How To Purify Water

     After making shelter, acquiring water should be one of your primary objectives. However, not all water that is found in the wilderness is safe to drink. Water can be polluted by organisms, metals, toxins, that can all be harmful or even deadly is consumed. There are many ways to remove or kill these pollutants making them safe to drink. One such way is to boil the water. By doing this the “organism is destroyed by pushing the bacterium/virus past it’s heat range. 100*C(212*F) will effectively kill most organisms, not just bacteria. However, boiling will not remove metals or harmful chemicals”(Survival). Another effective way to remove organisms and some chemicals from water is to distill it. Distillation is the process of heating water to steam and condensing the said stem to separate the water from impurities. Distillation can remove “heavy metal materials like lead, arsenic and mercury from water and hardening agents like calcium and phosphorous”(Distillation) in addition to salt. However, distillation does not remove “chlorine, chlorine byproducts, or VOCs”(Distillation) from water. A third process that will be best utilized in addition to distillation is the use of a carbon filter. Carbon filters can remove “chlorine, benzene, radon, solvents trihalomethane compounds, volatile organic chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides and hundreds of other man-made chemicals”(Jacobs). However, one may say, “where am I going to get a carbon filter in the outdoors?” Simple, “Charcoal is carbon. Activated charcoal is charcoal that has been treated with oxygen to open up millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms”(What). By running packed charcoal in something like a filter a couple of times, these chemicals will be removed.

 

(Free)

 

 

 

Works Cited

“Distillation.” AllAboutWater.org, Allaboutwater, http://www.allaboutwater.org/distillation.html. Accessed 28 Apr. 2017.

Free, Lucretia. “Water.” THE VAIL VOICE, Thevailvoice, http://www.thevailvoice.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/app-water-treatment-and-disinfection_Header_1.jpg. Accessed 28 Apr. 2017.

Jacobs. “What Do Carbon Filters Remove From Water?” LIVESTRONG.COM, Livestrong, 4 Aug. 2010, http://www.livestrong.com/article/193977-what-do-carbon-filters-remove-from-water/. Accessed 28 Apr. 2017.

“Survival Water Purification.” Practicalsurvival.com, Practicalsurvivor, http://www.practicalsurvivor.com/waterfiltration. Accessed 28 Apr. 2017.

“What Is Activated Charcoal and Why Is It Used in Filters?” HOWSUFFWORKS SCIENCE, Howstuffworks, 1 Apr. 2000, science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/question209.htm. Accessed 28 Apr. 201

Starting Fires

     There are many reasons that it is important to know how to start a fire in a wilderness survival situation. In fact, a fire has can be the solution to many problems including, “

• Hypothermia, lack of body heat. – Can be cured with fire!

• Dehydration… (excessive body heat) – Fire can help! How? Read on…
• Insects – Again, fire helps….
• Snakes and Spiders – You’ll see how soon enough…
• Predators – Solution = Fire
• Suicide – Same answer; Start a fire.
• Poor Communication
• Injury/Infection”(Peterson). There are many ways to start a fire. First you need something to create a spark or some other smalls source of fire. For example, “5) Magnifying Glass…4) Matches…3) Flint And Steel Strikers…2) Torch Lighters…1) Disposable Cigarette Lighters”(Conroy) can all be used to get a fire going. However, starting a fire can be very difficult if these materials are not at hand. Without these tools it is important to know how to start a fire using sticks. This is a long difficult process, but “in its simplest form, boils down to harnessing the physics of friction”() to create heat which can be used to start a fire. Whatever source you use to get the heat, this will ignite small thin flammable materials, that will then ignite larger materials.

(Hands)

Works Cited

Conroy, Thomas. “Top 5Survival Fire Starter Tools.” AmmoLand, Ammoland, http://www.ammoland.com/2014/08/top-5-fire-making-survival-tools/. Accessed 2 Apr. 2017.

“Hands with Matches Lighting Campfire.” Envatomarket, Envato, 0.s3.envato.com/files/71933109/starting campfir bige.jpg. Accessed 2 Apr. 2017.

Just In Case Jack. “How To Start A Fire With Sticks The Complete Guide.” Skilled Survival, Skilledsurvival, http://www.skilledsurvival.com/starting-fire-with-sticks/. Accessed 2 Apr. 2017.

Peterson, Devin. “Fire Starting – Top 8 Reasons for Having Fire.” Survival Camping Store.Com, Survivalcampingstore, 21 Feb. 2012, http://www.survivalcampingstore.com/Fire-Starting–Top-8-Reasons-for-Having-Fire_b_47.html. Accessed 2 Apr. 2017.

How to Find Food

Food is something that after time you will die without. For this reason it may be smart to bring some with you in your survival kit. However, it is a good idea to know how to find food for yourself. One way to acquire food is to hunt animals. One way you could do this is by making a spear, or a bow and some arrows. However, a less violent way to trap animals. To make a snare you simply need a some rope, string, wire, or any other materials that you can use in a rope like manner. To make a Fixed snare, “find a twig that is breakable. Wind one end of your wire around the twig two or three times, then twist the twig like a propeller, which will twist the end of the wire closed. Break the twig and remove it to reveal an eye that you use to make the noose. Place these snares over burrows and in small-game trails”(Macwelch). Depending on the location and position of the snare, an animal will either get a limb stuck in the snare as it tightens, or strangled if its neck gets caught. You can also try to trap fish some snare designs. However there are over ways to catch fish without bait. You could “find large stones and set them in a big semi circle in the shallows, leaving an opening about one foot wide for fish to swim in. The other half of your arc should be connected to the shore. Stand in the circle and wait. Usually curious fish will swim in and not realize they are trapped”(Guide). Creativity may greatly increase your chances of survival, by creating your own trap or changing one more to more specifically fit your needs. In addition, it turns out that “Insects, crustaceans and mollusks are all very high in protein. Many can be simply picked up off the ground, or scooped up in an improvised net made from a y-stick and t-shirt, which works well for locusts or grasshoppers…  Insects and snails can all be cooked directly in the coals before eating”(Survival). There are also plants, however, I will be going over these in more detail in a later blog post.

 

Here are some websites you might enjoy: How to make a snare, and More snare designs.

 

(Snare)

Works Cited

“Guide to Survival: Finding Food in the Woods.” CampTrip. Camptrip, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2017. <http://www.camptrip.com/camping-how-to/guide-to-survival-finding-food-in-woods/&gt;.

Macwelch, Tim. “How to Build a Trap: 15 Best Survival Traps.” OutdoorLife. Outdoorlife, 05 Mar. 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2017. <http://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/gallery/survival/2013/03/how-build-trap-15-best-survival-traps#page-4&gt;.

Snare. Digital image. WikiHow. Wikihow, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2017. <http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Rabbit-Snare&gt;.

“Survival Hunting Tips.” Wilderness Awareness School. Wildernessawareness, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2017. <https://www.wildernessawareness.org/articles/survival-hunting-tips&gt;.

How to Signal For Help

    In a survival situation it is imperative to know how to signal for help. Signaling for help will increase your chances of being found or rescued. There are many different ways to signal for help. One way of doing this is with a signal fire. Signal fires are easy to make if you know how to start a fire. This, and the fact that the smoke from the fire can be seen in the day and the light from the fire at night, make signal fires an effective signalling tool. However there are a couple of things you can do to to make it more effective. For instance, you can set three fires. Use three fires because “The number three is an international symbol for help”(Macwelch). There are other tools that you can carry in your survival kit that will help you to be rescued. Examples of such tools are, “

• Whistle– Provides audible random signalling (or response recognition to searchers or others who are using their own sound devices).

• Signal Mirror (or Mirrored Compass)– Used for contrast and motion in sunlight; capable of providing directed flashes of sunlight toward air or ground searchers.
• Flashlight– Useful for contrast and motion at night, or in heavily shaded areas.

”(and). These however are only useful if you have them with you when you are faced with survival. Another internationally known way of signalling for help is an SOS. An SOS can be “constructed as a ground to air signal with rocks and logs, or whatever material you have available. At night you can use a flashlight or a strobe light to send an SOS”(Skills). To send an SOS with a light or sound, just produce 3 short signals, 3 long signals, and 3 more short signals.

(SOS)

 

Works Cited

Macwelch, Tim. “Survival Skills: 3 Ways to Make a Better Signal Fire.” OutdoorLife. Outdoorlife, 14 July 2014. Web. 31 Jan. 2017. <http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/survivalist/2014/07/survival-skills-3-ways-make-better-signal-fire&gt;.

“Signaling For Help.” Wilderness Survival and Safety. Chelansar, n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2017. <http://www.chelansar.org/youre-lost-or-hurt/signal-for-help/&gt;.

“Signaling for Help.” Wilderness Survival Skills for Safe Wilderness Travel. Wilderness-survival-skills, n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2017. <http://www.wilderness-survival-skills.com/signalingforhelp.html&gt;.

SOS. Digital image. Mental Floss. Mentalfloss, n.d. Web. 31 Jan. 2017. <http://images.mentalfloss.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_640x430/public/152973704_4.jpg&gt;.

 

How to make a Shelter

     As covered in my previous blog posts shelter is a crucial part of survival. In fact, “You can survive for 3 Hours without shelter in a harsh environment (unless in icy water)”(Rule). This makes the ability to make a shelter a crucial one. There are many types of shelter that you can make. In a survival situation the type of shelter you make depends on what you have available to you and the terrain you are in. A igloo like shelter would keep you warm in the snow but would be unavailable if stuck in the desert. It is also important to use what you can already find in nature. Doing this will “save you time. For instance, if you need two branches to hold up the backbone of your shelter, use a smaller tree with a branch as one anchor point”(Shelter). A cave, a sapling, or an uprooted tree can be very easy to make a shelter out of. Therefore it is also important to be aware of your surroundings as you may miss a perfect spot to make a shelter that may not seem like it. It is also important to salvage anything you have to try and make a shelter. Even random things like, “A bit of discarded climbing rope, some ripped plastic sheeting or even an old hiking boot”(How) can be used to make a shelter or other have other uses. So by finding the right spot and using all available resources, you can make an effective shelter.

 

(Lean)

Works Cited

“How to Build a Shelter.” How Stuff Works Adventure. Howstuffworks, 2007. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. <http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/survival/wilderness/how-to-build-a-shelter2.htm&gt;.

Lean To. Digital image. Boys Life. Boyslife, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. <http://boyslife.org/outdoors/3473/taking-shelter/&gt;.

“Wilderness Survival Rules of 3 – Air, Shelter, Water and Food.” Backcountry Chronicles. Backcountrychronicles, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. <http://www.backcountrychronicles.com/wilderness-survival-rules-of-3/&gt;.

“Wilderness Survival Shelter.” Practical Survivor. prcticalsurvivor, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. <http://www.practicalsurvivor.com/shelter&gt;.

What to do First

What you do when you realize you are in a survival situation is very important. If you are injured or in immediate danger then that is your first priority. Once you are some what safe you should scan your surroundings. You are looking for anything that t\you can use(Shelter, food, water, etc.) After you have scanned the area collect anything that you have that may be helpful. Do not get rid of anything. This is important because “By taking these preliminary steps, you can size up your situation and figure out the best course of action based on that information. A huge part of being able to survive is to keep a level head and to pragmatically make choices, so being able to assess the situation is going to help a lot”(First). As covered in my last post, shelter is one of the most crucial aspects of survival. Therefore, this should be the next thing you do. This is proven by the fact that “in extreme conditions… you can live 3 hours without shelter…”(Creek). You shelter should be simple at first. Build your shelter to be just good enough. You should use the time you while making you shelter to assess your situation and make a plan. Your plan should include how you are going to use the resources available to you. Do not spend all day making your shelter. It is a “MYTH: Shelter means having a roof over your head”(13). Your shelter should be just good enough to keep you out of the elements for a night or two. On the first day you should focus on getting used to your surroundings. Also you need to make some sort of signal. I will cover this more later.

(Todo)

Works Cited

“13 Survival Myths That Could Kill You.” Fox News. FOX News, 06 Sept. 2013. Web. 31 Oct. 2016. <http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2013/09/06/13-survival-myths-that-could-kill.html&gt;.

First Thing to Do When Placed in a Survival Situation. 21st-century-goods, n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2016. <http://www.21st-century-goods.com/blog/first-thing-to-do-when-placed-in-a-survival-situation/&gt;.

Creek, By. “The CORE FOUR: Managing Your Top Survival Priorities.” Willow Haven Outdoor. Willowhavenoutdoor, 14 May 2012. Web. 31 Oct. 2016. <http://willowhavenoutdoor.com/featured-wilderness-survival-blog-entries/the-core-four-managing-your-top-survival-priorities/&gt;.

Todo list. Digital image. Hubspot. Hubspot, n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2016. <http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/53/to-do-list-tools.jpeg&gt;.

How to prepare a Survival Kit

    There are many aspects of preparing for a survival situation. One of which is preparing a survival kit. What you put in this survival kit can make the difference between surviving and not. The things that are most critical are, “The Core Four. Typically, your survival priorities will be in this order: SHELTER, WATER, FIRE & FOOD.  However, the details of a scenario ultimately dictate the final order.  This order is loosely based on survival’s 3 rules of 3:

In extreme conditions…

1. You can live 3 hours without shelter.
2. You can live 3 days without water.

You can live 3 weeks without food.”(Creek). Because of this, you should have one tool that can help you get water, fire, food, and shelter. One such item is a multi tool. Multi tools are important because they have blades and other tools that can be helpful. Such things that can be completed include, “

– cutting rope

– creating weapons

– opening packages

– boredom relief

– creating fire starters (ie: bow drill)

– building emergency shelters (cutting branches, cutting tarp, etc)

– cutting cloth for bandages (if you don’t have a first aid kit)

– cutting bandages

– so much more; you discover many more uses through experience”(10). Making weapons and fire can help acquire food. The weapon can allow you to hunt and the fire to cook your food. Shelter can also be made using a multi tool. There are also many ways and tools to get water, “In extreme situations, people have been able to live for months without food. The same cannot be said about water. Without water your body can start to feel the effects of dehydration in as little as one day.

Having a good backcountry filter is absolutely essential to your survival.

In my opinion, a water filter is one of the most important items you can have in your survival kit or bug out bag. To put it in the simplest of survival terms, without water YOU DIE!”(Richardson). By having a survival kit with ways to get water, fire, weapons for hunting, and a way to make a shelter will significantly increase your chances of survival.

(Water)

Works Cited

“10 Essentials for Wilderness Survival.” Instructables. Instructables, n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2016. <http://www.instructables.com/id/10-essentials-for-wilderness-survival/&gt;.

Creek. “The CORE FOUR: Managing Your Top Survival Priorities.” Willow Haven Outdorrs. Willowhavenoutdoor, 14 May 2012. Web. 30 Sept. 2016. <http://willowhavenoutdoor.com/featured-wilderness-survival-blog-entries/the-core-four-managing-your-top-survival-priorities/&gt;.

Richardson, Robert. “Water Filters & Purifiers.” Off Grid Survival. Offgridsurvival, n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2016. <http://offgridsurvival.com/waterfilters/&gt;.

Water Pump. Digital image. China Prices. Chinaprices, n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2016. <http://chinaprices.net/buy-top-brand-supplier-manufacturer-diercon-outside-water-purification-pump-portable-survival-water-filtration-500ml-min-kp02-05–aliexpress-4E8FB9FF5&gt;.

First blog post

This is your very first post. Click the Edit link to modify or delete it, or start a new post. If you like, use this post to tell readers why you started this blog and what you plan to do with it.