It is very interesting that fire starting set used by
the British soldiers has been practically not changed
for more than 20 years. It fits in the small plastic box
and contains inside the necessary elements to start a
fire. Do not think that it is something strange. In the
other kits we have many different elements, and here
only fire? Exactly. The authors of this kit (together
with the military personnel, on request which it was
developed) made an assumption that when a soldier has
problems they will be serious. So such with which he
will not manage using the standard methods. So, this
kit is to solve the troubles in making a fire I the difficult
conditions in 100%. It is used until today.
In Poland the soldiers also have at their disposal the
survival kits but unfortunately almost exclusively in the
special forces. Sometimes they are procured in tender,
sometimes acquired individually. And it is just the
best evidence how contemporarily works the survival
kit. When something does not meet the soldiers'
requirements, there is no obstacle, to modify or develop
it by themselves. But a necessity to possess a survival
kit is undeniable because the old British proverb says:
be prepared for the impossible.
In the next article we will discuss the respective
elements of the survival kit and their usefulness in the
field.
SURVIVAL
KITS