Free for Three Days – Don’t Pass this Up!

Winter Survival

Many survival rules apply across the board to everyone.  I would like to talk about survival in the winter.  The cold completely changes your priorities.  You can die from it in as little as three hours.  That makes it a top priority around here.  Whether you are in a house with no heat or lost in the woods, your number one priority needs to be shelter.

There are many layers of shelter to be considered.  Your first layer of defense is your clothing.  You need to be able to keep in your body heat while getting rid of excess moisture.  Cotton clothing will not do this for you.  Cotton will absorb moisture and leave you cold and wet.  The best way to control your body temperature is with layers of clothing.  Start with a base layer made of a breathable material such as polypropylene.  This will wick up any sweat and it will evaporate away from you.  Be aware that polypropylene will melt if it gets near an open flame or high heat.  Next comes an insulative layer.  Wool retains between 80 and 90 percent of its insulative properties when it is soaking wet.  Some synthetic materials may also be suitable for this as well.  Finally, a shell to keep you dry and to break the wind.  I personally prefer Gor-tex for this.  It is available in the military surplus market as well as the sporting goods market.  With these layers you should be able to last a while on foot.

Your next priority should be heat.  In the wilderness, this usually means fire.  In your home this may be your only option if there is no electricity.  You need to be able to start a fire and sustain it.  This will require fuel and an ignition source.  These are simple things you can carry all the time.  For example, you can carry a cigarette lighter for ignition and a piece of cloth or cotton for a starter fuel.  In wet conditions sustaining a fire can be a real challenge.  You may have to start small and as your fuel wood dries work your way up to a good fire.  You want to establish coals at the bottom to keep the fire alive through the night.  You must also be mindful of your exhaust.  Carbon Monoxide WILL kill you.  Make sure your smoke has a place to go.

The final priority should be a shelter from the elements such as snow, rain, and wind.  If you are in a building already than this is already accomplished.  If you are in the wilderness, you may have limited options.  Look for a natural shelter such as a cave or underneath a tree.  Avoid hazards like trees that are fallen.  They call them widow-makers for a reason.  If you can’t find anything already constructed, try to burrow in the snow or under a pine tree if it is available.  You need to insulate yourself from the ground or it will suck the heat right out of you.  Make a platform from whatever material you have to keep you off the ground.  If you are seeking rescue then you need to make yourself visible outside of your shelter.  Hang a brightly colored piece of material above you.  If you can, make a large X on the ground for over-passing aircraft.  Three fires in a triangle shape is also a sign of distress.

When you are done with your shelter you can concentrate on other priorities.  Food isn’t very important in the short term because you can last quite a while without it.  You will need water next.  Melting snow is a very slow method of obtaining water but it may be necessary.  If you get water from a stream or other source, make sure to boil it before drinking to avoid illness.  The last thing you need is to be sick in this situation.  You need to keep hydrated to keep your body temperature up.

I hope this has been informative to you.  Keep alive and keep safe.

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12 Planks of Modern Survivalism

Guest Post from far away

This is a guest post from someone whom I know as Empress Of Drac.

Basic Survival Guideline during Tsunamis

The images of the 2004 Asian Tsunami gave everyone with a television terrifying insights to the damage and destruction tsunamis can cause. This tsunami, one of the greatest modern natural disasters, resulted in over 200,000 people missing and dead.

Earthquakes and Tsunamis

The primary cause of a tsunami is an earthquake. The Asian Tsunami of 2004 was caused by the second largest recorded earthquake ever, a 9.3 on the Richter scale. Like their primary cause, tsunamis can occur at any time, in any coastal area and in any season. Depending on the location of the causal quake, warning times for a pending tsunami can be from minutes to hours. There may be a warning of a pending tsunami by an unnatural rise or fall of waters along the coastline.

When it does arrive, a tsunami is actually a succession of waves, not one tidal wave. The pressure of the waves pushes great quantities of water from the ocean onto the shore. Water will rush up rivers and tidal areas, often resulting in damage miles inland.

Preparation for Tsunamis

Disaster preparedness for people living in coastal areas should include preparation for surviving tsunamis. It surprises many to learn that over 350 people have been killed in the 24 tsunamis that have struck the U.S. in the past 24 years. Since significant earthquakes can occur anywhere and anytime, no coastal areas are immune from the threat.

The speed of tsunamis means that if you see a wave coming, you are too late; it isn't possible to outrun it. This reality puts immense importance on advance planning. Understanding how and when tsunami warnings are used in your community is a first step. High ground (at least 100 feet) is really the only protection against the onrushing waters. Plan evacuation routes from work, school and home. Routes should be chosen that get to high ground in the shortest period of time. At the first notice of an earthquake that might generate a tsunami in the area, begin the evacuation process.

Because of the overwhelming damage of a tsunami, it is highly desirable to have an evacuation kit placed in an accessible place on high ground. Short of that, a tsunami survival kit will have to be light and very portable for rapid evacuation. An emphasis should be given to mobile phones, food, flashlights (with extra batteries) and basic medicines. Lightweight food packets such as those available at foodinsurance.com provide the most meals for weight carried. Also, include waterproof copies of personal identification, carried by each individual.

Disaster relief for a tsunami can be expected rapidly in all but the most remote areas. That puts the importance on being able to feed your family during the first 24 hours after the disaster.

Note from the editor: This website is not affiliated with foodinsurance.com. We do appreciate the information provided in this article and that is why it is here.