30-Day Blog Challenge – Day 30

If I Were On a Deserted Island, What Would I Want to Have With Me?

There are many people that are preppers and the motto of the Boy Scouts is “Be Prepared”. At the bare minimum, we need water, food, shelter, fire and clothing in order to survive. In this day and age, we are seldom very far from civilization and the ability to get our basic needs met.

I used to watch the TV show, Survivor. The contestants were not allowed to bring anything with them but basically the clothes on their backs, and had to find items to help them survive through the first few days until they could win items like food, or blankets. Some would try to smuggle things in, but they usually got caught.

Remember the TV Show, Lost? That was one of my favorites. The people were on a flight from Sidney to Los Angeles when their plane crashed on a mysterious island. They were lucky that they could find some of the luggage and use the items for survival. And they had each other to depend on.

Another show I loved was Survivorman with Les Straud. He would be dumped in various locations with only his trusty multi-tool and very minimal items. He would show how to use what you could find in the environment in order to survivor. One episode showed him running out of gas on a trip through a snowy wilderness. He cannibalized the pickup truck, and showed how you could use everything in the truck, like the seat covers, the wiring, etc., to ensure your survival.

Well, I hope I never get lost or find myself on a deserted island. But, if I do, here are some things I would want to have with me. Some of these things are easily carried on you with minimal effort. Hopefully, I was on a boat that got shipwrecked or run ashore, instead of a plane. Some things, like a knife, would never be allowed on a plane, but are likely to be on a boat.

• A Metal Drinking Bottle. This could be used to boil water and store it. It could also be used to cook in, in a pinch.
• A Lighter or a Flint and Striker. Fire is essential for warmth and safety from predators. It is good for light, to cook food, and to boil water.
• A Multi-Tool (like Les Straud). These are kind of like a grown-up version of the Swiss Army Knife.
• A Combination Mirror, Whistle and Compass. This is a nice little tool that would come in handy to signal possible rescuers and help you navigate your environment. They usually have a waterproof container for matches and tinder, and a lanyard to hang it around your neck.
• A Solar Charger for My Cell Phone. Depending on where I am stranded, I may have cell service, but if not, I could still use it for entertainment purposes. I have downloaded e-books, music, and some games that don’t require a wi-fi connection.
• An Emergency Blanket. These little silver blankets are pocket sized and can keep you from losing your body heat, or maybe be made into a light weight shelter from the rain, though they aren’t very sturdy.
• A Mini First Aid Kit. This would have at least some bandaids, alcohol pads, neosporin, tylenol, and imodium. Being lost is stressful enough without having a headache or diarrhea! These items could fit in an altoids tin.
• Clothing. The best pants to be lost in are the kind that have zippers in the legs so they convert to shorts. The same thing with a jacket that has sleeves that zip off. You could be cooler during the day, but have more coverage so you are warmer at night. And sturdy shoes. I would hate to be lost wearing only flip-flops!
• A bandana. These are very useful. They can be used to carry items if you tie up the corners and hang it from a stick (like the hobos had in old pictures). They can be used to strain water, to cool your neck, or as a mask if its smoky or debris is flying around in a storm.
• A Paracord Bracelet. I have a friend who is an Army veteran and he wears one wherever he goes. Maybe I should get one, too.
• A Big Hunting Knife. A knife could be used for many things, too. Cutting small branches to make shelter, cutting kindling for your fire, as well as hunting and protection. If it has a sturdy enough handle, it can be a makeshift hammer.

There are tons of emergency survival tools. You can spend a ton of money trying to get the best and to try to prepare for every emergency. But the things I listed above would hold me over in a pinch and hopefully ensure I lived long enough for someone to come rescue me.