The U.S. Government recommends that all citizens should have - either in their homes or in their car - 72 Hour Survival Kit, and if you've thought about the questions above, it should come as no surprise that two of the first items on the list in this kit is a knife and a flashlight. No matter what your emergency may be a source of light and a good edge will always be important.
A Swiss Army knife has been a mainstay of survival gear for decades. More than just a cutting tool, a well-chosen Swiss Army knife is a survival kit in a compact, folding package. There is much more to them than one or two shaving and bottle opener that features in most of the cheaper knives. Features that are important in a Swiss Army knife include:
- Lock knife 
- Compact size
- Lightweight
- Sharp, durable cutting
- At least one sawing blade
- A can / bottle opener
- A flint
A Swiss Army knife is not strictly a survival knife, though. To recommend the most survival experts, a fixed blade knife that can be used for cutting, sawing, hunting knife, skinning, cleaning, and decimate a host of other uses. There are plenty of available styles and types of survival knives, making it easy to select the best for your needs. The most valuable of them combines a sturdy, sharp blade in fixed position with a hollow handle that holds the key points for you to have with you in an emergency. These items may include matches, tinder, aspirin, disinfectant, a small flashlight or signaling device and a flute. Before you choose a survival knife, you should check your state and city statutes to ensure that the blade you wish to purchase does not violate any laws.
If the last time you bought a new torch was more than a few years ago, you may be surprised at what technology has wrought in just a few years. LED technology has given us a new class of LED flashlights that will not die on you just when you need them most. LED - light emitting diodes - technology has been used for decades in such things as watch displays and digital alarm clocks, but they were always considered too expensive and too low power needed for lighting workhorse duties as flashlights and emergency lights. As late as 2002, one of the leading researchers in the lighting estimated that LED lighting would be in common use in the home for twenty years. A year later, he admitted that he had seriously miscalculated because "... we made a mistake by assuming only gradual progress and exclusive ... big technological breakthroughs .." These breakthroughs made it much cheaper to produce LED light, and brought them into the price range of groceries.
So why should you consider replacing your ordinary flashlights with LED flashlights? The reasons range from better lighting for longer battery life. They include:
• LED flashlights use a two-step process that produces light that is closer to natural sunlight. And unlike typical flashlights that go out when the battery is low, LED flashlights often continue to operate on a dimmer brightness for hours or even days.
• The bulb LED flashlights draws much less power, increased battery life astronomical - some LED boasts battery life of over 50,000 hours. No more frustration of worn-out batteries, or light that dies when you need them most.
• Unlike typical tungsten light, LED flashlights are sturdy enough to resist being pushed and fell. In tests, all fell LED Flashlight 4-6 feet onto concrete survived and continued to create strong, clear light.
• LED flashlights come in sizes from tiny to super - small enough to hang in a keychain for full-size utility light that can light up a whole room.
Actually, flashlights are not the only LED lighting that you will find useful in an emergency.
If you have not considered your 72 Hour Kit, this is an excellent time to put one together. Today's modern technology offers many opportunities to ensure that you are prepared for any emergency that could happen.
