Melbourne

Okay. I realistically wouldn’t escape or survive long.

I don’t have a strong physical constitution and if not caught right away would die very quickly of bad water, injury or exposure. But to not be defeatist I would absolutely bring a few things if possible. Any of these.

• A can opener. Possibly multiple for barter, a group, or in case one breaks. You can apparently rub cans on a rough surface to wear off the lid but I don’t know how and that risks losing the precious contents.

• A knife or a hatchet. For splitting or shaving wood as kindling, self defence, hunting and skinning small game, cutting rope

• Lighter, matches, fire rod, anything

• Soap. Bad handwashing hygiene and dirty wounds will kill you. I also don’t know how to make the soap… especially in the wild with limited ingredients (I’d try lye from drain cleaner but apparently that’s not good) and limited ability to remember or measure proper ratios.

• Salt. Whether it be maintaining electrolytes while vomiting from bad water, rinsing wounds, or preserving food or skins. You want this.

• Honey or sugar. Can be mixed with salt for homemade electrolytes or used for infected wounds in the absence of antibiotics. Good for shock.

• A container for storing, transporting and treating water. Probably one of the top things.

• Needle and thread. Tent repair, making improvised clothing, stitching wounds. Possibly some rags.

• Iodine for first aid and water purification.

• Isopropyl alcohol, methylated spirits, or any alcohol over 70%. For killing viruses on surfaces, disinfecting skin and medical tools, or as an emergency/smokeless source of fuel. (With a rag wick or soaked into charcoal inside a tin.)

• A cooking pot. Cans may be used but there are so many reasons you will need to boil water.

• Oil or lard for precious calories. Or to help waterproof shelter or clothing.

• A solar charger to keep phone on for as long as internet and phone signal infrastructure stays up. Or even better one of those radios that run off hand cranking. Even better if it’s also a battery and a light, but you want to be able to pick up emergency transmissions or other survivors.

• Rope. For tourniquets, holding up a tarp between trees or as a makeshift hammock to keep your body off the cold wet ground, tie yourself into a tree to sleep, or suspending food supplies out of reach of some animals.

• A tarp, mat, cardboard, anything to stop cold and damp leaching into your body.

• A camping shovel to dispose of waste to avoid contaminating water sources. Also to make a burrow for temporary shelter or concealment.

• If possible multivitamins or even just vitamin c. Or forage lemons. Living off canned and dry foods can result in deficiencies which lead to scurvy, lower immune system, or delayed wound healing. In extreme cases vitamin c deficiency can lead to old scars reopening and vitamin b deficiency can result in neuropathic issues and beri beri. These vitamins are water soluble so must be replenished regularly.

• A compass? Or star chart? But tbh I don’t know how to navigate. The best I could do is use a compass or remember the direction of the sun to return a short distance to camp. And I would not be risking going far