How to Make a Survival Kit in a Tin Can

Make a survival kit in a tin can to carry with you when you travel. The kit
is designed to help you survive in the wilderness should you be stranded. Include items for gathering food, starting a fire, purifying water, getting your directions and any number of things you may need to do to survive until you can get help, or help finds you.

Things You'll Need

  • Clean tin can
  • Flint and magnesium fire starter or waterproof matches
  • Candle or small flashlight
  • Fishing line
  • Fishing tackle
  • Large plastic bag
  • Water purification tablets
  • 20mm AA liquid filled button compass
  • Thin mirror
  • Cable saw or commando wire saw
  • X-acto knife blades
  • Individually wrapped antibiotic ointment
  • Band-aids
  • 2 feet of aluminum foil
  • Sewing needles
  • Nylon thread
  • Safety pin
  • Pencil
  • Paper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a fire and light combination. Gather a fire starter like flint and
      magnesium or waterproof matches. Cut a candle and find a small flashlight to fit
      in the tin can.

    • 2

      Put items in your tin can for gathering food to survive. Get a spool of
      50 feet of braided fishing line. Place fishing tack, such as hooks, weights
      and swivels into your tin can. Wrap them or encase them in plastic so you won't stick your fingers when getting other things out of your can and so the other items won't become tangled with the fishing items.

    • 3

      Get your items for purifying water. Place a large plastic bag with a 1-quart marking for the iodine pills into your tin can. Put 20 potable aqua water purification tablets into your tin can. Make sure these are packaged in something water proof.

    • 4

      Place a 20mm AA liquid-filled button compass to help you find your way. Also get
      a thin mirror to use as a signal mirror.

    • 5

      Use a small survival cable saw or a commando wire saw as a tool in your
      tin can. Also place two X-Acto knife blades in your tin can to use for cutting cables, string, fishing line or any other manner of situations where cutting something is warranted.

    • 6

      Put a small packet of antibiotic ointment and band-aids into your tin can
      to use for first aid.