Survival Techniques

There are many situations which can be encountered that need basic techniques and survival gear to get through the challenges of unforeseen incidents. In this article are the techniques which one should master to survive in any dangerous situation.

One of the basic survival skills is building a fire. One of the survival gear that can build a fire is a box of matchsticks. This will give light, warmth and comfort which are all necessary in surviving. Fire can provide warmth should your clothes be minimal. It will help boil water so that you can have clean liquid to drink. It can help cook food thus you will not starve. If you need to wash your clothes, you would be able to dry them with fire. It can ward off insects and pests when you are in the wilderness. It can also help signal or alert people of your whereabouts. There are many other ways to get a fire going. From a flint and steel set to matches that were dipping in wax for waterproofing.

The second technique in surviving is to create shelter which will guard the body from foreign elements such as rain, snow, sun, wind, cold and heat. It will also guard the body from harmful creatures and insects. The requirement for shelter differs from person to person. Someone who knows how to pitch a tent very well may only need metal rods and a tarp with a blanket. Others may need a store bought tent kit with instructions and sleeping bags. Figure out what you need and prepare it in case of emergencies.

Signaling is the third technique you should learn in order to survive. This will allow you to communicate with rescuers or other individuals. Signals can be done in many ways. One of them is through smoke, fire, whistles, reflective mirrors, colored clothing or fabric and flashlights. Signals of help include three clear and separate whistle bursts, 3 gunshots, 3 fires in a wide triangle or using brightly colored material to make an 'SOS' or 'X' signal. Remember, it's not a good idea to strain your vocal cords trying to yell for help, so try to keep a whistle on you at all times.

The fourth technique includes both water and food. You should have these two wherever you go as you do not know where you will be trapped. Without these two for a few days, your survival chance is dramatically lowered. If possible, more water and food should be brought during a journey as this will give an additional safety measure if something terrible happens. You should also know how to divide your water and food so that you can use them for a long time. Remember that a person can go without food for a few days but if water is not taken in, your efficiency will lower dramatically.

The fifth technique in survival is knowing first aid. You should always have a space blanket and a first aid kit when you go out on a hike or adventure. When you go out into the wilderness you could get cuts, bruised, scrapes and burns. These wounds can cause a severe infection without a basic first aid kit that contains antiseptic cream, pain relievers, bandages, alcohol and other necessities.

Emergencies can happen when you least expect it. In order to be protected, you should know how to defend yourself from such incidents and make wise decisions. If thrown into a life or death situation these techniques could prove vital to your survival. Having a kit with the necessary survival gears can be of big help as it has all the bare essentials to live through such as MREs, water, first aid kit, light, sleeping bags, blanket, tools such as a rebar, knife and others.

Importance of First Aid Certification and Its Application

A number of companies, private institutions and government colleges offer first aid certification courses. There are a number of options to choose from and it is important to do the right course. If you're unsure about which certification to go for, you should consider first aid courses that adhere to the guidelines of Red Cross, Health and Human Services, American Heart Association, Occupational safety and Health Administration. First aid courses, which are in relation to these guidelines, are recognized and accepted by various health facilities and credential services. A first aid certification course enables a person to carry out CPR under medical emergencies.

Once the certification course has been completed, a person will have to appear for the final examination. A candidate, who passes the examination, will be provided with a Diploma and a wallet card, which will state that the person is trained in basic life support system. The certification courses come with an expiration period of usually two years. This is because the protocols are changed from time to time. It is necessary for the professional to re-qualify for the changes that have been carried out. Many companies and institutes provide the facility of upgrading a first aid certification without any extra charge.

The first aid certification will help a person become aware of serious conditions, such as accidents, medical emergencies, live support and casualty management. Apart from this, the other important benefits that a first aid certification can give you are as follows:

1. Fire Safety Knowledge: With a proper first aid course, you will have the ability to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and implement automated external defibrillator right at home or in any other emergency situations. It is a common act of accidents involving children and infants at home. The first aid certification will help a person perform necessary procedures with efficiency until further help arrives.

2. Be Safe and Keep Others Safe: Natural disasters are always a serious threat. The first aid kit contains all the necessary supplies and materials that can be used under any emergency situation. With a first aid certification, a person will be in a position to save many lives by properly using the first aid kit.

3. Always Be Ready: According to a survey, only one third of the people would actually know how to react in an event of choking or tragic circumstances. However, first aid certified professionals have the efficiency and confidence to perform a right thing in the right way under any stressful situation. The training course involves the use of physical skills and knowledge to overcome a threatening situation. Hence, a person with a first aid certification knows exactly what he or she has to do under an emergency situation. This prevents elevation of the problem and protects a person's life.

It is unethical to perform first aid without proper training. An inappropriate action can further elevate the problem of the victim rather than rectifying it. A first aid certification course will be extremely helpful for a person to act in a life-threatening situation with perfection, accuracy and patience. The certification will provide the necessary training and knowledge that will prepare a person to handle any kind of emergency and protect one's life.

Food Storage For Survival

During 2011, the United States Government increased their stockpile of emergency food supply from 6 million meals to over 400 million meals for use on American soil. Think about all the recent media releases from the Red Cross, FEMA, Homeland Security, local governments and others about food storage and emergency preparedness. Do they know something? Should we be listening? The answer is Yes, we should be. We do need to be prepared to take care of ourselves and our families. Everyone fears that something unexpected is going to happen in 2012. So whether it's a natural or a manmade disaster, it is crucial for every family to have the necessary emergency supplies.

Following a disaster there may be no electricity, gas, water and telephones may not be working. Your local responders may not be able to reach you immediately, or they may need to focus their efforts elsewhere.

Even if you are able to get out of your home and go to a grocery store, there is a chance that the stores may be out of food. If you think about how people react to catastrophic disasters. There is a human instinct to fight for survival, and everyone could be running in the same direction you are, pillaging the shelves until there is nothing left, and then it's too late. There is also great chance that your water supply could be cut off or contaminated. When it comes to survival, there is no getting around the importance of having a quality supply of emergency food and water readily available.

The question then becomes 'what and how much emergency supplies should I have?'

It is recommended that every family have a minimum of 3 day's emergency food supply for each member of the household. The more prepared you are the better chances you have to survive on your own; you may need to be self-sufficient for a period of time. Food storage is one of the most important things about being prepared for a disaster. When planning your food storage for long term survival, it is best to go with freeze dried or dehydrated meals.

One huge advantage of buying this type of food that is intended for emergency food storage and it has a much longer shelf life. While most packaged convenience foods and commercially canned goods go bad in 6 months to a year. Most emergency food storage items are good for 25 years, when stored properly. They are readily prepared with a minimal amount of effort, are low in sodium, and provide the nutrition needed. Why is it important to have low sodium? Because salt makes you thirsty and you may not have access to a large supply of water. Other items that are good for your long term food storage are, grains like wheat, oat, corn, pasta, and flour; legumes like beans, peas, and lentils. Any dried or evaporated milk or dairy products. Can vegetables and fruit, soups, or meats, peanut butter, jam, nuts. Sweeteners such as sugar, honey, corn syrup or molasses. Cooking staples like salt, yeast, baking powder & soda, and vinegar. Storing anything that is nonperishable is a good idea, just be sure to check expiration dates and rotate your foods often. Store foods in air tight containers, and keep in a cool dark place.

Some people start their food storage plan by just buying a few extra groceries at the store, this is a good start, but remember for long term food storage dehydrated and freeze dried foods have longer shelf life. Start your planning today, Being prepared will give you the life line that you will need be able to take care of you and your family.

Wood-Burning Stoves: Helping People Heat And Cook For Hundreds Of Years

It is said that that the art of cooking was accidentally discovered long ago by the first humans when one of them dropped a piece of meat on a crackling fire and liked the smell of the piece of meat. And since then, cooking has gone a long way from its simple beginnings, thanks to the invention of certain appliances that allow people to modify their cooking to suit their preferences. And one of these aforementioned appliances that have made cooking easier for people are wood burning stoves, which have been used by people in their kitchens and homes since the eighteenth century.

Instead of utilizing electricity, a wood-burning stove instead burns wood fuel and similar forms of biomass fuel, such as wooden pellets, in order to heat up the stove. And ever since this type of stove was invented hundreds of years ago and even preceded the discovery of electricity, the composition of a wood-burning stove has changed little. It is generally made up of an enclosed fire chamber that is usually made of steel or cast iron, an adjustable air control level, and a base that is usually made of sturdy materials such as bricks.

The stove is then connected to a set of ventilating pipes, which are then connected to a chimney or an external outlet for the smoke on the stove to come out of. Once the fuel is ignited, it is these pipes and chimney which will be filled with combustion gases that have high temperatures. The temperatures of these pipes and chimneys should ideally be warmer than the external temperature in order for the stove to function properly and the aforementioned gases to rise up to the pipes and out the chimney.

Aside from aiding people in cooking their meals, wood-burning stoves can also help people in heating the living rooms, kitchens, and other specific areas in their house. This type of stove can likewise be used to accomplish certain tasks, such as effectively drying wet clothes and being used outdoors as an evaporator. In addition to this, a wood-burning stove can even be transformed into a multi-fuel stove once a grate is added to the stove.

Given its rich history and development, it comes as no surprise that there are many different types of wood-burning stoves that have been developed through the years. One of the first types of these stoves was invented by no less than US statesman Benjamin Franklin. Aside from the Franklin stove, boiler stoves are yet another type of a wood-burning stove that gives people space heating and also hot water. And finally, a fireplace insert is also a type of wood-burning stove that features an added fireplace for an enhanced efficiency for the stove.

There are truly many different types of stoves that can be purchased by people out there, but a wood-burning stove is one of the most trusted types of stoves as it has helped people in heating their houses and cooking their meals for many several hundreds of years and continues to do so even in this day and age.

How to Survive a Wildfire

This summer, wildfires have eaten up our country like never before. Nearly 7 million acres across the USA have burned down, a number that breaks 2006's previous record, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

The situation got out of control, because too many fires were spreading too fast for firemen to stop them. At some point in August, there were 39 fires all burning at the same time. Eight brave firefighters have lost their lives trying to put an end to this disaster.

But they alone can`t fight this battle against nature. Because it`s just begun.

Scientific American warns about future wildfires, more frequent and much more powerful. And if our firefighter teams could not deal with this year`s fires... then what will happen to our lands and our homes next year? Or the year after that?

How many firefighters do you think will join the crew? I`ll give you this answer: not enough. So we`ve got to learn how to protect our own families from these coming disasters. And the first thing you should know is what to do before a wildfire, as safety measures:

Safety Measure #1: Prepare bug-out bags for all your family members.

72-hour kits are a must in every home and you should keep them in a place where you`ve got easy access. They should contain food, water, a change of clothes, basic hygiene items, a lantern, batteries and meds (according to every person`s needs). Unless it`s a child`s bag, you should also include a weapon, like a knife or even a small gun.

Safety Measure #2: Assess your house for fire-hazardous materials

Try to replace them with safer materials or keep the hazardous objects as far from your house as you can (like a wooden storage room).

Also, they promote the usage of "fire-resistant or noncombustible materials on the roof and exterior structure of the dwelling". If you can`t replace the existing ones, you can treat them with fire-retardant chemicals. They won`t stop your house from catching fire, but it will slow the process down until the firefighters arrive.

One more thing: don`t forget to clean the gutters and chimneys twice a year.

Safety Measure #3: Surround your house with fire-resistant materials

Whether it`s a tall, resistant fence or a line of hardwood trees, it`s your choice. The fire won`t stay on the other side forever. But you get more time to save your family and call 911. That extra protection around your house could make a difference between bugging out on time and getting trapped in a burning house.

Safety Measure #4: Install fire alarms in your home

If you`re in a fire-hazardous area, you should invest in the best fire alarms on the market. Don`t be sorry about the money spent. It`s an investment in your family`s future. An alarm near the bedroom is an absolute must. This way, you won`t get any unpleasant surprises when you`re asleep at night.

But even if you`re not threatened by wildfires every summer, you should have fire alarms in your house. You may never know when an accident happens. And prevention never hurt anyone.

Safety Measure #5: Get a fire extinguisher for every room

You don`t have to get them all at once. Just get one at a time, when you`ve saved some money. Learn how to use it, if you don`t know that already. And show the other members of your family how to do it, too. Maybe you won`t be home when it happens, so it`s best if everyone knows basic survival measures.

Next time, we`ll talk about what you should do during a wildfire. We`ll cover bugging out, escaping a burning house and assessing injuries. Until then, stay safe!

2012 Emergency and Disaster Survival Tips and List - Develop a Plan and Be Prepared!

More people than ever are taking action to plan and prepare for a possible future emergency or the natural disasters that may arise in their town, our country or even the world. They may call themselves Preppers or Survivalists and many have their bunkers and Bug Out Bags (BOB) ready or they may just be people who know that having an emergency plan and supplies "just in case," is a really smart and really good thing to do! Whatever the motivation, those people are a step ahead of most of the rest, because in every town of every state, there is a chance that an unexpected emergency or natural disaster could happen at any moment!

Everyone should be ready for an emergency to occur such as a lengthy power outage, a long unexpected rain storm that may flood your property or an accidental fire that may force you to find other accommodations, and hopefully you have the insurances needed to help you in these situations, but what about natural disasters or local and state emergency situations that may cause you and your family to possibly be "on your own" for awhile?

Have you prepared for the possibility that there will be no one to assist you for an unknown amount of time? Are you Prepping for the most likely natural disasters to occur in YOUR area? (Or have you been getting prepared for an unlikely event to occur and NOT preparing at all for the most likely emergencies and disasters that may actually hit your state or town!)

Do you know what the most likely natural disasters are for your area? Some of the most common natural disasters are Hurricanes, Winter Storms, Floods, Earthquakes, Tornadoes, Wildfires and Pandemics. Most of us do have a pretty good idea what emergency or disaster we are most vulnerable to in our local area, yet we do minimal to nothing to prepare ourselves and our families.

If for some reason you do not know, there is a Ready. gov website that has an abundance of information specifically for each State, as well as tabs for contact and local information, that can be very helpful.

So what is the "minimum" you should have ready, just in case an emergency occurs that takes away your power source, food, water and possibly even your housing, your car and your clean air? What should be on your Preppers List to have for storage/bunker supplies and to put in your Bug Out Bag?

Here are some items that you should have ready and available for you and your family in case of an emergency.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS/BUNKER/BOB SUPPLIES

Water-a gallon of water, per person, per day-for drinking and sanitation, and water purification tablets (IT IS BEST TO HAVE AT LEAST 2 WEEKS SUPPLY OF CLEAN WATER!)

Food - a three day supply of non-perishable food, like:wheat, rice, beans, pasta, peanut butter... (This is the extreme minimum! You should really have AT LEAST A TWO WEEK SUPPLY FOR EACH PERSON!)

Clothing-a few changes of clothing for different weather possibilities, jackets, rain gear, sturdy/comfortable shoes

Radio-battery powered radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert (NOAA is National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-USA),store extra batteries, (HAVE A HAND CRANK RADIO TOO!)

Flashlight-best if it is very bright, LED and waterproof; stock many extra batteries ( BEST TO ALSO HAVE A HAND CRANK FLASHLIGHT AND RADIO COMBO!)

First Aid Kit-include bandages, antiseptic, needle and thread, small scissors, splints, cotton balls

Protection Items-whistle, personal alarm, pepper spray, taser, stun gun and firearm-if your trained and legally able to carry one

Individual Needs-medications, sunscreen, insect repellent, infant formula and anything specifically needed for each person

Personal Sanitation - garbage bags, towelettes, portable toilet, personal hygiene items

Air Filter-dust mask, cotton t-shirt, to help filter air

Shelter-tents, sleeping bags, blankets and plastic sheeting and duct tape to "shelter-in-place" a room or area

Tools - wrench and pliers (to turn off utilities) and knives, hatchet, saw, work gloves, waterproof matches, magnesium firestarter, compass, flare

Misc-duffel bag/backpack (BOB), cash, important documents, can opener, utinsels, paper, pen, pencil

Chlorine Bleach- you can use bleach as a disinfectant (diluted nine parts water to one part bleach), or in an emergency you can also use it to treat water. Use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.

ADDED ITEMS FOR THE "SERIOUS" PREPPERS LIST:

*WATER PURIFIER - FILTER SYSTEM AND TREATMENT TABLETS

*6 MOS FULLY STOCKED SHELTER

*AIRBORNE CHEMICAL FILTRATION SYSTEM

*ALTERNATE BUG OUT LOCATION

*GENERATOR

*BUNKER

*BIO CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE SUITE AND MASK

You may now be realizing that your family is vulnerable because you have not yet taken steps to prepare for an unexpected emergency or disaster, and you are ready to take action now! I commend you! There may be those of you who feel ready and secure because you have a Home and Personal Defense Plan in place, but please think about this... your Protection Weapons aren't going to feed, clothe or shelter you! If you take Home Defense and Personal Defense seriously, don't leave a large gaping hole in the security plan for yourself and your family! Take action now to become prepared for a local emergency or for natural disasters. Complete that circle of security, for your peace of mind!

Survival Versus Flashlights

This topic will likely generate a bit of controversy among my readers but here it goes anyway. When inquiring about available survival gear we find the most useless item has stimulated the most conversations. Could this reason be simply because everyone already has at least a year's supply of food, an adequate shelter and plenty of water?

To start out with we ask ourselves why we need a year's supply of food stored up? The answer is really quite simple. In order to survive until the next harvest you will need to stay fed and build up your energy reserve so that you are able to grow all your own food for the following year. You should research the amount of basic foods you will need to sustain you for one year and stock up on those. Be sure to include a supply of vitamins in these storage packs as well to supplement your diet.

Shelter - We are talking not just a place to get in from the foul elements but a quality shelter which provides you adequate warmth in the depths of winter and a place to stay cool in the heat of summer. This shelter will need to store your food and equipment necessary for your survival, supplies for cleaning, sanitation supplies, medical and first ad equipment and a place to properly prepare your food and meals. These all fall under the heading of shelter.

Water - we usually require more than one gallon of water per day per individual but in dire emergency we must try to make do with a single gallon. It won't be easy and you should try for more but we work with what we have available. Think about what plans you can take to ensure that you have sufficient supplies of water for cleaning purposes, food preparations, as irrigation to growing additional food, water for your animals and hopefully some left over for you to drink? It is not a very pleasant thought to think about how long you are going to be able to live without having enough water available. Some thoughts for you to consider is will you be able to grow another year supply of food if you fail to have a good supply of water? If you do not have this basic need readily available you can forget about all your other preps because you will simply be dead before harvest time

So you are likely wondering where this flashlight will fit into this scenario let me briefly explain. Try an experiment for the next three or four days 3 or 4 days. When you need to get up in the middle of the night do so without the convenience of a light so you can get used to stumbling around in the dark. Soon you may find that your night vision is beginning to improve and you will instantly recall where the couch and tables are so you don't trip over them in the dark. An important point to keep in mind is that under survival conditions a light at night in your home is going to be a major security issue. The roving gangs of villains in the neighborhood are instantly going to see your lit up home and know that you have supplies inside. A blackout condition at night may not be such a bad idea after all. A flashlight will not be adv advantageous to you in any form not even to chase a predator from your chicken coup or away from your goats in the dark of the night. This will likely require a much larger and more powerful spotlight to accomplish that task compared to your little shake to glow light. Therefore when placed in the proper perspective we find that a flashlight is essentially useless for most emergency crisis situations.