Tied in with my interest in frugality is my interest in protecting my loved ones and myself.  I became interested in emergency preparedness about seven years ago when I stumbled upon the Equipped to Survive forum.  I learned many valuable tips about survival and preparedness, stuff that I had never thought about.  So, for the uninformed, I’d like to start a series that covers the basics of emergency preparedness.  Part 1 will cover the Personal Survival Kit, or PSK for short.  I’ll show you how to build your own, and how to tailor it to your needs.

Why Do I Need This?

The reason for carrying all of this stuff is simple: you may need it.  Ever get stuck in an unfamiliar place when the power goes out?  I bet you wish that you’d had a flashlight.  Paper cut in the office?  I wish I had a band aid.  Button fall off your shirt before the big meeting?  I should have carried a needle and thread.  Due to my stubborn, thick-headed-German nature, I like to be able to take care of myself.  I’ll show you how to carry all of this essential stuff in a package that will fit in your pocket.

The Basics

On my person, at all times, I have my PSK.  It’s small enough to take anywhere, and looks like a wallet.  In fact, it is a wallet.  A typical, unobtrusive, bi-fold wallet.  It covers several areas of preparedness, including Shelter, Water, Fire, Tinder, Signaling, Cordage, Medical, and Money.

Shelter - for shelter, I have a large garbage bag folded up and slipped into the dollar bill compartment.  This can take the form of a sun shade, a seat for wet ground, or a poncho if I cut holes in it.  I can also use it for a garbage bag.

Water - I keep a Reynolds Oven Bag as a water carrier.  It’s the kind that you cook turkeys in.  Some people use a plain condom.  To each his own.  I have a small wire tie from a bread bag to secure the top when it’s filled with water.

Fire - why do I need a fire making source?  Why not.  You never know when you’ll be stranded somewhere when the power goes off.  I carry a small ferro rod, and a piece of hacksaw blade to use as a striker.  It throws off a good amount of sparks, enough to start a fire.

Tinder - if you want a fire, you need something to burn.  I carry a small cotton and wax tinder that came with a Sparklite military firestarter.  Here’s a picture.  It’s one of the eight pieces of fluffy stuff in the middle:

I also have a small piece of wax paper as a backup.

Signaling - for signaling, I have a small, flexible mirror that scratches easily.  I also have a small LED flashlight.  It’s tiny, like this one:

It’s come in handy many times.

Cordage - this refers to anything that can be used for securing two things together.  I carry one of those FlossCards that you get from the dentist.  Dental floss is very strong, and has a variety of uses, including sewing thread.  I also carry about a foot of duct tape wrapped flat around itself, some sewing thread in black and white, a few sewing needles, and a couple of safety pins.

Medical - I have kids, so therefor I carry band aids.  Also a small packet of Neosporin for scrapes.  These items need to be checked and rotated.  I guess I could use the sewing  needles to stitch a bad cut, Rambo-style.

Money - I never want to get caught without some cash in my pocket, and with my PSK, I don’t have to worry.  I keep about $50 in there, along with some quarters for vending machines.  You never know when you’ll need exact change.

Miscellaneous Stuff - I also have a Pocket Wrench, which I’ve found useful.  It doubles as a small prybar:

I carry around a couple sheets of Rite in the Rain waterproof paper, and a golf pencil:

I also have a small piece of paper with the phone numbers of our doctors, the nearest hospital, and the poison control center typed on it.  A button compass can come in handy, if you ever need to know which direction to go.  I also have a small magnifying lens, which is about the size of a credit card.

A Barbarian with No Knife?

Not so fast.  In addition to my wallet kit, I carry a larger flashlight, a whistle, and a small multitool from Leatherman:

It’s got a knife blade, along with a file, screwdrivers, and pliers.  It’s tiny, a little over two inches long.

Waah!  I Don’t Have the Time to be Prepared!

Many of you will whine, “I don’t have the time to put this stuff together.”  If you’d like a great, ready-made kit, how about the Doug Ritter-designed Pocket Survival Pack?  It’s made by Adventure Medical Kits, and sold through Amazon (what isn’t these days?).  Click on the picture for a full description:

I hope that this post has inspired you to think about preparing yourself for an emergency, or even just an inconvenience like a button falling off.  You can read Part 2 in the Self-Reliance series by clicking the following link:

Self-Reliance Series Part 2: An Office Survival Kit

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