When you pack for a hiking trip, canoeing trip, or other outdoor adventure, most of the supplies are put into a backpack or other bag. You can carry quite a few things in a backpack, from a blanket, to extra clothing, to camping supplies. All of that is great – you have every single thing you need – unless something happens. If your canoe tips over, you slide down the side of a hill, or you encounter another mishap while in the wilderness or woods, you could lose all of your survival gear in just a few minutes. Go ahead and pack your backpack, and put in everything you can think of for your trip, but have a backup plan. If you happen to lose your backpack and gear, make sure you at least have a pocket survival kit.
An Altoids mint tin is perfect for creating a pocket-size kit, which will include things you need to survive. Whether you’re stranded and waiting for rescue, or you’re alone and injured, you’ll find the Altoids pocket emergency kit ideal for such a situation. Although it surely can’t hold a tent, spare clothing, and camping gear, it can hold an array of helpful things you’ll need.
An Altoids isn’t all that large but it’s metal and waterproof – at least for a short period. The tin has an attached lid, with a hinge, so all you have to do is eat the mints, and fill the empty tin with emergency items.
Band-aids are flat and can easily fit in the bottom of the tin. Put a couple of large ones, and a few small ones, in the tin. There’s also room for a short lighter or some waterproof matches. Drop in a safety pin or two, a length of cord wrapped around a flat piece of cardboard, and a tiny, zipper-lock bag, filled with dryer lint. The lint makes great tinder for starting a fire. Instead of lint you could also use a couple of cotton balls. You can find the tiniest of zipper-lock bags at your nearest craft store.
Purchase a tiny, frame-less mirror at a craft store and use it for signaling. It will easily fit on top of the band-aids and will lie flat. Other things you can fit inside the tin include a fish hook and piece of twine, aspirin, a tiny zipper-lock bag filled with antibacterial cream, a tiny packet of coffee, some duct tape wrapped around a piece of flat cardboard, or even a small whistle.
Put the Altoids tin survival kit in your back pocket, any time you go out into the woods or wilderness. No matter what happens, you’ll have lots of help, on your person. To go further with the craft, put the tin in a zipper-lock bag, and poke a hole in the top corner. Place the bag on a notebook binder ring, and hook it on your belt loop. The bag allows you to carry even more stuff for emergencies.
Reference:
- Altoids: www.drugstore.com
