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Bee616 — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 07:52:13 CDT

EMERGENCY SURVIVAL GUIDE

In remembrance of James Kim
Thousands of Americans die from exposure each year. This guide was started in remembrance of a fellow techie, James Kim. With knowledge, even with the minimal provisions, a man can survive for weeks if not months out in the open.

GOAL:

A free, simple, 30 page printable emergency survival manual in layman.

Entirely based on legitimate sources, primarily the US military field manual, FM 21-76 and the updated FM 30.

COMPLETION TIMELINE:

Most articles (for North American climates) complete by December, 20th 2001
Proofread for accuracy
Finalize "Beta" version by January, 1st 2002

OTHER NOTES:

A Mirror will be made available shortly at survivalguide.pbwiki.com

A lot of the information posted by ShrimpFactor will be picked from the US miltary field manual, FM 21-76, SURVIVAL.

A pdf copy is available at http://www.equipped.com/fm21-76.htm http://www.basegear.com/fm2176.html
The manual is more of a refresher so detailed instructions will be added!

EDITING NOTES:

Add http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival_skills, condense unnecessary portions

Add food to eat in North America, berries, plants, and other easily access-able materials

Add a list of DO NOT DO's. Add photos similar to airplane safety guide.

Make a system of points to survival, items that increase the chance success

Add provisions if a car is available (keys to cut, what can be burned for fire, how to conserve electricity and gas).

Direction finding skills (moss, sun rise and sun down, etc)

When water is needed where to get some!

BASIC OVERVIEW

Bee616 — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 07:46:34 CDT

//EDITOR NOTES:
Change this wikipedia guide to add more details and remove some. Its important to keep a person knowledgeable. Must add pictures to edible foods. Water could use pictures and a guide to use what is available on a person is helpful.

Survival priorities

In most survival situations, four priorities must be addressed before any other needs are met:

Finding or making shelter is the most important survival priority because it allows a person to stay protected from the elements, and thus hopefully warm and dry.
Humans can live for only about three days without water.
Fire helps to purify water, provide warmth, scare away dangerous animals, and signal to other people.
A human can survive for weeks without food, but hunger impairs judgment and clarity of mind, and makes one weak and susceptible to disease.

Shelter

A shelter will protect one from potentially disastrous weather, help prevent hypothermia, and allow restful sleep. It will also boost morale, as it will become a base or home. Therefore, in typical survival situations, a shelter should be built first. A shelter should provide a somewhat comfortable place to sleep. To this end, it should account for the following:

Immovable rocks, animal nests, and other obstacles and hazards should be avoided.
Dry watercourses may be flat, sandy, and comfortable to sleep on, but they will flood in a storm.
Sunlight will provide warmth (which is not always welcome), and help one to wake up in the morning. However, sunny, open areas are vulnerable to wind.
Heat transfer: an excessively large or well-ventilated shelter will not retain warmth well.

A simple shelter can be constructed using a lattice of branches propped up at an angle against the wind. Large leaves, such as ferns or fir branches, can then be added to create cover for rain and hail. Branches propped against a fallen tree make a simple and effective shelter, but animals such as ants and snakes may nest under the tree.

Water

Humans can live for several weeks without food, but only about three days without water. A typical person will lose 2-3 liters of water per day in ordinary conditions, but more in very hot or dry weather. A lack of water causes dehydration, resulting in lethargy, headaches, dizziness, confusion, and eventually death. Even mild dehydration impairs concentration, which is dangerous in a survival situation where clear thinking is essential. Dark yellow or brown urine indicates dehydration. Because of these risks, a safe supply of drinking water must be located as soon as a shelter is built (or even before, depending on conditions). In a survival situation, any water supply may be contaminated with pollutants or pathogens (see Potability of backcountry water). Although little can be done to remove molecular contaminants, particles and microorganisms can be removed and/or killed (see Portable water purification). Water can be gathered in numerous different ways. In areas of abundant moisture, water can be scooped out of a creek or pond. Rainwater (which is safe to drink) can be caught in makeshift containers. If these easy sources are not available, a bit more ingenuity will be necessary. Water can be collected from condensation traps or solar stills. Clothing can be used to collect dew from vegetation. Animal blood is not suitable for rehydration, as it may be diseased. In addition, because of the nutrients it contains, it requires energy to digest. Urine contains salt and other toxins, which also makes it unsuitable to drink, although it can be refined in a solar still. In extremely dry environments, it is necessary to take extra care to prevent water loss by:

Breathing through the nose to prevent water vapour escaping through the mouth
Not smoking
Resting in the shade and avoiding strenuous labor during sunny, hot periods
Not eating too much (the human body uses a lot of water to digest food - especially fats and proteins)

Fire

A fire is as important as a safe water supply, because of its many uses:

Boiling water to kill pathogens (see above)
Cooking food, including wild-caught fish and game (see below)
Staying warm, particularly when wet
Repelling dangerous animals
Signaling to rescuers (bright at night, smoky by day)

See also: Campfire, Ignition device

Food

Food is not urgently needed in survival situations, since a human can survive for several weeks without it. However, much like dehydration, hunger can bring about many consequences long before it causes death, such as:

Irritability and low morale
Weakness
Loss of mental clarity, such as confusion, disorientation, or poor judgment
Weakened immune system
Difficulty maintaining body temperature (see heat exhaustion and hypothermia)

It is actually rather easy to find food in the wild, provided one knows where to look. A basic knowledge of animal trapping, hunting, and fishing will provide meat. Equally important is a knowledge of edible plants, fungi, and lichens. One cannot always rely on the most abundant or most easily accessible type of food. To survive for long periods of time, one must maintain a balanced diet. In order to do this, one must consume a balanced variety of foods. Many survival books promote the "universal edibility test": allegedly, one can distinguish edible foods from toxic ones by tasting progressively larger portions over time. However, many experts (such as Ray Mears) deprecate this method, in main part because a very small amount of some "potential foods" can cause anything from gastric distress to illness or death.

Moving at night

ShrimpFactor — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 19:39:08 CST

Add this:

http://www.learn-orienteering.org/old/nocompass1.html

Dangerous Food

ShrimpFactor — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 19:38:12 CST

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

BASIC STEPS WHEN LOST

ShrimpFactor — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 19:25:26 CST

Step 1: realize the Situation
- Make yourself clear with what just happened.

Step 2: current Position
- Try to gather as much information about your geographical position. Remember roadsigns, known geographical patterns. Memorize them.
- Try to figure out how far from the last civilized point you are and how far from the next one.

Step 3: Inventory
- Make an inventory of all items you currently have with you. This includes Water, Bottles (empty/filled), Food, Rope, String, Tools to create and keep a fire, clothing, and things usable for defense.

Step 4: How long does it take to get noticed as 'missing'
- Who knows currently where you came from and where you wanted to go?
- Try to remember all scheduled contacts/appointment for at least the next two weeks.
- With whom will you have the appointments and what`s the most probable action for those contacts if you don`t show up?

Step 5: Moving or not.
- What are the weather conditions? Have you equipment in the inventory to wear them off?
- Have you water and equipment to carry it?
- How far is the last or next point of civilization?
- What are the terrain conditions? (rocky, hills, mountains, swamp)
- Is there any route that directly leads to the next or last point of civilization?
- How are the chances to get spotted on that route?
- What is the condition of others?
- Have you means to track your path? (Paper/Pencil, Compass etc) ?

Step 6: Signals
- Have you any means of signals?
- If you have a rough measure of when others notice you`re missing: are there means to create and keep a signal going (smoke/fire, rocks etc).

(just some basic thoughts - comments/edits very welcome.)

Moving out

ShrimpFactor — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 19:23:05 CST

If you decide to leave the car/wreck - whatever:

Step 1: Preparation
- from your inventory, select at least:
-- something to catch water
-- something to track your position
-- all tools you need to create a fire
-- if possible: a tool to saw wood
-- a walking stick (metal barrel)
-- pencil&paper
-- if aviable: plastic foil
- leave a message whhen and where you`re trying to go to, if possible with the planned route.

Step 2: Keeping track of movement and current position
- from your position, select a distinctive terrain feature in the far direction to your target.
- from your position, select a first near distinctive terrain feature in the direction to your target.
- track your planned movement: write it down or memorize it completely
- measure and count your steps

Step 3: avoid exhaustion

PROVISIONS

ShrimpFactor — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 19:21:47 CST

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

TOOLS

ShrimpFactor — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 19:20:17 CST

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Tools: How to use your watch as a compass

ShrimpFactor — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 19:18:55 CST

(Source: http://www.learn-orienteering.org/old/nocompass1.html)
If you have an analog wrist watch, you can use the time to find north. Hold your watch up in front of you, and let the short hand, red on the figure, that indicates hours point at the sun. While holding it like this, cut the angle between the red arrow and 12 o'clock in two, (noonwards if the time is before 6am or after 6pm), that way is south. (The reason you need to cut it in two, is because the clock takes two rotations while the sun takes one around the earth, it is of course the other way around, but never mind.) Many people wear digital watches these days (I do myself, if I wear one at all). If you do, draw an analog watch face on a piece of paper, and then mark the hour hand on using the digital watch. The rest of the method is identical. This method can be used even when it is pretty foggy. Although you may not be able to see the sun, it may still cast a shadow. If you take up a straw or a tiny stick, and you may see a shadow. You just have to remember that the shadow points the opposite way from the sun, but the rest of it is quite similar as above.

First Steps to Survival!

ShrimpFactor — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 19:11:28 CST

In most survival situations, four priorities must be addressed before any other needs are met:

Finding or making shelter is the most important survival priority because it allows a person to stay protected from the elements, and thus hopefully warm and dry.
Humans can live for only about three days without water.
Fire helps to purify water, provide warmth, scare away dangerous animals, and signal to other people.
A human can survive for weeks without food, but hunger impairs judgment and clarity of mind, and makes one weak and susceptible to disease. (from wikipedia)

Food Sources

ShrimpFactor — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 18:56:07 CST

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Water Sources

ShrimpFactor — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 18:55:14 CST

Add this: http://www.wilderness-survival.net/water-1.php
Add details from US Military survival book!

Almost any environment has water present to some degree. Figure 6-1 lists possible sources of water in various environments. It also provides information on how to make the water potable.

Note: If you do not have a canteen, a cup, a can, or other type of container, improvise one from plastic or water-resistant cloth. Shape the plastic or cloth into a bowl by pleating it. Use pins or other suitable items--even your hands--to hold the pleats.
If you do not have a reliable source to replenish your water supply, stay alert for ways in which your environment can help you.

CAUTION Do not substitute the fluids listed in Figure 6-2 for water.

Heavy dew can provide water. Tie rags or tufts of fine grass around your ankles and walk through dew-covered grass before sunrise. As the rags or grass tufts absorb the dew, wring the water into a container. Repeat the process until you have a supply of water or until the dew is gone. Australian natives sometimes mop up as much as a liter an hour this way. Bees or ants going into a hole in a tree may point to a water-filled hole. Siphon the water with plastic tubing or scoop it up with an improvised dipper. You can also stuff cloth in the hole to absorb the water and then wring it from the cloth. Water sometimes gathers in tree crotches or rock crevices. Use the above procedures to get the water. In arid areas, bird droppings around a crack in the rocks may indicate water in or near the crack. Green bamboo thickets are an excellent source of fresh water. Water from green bamboo is clear and odorless. To get the water, bend a green bamboo stalk, tie it down, and cut off the top (Figure 6-3). The water will drip freely during the night. Old, cracked bamboo may contain water.

CAUTION Purify the water before drinking it.

Wherever you find banana or plantain trees, you can get water. Cut down the tree, leaving about a 30-centimeter stump, and scoop out the center of the stump so that the hollow is bowl-shaped. Water from the roots will immediately start to fill the hollow. The first three fillings of water will be bitter, but succeeding fillings will be palatable. The stump (Figure 6-4) will supply water for up to four days. Be sure to cover it to keep out insects.

Some tropical vines can give you water. Cut a notch in the vine as high as you can reach, then cut the vine off close to the ground. Catch the dropping liquid in a container or in your mouth (Figure 6-5).

CAUTION Do not drink the liquid if it is sticky, milky, or bitter tasting.

The milk from green (unripe) coconuts is a good thirst quencher. However, the milk from mature coconuts contains an oil that acts as a laxative. Drink in moderation only. In the American tropics you may find large trees whose branches support air plants. These air plants may hold a considerable amount of rainwater in their overlapping, thickly growing leaves. Strain the water through a cloth to remove insects and debris. You can get water from plants with moist pulpy centers. Cut off a section of the plant and squeeze or smash the pulp so that the moisture runs out. Catch the liquid in a container. Plant roots may provide water. Dig or pry the roots out of the ground, cut them into short pieces, and smash the pulp so that the moisture runs out. Catch the liquid in a container. Fleshy leaves, stems, or stalks, such as bamboo, contain water. Cut or notch the stalks at the base of a joint to drain out the liquid. The following trees can also provide water:

Palms. Palms, such as the buri, coconut, sugar, rattan, and nips, contain liquid. Bruise a lower frond and pull it down so the tree will "bleed" at the injury.
Traveler's tree. Found in Madagascar, this tree has a cuplike sheath at the base of its leaves in which water collects.
Umbrella tree. The leaf bases and roots of this tree of western tropical Africa can provide water.
Baobab tree. This tree of the sandy plains of northern Australia and Africa collects water in its bottlelike trunk during the wet season. Frequently, you can find clear, fresh water in these trees after weeks of dry weather.

CAUTION Do not keep the sap from plants longer than 24 hours. It begins fermenting, becoming dangerous as a water source.

Tools: Cellphone (with or without signal)

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 16:24:49 CST

One of the most common things you`ll have available will be a cellphone.

Add to your inventory:
- battery strength and the known livetime

Steps to keep the cellphone working:
- switch it off
- keep it near the body to keep the batteries warm

Questions

radix — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 15:17:14 CST

Q: Signal - visible from air
What dimensions should a 'HELP' - sign have to be visible from air?
Especially from a SAR-chopper/plane?

Q: Apart from paper&pencil - what other means can be used to leave a message when you move out?