Other than drinking, it's good for washing, cooking, and topping up overheated radiators.

5 litres per person per day is probably OK depending on your usage.  You may use 10 in hotter climates.

A few strong plastic containers are usually suitable, such as the water jerry can type which holds 25 litres.  Used soft drink, or juice containers can be good for smaller quantities and portability.

Top it up when you have the chance, don't run too low.  Always have a few days worth in reserve in case you get into trouble.  This also applies to short trips.

Poor bush hygiene can cause gastro or unwanted bottom actions which aren't pleasant without a toilet near by, trust me on this.  Always err on the side of caution and wash up before eating and after relieving!

To light a fire without matches you can:

Use the vehicle cigarette lighter to burn paper or tissues.  When you have smoldering ball, you can blow into it and if you're lucky it will burst into flame.  I did this once when the matches were misplaced.  Took about 10 minutes to get right.

Magnifying glass if there's half decent sun.  Again you need to create smoldering paper or foliage ball which should burst into flame when you blow into it.

Car battery, jumper leads and steel wool if you have it.  'Jump start' the steel wool to make it glow, and have paper or foliage around to catch on fire.

You may use some metho, hand wash or other flammable liquid to assist in small quantities if you are having trouble with these methods.  But don't let it smother the embers and BE PREPARED for a sudden woomf.  I take no responsibility for mis-use!

I've used all these methods and they work.

To avoid flattening the batteries in transit you can put a small piece of paper or plastic over the end of one battery inside the torch so it can't drain if it's accidentally switched on.  Also bring spare's.

Ockey straps are great for hanging tarps, and securing loose objects, a useful extra to bring along.

Ropes are versatile and can do almost anything that other strap types can.   It can do anything from being a luggage tie down to making a clothes line.

String is also useful.

I really like the light duty straps .that come about a meter or 2 long, they're great to just have around, you'll find uses for them soon enough.

NiMh rechargeable batteries are the go these days, they 're about as powerful as alkaline's but rechargeable.  I use common batteries for the GPS, camera, small torch and hand held CB's which keeps things simple.

Compression bandages for breaks, bites and heavy bleeding,

Triangle bandages for padding a wound or supporting limbs,

Bandaids

Scissors

Tweezers

Antiseptic

Saline for washing eyes and wounds

This will be ok for small scale incidents, but if not really suitable for a major car accident.  Always wear gloves if you are treating non family members and you don't know their history, you never know what you'll catch.

If you don't know how to use the stuff listed above, then consider doing a course or as a minimum read up on it, it could save a life.

But....if you're like me and love your pictures, be prepared to spend a little extra for a half decent camera, or you'll look back on the shots from the crappy camera, shots that you'll never have the chance to take again and wish you had used something better. 

Why I used the old digital camera in place of my film SLR on our last Tassie trip boggles me now.  A few dollars extra spent on film and I'd have much nicer pictures to remember it by.