I’ve given up trying to create witty blog titles.
One of the things i always enjoyed while growing up was putting together a ‘survival tin’. It’s one of those things lads read and hear about, in the scouts and the like. About how this little tin could save your life. Assuming it’s not tucked away in a drawer at home somewhere, as opposed to on your person where it should be.
The basic concept of survival is about doing whatever it takes to extricate yourself from a situation in one piece. To be honest a large (perhaps the largest) part of this we now know is the mental attitude. People react differently in a crisis. Some will be overcome with lethargy and literally sit down and wait to die. While others will be constantly searching, looking about for handy items. Always believing there is a way out, no matter how far fetched the ideas. There have been some incredible feats of human endurance over the years. Perhaps two of the best recorded are the stories of those of Joe Simpson and Aron Ralston.
In 1985 Joe Simpson and climbing partner Simon Yates were climbing an unclimbed route up Siula Grande, in the Andes. After a successful summit Joe slipped while climbing an ice cliff and broke his leg. Simon tried to lower Joe down the mountain but accidentally lowered him over a sheer cliff in the night. Simon, who had Joe on a rope was slowly being pulled from the mountain and had no choice but to cut the rope. Joe fell into a cravass but managed to survive the fall. That is not the fascinating bit. After this he managed to escape the cravass and crawl back down the remainder of the mountain, with a broken leg, and no food or water. He barely made it. I seem to remember them saying it was about 6 miles. Try to imagine crawling across ice and rocks with a shattered knee for six miles. After, of course climbing a mountain. Oh and you’re allowed no food or water. Read (or watch) ‘touching the void’ for the full story.
Then, in 2003 Aron Ralston was navigating some canyons in Utahs national park. Scaling over a boulder in a narrow gully the boulder came loose and the two slid down into the bottom of the canyon. During the fall the boulder managed to trap Ralstons arm against the canyon wall. Ralston spent almost five days stuck in this position. He ran out of food and water and was surviving only by drinking his own urine (which you cannot do indefinitely). Eventually he realizes the only way to free himself is to remove his arm. He has a cheap multitool but unfortunately has almost destroyed the blade by using it to try and chip the boulder away. Still he summons the courage to plunge the small blade into his arm and start cutting. He manages to cut through the flesh, tissue and muscle and then realizes he needs to use his body as a lever to snap the two bones in his arm. Once complete he uses a piece of rubber as a tourniquet and walks out of the canyon to find help. After, of course, having to rappel single handedly down a 65ft rock-face and then walk another four miles. After spending five days in a canyon and cutting your own arm off. For the full story read (or watch) ‘127 hours’.
Two very extreme examples i’ll grant you. However it just goes to show what the human body is capable of.
Would a ‘survival tin’ have helped either of the above examples ? To a certain extent yes. At least Joe would have been able to light a candle when stuck in the cravass (if only to provide light, and perhaps hope). And of course both would have had access to a few painkillers and some string to help support the injuries, nothing lifesaving but everything helps. The idea behind the survival tin is to pack as much ‘handy stuff’ as possible into something the size of a tobacco tin. This can then be placed in a pocket when hiking or perhaps slipped into a pouch on a bag. Something so small could well save your life. The contents of such a tin are a mystery to the laymen so here i hope to explain it’s uses. My tin is not finished . . .
The tin
Surprising how much you can fit into a small tin isn’t it. There is still room for a little more too.
1 – The lid. This has been polished up to act as a reflector. This means you can try to reflect light to signal aircraft or vehicles. This can be seen upto 5 miles away. I also have a laminated copy of morse code in there. Alas i don’t know it by heart
2 – The tin. In the bottom of the tin are a few sheets of waterproof paper. These can be used to leave notes for rescuers if you decide to try and walk out of the situation you are in. The tin itself too can also be used as a cooking vessel. To perhaps boil up a small meal or simply to purify water
3 – Whistle. To attract attention. These things can be heard from miles away and use less energy than shouting
4 – A Pencil. To write notes. In a pinch you could also shave the wood to make tinder
5 – Part of a hacksaw blade. Can be used to strike sparks from a fire-steel rod or simply used as a small saw. Incase you need to cut thin metal or small branches
6 – Tin opener. These are worth their weight in gold. They will open tins REALLY quickly, should happen across one
7 – Assorted first aid. A small length of plaster, some pain killers (codine based), some caffine tablets and some puri-tabs. For purifying water. Also a razor blade for fine cutting or first aid
8 – Small sewing kit. For repairing torn clothes or replacing buttons. Also the safety pins can be used as fish-hooks
9 – Tea-light candle. More efficient than a lighter if you want to get a fire going. You can also shave wax off it to add to a fledgling fire
10 – Small lighter. Speaks for itself. Much easier than rubbing two sticks together
11 – Tampon (sniggers at the back). Highly absorbant cotton. Also takes only a small spark to turn into flame
12 – Snare wire. A few yards of brass snare wire. An abundance of uses, namely making snares to catch a meal
13 – Kite string. Small, light and incredibly strong. As above loads of different uses
14 – Waterproof matches and striker. Burn in the wind and wet. Last resort to get that fire going
Condoms are also very handy. Small. Light and can be used to carry upto a litre of water. I will add one at some point. I also want to add a small folding knife. A knife is damn-near essential. It’s fun collecting the bits and could save your life some day. Mine lives in my work-bag. Perhaps another one in the car ? Another one in your rucksack ?
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