Air Travel Survival Kit

Clearly the TSA would not like some of the items in the Curiously Useful Survival Kit (Vaseline makes them queasy these days). Here’s how to modify your kit for air travel (for your carry-on baggage).

NOTE: This is my opinion and interpretation of TSA rules as they stand today and is subject to change with little or no notice. It also may be dependent the interpretations of individual security personnel. Make this kit and fly with it at your own risk.

Follow the instructions for the Curiously Useful Survival Kit with the following exceptions:

1. If you can get a pair that will fit in the kit, include a small pair of scissors like those found in first aid kits. Current regulations allow for scissors with sharp edges <4” in length. I once had an instructor at the US Army jungle school who swore that scissors were as or more valuable than a knife in a survival situation given that you would mostly need them for cutting cordage or cloth and shouldn't be cutting large sticks and such anyway during survival. He carried a pair of surgical scissors in a homemade nylon web sheath on his belt.


2. Create the match sandwich with regular kitchen matches instead of strike anywhere matches. DO NOT make or include Minute Matches.


3. Include a small tea candle in the kit. First remove the metal container and shave off the bottom 1/2 of the candle to shorten it. I’ve not tried this but you also might be able to use small birthday candles instead.


4. Follow Option B for closing as a security guard might require you to open the kit. You could also tape the scissors on the outside of the tin so that they can be easily shown to an inspector.

Good luck (luck favors the prepared)!

The "Curiously Useful" Altoids Tin Survival Kit

Not only are the little mints “curiously strong” but the little boxes are curiously useful. I’m not admitting to buying Altoids for the boxes rather than the mints but, well, …

Here’s what I’ve done to make an Altoids tin pocket survival kit.

The Curiously Useful Survival Kit

The dimensions of an Altoids Tin are approximately 3.5” long x 2.25” wide x 0.75” deep.

Items included:

• (1) Mirror for signaling – I got a cheap rectangular mirror from a craft shop, dimensions 2” x 3”. You could also get an oval or round with <2” diameter to afford a little more space.


• (3) inches of Clear Packing tape


• (3) fishhooks, (3) split sinkers, (3) 3’ pieces of fishing line


• (1) Boy Scout (BSA) flint and steel minus the steel (ONLY if you bring along the P38 can opener listed below).


• (8) Strike Anywhere Matches


• (8) Minute Matches (need 4 cotton swabs, Vaseline petroleum jelly, and a thin strip of aluminum foil)


• (3) business cards.


• (1.5) Feet of 2” Duct Tape – I prefer OD green military 100 mph tape myself – some will be used, probably some waste


• (5) Feet of Parachute Cord (550 cord) – get the real stuff! It should have multiple individual nylon strands inside (11).


• (1) Whistle, Flat, Orienteering type. You might also want to try the Jetscream Whistle. Supposed to be really loud and 2.35” long. I don’t know how thick it is. If it doesn’t fit inside, you can always tape it on the bottom. This link goes to a keychain version with a small flashlight. You might want to just stick with this configuration and carry it on your keychain in your pocket. I think you can also buy the whistles alone for about $5 on the web.


• (1) US Military P38 Can Opener (doesn’t take up much space and you never know when you might have a can to open). The sharp edge can be used for other purposes as well. I also use this instead of the steel from my flint and steel.


• (1) Roll Dental Floss – removed from the plastic container and taped (can be used for fishing line, snares, or emergency stitches - ouch!)


• (1) Small Button Compass (fits inside dental floss roll) – of course, ideally you’ll be carrying a regular compass as well, this is just backup.


• (12) Water purification tablets in a small “zipping” bag (jewelry size)


• (2) Large sewing needles

Assembly:

I know, it seems like a lot for such a small box but you will be packing it carefully. Keep in mind that it’s not easy to open when done.

Also, except when going somewhere by air, I would always carry my multi-tool on my belt. I have 2 that I like. The SOG Paratool and the Gerber Suspension.

That said, now to the assembly instructions:

1. Tape the sewing needles into the side corners of the lid running parallel to the long side.


2. Cover the shiny face of the mirror with one business card (printed face out. Cut card to fit mirror. Print additional emergency contact information on face of card. Tape card to mirror using small piece of duct tape or clear packing tape. Place mirror and card in lid of tin, face up and tape into place with a piece of clear packing tape so card is completely covered (protected) and legible.


3. Tape the fishhooks into the bottom of the tin (as flat as possible) using a small strip of duct tape.


4. Make the Minute Matches by cutting the cotton swabs (e.g. Q-tips) in half, absorbing petroleum jelly into the cotton (goal to get as much as possible into the cotton tip), and tightly wrapping the jellied tip with a small strip of aluminum foil. Four swabs make 8 minute matches. In my (unscientific) test, I burned one and it lasted about a minute, thus the name.


5. Cut about 1/3 to 1/2 of the match stick off the strike anywhere matches. Also cut a piece of the striking strip from the box and glue to the back of a business card. Sandwich the Minute Matches and the strike anywhere matches between two business cards by laying the Minute Matches down, alternating heads and sticks (so the heads of four point one way and the heads of the other four point the other way). Place the strike anywhere matches between the Minute Matches alternating heads as well (so each Minute Match has a strike anywhere match beside it. Glue them onto a business card using single drops of glue for each. Then place the business card with the strike strip on top (STRIP AWAY FROM MATCHES!!!) and tape the whole thing together. Place this carefully in the bottom of the tin.


6. Using a small piece of duct tape, tape the flint and the P38 along the back edge of the tin on top of the “match sandwich”.


7. Wrap the fishing line pieces around the whistle. Try to minimize the increase in width or depth (will depend in part upon the shape of your whistle).


8. Use a permanent marker to write the month and year of the expiration date for your water purification tabs on the plastic bag.


9. Now arrange the dental floss, the button compass, the small bag of water purification tablets, and the whistle also on top of the match sandwich.


10. You are ready to close the lid. Do so and shake to make sure everything is not bouncing around inside (I have not had this problem). The lid should close all the way without denting the tin.


11. You can finish the outside in one of two ways, depending on whether or not you want this to be easily opened. Option A does not allow easy opening but consists of wrapping the parachute cord tightly around the tin widthwise (so if you were reading the Altoids info on the front, the parachute cord would be wrapped up and down). Then wrap the remaining duct tape around the parachute cord and the tin lengthwise (perpendicular to the cord). Unlike the cord, successive wraps of the tape should stay neatly on the original wrap to maximize tape on tape and retain stickiness for future use in the field. With Option B, you carefully cut the duct tape into strips approximately 1/2 inch in width and wrap these strips around the sides of the container below the level of the lid. You wrap the cord as described above but use small pieces of duct tape or knots to secure tightly to the tin. With this option, to open the tin you must remove the parachute cord but not the duct tape.

You can also make optional additions including duct taping scissors, a small knife or a utility blade in its cardboard cover to the outside of the tin. You could also duct tape a small bottle of water purification tablets to the side of the tin before wrapping the parachute cord.

Good luck (luck favors the prepared)!