Adventure kits help the lost

By Emilie Le Beau - 01/14/2009

MCT Photo The S.O.L 3 (short for Survive Outdoors Longer) is a compact kit in a detachable canvas bag with several components. The kit has first aid items such as EMT shears, medical gloves, wound care items, pain medication and allergic reaction medication.

On the reality television show Man vs. Wild, outdoorsman Edward "Bear" Grylls parachuted into the Sierra Nevada with only a knife and canteen. His point was to simulate the experience of hikers who are stranded in the mountains each year.

During his experience, Grylls ate a live snake. He also created a raft with grape vine and tried to tame a wild horse.

Perhaps if Grylls had a survival kit, he wouldn't have to dine on live snakes or bicker with wild horses. There are kits available that are meant to help lost adventurers survive until help arrives.

The S.O.L 3 (short for Survive Outdoors Longer) is a compact kit in a detachable canvas bag with several components. First, the kit has first aid items such as EMT shears, medical gloves, wound care items, pain medication and allergic reaction medication.

The kit also has a hydration component and includes aluminum foil for boiling water and iodine drops for water purification.

There is also a survival toolk component which includes a signaling mirror, magnesium fire starter, whistle and two-person heat sheet survival blanket.

The gear-repair component provides duct tape, cable ties and a 2-watt LED headlamp for working in the dark.

The kit weighs 1.4 pounds and costs $56. Available at dventureMedicalKits.com. Check local retailers for similar products.