The PSK (Personal Survival Kit): The Kit that is ALWAYS with you!

PSKs are your first line of defense when it comes to survival. It is the "back bone" of survival. PSKs are the smallest of the survival kit family and are designed to be small enough to keep in a pants pocket, hat, on a key chain or belt or other small space so that you will have it on your person at all times. Did you catch that? PSKs have two basic requirements: 1) They must be tiny, and 2) they must always be with you. They are the bare minimum.

The smallest of survival kits, these kits are barebones kits stripped down to the bare essentials to make them light, compact, and easy to carry on your person at all times. These are meant to be kept with you at all times just like your wallet, your cell phone, and your keys.

Some of the most infamous PSKs are the Altoids tin survival kits, also known as "B.O.A.T.s" (Bug Out Altoids Tins). Many of these tiny little Altoid tin kits are much more of a novelty than they are a truly practical survival kit, but the concept of these kits is similar to the PSK: Small and always with you.

When assembling a PSK for yourself, keep the kit compact enough so that you will actually carry it/keep it with you, but make sure that the items in your kit are good quality, dependable items that will actually do you some good in a survival situation. Use good judgement here. Assemble a compact yet quality kit that can actually to do you some good as opposed to a uselessly microscopic kit primarily designed to impress your peers with how small it is.

PSKs are usually kept in small containers or pouches like a small army surplus bag or an Otter Box. Some individuals take great pride in the container they place their PSK in. Some like to show off their tiny Altoids tin kit. Other containers used to keep PSKs in include Nalgene bottles, heavy duty ziplock bags, cookware, “fanny” or “belly” packs, aluminum (or even titanium) waterproof capsules, single strap “gearslinger” style packs, and many more. The type container chosen is typically determined by how compact, durable, light, and waterproof the kit will end up being inside this container.

Regardless of what type of “vessel” you choose to put your PSK in, it’s mostly what you actually put inside this kit that matters. You need to make sure that you cover all the basics, and more importantly, you intimately know how to use everything inside your kit. You must make absolutely certain that you have the bare minimum you would need to keep yourself warm/cool, hydrated, nourished, & sheltered. You are going to make sure you are equipped to navigate if necessary and signal search and rescue. You are going to need to be able to treat common injuries or wounds, and you are going to need a few tools and materials for fabrication and repair. Wouldn’t hurt to even have a small reference like a bandana with common knots depicted on it, playing cards with survival tips on them, or even a small survival handbook in your kit. This kind of information could come in very handy in an emergency situation.

So what items should you put in your PSK? Well, the specifics are up to you and your personal preferences, but generally speaking you are going to need to have one of each of the following items in your PSK:

• Ways to start fire (more than one)
• Ways to make water drinkable (more than one)
• Way to create shelter/insulation
• Way to procure food
• Ways to treat injuries and wounds
• Ways to signal rescue (visible and audible)
• Ways to navigate
• Ways to illuminate
• Basic tools to help you improvise means to help you accomplish the tasks above and more

You are definitely going to want to make sure you have all the basics covered in your PSK. Shelter, fire, water, food, first aid, knife, tools, signalling, navigation, and illumination at a minimum. And you are going to want good quality components that you can depend on. And for one or two of these components you are going to want a bit of duplication. For example, don't just have one way to make fire in your PSK. Have at least three options in case one or two fails. More than one option for a knife is a good idea as well.

These are the basic needs you will need to meet (at a minimum) should you find yourself in a disaster situation. To learn more about options for each of these categories, just click on theindividual items above.

So you have all of your PSK components assembled. Now what? What do you put them in? Well, you have several options here. Lots of people like molle pouches because they can easily secure to other larger packs. Others like Otter Boxes because they are waterproof and crush resistant. Caribiner. Knife sheath. Canteens and Nalgene Bottles. Be creative! There are all kinds of packs, pouches and containers out there. Use what works for you. Just make sure you design your kit in such a way that you will keep it on your person at all times! Otherwise, you have defeated the purpose of such a kit.

Another great idea is to plan your PSK in conjunction with other kits/packs to create a sort of modular system. Your PSK should always be with you and is only designed to cover the very basics. So what if you could attach your PSK to a larger pack? What would/should you put in that pack to supplement your PSK? What about a module for fire making as well? And First aid? And these can each attach/detach from your main pack?

Last but not least, just having these items in a kit at hand by itself will not keep you alive in an emergency. You must make sure that you know how to USE these items should that situation arise. Just having fishing hooks and some fishing line does not guarantee you will catch fish. It is difficult to catch fish on a frozen lake or river. Just having a fire steel with you does not automatically guarantee you will be able to start a fire. It is extremely challenging to get a spark to catch a tinder bundle in damp or humid conditions. Get to know your gear. Make sure you CAN use it before you HAVE TO use it. Go camping and practice with your gear. Learn your limitations before you actually find yourself in a genuine high stress emergency situation. Understand the strengths and weaknesses of your kit and each of its components… and make appropriate adjustments to better meet your needs. Hopefully you’ll never need to use your kit, but if you do, you will be SO glad that you learned how to use what is in it ahead of time!

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