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Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: BuzyG on 20:00:48, 08/07/18

Title: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: BuzyG on 20:00:48, 08/07/18
So today was one of those rare occasions when I delved into my emergency pack.  Nothing too dramatic, the sole of my right walking shoe delaminated for no apparent reason.  Any way after 100yards of it flip flopping about, I remembered one vital item that lives in my little emergency butty box.  Spare laces. A few boy scout knots wrapped around the front of my shoe and I was on my way again. 


So what have folk got hidden away in their emergency kit box?


This is mine:-


Sol foil bag.
Whistle
Flint
Toilet paper
Paracetamol
Spare laces
Pen Knife.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: Glyno on 20:12:20, 08/07/18
Paracetomol
Ibuprofen
Sticking Plasters
Steri Strips
Alchohol Wipe Sachets
Compeed
Toilet Paper
Laces
Folding Scissors
Tick Remover
Hand Sanitising Gel


only the top three items have I had need to replenish from time to time
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: Welsh Rambler on 20:13:33, 08/07/18
Small roll of Gorilla tape, great for temporary repairs of boots, glasses etc.


Regards Keith
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: Mel on 21:16:19, 08/07/18
Painkillers
Plasters
A boot lace
Antihistamine cream (bitey, stingy things love me  :(  )
An I.C.E. card
A half pack of dextrose tablets which I don't remember either buying or eating  :-\



Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: ninthace on 22:17:29, 08/07/18
Storm shelter
Space blanket
Head torch
First Aid kit + pain relief + tick tool
Spare batteries
Poly bag with loo roll, hand gel and spare poly bag to remove evidence
Water filter
Knife
Dog Tag
Cereal bars
Compass
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: alan de enfield on 23:47:33, 08/07/18

When does a 1st aid kit (tick-tool, plasters, pain-killers, Zinc Oxide Tape etc etc) become an emergency bag item ?
When does 'daily usage stuff' (toilet roll, trowel, hand wash, head-torch) become an emergency bag item ?
When does  food and drink (water filter, flap-jacks, dextrose tablets, 'ration-packs') become an emergency item ?


Why would you carry a space-blanket and an emergency shelter when you are already carrying a Tent, mattress, and a sleeping bag ?




I would view the following as 'emergency kit' (everything else can be sorted by the 'normal' planned kit) Emergency Kit is just that - to help get out of / resolve an unplanned 'situation'.
Boot laces
Pen Knife
Whistle
Spare Batteries
Lightweight (175g) Wood stove for when / if I run out of gas.
Spare guy-rope, Spare tent pegs, Spare tent pole repair splice.
Spare Spectacles.
Sewing Kit
Mirror / Heliograph
Few metres of Paracord




If the question is about an EDC (every day carry) pocket emergency 'tin' mine has :


2x Condoms
1x T-Light
1x Lighter
Bits of paper (to start fire)
3x Plasters
6x Cotton buds (to help start fire or clean wounds)
2x Cotton Wool-Pads (to help start fire or clean wounds, or act as a bleed-pad)
1x Stanley Knife blade
1x 350 Kcal flapjack
10x Water sterilising tablets
5x Paracetamol
4x Dextrose tablets


All fits into a tobacco-tin.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: jimbob on 23:56:47, 08/07/18
Emergency Kit is just that - to help get out of / resolve an unplanned 'situation'.

If you consider the usage of 90% of the stuff you mention you will realise you actually answered your own question.When did you plan to use plasters, tick removal.  etc......... ::)
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: alan de enfield on 00:04:10, 09/07/18
If you consider the usage of 90% of the stuff you mention you will realise you actually answered your own question.When did you plan to use plasters, tick removal.  etc......... ::)



Ok - I can accept that a 1st aid kit may fall within 'Emergency Kit' which is why I asked the question, my 1st aid kit contains a fair bit more than just plasters and paracetamol, as it has my prescription medications as well - but - surely toilet roll, food & water is just part of the normal kit-list, unless you plan to pack extra rations JIC.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: ninthace on 00:05:10, 09/07/18
Why would you carry a space-blanket and an emergency shelter when you are already carrying a Tent, mattress, and a sleeping bag ?



When you day hike and don’t have a tent etc. Ditto toilet roll etc.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: alan de enfield on 00:09:23, 09/07/18

When you day hike and don’t have a tent etc. Ditto toilet roll etc.



I do - my 'minimum' pack is a 25 litre & is always packed for 2-nights and weighs 9kgs inc 2 days food and 1.7 litres of water.


I cannot walk comfortably for any great distance without some weight on my back - it may sound odd, but its true.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: BuzyG on 00:45:17, 09/07/18

I do - my 'minimum' pack is a 25 litre & is always packed for 2-nights and weighs 9kgs inc 2 days food and 1.7 litres of water.


I cannot walk comfortably for any great distance without some weight on my back - it may sound odd, but its true.
As with ninthace, I day walk. 
Re your pack weight.  Most of the weight in anyones pack on Dartmoor, in this current weather, will be water.  I drank 2ltrs of fluids in 10.1 miles with 900m of accents, before noon yesterday.  When I arrived home I had lost 4.5 lbs through dehidration.  For context I'm 6ft 4 and 16 stone, when hydrated.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: RogerA on 10:00:57, 09/07/18
These I've had occassion to use:
- Spare Laces
- 5m Gaffer Tape
- Small Battery Pack
These I carry but have never made use of:
- Ibuprofen
- Chocolate
- Whistle
- money : £5 note and £5 in small change
- Alcohol Gel (thinking of taking this out)
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: gunwharfman on 10:47:32, 09/07/18
A roll of plasters and a pair of scissors.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: richardh1905 on 12:39:40, 09/07/18
Whistle
Phone (sometimes)
Survival bag (if not camping)
Head torch (winter)

..and that is pretty much it. I'm thinking of putting together a minimal first aid kit of one large dressing and a couple of plasters.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: RogerA on 12:50:45, 09/07/18
I'm thinking of putting together a minimal first aid kit of one large dressing and a couple of plasters.
I've come to the conclusion that theres nothing I (with no medical knowledge) could do with plasters that gaffer tape wouldnt do a similar job for in an emergency situation i.e. until I got help. - and also can be used to create a sling / repair a waterproof / etc.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: richardh1905 on 14:35:08, 09/07/18
I've come to the conclusion that theres nothing I (with no medical knowledge) could do with plasters that gaffer tape wouldnt do a similar job for in an emergency situation i.e. until I got help. - and also can be used to create a sling / repair a waterproof / etc.


I kind of agree, especially about the plasters, but on one occasion I was very glad that I was carrying a large dressing.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: NeilC on 15:01:40, 09/07/18

I kind of agree, especially about the plasters, but on one occasion I was very glad that I was carrying a large dressing.


I'm the same. I've tripped and gashed myself Nothing so bad I'd have to stop and turn home but bad enough that it needs attention. So I carry a basic first aid kit. Clean the wound  up with an alcohol wipe and dress it with a proper dressing that's sterile, breathable and non-stick and you're good to go with much less chance of getting something really bad like sepsis.


I carry a couple of plasters for little nicks like cutting myself with my knife, alcohol wipes, a couple of dressings, one proper bandage, blister plasters and various pills - ibuprofen, anti-diarrhea, valium etc.


I'm mostly thinking of stopping stuff ruining my trip. A stomach upset or a blinding headache will really spoil your day but is relatively easily solved with a couple of pills.


On the non medical side I have a whistle with a compass in it, some paracord (laces, guy ropes etc), Tenacious Tape for tent and sleeping bag rips, duct tape wrapped around a tent pole, a lighter.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: dittzzy on 00:45:51, 10/07/18
I only day walk, and only in good weather, and my husband always knows where I've gone.

plasters, painkillers, whistle, torch, boot lace, and an extra layer of clothes, plus a waterproof jacket- my phone is my real emergency tool
extra water in this heat too.
 :) :)
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: Doddy on 12:00:25, 19/07/18

I carry a large wound dressing. I did upgrade from the duct tape fixes. A wound dressing can be put together with duct tape and toilet paper. However the thought of the removal of it in ER would not be something I would look forward to.
Similar a few suture strips, minute weight, but much easier to use than cutting strips of duct tape, plasters -which might or might not stick on for long.
It has to be borne in mind that you may not be dextrous enough to fashion a duct tape fix.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: Bhod on 06:35:09, 20/07/18



Why would you carry a space-blanket and an emergency shelter when you are already carrying a Tent, mattress, and a sleeping bag ?




I would view the following as 'emergency kit' (everything else can be sorted by the 'normal' planned kit) Emergency Kit is just that - to help get out of / resolve an unplanned 'situation'.
Boot laces
Pen Knife
Whistle
Spare Batteries
Lightweight (175g) Wood stove for when / if I run out of gas.
Spare guy-rope, Spare tent pegs, Spare tent pole repair splice.
Spare Spectacles.
Sewing Kit
Mirror / Heliograph
Few metres of Paracord

Why would you carry spare laces and a spare guy rope when you carry a few metres of Paracord? 

My Basic emergency kit* -
First aid kit
Steristrips.Zinc Oxide Tape.Sterile Dressings.Self gripping bandage.Folding scissors.Safety Pins.Alcohol wipes.Immodium.Ibuprofen.Dioralyte.Compeed.Other ItemsSOL emergency bivi.Length of Paracord.Whistle.Firesteel.Swiss Army knife.Head Torch.

*Basic EMK - This is normally the stripped down summer version and the minimum I'll carry for emergency situations, other things do get added as the seasons change.




Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: alan de enfield on 07:52:28, 20/07/18
Why would you carry spare laces and a spare guy rope when you carry a few metres of Paracord?



A boot lace weighs 5 grams (less than 1/4 of an ounce) It has ferrules on the end to be able to slide it thru the boot eyelets. A length of paracord, will have to be cut, will weigh no less and has frayed ends which means heat sealing which will tend to enlarge the end. Using Paracord means hunting it out of the pack, finding a knife, measuring the length, cutting, finding a lighter, sealing the ends, put everything away. - I'd rather use a boot lace.


A spare guy rope weighs considerably less than paracord and has a tensioning slider incorporated into it, should a guy snap (not very likely. but, be prepared) its a simple job to toggle another in its place.


I'm all for keeping weight down, but if its a choice between 1/2 an ounce or ease of use I know which I'd go for.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: jimbob on 09:15:28, 20/07/18
Nope. I'm with Bhod on that one. A clean cut and you can thread easily through eyelets and easier around toggles. Plenty of knots to substitute for guy toggles. Also cord can be used to repair broken rucksack straps, substitute  trouser belts, repair broken walking pole, tourniquets , slings and many other uses.
I carry some in my pack. As well as a few plasters , scissors, lighter, gaffa tape around my waking poles, spare prescription and medicines  (only if on a long walk), small sewing kit (ready threaded needle and white thread, Compeed plasters, and a small travel size bottle of olive oil/ T tree oil mix for my feet.
Oh and a couple of spare tubes of fruit pastilles.
 I carry batteries and chargers for my phone/ GPS , antiseptic spray, toilet paper but see them as essentials rather than emergency use. I have a strong aluminum triangular tent peg I use as a scat shovel, dual purpose.

Interesting to see what others carry.

Today in Northumberland again having a go at walking coast between Seaton Sluice  to Newbiggin by the Sea. There is no accepted path as such and involves road detours around the Rivers Blyth and Wansbeck.  Setting off soon, just finishing my brekkies
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: RogerA on 09:23:23, 20/07/18
Different people, different approaches, I guess theres no perfect kit list suitable for everyone. Whats the harm carrying an additional item or two if they offer peace of mind or more conveinience. Its all good - very interesting to see the different appraoches and see whats important to others.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: jimbob on 09:49:06, 20/07/18
Different people, different approaches, I guess theres no perfect kit list suitable for everyone. Whats the harm carrying an additional item or two if they offer peace of mind or more conveinience. Its all good - very interesting to see the different appraoches and see whats important to others.
O0 O0
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: ninthace on 11:04:20, 20/07/18
I've thought about a spare lace but in normal day walking, as opposed to multi-day trips, I've never carried one.  I always check my laces when I clean my boots and replace frayed laces then. However, generally I find that the plastic aiguillettes wear out long before the laces making the laces hard to thread to the point where I replace them for that reason; what happened to the metal lace tips?.  In recent years, I've only have a lace snap once when tying a boot, I knew it was on the way out but thought I could get away with it.  On that occasion I just tied the broken ends together and re-threaded the lace from the knot outwards.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: richardh1905 on 11:05:17, 20/07/18

Different people, different approaches, I guess theres no perfect kit list suitable for everyone. Whats the harm carrying an additional item or two if they offer peace of mind or more conveinience. Its all good - very interesting to see the different appraoches and see whats important to others.


Indeed; each to their own, and it depends upon what you regard as an emergency (I certainly wouldn't regard a headache or a broken bootlace as such).
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: richardh1905 on 11:06:33, 20/07/18

On that occasion I just tied the broken ends together and re-threaded the lace from the knot outwards.


^ this. Hardly an emergency. :)
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: alan de enfield on 11:31:40, 20/07/18

Indeed; each to their own, and it depends upon what you regard as an emergency (I certainly wouldn't regard a headache or a broken bootlace as such).



As I suggested in post#5 "what is an emergency" and when does 'normally carried kit' become 'emergency kit'.


Example ;
You only plan to be out for 1 day. so carry 1 days' food + 'a bit extra' (just in case you get the 'wobbles'), is that emergency food or just good planning ?



Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: richardh1905 on 12:14:06, 20/07/18



As I suggested in post#5 "what is an emergency" and when does 'normally carried kit' become 'emergency kit'.


Example ;
You only plan to be out for 1 day. so carry 1 days' food + 'a bit extra' (just in case you get the 'wobbles'), is that emergency food or just good planning ?


Indeed. Good planning; same as taking waterproofs on a sunny day.


I would regard an emergency as a situation where an injury occurs, or life is threatened. For example - Unable to continue due to broken ankle, or lost and hypothermic on a winter's afternoon.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: jimbob on 12:44:15, 20/07/18
Alan & Richard, the OP asked what was in the emergency pack, not the esoterics of emergencies.
P.s. currently eating fish n chips in Blyth.  Not an emergency. But much appreciated. Next a road hike around the outskirts to get over the River Blyth.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: pauldawes on 12:56:30, 20/07/18

Indeed; each to their own, and it depends upon what you regard as an emergency (I certainly wouldn't regard a headache or a broken bootlace as such).


True, of course.


But I was once half way round a walk when one of bootlaces was completely "cut through" due to boot lace catching against some really tenacious vegetation. It made last three miles a wee bit unpleasant.


And always risk..of course...of lace snapping when you re-tighten laces at some point of walk. Carrying a spare pair of laces is hardly an hardship. and is maybe worth it on balance. And..of course...if weight is mega crucial, could just take one spare lace, rather than a pair.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 13:29:19, 20/07/18
Nothing is the answer to that.
Either down to sheer good luck or careful forward planning, ive never required any medical assistance over the near forty years ive been a keen outdoors type.
When i was seriously into Challenge walking over twenty years ago, it was compulsory to take emergency equipment, survival bag, first aid items, etc,  but luckily they were never put to use.

I still walk long distances in the hills, recently covering a double Carneddau traverse, but for comfort and weight issues, i travel as lite as possible.

I still take my mobile phone with me, so in a dire emergency, at least i can phone for help, but as for a emergency pack or kit, its just extra weight to haul around.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: Owen on 13:59:09, 20/07/18
I don't really have an "Emergency" pack. I carry a small first aid kit that I made up myself.


2x wound dressings.
1x wide roll bandage.
1x 10x10cm jelonet dressing.
1x 10x10cm pad dressing.
1x 4"x4" Spenco skin care pad.
1x Compeed.
An assortment of plasters.
stri-strips.
A small roll of plaster.
some antiseptic wipes.
Tweezers & tick hooks.
Ibuprifen.


I have a small Swiss Army Knife with a small pair of scissors.


As I nearly always walk in the mountains I'll have navigation kit with me, compass and map/maps and altimeter watch. I have viewranger on my phone, just in case, and in winter I tend to take the Garmin GPS especially if I'm on skis. The amount of extra cloths will vary throughout the year from a light fleece to an insulated jacket and spare hats and gloves. I always have some sore of waterproof outer layer. I generally have a two person bothy bags in the bottom of my sack unless I'm carrying a tent.


On longer more remote camping trips such as Knoydart or Swedish Lapland I take my inReach Tracker so I can call for help from anywhere. I have a small bag with some spinnaker tape, string, puncture repair kit for my Thermarest, needle and thread. 


I wouldn't have classed much of that as an "emergency pack" but it would all help keep me out of an emergency situation.       




 
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: Glyno on 16:01:26, 20/07/18
...in a dire emergency, at least i can phone for help, but as for a emergency pack or kit, its just extra weight to haul around.


good job those on the end of your call for assistance don't see it that way
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: Cnicht on 18:22:15, 20/07/18
Plasters coz me feet suffer with blisters 😂
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: Dyffryn Ardudwy on 19:14:48, 20/07/18
I cannot envisage me ever calling out the Mountain Rescue lads, as i would think long and hard, is this call for help really justified.
If i had a serious injury, which i know can happen, through thankfully i have never experienced, then i would call out the rescue team, but the situation has never arisen where i was not able to self rescue myself out of a bad situation.

Some years ago i found myself almost stuck on very  technical scrambling section on the Bethesda side of Pen Yr Ole Wen (technical for me that is), and i was almost close to tears with anxiety, not being able to go up or down,  but i still managed to rescue the situation,, how i still do not know, but i survived the experience, and learnt by my mistake.

Some may have called the Mountain Rescue, but thankfully the situation has never been that serious to justify their call out.

Possibly it may be a bit unwise of me to venture out into remote country without some kind of emergency kit,  but i have carefully chosen my route before i venture out, and if conditions deteriorate, i make a hasty return to civilisation.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: dittzzy on 14:38:24, 21/07/18
I've thought about a spare lace but in normal day walking, as opposed to multi-day trips, I've never carried one.  I always check my laces when I clean my boots


I think of a spare lace as perhaps necessary for a tourniquet, or maybe to tie a pole to a leg as a makeshift splint, and I've even used one to hold me trousers up!  I'm sure there may be many other uses. 😁😁
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: richardh1905 on 17:07:06, 21/07/18

On longer more remote camping trips such as Knoydart or Swedish Lapland I take my inReach Tracker so I can call for help from anywhere.


Do you have to pay a subscription to use the tracker, Owen?


I ask because I am tentatively planning some remote multi day solo trips, and have been considering a McMurdo FastFind 220 PLB for emergency use; cost about £200 but no subscription fees.
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: Owen on 19:53:20, 21/07/18

Do you have to pay a subscription to use the tracker, Owen?



Yes, when it was inReach it was £11 per month, now that Garmin have bought out inReach it's gone up (what a surprise) to £18 per month, you can suspend your subscription when you're not using it on a month by month basis.


BLB's like the McMurdo are one way only, you press the panic button and wait. With the inReach you can send and receive text messages as well. When I looked into it the SPOT would send messages but not receive, I think this might have changed. With all three the SOS facility send a signal up to a satellite it's bounced back to somewhere in the USA, they then forward the message on to where ever you are.


With the inreach and SPOT you have a web page were people back home can follow you in real time,how much use this is in reality I'm not sure. There's a charge for every point on the web page you're tracked, 10p each. The default setting is every two minutes, I've altered mine to every two hours. You can also get a fairly rubbish weather forecast.       
Title: Re: What's in your emergency pack?
Post by: richardh1905 on 00:22:09, 22/07/18
Thanks Owen; if it comes to it I think that I will go the PLB route.