“Ounces of Prevention” Survival Items

This article started as a game in some forums I frequent. Following the dictum "an ounce of prevention is a pound of cure", the idea behind it is to find small items (that do not have to weigh exactly an ounce) and could be including in a Survival kit for the purpose of sustainment.

The sustainment criterion signifies items that will help you stay active, mobile, healthy, alert and less un-comfy on a long hike, bug-out, or severe situation.

So here are some suggestions:

1. A Blister kit.  
Self-evident, blisters is the no.1 reason to compromise your mobility.

2. Medicated Foot or Talcum Powder. 
Same as above, only this time the target area is your toes and crotch.

3. Washing Powder. 
In long hikes it is vital to keep your socks and undewear clean, and you healthy.
4. Sugar. 
While it does provide a jolt of energy, I included it for another reason. A tired body hosts a sugar-deprived brain, and in this state you cannot take good decisions. A bit of sugar cannot sustain you for long, but it CAN unclutter your brain.

5. Instant Coffee.
If you are not familiar with the Greek Frappe coffee, (a cold water shaken concoction) then you are missing on the best eye-opener coffee. If it does not wake you, you must be dead.

6. Salt & Baking Soda. 
Mixed together they can work as a toothpaste but mixed with sugar in the right proportions, will make a homemade electrolyte solution. Some recipes and the background of rehydration & electrolyte replenishment can be found here.

7. Immodium Pills.
These stop diarrheas which may be caused by bad food or contaminated water.

8. Ibuprofen Pills. (or other NSAID-class medications). 
These are multi action drugs. Anti-inflamatory, anti-fever and pain relieving. They greatly help with sprains. At the US they are over the counter sold, but do consult a doctor before buying.

9. Sports Tape. 
While it can be considered a multi-use item its purpose is to support your ankle on a sprain. It is called ankle/kinesio taping and it is a much ignored technique in the first aid field.
10. A tea candle.
It burns for long and being flat can work well for a firestarter, but it is far more helpful in warming up a small space. No, you won’t be comfy but it will break the chill and may keep the space above freezing. But do check space ventilation when you use it.

11. Olight i3S flashlight.
I suggested it by name because it is the best of its genre, the small LED AAA multi-mode flashlights. I consider it a safety feature cos on its highest setting (80 lumens) it allows for night hiking, and its other levels are very well suited for camp work. Other options are its sibling the Maratac AAA, its father the ITP A3 EOS, the humble Tank007 E09, and the much spendy Fenix LD01 and 4Sevens Preon flashlights

As you may have noticed the list contains items one would not find in the usual survival kits.  But for good reason. I consider them the items that will sustain you on survival.

Further –considered- suggestions are always welcome.