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I fully recognize most people are in an urban setting – so I’ll do an urban version of this post this month as well. For now, whether you live in an urban area or out in the country, you’d be surprised how this small kit can come in handy.

This is just as useful as keeping a small keychain torch or Victorinox Rally SAK on your keys – you forget it’s there but when it comes time to use it, it’s available.

While the items in a survival kit may not be used on a daily or even weekly basis, it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

I remember the first (and last) time I foolishly forgot my mini first aid kit. My S.O. and I went out for a swim at a lagoon. The weather was good, water clear, but when she went to jump in, there were a few blunt rocks that caught her toes. We swam for a while and only when we got out did we realize that one of the rocks had cut the underside of one of her toes wide open and before long blood was everywhere on the rocks.

Thankfully, I had a first-aid kit in my vehicle, but we had to try and arrest the bleeding with one of the towels we brought with us to dry off – I could’ve easily tended to the wound right then and there, but instead it was a messier job and a 15 minute walk back to get the main kit.

The things you think about least can sometimes be the things you need most – and when you have them, it makes an experience that much easier to navigate.

So here’s an easy way to make a pocket-sized survival kit, something you can take with you that’s not too obtrusive and can fit in a coat, pants, or shorts pocket, depending on what you’re wearing.

First things first – get yourself a metal tin the size of an altoid or cigarette tin. You can find them on Amazon, ebay, Temu, or at a local tobacco shop; it’ll be about 5” x 3”x 1.5” and be able to hold roughly 2 oz. in volume. I’ve also provided links to some stuff for visual reference – I don’t make any money off of the links, they’re purely there so you know what to look for.

Once you have that, add the following to it (you only need a few of these items, so don’t load it down, and make sure you have room for everything):

Mini First Aid Kit:

Always make sure that whatever you pack in here you know how to use it. Pack medicine in airtight containers/glass vials with some cotton wool so they don’t make noise when you walk. I’ll cover how to tend to wounds in another article in the future. The following will cover most first aid needs:

• Antibiotics (over the counter for general infections). Look for one that can even be used by people with a penicillin allergy. Follow the instructions on the one you buy for appropriate use and carry enough for a full course.
• Antihistamines. For insect bites, stings, and allergies. Get something like Benadryl or Piriton in tablet form; sometimes these can also help in the event you have a bad reaction to a drug or if you need them as a sleeping pill. Don’t take them with alcohol or use more than the recommended dose.
• Anti-malaria tablets. You can find some that don’t require a prescription. These are good and only useful if you’re somewhere or travelling somewhere there’s a risk of malaria. You can buy some types where you take one tablet a month. Talk to your pharmacist.
• Condy’s Crystals. Multi-purpose, and scientifically known as potassium permanganate, you can use this to make an antiseptic or treat fungal diseases like athlete’s foot. While it was once commonly recommended to sterilize water, it’s difficult to dose so it’s best avoided as it’s toxic if dosed incorrectly, and ingestion can cause nausea and vomiting. Add it to water; deeper pink to make an antiseptic solution, and full red for a fungal disease solution.
• Intestinal Sedatives. Used for treating chronic or acute diarrhea. Immodium is the most common but like everything listed above, make sure you’re able to safely use it. If you prefer a natural alternative, Black Charcoal is also known to be effective.
• Painkillers. If you have an allergy to NSAIDs, keep paracetamol/acetaminophen on you – common brands (depending on your location) are Tylenol, Panadol, etc. It’s effective against headaches, ear or toothaches, and can soothe a sore throat. You can also use legal over the counter CBD in place of NSAIDs. For those who aren’t allergic to NSAIDs, ibuprofen, the most common brand being Advil, are good for anti-inflammatory use – think sprains and bruises. Avoid these if you have liver issues or asthma. If you have kids, ALWAYS make sure you use the children’s version only – so Tylenol for kids, Calpol, etc.
• Water sterilizing tablets. Use these when you can’t boil water and aren’t sure if it’s safe to drink. Follow the instructions on the packet. Preferably use these when no other purification methods are available as you can easily get nausea or stomach upset from them.
• Band-Aids. Pack different sizes, one to two each depending on size, ideally waterproof to keep cuts clean. You can also cut these to shape and use them as butterfly sutures if you have none.
• Butterfly Sutures. These are used to hold together the edges of clean and sterilized cuts.
• Surgical Blades. Keep these in their packaging. You can always make a handle from wood when needed.

The next items you want to add to your kit are:

• A Condom. Make sure it’s a plain one; condoms are relatively durable and can be used as water holding bags, roughly 36 fl. oz. / 1 L. You can also store a plastic bag but a condom will take up less space. If using a condom, you have to fill it from a place that has good water pressure, like a waterfall. If you’re getting water from a river/stream, opt for a plastic bag instead.
• A Candle. Tallow based candles are best; you can use the tallow for frying or eat it on its own in an emergency. You can make your own tallow based candles and cut them square for packing in your kit. These are handy as another light source or to help start a fire.
• Flint with Saw Striker. Flints come in an array of sizes and shapes – buy a processed one that fits neatly into your tin. While I know I mentioned a candle is good for starting a fire, packing flint is also a good idea as flint works best when weather conditions are wet and will strike and continue to strike if you run out of the candle or matches.
• Magnifying Glass. Very old method but effective when the weather is right, a small magnifying glass the size of a coin can also start a fire with direct sunshine (remember the ants you used to try and vaporize as a kid? Yeah, put it to better use). This will also prove handy if you need to find a splinter or a sting on your skin.
• Matches. Waterproof matches are better to store than ordinary matches; these are generally matches that are made showerproof by dipping their heads in melted candle fat. Save space when storing these in your kit by snapping off half of each matchstick. While it’s easier to use matches for a fire than use other methods, refrain from using matches first if other methods such as flint etc. to avoid wasting them as you would have a limited supply. Only take one from the tin and close it after; this prevents your survival kits contents from spilling on the ground.
• Microlight. In lieu of a beta light, microlights or button lamps are your next best bet. A beta light is usually the size of a small coin and a microlight/button lamp isn’t far off. These are good for map reading and other uses.
• Compass. Pack one that you can easily read, not all small compasses are user friendly. The liquid-filled types are best, and make sure it’s a luminous button compass as these are the most compact. If you go with liquid filled, make sure it doesn’t have bubbles and won’t leak.
• Wire Saw. The best type are usually made with large metal rings at each end. Remove the rings for the purpose of your tin; you can always replace the large rings at the end with wooden toggles if/when you need to use it. Always cover your wire saw in grease to preserve the life of it, preventing rust and breaking. Once you become adept at using this, you can cut decent sized trees with the right quality saw.
• Snare Wire. Good for trapping animals for food. You want brass wire, 2-3’ in length (60-90 cm); not only is it good for snares but it can also help with many other survival issues if need be.
• Thread and Needles. You want several needles, at least 3, and one that has a very large needle eye which can thread coarse threads and, when necessary, sinew. Opt for strong thread and wrap it around your needles. This is handy for repairing or making clothing in an emergency.
• Mirror. This is easy and you don’t need to pack an actual mirror for this one – just polish the inside of the tin’s lid to make it mirror like.

Once you’ve added everything to your pocket-sized survival kit, don’t just forget the contents inside – make sure you check everything regularly, replacing anything that might become unusable; for instance candles, matches, or expired medicine; remember to label and mark your medicine vials with name, use, dose, and expiration dates so you know when to replace them.

You also want to make sure the tin is waterproof, so seal the edges with quality waterproof tape that’s easy to remove and replace.

Finally, because this’ll be something you keep in your pocket, take some cotton wool like you did with the medicine vials, and pack the tin to fill any spare space; this’ll prevent anything from rattling around and the cotton can come in hand for lighting a fire.

Interested in sharing a self-reliance article as a member of SUPP UP. Social? Let me know and I’ll consider it for publishing! Contact me on Moderator@supp-up.social.

Until next time…

- Sol

Stop doing guesswork, start making self-reliance easier.

Self-Reliance #2: Pocket-Sized Survival Kit is an article from SUPP UP. Social.

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