making it perhaps more of a medical item, but still very handy and selected over other cravats because of the water repellant characteristics. None of these items has an expiration date.

Contents of the Survival Kit:
Leatherman Mini Tool w/Pliers (Leatherman Squirt PS4)
Watertight Plastic Match Case
Mini Sparking Flint Striker (Spark-Lite)
(10) Flat Pack Lifeboat Matches (in Match Case)
Striker Boards (in Match Case)
Mini Compass (in Match Case)
(10) Water Purification Tablets
(2) Wetfire Fuel Cubes
Signal Mirror w/Lanyard (Ultimate Survival Technologies)
Flat Whistle w/Lanyard
Camouflage Cravat, 37 inches by 52 inches, w/two 2-inch #3 safety pins (Camovat)

The Medical Kit is also fairly basic and designed for fairly minor injuries. This I packed in the British Army medical pouch. These products were also selected based on suppliers used by the USAF. Also designed for short duration, perhaps 2 1/2 days, they provided some items of which I had again not thought previously.

 

The Medical Kit is fairly basic and designed to provide basic minor first aid treatment, the sort of thing you would expect from a bathroom cupboard or for a day hike. Anything more major and you are looking at regular medical care. This I packed in the British Army medical pouch. The products were selected based on suppliers used by the USAF. 

In packing these items, I placed many of them in thick plastic zip lock bags, to help not only keep them waterproofed, but also to help keep them organized. I've selected two different sizes of adhesive bandages, each packaged separately. I've also included a vacuum packed gauze dressing. There is a roll of reinforced adhesive tape, duct tape, included for secure emergency taping. For wound care I have anti-bacterial towelettes and bacitracin ointment. There are also towelettes for sun protection and insect repellent in the kit. I've included two packets of anti dehydration drink in the kit for moderate dehydration. Ceralyte also has a version for mild dehydration, but I decided to follow the USAF kit and include the moderate version. To finish off the kit are four safety pins and a Cyalume chemlight, the later which is designed to be used to locate you should you be lost in the woods.

All the items are listed below and once again designed for emergency medical care of minor wounds for a limited time in the woods. Its a basic starting out point and even though I am working to create a larger kit, this will remain part of my essential gear carried on me, and not in a rucksack.

Also be aware that some of these items have expiry dates and the kit should be checked regularly to ensure expired items are replaced. Some can be used as training aids after replacement.

Contents of the Medical Kit:
(4) Adhesive Bandage, 1 inch x 3 inches (Band-Aid)
(4) Adhesive Bandage, 2 inches x 4 1/2 inches (Band-Aid)
Gauze Dressing, 4 1/2 inches x 4 1/2 yards (H&H PRIMED-002)
Tape, Rolled Reinforced, 2 inches x 100 inches
(2) Bacitracin Ointment 0.9gram (Moore Medical)
(2) Anti-Bacterial Towelettes, (Dynarex BZK Antiseptic Towelettes)
SPF 30 Sun Protection Towelette (Coretex Sunx SPF30+)
30% DEET Towelette (Coretex Bugx30)
(2) Ceralyte 70 Lemon (10g)
(4) Safety Pins, 2 inches, #3
Cyalume SOS Green Chemlight, 4 inches, 8 hr

I hope this helps give some ideas for your own basic survival and medical kit.