Survival implies emerging from a natural or manmade disaster in a better state than the average person.
In order to improve the chances of survival, it is crucial to make necessary preparations prior to the occurrence of a disaster or multiple disasters.
The primary goal of shelters is to offer a safe haven from different weather conditions including wind, rain, and sun. They have two purposes – providing protection and creating a comfortable resting space. Shelters are classified as either natural or man-made.
- Natural shelters are shelters that you can find naturally made or not man made. There are many natural shelters. Here are some examples of natural shelters, caves, rocky overhangs, thickets, and many more. You can also find some other types of natural shelters.
- Man made shelters are shelter that you make. You may be lucky and find an abandoned building or some type of shelter. There are many types of man made shelters like lean-to’s, igloos, brick shelters and many more. Here are some examples below that you can make. You can also create and make your very own shelter for your specific needs.
Lean-To shelters involve leaning branches or another item onto one another. All that is required are branches or trees, along with leaves and ferns. Ferns are especially useful for waterproofing the roof and any other desired areas.
Mud brick shelters are more durable, although they may require more time for construction. The process involves cutting turf into bricks of desired size and using them to construct the shelter walls. The next step is to build a roof, for which ferns would be a suitable option.
To make an igloo, first find a snow pile and place a backpack or object on top. Then, dig out an entrance large enough for you to enter and exit. Continue digging until you locate the backpack or object, carefully removing it. Finally, shape and excavate the interior.
When constructing a shelter, it is important to gather three categories of materials for building a fire: tinder, kindling, and fuel.
- Completely rooted parts of dead logs
- Milkweed, dry cattails, bulrush
- Fine, dried vegetable fibers
- Lint from pocket and seams
- Pieces of wood removed from the inside of larger pieces
- Wood that has been doused with highly flammable materials such as gas, oil, or wax
- Dry, standing wood and dry, dead branches
- Dry inside (heart) of fallen tree trunks and large branches
- Green wood that is finely split
- Dry grasses twisted into bunches
- Peat dry enough to burn (this may be found at the top of undercut banks)
- Coal, oil shale, or oil lying on the surface
Building a fire can be time-consuming, but the end result is worthwhile. There are four main ways to build or lay a fire: Teepee, Lean – To, Pyramid, and Cross – Ditch.
Teepee: Create a teepee or cone shape by arranging the tinder and a few sticks of kindling. Ignite the center, and the outer logs will collapse inward, providing fuel for the fire.
Instructions for creating a lean-to shelter: Insert a stick into the ground at a 30 degree angle, ensuring that the end is facing into the wind. Place tinder underneath the lean-to stick, and position some kindling against it. Once the kindling ignites, gradually add more wood or fuel to sustain the fire.
To create a pyramid fire, start by laying two larger logs in parallel on the ground. Then, place a solid layer of smaller logs across the two larger logs. Repeat this process for 3 to 4 more layers, with each layer containing smaller logs than the previous one. Finally, ignite a small starter fire on top of the pyramid. As the fire burns, it will gradually light the logs below it.
Create a cross-shaped ditch on the ground, measuring approximately 12 inches in size and 3 inches in depth. Place a bundle of tinder in the middle and construct a pyramid of kindling on top. The ditch acts as a draft for the fire.
If you have the necessary equipment, lighting a fire can be easy. However, if you don’t have the right tools, improvisation might be needed. It’s crucial to light your fire from the upwind side and have all tinder, kindling, and fuel ready before beginning.
Various devices like binoculars, cameras, telescopic sights, and magnifying glasses utilize a convex lens to focus the sun’s rays onto a specific point on tinder. Continue holding the lens over this spot until the tinder begins to smolder.
To easily ignite tinder, hold a metal match tip and a knife. By scraping the knife against the metal match, sparks are created that will cause the tinder to burn.
Extreme caution is necessary when using gunpowder as kindling by carefully removing the bullet from the shell casing, as lighting a spark may result in a small explosion.
To ignite a fire, simply connect the wires to the terminals of the battery and then tap their exposed ends together near the tinder. This will create sparks that can ignite the tinder.
When it comes to matches, it is crucial to maintain their waterproof quality. If they lack this feature, ensure they stay dry by storing them in a waterproof container with reliable striker pads.
The most reliable and likely simplest way to start a fire involves using flint and steel. To begin, strike either a piece of flint or a rock with a sharp edge against carbon steel (please note that stainless steel is not effective in producing sparks). It is worth emphasizing that this method necessitates practice.
Fire-Plow – To start a fire using this method, take a hardwood shaft and rub it against a softer wood. Create a straight groove in the base and slide the blunt tip of the shaft up and down the groove. This sliding action pushes out tiny pieces of wood fiber. By increasing pressure with each stroke, the friction causes the wood particles to ignite, resulting in a burn.
To start a fire using a bow and drill, put a bundle of tinder under the V-shaped cut in either a fire board or a softwood board. Step on the board and drape the bowstring over the drill. Insert the drill into the pre-cut V depression on the fire board. Hold the socket in one hand and place it on top of the drill to keep it in an upright position. Press down on the drill and move the bow back and forth repeatedly to spin and push the drill. Apply downward pressure to make the bow move faster. This movement will grind hot black powder into the tinder, creating a spark that will catch onto the tender and ignite it.
Food is essential for survival. Meats, which are generally more nutritious and abundant than plants, can be sourced from various sources including insects, crustaceans, mollusks, fish, and reptiles.
Before consuming mushrooms, it is crucial to ensure their safety. Furthermore, here is a collection of edible plants.
- Test only one part of a potential food plant at a time.
- Separate the plant into its basic components – leaves, stems, roots, buds, and flowers.
- Smell the food for strong or acid odors. Remember, smell alone does not indicate a plant is edible or inedible.
- Do not eat for 8 hours before starting the test.
- During the 8 hours you abstain from eating, test for contact poisoning by placing a piece of the plant part you are testing on the inside of elbow or wrist. Usually 15 minutes is enough time to allow for a reaction.
- During the test period, take nothing by mouth except purified water and the plant part you are testing.
- Select a small portion of a single part and prepare it the way you plan to eat it.
- Before placing the prepared plant part in your mouth, touch a small portion (a pinch) to the outer surface of your lip to test for burning or itching.
- If after 3 minutes there is no reaction on your lip, place the plant part on your tongue, holding it there for 15 minutes.
- If there is no reaction, thoroughly chew a pinch and hold it in your mouth for 15 minutes. DO NOT SWALLOW.
- If no burning, itching, numbing, stinging, or other irritation occurs during the 15 minutes, swallow the food.
- Wait 8 hours. If any ill effects occur during this period, induce vomiting and drink a lot of water.
- If no ill effects occur, eat .25 cup of the same plant prepared the same way. Wait another 8 hours. If no ill effects occur, the plant part as prepared is safe for eating.
WARNING
Testing all parts of a plant for edibility is crucial as some plants contain both edible and inedible components. The fact that a part can be consumed when cooked does not guarantee its safety when raw, hence the importance of conducting tests before consuming it uncooked. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that individuals may have varying reactions to the same plant or part.
The human body is made up of more than 70% water. If the body’s water levels drop by less than 1%, it leads to thirst. When the decrease reaches 5%, it causes a mild fever, and if it reaches 8%, it stops saliva production in the salivary glands and turns the skin blue. Walking becomes impossible with a decrease of 10%, while a decrease of 12% results in death.
Here are some useful tools that can be helpful, but it’s important to remember that no single list of survival equipment can cover all situations. These lists should be seen as a starting point. Remember to personalize each list based on your specific needs and the environment you will be in. Also, consider size and weight when packing.
- Gauze Squares, Sterilized, assorted sizes
- Plain Absorbent Gauze Pads, assorted sizes
- Water Purification Tablets Plastic Bags
