When it comes to survival, human needs are very simple; we need food, water and shelter. We also require the means to administer basic first aid in an emergency situation. Even if you do not want to assemble enough survival supplies to sustain you through an apocalyptic scenario, it is a good idea to carry a basic survival kit with you which has everything you need for your short term welfare.
In our generally safe modern world, it is easy to become complacent and forget that an emergency can crop up unexpectedly and without warning. What you need to survive will largely depend on where the emergency has occurred (for example either on land or at sea).
One item which should be found in any survival kit is clean water – while people have been known to survive for several days without eating, your condition will deteriorate fast if you are dehydrated. If you are confident that you will have an accessible source of water, you can carry water purification tablets which will make dirty or salt water safe for human consumption. Alternatively, you can take water packets with you. These are safe to store for as long as five years.
You should also include food in your basic survival kit. The easiest item to fit in a back pack are nutrition bars. These are high in calories and nutrients and will provide you with everything you need in scenarios where your access to food is limited. Online survival product stockists sell these type of bars in bulk.
Another option for food is MREs (Meals Ready To Eat). These compact provisions are routinely used by the military and NASA, but are available to the public through specialist retailers.
Once you have added food and drink to your emergency kit, you will need to consider how you are going to protect yourself from the elements. A survival blanket will help you to maintain your body temperature in harsh conditions, and will not take up much space in a back pack. You might also want to consider packing a lightweight poncho to keep you dry.
Depending on what situation you find yourself in, you may need to attract help. Therefore you should choose a small item which will help to attract attention to yourself, such as a whistle or a flare. In the wilderness, these can sometimes be used to scare away predators.
A pocket knife with a multitude of tools should also be considered a survival kit essential, as it can perform many functions but slips easily into a bag or a pocket. You will also need a way to create fire such as a lighter or waterproof matches. If you do not have basic survival skills such as fire building, take a survival course or watch some online tutorials.
Finally, add some first aid basics into your survival kit. This should include antiseptic wipes, bandages, pain relief and allergy medication.