Former Navy Seal, Mark L’Hommedieu, 46, found himself in the remote Columbia River Gorge to help but instead took a bad spill on his dirt bike that thrust him 40 feet toward a ravine and into a creek. After he pulled himself from the water, it was his next action that is getting all the attention of survivalists around the world.

Realizing he’d broken his leg, an arm, some ribs and collapse one of his lungs he did not give up. Mark’s Navy SEAL training kicked in and in a matter of short time, he’d taken out his shoelaces to secure a spare iPhone charging USB cable against his leg creating a make-shift splint.

It worked and Mark was able to hang in until backwoods hikers rans into him 24 hours later and signaled a rescue by climbing up to higher ground to reach 911.

It got me thinking about my own survival instinct and training that kicked in while trapped in New Orleans during and after Hurricane Katrina.. and how that one experience has taught me to have some basics ready to go just in case.

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Here are my top 6 must-have items to have in your world to win at surviving the unexpected in life. If you ever catch up with me in New York, Los Angeles or any corner of the world, these items won’t be far from my reach at all times:

1) Spot GPS Messenger – I go nowhere on the planet without this emergency GPS beacon that can summons help in seconds vis satellite and send an “I’m okay” message to family and friends. Get it here.

2) Leatherman Skeletool 7-tools in one. Stainless steel won’t rust and this all-in-one tool at just 5 ounces acts as emergency pliers, a sharp blade for cutting, wire cutters, large bit driver, removable pocket clip and bottle opener. Ironically the most unrated but super valuable low tech survival items seldom get the attention they deserve. Get it here.

3 & 4) Reinforced duct tape and nylon ties. These two items are miraculous in a disaster. A couple nylon ties and secure a knife to the end of a stick to help you catch fish and fight off the wild. No access to a first aid kit? A standard issue of reinforced duct tape can cover a wound and keep you alive for all of about $3.

5) Free Survival Guide App in both Android and Apple IOS versions is the perfect rescue tool to have on hand. It will help you manage a disaster and succeed at teaching you how to keep a level head until help arrives. Once you download it, you won’t need wifi connection to get a lot of use from it in a pinch. iOS Android

6) Chosen by leading NGOs for humanitarian relief worldwide the LifeStraw at $17 on Amazon will keep you from going thirsty when water supply goes bad in a disaster. LifeStraw removes minimum 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria (>LOG 6 reduction) and surpasses EPA standards for water filters. It’s super lightweight and easy to fit into any bag. You’ll want one LifeStraw per person. Time Magazine Invention of the Year winner and already in use by millions around the world. This superlight LifeStraw uses no batteries and no chemicals to clean the most filthy water making it safe to drink. Get it here. Are there any tools I left out? Share your favorites in the comment box below.