One of recomendations was to throw it between my legs, and it will pop out near the boat if anything happens. OK, what if will not pop out, or not near the boat? Other things need rescue at such moments - the boat itself, for example. Make more sense to me to try saving the boat first, rather than catching emergency bag somewhere in the water. I think - what is not on me, is not with me in such situations. So far I've come to the solution - water flask at the belt (there is a belt on my PFD), VHF in the PFD pocket, headlamp (tiny waterproof LED Aurora) in the shorts pocket, and yellow trash bag (shelter + signaling flag) again in the shorts pocket. Damn flask tends to hang down over the board, otherwise this system works. Food stuff (dry fruits, walnuts etc) is in the deck bag, lighter and matches are deep down in drybags, same as the First Aid kit, and will be lost together with the boat if the case would be. Perhaps I could add a small mirror into the pocket, and this is it. Would be interested to hear other tested and working solutions - may be small drybag tied to PFD? I also think there must be a different approach to a day-paddling and overnight trip (in the latter case there are always matches, First Aid kit, tarp etc - somewhere in cargo area). Alex. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Where to keep an Emergency bag? I sewed an emergency survival kit to the lower back of my PFD. It contains: space blanket matches garbage bags aluminim foil - for gathering rain water signal mirrow parachute chord small first aid kit I realize that sewing something on a PFD is a violation of CG rules but I showed this to a Coast Guard helicopter search pilot and he handed it back to me saying "as long as it keeps you alive till I can find you" Bob *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This seems to be the only workin solution - pouch attached to either back or front of PFD (should work in front as well if it's a side-zippered PFD and bag isn't too fat to prevent paddle float re-entry). First Aid kit in such a bag should be a smaller version of normal FirstAid kit (of course, bigger kit is to be carried too, in cargo area). Aluminum foil for water - good suggestion, I like it. Thanks to all who responded. Alex. > I sewed an emergency survival kit to the lower back of my PFD. It contains: > space blanket > matches > garbage bags > aluminim foil - for gathering rain water > signal mirrow > parachute chord > small first aid kit > > I realize that sewing something on a PFD is a violation of CG rules but I > showed this to a Coast Guard helicopter search pilot and he handed it back > to me saying "as long as it keeps you alive till I can find you" *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On 13 Jan 2004 at 9:05, alex wrote: > Aluminum foil for water - good suggestion, I like it. It strikes me that aluminum foil would be fragile - I can't seem to use any without it tearing. Using another garbage bag might do. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> > Aluminum foil for water - good suggestion, I like it. > > It strikes me that aluminum foil would be fragile - I can't seem to > use any without it tearing. Using another garbage bag might do. > I'd go with a clear plastic, so I could create a solar still should that be appropriate. The still could condense water on the underside or collect rain on the top side as conditions permit. Painter's drop-cloth is larger than plastic wrap. Carey *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> It strikes me that aluminum foil would be fragile - I can't seem to > use any without it tearing. Using another garbage bag might do. > > Mike I should have been more specific. The foil is carried to shape into a cup to collect rain water and then to drink from. Though there are plenty of streams to drink from here in Southeast AK. some of it cannot be trusted so I also carry a few water purifuication pills and the aluminum cup should work to hold it the required 30 minutes. I also carry a bigger survival kit behind my seat that backs up my smaller kit on my PFD. I carry in it some chemical heat packs (liquid rather than the popular powder kind.) in case I am wet and cold. Hopefully I will never have to use it. Bob *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On 13 Jan 2004 at 9:10, Rev. Bob Carter wrote: > I should have been more specific. The foil is carried to shape into a > cup to collect rain water and then to drink from. Though there are > plenty of streams to drink from here in Southeast AK. some of it > cannot be trusted so I also carry a few water purifuication pills and > the aluminum cup should work to hold it the required 30 minutes. Aahh.. this makes sense. I use a 1 liter zip-closing Platypus drinking bottle for this. It rolls up small enough for me and I can unzip the bottom and squeeze it open to catch water from a stream or scoop from a lake. I use the chlorine dioxide purification drops to purify. However, Carey's suggestion of a sheet of clear plastic for a rain gatherer and solar still is a good one. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> It strikes me that aluminum foil would be fragile - I can't seem to > use any without it tearing. Using another garbage bag might do. Fragile, - unless it's folded 3-4-6 times. Get a heavy-duty aluminum wrap from supermarket (probably 30% or twice thicker than regular), and fold/shape it. Makes a good wind shield for stove, too. 4-ply "belt" rolled inside the pot is the least susceptible to damage, but you can shape it to your liking. Alex. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> > Aluminum foil for water - good suggestion, I like it. > > It strikes me that aluminum foil would be fragile - I can't seem to > use any without it tearing. Using another garbage bag might do. > I'd go with a clear plastic, so I could create a solar still should that be appropriate. The still could condense water on the underside or collect rain on the top side as conditions permit. Painter's drop-cloth is larger than plastic wrap. Carey *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> I'd go with a clear plastic, so I could create a solar still should that > be > appropriate. The still could condense water on the underside or collect > rain > on the top side as conditions permit. Painter's drop-cloth is larger than > plastic wrap. I don't know a darn thing about solar stills, but my crash kit has an orange plastic bag in it so that it could double as a distress flag, or at least something more visible when need be. Rick *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> I don't know a darn thing about solar stills, but my crash kit has an > orange plastic bag in it so that it could double as a distress flag, or > at least something more visible when need be. It's good to know how to make a solar still, but it must be a very poor remedy. According to those who tried this, it will collect from zero to 2 liters of water a day. Water loss due to digging 3-ft wide and 1 ft deep hole nearly everweighs the advantage. I carry an aluminum flask on my PFD (24 oz or so), which is empty or half-empty at the end of the passage, depending on the length of the passage and temperature, so emergency water problem I still don't know how to solve. Desalinators like PUR-06 are not for "abandon the ship" situation; rather a back-up for unexpected prolonged hold-up by the storm. Much better than solar still, but can't be carried in the pocket. Alex. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:36 PDT