The mobile phone is a great emergency tool in a survival situation. It can help by calling rescuers, using an app with a map and GPS, a torch light, or using a compass app. But technology can break down. Such as no reception, a flat battery, etc.
However, the phone case can be useful in its own right by holding some small survival items. In this article we will cover options on how to make a phone case survival kit.
Obviously you are not going to fit every single item into the case. However, two or three items can supplement your layered bushcraft and survival kit nicely. Items that are thin and flat are ideal for phone case survival kit. Place items in the card flaps or tape them on the inside of the case. While the later model phones seem to be getting bigger and no cases are used, the same survival pieces could also be placed in your wallet. Here are some options that can be placed in a phone case survival kit.
Fresnel lens.
A Fresnel lens is perfect for the phone case, as it is flat and thin. For the size and weight of a credit card, it is ideal in the kit.
Cordage.
Jute (Twine.) can be used for cordage and can double as a fire starter or tinder nest. A small hank of thin diameter bank line, fishing line, hoochie cord, Nano cord, etc. can also be stored. Dental floss is surprisingly strong for the size of it. You can use it for gear repair, or a number of cordage uses. (I never thought about using dental floss, until I read Cody Lundin’s book. See my book review of 98.6 Degrees, The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive.)
First Aid.
Band aids and small flat bandages like eye patches can fit in the case. Sure it’s not going to hold a big kit, but a few band aids can be handy. Anti-histamine tablets like hay fever tablets, or headache tablets in the blister packs are small enough to put in the case.
Tape.
Gorilla cloth tape, or electricians tape can be cut into small section and folded over itself so the adhesive sticks to itself. The tape can be useful for kit repair, or useful as a flame extender.
Survival signal mirror.
A signal mirror is ideal for most phone cases, as it is thin and flat.
Fire lighting.
Cotton balls or cotton pads flattened out, can be placed in the case for fire lighting. Char cloth in a plastic snap lock bag can also stored. Fire Strip Roll fire starter, or a similar commercial fire-lighting tinder, can be cut into strips and placed into the phone case. Small birthday candles, can be an option. Please be aware on hot days they can melt and make a mess in the case.
Fishing kit.
Some fishing line and hooks can make a small survival fishing kit in the case. The fishing hooks are ideally flat and smaller hooks. These can be placed into some foil, tape or plastic bag to cover the sharp hooks from poking through the case. The sinkers are too bulky to fit, but fishing swivels can be included.
Water purification tablets.
Aquatabs or similar water purification tablets are ideal for the phone case. As the blister pack is thin.
Ranger bands.
Rubber bicycle inner tube tires are excellent flame extenders and also useful for fastening gear.
Survival water bags.
A survival water bag holding about one liter (About 33 ounces.) is compact enough to be folded up and stored in the case.
Survival blanket.
The emergency space blanket or Mylar survival blanket may fit. Some types are small enough to be folded flat enough to fit. The silver Mylar side can also be used as a signal mirror or a makeshift water collector or container.
Cutting tool.
A very flat pocket knife, razor blade or small hack saw blade is useful for an extra back up cutting tool. Please be aware of the law in your country, or sate when carrying such items.
Survival cards.
Survival card multi tools, like the Readyman wilderness cards, Bob Hansler survival card or the Marbles survival card, are an ideal credit card size to put in a phone case. (Or wallet.) Comprising of pre-cut fish hooks, spear points, saw blades, etc., survival cards can be another option for the case.
Pictured above is the Bob Hansler Survival Card.
Ferrocerium rod.
A small thin ferro rod can be taped in the crease of the case. Use the back of the saw blade for the scraper. (Striker.) Obviously this size rod isn’t going to be a main ferro rod, but may be handy in an emergency.
Needle or safety pins.
Safety pins, needles or a bigger sail needle is good for clothing or gear repairs. The needle can also be used for digging splinters out for first aid.
Maybe items?
Here are a few items that may or may not fit or work in your survival kit. Compass – Most button compasses are too thick to work in a phone case. But in some phone cases it might be thick enough to work.
Flint and steel – Maybe a bit of a stretch and not practical, but I thought about using a steel as in a flint and steel. For my phone case, the steel is probably too thick for my case. The profile being a lot smaller than the phone may smash the phone screen if the case is pressed hard. For some cases and models it may hold it safely. I know it’s not flashy, but the flint and steel is great to play around with.
Summary. 
Generally most people will have their mobile phone on them everyday, so the case makes a good EDC kit. (Every Day Carry.) Because of the limited size of the phone case survival kit, it will never be a full on, hold absolutely everything but the kitchen sink, kit. However, paired with the phone, it can supplement or hold redundancy bushcraft and survival items and is useful in its own right.
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