I grew up in sunny California, and even though I have now lived in Utah for nearly 20 years, I still get this unsettled feeling whenever winter starts to settle in. When I think of how COLD it gets and the things that could potentially go wrong while on the road, or even at home should the power go out, I am reminded of how woefully UNprepared I am for such emergencies.
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I recently came across this article on OutdoorLife.com about $2 items that can save your life and it was just the nudge I needed to at least get SOMETHING together for an emergency kit. Whether it’s a winter survival kit, or just a survival kit in general….you don’t have to spend a fortune to get started. When you think about it, sometimes the most valuable things in an emergency are also the cheapest things you can buy.
Here are some $5-or-less emergency prep items to get you started on your way to self-sufficiency.
Iodine Tincture
This can be used to disinfect wounds, gear and even drinking water! Just add 5-10 drops of 2% iodine to 1 quart of suspect drinking water. Use 5 drops if the water is warm and clear, use 10 drops of the water is ice cold or cloudy. Shake it up for a moment and wait one hour before drinking.
Candle Can
Seasoned wilderness travelers always carry an empty soup can and a supply of at least a dozen long-burning votive candles. Put the candle into the can, light it, and it will supply just enough heat to keep you from freezing to death in a closed vehicle after you’ve run out of gas.
Small Bottle Of Bleach
In an emergency, you can use tiny amounts of bleach to purify water. A small bottle of bleach can disinfect hundreds of gallons of drinking water. It can also be used to sterilize equipment and food preparation areas, as well as for general cleaning. For drinking water, add 2 to 4 drops of plain Clorox per quart of water (2 drops if clear, 4 drops if cold or muddy).
A Lighter
A $1.39 lighter is worth its weight in gold, no matter how injured you are – if you have a working thumb and a lighter, you have fire. And at that low price, you can afford to stock up.
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Stick Matches
Lighters should be carried as well for redundancy, but don’t forget about matches for a real emergency kit. A case of 10 or a dozen boxes of stick match will usually run you less than $2, and provide you with 300 or more matches.
Fire Starter
A mini fire log could be used in its entirety to start one fire in horrible condition, or cut into pieces to start many fires under other conditions.
Duct Tape
Make emergency repairs on, tents, gear, bags, tarps, packs, sleeping bags, clothing, rain gear, etc.
It can also be used for wrapping sprained ankles in an emergency.
Super Glue
It is essentially liquid duct tape and can fix many things you’ll inevitably break that you won’t be able to easily purchase again.
Bandanas
There are literally dozens of uses for these versatile pieces of cloth. Bandage for a wound, fire starter (soak it in oil or Vaseline), trail marker (rip pieces to show where you’ve been), neck and head covering to prevent heatstroke or sunburn, sling for an injured arm, tourniquet for snake bites or wounds where you need to cut circulation.
Box of Bandages
If you can keep the dirt out of all your wounds, you can keep infections minimized. You can even use the bandages to “tape” things together in a pinch.
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Bread In A Can
This rodent-proof, bug-proof, waterproof metal can of bread with a three-year shelf life might not be the most delicious carbs you’ll ever eat, but it only costs about $2.50 and packs 1,040 calories per loaf/can!
Hand Sanitizer
When you don’t have easy access to soap and water, you can fight infection by using an alcohol-based sanitizer to clean your hands before and after treating injuries. In addition to its normal use, hand sanitizer can also be used as a flame accelerant thanks to its high alcohol content.
Sports Tape
This first-aid box staple is great at keeping your dressings and bandages in place. It’s also strong and sticky enough to be used to hold things together, or to make improvised butterfly sutures.
Pencil Sharpener
Take a twig roughly the diameter of a pencil and use the sharpener to make shavings (or tinder) to get a fire started! Simple and SUPER cheap!
Activated Charcoal
If your digestive system is turned upside-down while stranded, without access to a store, pharmacy or medical facility, activated charcoal can be your best friend. Activated charcoal is used in hospitals worldwide for patients who ingest drugs or chemicals and has saved countless lives.
Mini Flashlights
Little lightweight LED flashlights are super long-lasting, surprisingly bright for their size, and frequently on sale. They’re a great value for the money and you can stash them in all the different places you might need them.
A Compass
If you know how to use a compass, it is an invaluable tool. It is a good idea for everyone to learn at least the basics of using a compass, and to have a good idea of basic directional orientation.
A Mirror
A signaling mirror is great for signaling at long distances or to passing ships or aircraft. It can also be used for checking wounds, rashes, etc in places you would not otherwise be able to see.
Survival Blanket
A reflective emergency blanket could be the best $2 you ever spend if you’re lost in the wild. It will help keep you warm (if reflects body heat back to you,) and it’s also great for signaling, as it will reflect a lot of sunlight. This can also be used to waterproof your shelter, and to collect rainwater.
Loud Whistle
When you are lost, injured or stranded, your ability to signal for help is the number one factor in being rescued. Carrying a rescue whistle on your person is an inexpensive and easy way to identify yourself as being in need of rescue. While you’re waiting to be rescued, make lots of noise.
Heavy Cord or Light Rope
Use it for shelter, whether for tying frame pieces together, or for stringing up a tarp between trees. Also use it for splints, traps, etc.
Dental Floss
Aside from dental hygiene, it is incredibly strong and can be used to sew buttons or any material. It is sterile so you can stitch a wound. You can tie down a tent or tarp as long as you don’t wrap it over a sharp edge. You can even fish with it.
Drop Cloth
Plastic drop cloths can be used for sealing windows and doors when there is concern of pandemics, and they also have a myriad of camping uses. You can make a hole in it and use it as a Poncho, it also makes a good tent to sleep under. Avoid the very thin plastic drop cloths, they should be at least a couple mils thickness.
Of course these are just a few of the myriad of supplies that might be necessary should you find yourself in a true emergency, but at least it’s a START! Which is much more than I had going on previously! Now I just need to work on stockpiling insulin and pump supplies for my son. THEN I will REALLY feel prepared. :-)
Please share your survival kit tips!
Another use for the emergency blanket: you can use it to reflect the heat of the sun to warm food. We have made “solar cookers” with our Girl Scouts out of a cardboard box and an emergency blanket!
Bleach loses strength as the months go by.
Clorox says:
“Generally, bleach stored at room temperature (~70°F) has a shelf life of one year, but after that point it should be replaced”
https://www.clorox.com/dr-laundry/shelf-life/
You can avoid this by storing the chemical calcium Hypochlorite and mixing up your own as needed. Look on Amazon for pool shock treatment.
I have discovered that keeping a small supply of press and seal plastic bags inside a plastic bag is always handy too. When we used to go fishing, there was always some reason to use a small plastic bag. My husband used to go river rafting with his buddies, and an extra set of sox; underwear, etc. was handy to keep in a larger sealed plastic bag. In Girl Scouts, we melted a little big of wax and dipped the ends of the wood matches in them to keep them from getting water logged. Easy to put back in the… Read more »
Another use for super glue – sealing a small wound. If a wound has stopped bleeding but is open but cannot be stitched at the moment, sealing it with super glue protects it from infection and from opening up more. I’ve used this many times for major cracks on my hands during the winter. It will initially sting a little.
Need cheap emergency supplies. Thanks for the great ideas.
Just looked up the victorox Swiss army. What size is best
, ghetto 2″ or the 5″?
It’s just personal preference!
Ok, I am an old city girl. So, where is the best place to locate these items? Some are obvious, but what about drop cloths, rope( what size) and long lasting small flash lights? How often should these items be replaced? A good size plastic box to store all of this? Somewhere on line is a list of 80 items we all should have. Might be a good idea to have one in car as well. I do always keep a pair of walking shoes in my car. Thanks for reminding us of emergency ideas!!
You can buy most of them on amazon, or you can go to a camping store! They often carry survival equipment. Look through your box every 6 months or so, and check on all of your items. :-)
You can purchase all of these items at WalMart and I’ll bet you can find everything at a dollar store too if money is tight.
Good that you included matches as a backup to the disposable lighter. Butane lighters will NOT work in extreme cold. Store matches in a watertight container along with several of the striker panels (or better yet – get the self striking type). In an emergency, save the unburned parts of wooden matches as kindling for the next fire.
A disposable lighter can be used 5 or 6 more times after you think it’s empty. But it somewhere on your body where it can warm up and the gas can expand again. As a former smoker who had to smoke outside at work, this worked like a charm, even in below 0 weather. My favorite place was in my armpit. sometimes in my bra
What are you going to cut that rope or duct tape with? Or anything else? A pocket knife–think Swiss Army type (Victorinox is the best) can save you many times over. I carry one every day and have for 30+ years. Can opener? it’s on there. Two knives? Awl (for making holes or widening an opening)? Two screw drivers? (some have Phillips too) Corks Screw? Scissors? Tweezers? Tooth pick? Ring to hold a whistle or a key or anything else–or to hold it to you? Yep–all of the above. I even have an old one that survived being run over… Read more »
The old p-38 can opener. Open the can , then use the lid as a knife. The can as a pot, stove … mirrors .
I’very even re lined my bee smoker with a tin can :)
ALTHOUGH THE SWISS ARMY KNIVES ARE GOOD i WOULD PREFER A LEATHERMAN THEY ARE BETTER QUALITY AND STAND UP BETTER
* Dryer lint in paper mache egg cups with the melted drippings from spent candles poured over it makes excellent fire starters (cut the cups apart first – I KNOW this from experience! lol) I even melt the wax “wrappers” from things like Baby Bel cheeses. Throw a few in a zip lock bag and keep them in your vehicle, your bug out bag, beside the fireplace, etc. * Buy boxes of wooden matches. Then melt more of that left-over wax. Hold the matches in groups of 3 and dip one end into the melted wax. Let them set on… Read more »