What is the Dirt Bag Rally?

The Dirt Bag Rally was started in the summer of 2014. Actually it's an adaptation of the Dirt Bag Yacht Club which was originally started around 1988 as a way for us to go boating together. Now we're exploring and adventuring on the land. Unfortunately we are separated by a continent - one on the east coast and me on the west coast. So we try to meet somewhere's for a few days to share laughs, stories, experiences, and adventures.

The blog will post stories about trips, preparations, camping gear and items, food, and much, much more.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Making sure you have a good emergency kit

Expect the unexpected. One of the best ways to be prepared for the unexpected is to have a good emergency kit.

Once I did a planned afternoon motorcycle ride which unfortunately turned into an unplanned overnight trip. I didn't have any shelter, no way to make a fire, and no first-aid kit. Dumb, dumb, dumb. We were forced to spend the night in the woods with only what we had with us - jackets and cell phone. We did exceptionally well overnight and luckily had no issues, but NEVER AGAIN. No, not that we might spend the night out unplanned, but never again will I be so unprepared.

Emergency kits are available to purchase but I found they often have items that are not necessary such as fishing line and fish hooks, hand warmers, or gloves.  They also often cost a lot for what you get ($20-$40). I found that building your own emergency kit is easy to do, inexpensive, and will give you peace of mind because it is customized for you. For me an emergency kit must include some shelter - a way to keep your body warm either from the air or from the ground; must have a way to make a fire and some way to treat minor injuries and inconveniences. It should have enough to help you survive 24 hours until you can get help.

I have two emergency kits. One for off-road riding and another for road riding. They're pretty much the same. My off-road kit includes the following:
  • Flashlight/cyalume nightstick and whistle (all in one)
  • Space blanket (can be used for shelter or ground insulation)
  • Matches - both waterproof and regular
  • Nylon string (about 10-12')
  • Polyester string (about 6' - can be used to cut small branches)
  • Black electrical tape (portion of a roll - not a full roll)
  • Medical adhesive tape (portion of a roll - not a full roll)
  • Wet wipes (6)
  • Insect repellent
  • Buck knife (small 2" blade)
  • Anti-itch cream (partially filled tube)
  • Antibiotic cream (partially filled tube)
  • Toilet paper (partial roll)
  • Band-Aids (3 large and 5 regular)
  • Antiseptic wipes (6)
  • Fire starter (4)
All of the above fits into a 3"x9" tube which is easy to pack and carry. It doesn't take up much space but offers a lot of emergency functionality. That is, I can set up a shelter, make a fire, and treat minor scratches and scrapes. The tube can also be a container to hold water.

My road emergency kit includes the following:
  • Garbage bags (one large, one small - can be used as a poncho or ground insulation)
  • Cyalume nightsticks (4 - 3 green and 1 orange)
  • Kleenex tissues (Pocket pack, can be used for a wound)
  • Anti-itch cream
  • Antibiotic cream
  • Space blanket (2)
  • Insect repellent
  • Wet wipes (6)
  • Antiseptic wipes (16)
  • Emergency flasher & whistle
  • Braided nylon line (25' of 3/16")
  • Matches (waterproof)
  • Lighter
  • Fire starter (4)
  • Tin foil (heavy duty, 12"x12")
The above items all fit into a 6"x12" zippered nylon bag.  This bag is a bit different since it is a "road trip" bag and would be used near or by the road in case of an emergency. Again, the kit has enough to build a shelter, insulate a person from the ground and make a fire. A separate First-Aid kit would accompany this emergency kit that would allow for treating minor injuries.

The First-Aid kit (in a bright yellow hard case 5"x8"x1.5") contains the following items:
  • Elastic bandage (for wrapping wounds and holding gauze in place)
  • Adhesive tape
  • Triangular bandage (for making a sling if needed)
  • 4"x4" gauze pads (4)
  • 12 Tylenol (to ease pain)
  • 12 Advil (to ease swelling)
  • Antiseptic wipes (6 - 3 green soap wipes and 3 alcohol/disinfectant wipes)
  • Antacid pills (4)
  • Band-Aids (4 large, 9 regular, 6 butterfly)
  • Salt pills (4)
  • Aspirin
Emergency kits
My emergency kits and First-Aid kit
When building your emergency kit take into account your destination and environment as well as your needs. Since this year's DBR is going to the desert I included salt pills. I hate bug bites that itch and hat being bothered by bugs so that's why both kits have an anti-itch and insect repellent in them. Commercial kits often include emergency water. I plan on having plenty of water with me at all times by having water bottles and a 1 gallon water jug.

Having an emergency kit is like having some insurance. You hope you never have to use it but it's there if you need it.

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