Go-to kit essentials
When it comes to the basics of a plan for all scenarios there are a few standard bits of kit worth adding:
An interesting guest article by: Adam Retter
I have been thinking recently: “what everyday and overlooked items are multi use whilst giving most bang for the buck?”
It led me to remembering my younger bushcraft years where, before responsibilities had set in and life had more hours in a day, I could grab my basha and hammock and get out to the woods.
Back then I used to work night shifts in a warehouse, and lucky for me my co- worker and our supervisor were really close school friends.
We would generally either be wrapping pallets, trying to sleep off a hangover or creating our own entertainment which would involve “stitching” each other up with 'polythene packaging'.
Yes the typical toilet seat joke did happen and we did also tie up a colleague once for 4 hours (sorry Phil).
Here's a few reasons on why this is in my kit.
Great first aid advice here: RealFirstAid.
1 - First Aid
It's basically industrial cling-film.
So very useful in the treatment of burns, binding splints and making a temporary arm sling.
In little time you can also make a stretcher very much the same way you would with two poles and a basha.
2 - Logistics & Utilities
Bungees, rope and para-cord are all undeniably useful and this should be right up there with them.
Whether you need to keep surfaces snag free or for attaching something to the roof of your vehicle the strength and ease of use makes this a winner.
Another great use for on your vehicles (although with limited visibility) is patching up a blown window to keep out wind and rain, it can also be used to remove windows that are intact and shattered, keeping the glass safe within the film.
3 - Shelter & Perimiter Walls
This is how my thoughts first started with this post. I had visions of the an A-frame bed that would use the stretcher mentioned above.
I'm sure that you could easily make perimeters (below images), snares and visible trail guides, but also with the right frame make a very suitable wind and rain shelter.
Which leads me onto the next idea.
4 - Agriculture
I have seen lots of views on seeds and crops in the event of a disaster but not as much on creating the conditions needed for the growth.
With this stuff you can make adaptable and moveable poly-tunnels and propagators ideal for growing.
5 - Protection
Who knows what things could happen alongside civil unrest, it's one of the most thought about areas with prepping as we all have to protect ourselves and loved ones.
With lots of thought on offensive measures, I like to think as passively and morally as possible and what happens after possible confrontation.
Whilst cable ties are an obvious choice for restraint you may have to remove all threat by wrapping the body and incapacitating limbs which this is ideal for.
For static placement it is also very easy for binding to objects.
I think you will agree that packaging wrap has earned a place in your go-to kit, and that the list is only scratching the surface on potential uses.
It's always better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
I’d love to know your thoughts on what else you could do with it as I'm sure there are many more uses.
For now though, cling film is definitely one of my Go-To Kit Essentials. In fact my head is already thinking of water collection/purification and solar stills, plus many more uses.
Thanks again, to Adam Retter for this very unusual and interesting article.
As Adam says, there's got to be many more uses for cling film in the prepping world....
Happy Prepping Folks.
Steve
1 comment
Interesting post ~ thank you for sharing. For minor first aid, lavender essential oil is a must~have for minor burns, blisters and sunburn. It comes in a small 10ml bottle and used undiluted, is a must have for minor burns, scalds, blisters, cuts and sunburn. A great all rounder that takes up little valuable space. Tea tree oil is excellent if you get an infected wound ~ again, used neat. Anti~viral, anti~fungal and anti~bacterial.anti~bacterial.