Debris Shelter

Signal Mirror

Brace and Platform Fire

Improvising Assignment - Primitive Fishing Kit

For this project, I wanted to utilize only natural materials to make everything required for an effective fishing kit (Pole, Cordage, Hooks, Flotation Device). In truth, I experimented with this idea as a young boy (10) with limited success, but I always utilized cordage (fishing line) I found near the fishing area. To replicate the entire kit without any modern materials was new territory.

I used information found in the book Ultimate Guide to Wilderness Living: Surviving with Nothing But Your Bare Hands and What You Find in the Woods by John and Geri McPherson (2008). 

To begin the production of the kit, I began with harvesting Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica), then stripped the fibers from the stalk and outer bark, and made cordage using the twist and twist over method. I tapered the line to attempt to make the finished cord tough, castable, and if broken easier to repair. 

After cordage was complete, I made a series of fishhooks and gorges from Black Hawthorn branches and thorns, choosing only thorns with appropriate angles for fishing hooks. I also made several sizes of gorge type style hooks. 

I finished by finding and processing a standing dead cedar sapling into a pole, tied on the cordage (in 2 different spots to avoid losing the cordage), and making a small flotation device from quills from a porcupine. 

The complete process is included in the video below. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJL_GqFI7zo

Section 5

Section 5 - Drinking water

Pages 107 to 122

Water is essential in any survival scenario. To prevent dehydration in the first place, stay out of the sun and try not to sweat.  Water is the 5^th on the list of “Necessities of Life” and eventually will be critical in any scenario.

Sources of Water

Desert – few sources of water, carrying minimal amounts (2.5 gallons/day) is a necessity. To find water, watch local wildlife (game trails, birds, etc.), they need water too. Also, green vegetation is often an indicator of available water.

Ways to get water in a desert

·         Catch rain and collect dew (sponge up and wring out in a container)

·         Vegetation / transpiration bags (transpiration if possible)

·         Dig near wet areas in creek beds

·         Depressions in rocks may hold water

Tropical – Generally many sources of water, but disinfection is critical.

Ways to get water in tropical environments

·         Catch rain from a tree trunk (not sure what this means, but ok?)

·         Catch dew and rain with a cloth and wring out into a container

·         Water vines, fig trees, bamboo, and coconuts all have “plant water” which is an acceptable water replacement

·         On Beaches, you can desalinate water by turning it into steam and finding a way to catch the steam (coil condenser, catch the steam with a rag and wring out, A still, etc.)

Colder Climates – you still need to disinfect, but water should be available in some capacity

Ways to get water in cold climates

·         Melt snow or ice (preferably ice)

·         Streams, ponds, lakes, rivers, etc.

·         Seepages or springs

·         Melt snow and ice by using dark colored plastics laid out in the sun

·         A water machine (fill some cloth material (anything) with snow/ice and hang over a container near your fire)

A Water Transpiration Bag is method of obtaining potable water by using rooted vegetation and a plastic bag. The branches of vegetation are placed inside of bag, and tied off.  As the green plant loses water through the stomatal openings due to evapotranspiration, the vapor condenses on the inside if the plastic and can be collected. The species of plant used will make a huge difference in overall water production. Speaking from experience, this method is difficult at best to procure large amounts of water, but in some scenarios is the only option, and can be utilized to collect some water, providing a physiological benefit, and often large morale boost.

Disinfection of Water (Biological contaminants)

·         Boiling

·         Chemicals (Iodine, Potable-Aqua)

Filtration of water is an effective method if you have a filtration system. Since this publication they are getting smaller and more efficient.

Section 4

Section 4 - Fire craft

Pages 98 to 104

Many people think that building a fire is easy to accomplish. In some conditions, it is, in others, it takes training and skill. Gather the necessary components and carefully plan your fire before trying light it

Heat, Fuel and Oxygen are the critical components of all fires, not having sufficient quantities of any of these components will extinguish your fire.

Make sure your fire gets plenty of oxygen by using a brace and platform design

Carry two sets of ignition sources (Ferro Rod, Lighter, Magnesium Rod, Waterproof matches, etc)

Fuel comes in many sizes, starting with tinder and progressively gets bigger into kindling, and then sustaining fuels.

Tinder needs to be dry, and can come from any number of sources. Types of bark, wood shavings, down seed heads, and palm leaves are all good examples.

Kindling is generally thought of as small branches or pieces of larger wood that has been split down to small size.

Sustaining fuel is generally any dry wood source, but can be as exotic as animal dung, or coal (never tried this one).

The brace and platform fire

Build a platform out of any dry material you have

Put a brace on the side of the platform

Ignite your tinder and place near the brace on top of the platform

Add small kindling, then progressively bigger as the kindling ignites

As you get up to thumb sized kindling readily burning, you can add sustaining fuel

Section 3

Section 3

Pages 83-97 Shelters

Shelters need to provide immediate protection from the elements, but can be improved over time (if appropriate).

Fire can often mitigate the risks of poor weather or cold temperatures, yet the availability of local materials for fire building is not guaranteed. Staying dry is extremely important when building/finding shelter or building a fire, or you run the risk of become hypothermic sooner. In sub-zero temperatures, fire can be essential to survival.

Immediate action shelters protect the survivor from the environment that can be erected quickly and with minimal effort.  Environmental shelters such as caves, stranded vehicles, abandoned cabins etc. are examples of immediate action shelters, but furthermore, sheltering the individual by using a tarp, trash bags, survival suits, or other methods are suitable to keep the core body temperature at acceptable levels. Using these methods in conjunction with debris can offer additional insulation.

When building a shelter, the type or environment you are surviving in is of paramount importance. Survival shelters will differ remarkably due to the overall risk you are trying to mitigate. For example, cold weather shelters are trying to maximize heat retention, whereas in a desertic environment, you are trying to keep the body as cool as possible. Each type of environment has its own special circumstances, such as the need to dry out in tropics and avoid biting insects. Before building any shelter, identify the requirements you have, and adapt your shelter accordingly.

Desert Shelters – Find shade, minimize activity

·         Protect from the high diurnal heat exchange (cold at night, hot during the day)

·         Construct the shelter 12-18 inches above or below the ground to reduce contact with hot surfaces, but keep in mid caloric output required for digging.

·         Build a fire at night

·         Use wind during the day, block wind at night

·         Dry creek beds can flash flood

·         After the sun goes down, take advantage of heat stored in the rocks, ground and trees

Shelters in the Tropics

·         Protect from daytime heat (and humidity),wet conditions and insects.

·         Plastic works well for shelter building

·         Use appropriate methods to limit the amount of skin exposed to biting insects

·         Smoke discourages biting insects

·         Clear away rotten vegetation to discourage creepy crawlies

Mountains and Cold Weather – Staying warm is the goal

·         Make sure to gather enough wood to sustain a fire throughout the night

·         Weather changes quickly, chose shelter location based on several possibly scenarios

·         Caves, pits, hollows, etc. are a good way to get out of the elements

·         Leeward sides of hills, out of the wind are good spots for shelters

·         Shelters built in the timber are beneficial for a number of reasons

·         Insulate yourself from the ground using any materials you have available

·         Build a fire before shelter building, so you can get warm and dry off if you get cold or wet during shelter building

·         Store food in a tree and make noise to avoid encounters with bears

Types of cold weather shelters – In general, you want to get out the elements, insulate yourself, and stay dry. Any numbers of shelters meet these criteria. Snow is a great insulator, use it.

Snow Trench – Dig a hole your body can fit in and have about 6 inches on all sides. Build a roof frame out of tree boughs or anything else you have available. Insulate the trench. Cover the roof with at least 6 inches of snow for insulation

Debris Shelter – Build (or find) an appropriate A frame type lean to for a frame, cover with any debris you have available (use lots of debris). Scrape the snow away if possible, climb in and cover the entrance.

Snow cave or hole – Dig a hole in the snow. Get in. Make sure you don’t kill yourself if you have a fire inside by having an air hole.  Warm air rises, cold are sinks, so have a place for the cold air to go, and sit up high to stay warm.

Section 2

Paul Reilly

Section 2

Pages 43-61

Thermoregulation

Thermoregulation is the most important part of surviving a life threatening situation. Humans have an optimal thermal temperature of 98.6 ^oF, and have a 12 degree threshold of self-help (92.6^o – 104.6^oF). After these internal temperatures are exceeded, the body starts acting in unpredictable ways and begins to shut down.

To mitigate risk in cold environments, it is important to protect the areas prone to heat loss (Head, neck, sternum, lateral sides, groin, and extremities), and understand the mechanisms of heat loss.

The Mechanisms of Heat Loss are as follows:

·         Conduction – The transfer of heat to colder surfaces

·         Radiation – The body loses heat from all exposed areas of skin

·         Convection – Air / Water currents can steal heat faster than can be produced

·         Evaporation – Water droplets turn to vapor and take heat with them

·         Respiration – Air moving in and out of the body transfers heat

The use of clothing can mitigate losing heat to the environment by using an adjustable system.

1.       Wear clothing in layers

2.       Avoid constricting garments

3.       Keep clothing clean and dry

4.       Think about color (Darker is better)

5.       Use a hat to regulate body temperature

The acronym COLDER can be helpful when preventing hypothermia with clothing:

C – Keep clothing CLEAN

O – Avoid OVERHEATING

L – Wear clothing LOSE and in LAYERS

D – Keep clothing DRY

E – EXAMINE clothing for defects or wear

R – Keep clothing REPAIRED

In hot environments, to prevent overheating and excessive water loss:

·         Leave clothes on, the body stays cooler and loses less water

·         Think about color (Lighter is better)

·         Use cotton and other materials to cool the skin by wetting when liquids are available

·         During excessive activity, shed layers  so you don’t overheat

Insects can be extremely problematic in some environments, so improvise ways to prevent skin exposure to biting insects. Chemical methods (bug spray) can also be extremely useful.

Improvising

Although improvising can be a necessity in survival situations, never underestimate the principals of self-sufficiency or self-reliance. Be especially careful to weigh the potential risks/rewards before undertaking any improvisional technique.

 A step by step action plan can be an effective method to organize thinking and exact response when improvisation is required. 

1.       Be Situationally Aware

2.       Identify Contingencies

3.       Determine Goals

4.       Identify Required Resources

5.       Plan

6.       Take Action

7.       Repeat

Be sure to focus of the function of the improvised materials, be creative and use the resources you have most readily available.

Navigation

Determining direction can be critical in a self-rescue scenario or when mobility is essential due to environmental factors. Learn how to utilize these methods prior to an event where your survival is dependent on them.  There are numerous methods to determine direction:

·         Stick and Shadow

·         Wristwatch Method (If you have a watch with hands)

·         Using constellations

Knots

Being able to tie cordage to itself or other materials is important in a number of different survival situations. Practice using different knots and cordage to be prepared when you knots are required for survival techniques. 

Section 1

Paul Reilly

Section 1 pages 4-14

Mental and Training Factors Influence Survival

In a life threatening situation, it is important to allow the initial rush of adrenaline to subside and then begin processing potential dangers in your environment. This processing is referred to as situational awareness and is imperative to survival situations. In general, we react to situations based on previous experience, and survival situations are no different. Learning and maintaining proficiency in proven survival skills could make the difference between life and death.

Our mind is the most important survival tool we have. Thoroughly thinking through survival actions helps conserve energy, saves resources, and increases your overall chance of survival. All survivors should set goals that are clear, concise, and achievable. If the goals are not met, constantly readjust, and never stop trying to achieve the goals.

Make a mental contract with yourself:

·         No matter the circumstances, I will survive

·         I will not extrapolate, I will deal with the here and now

·         I will adapt as required

·         I will be positive

·         I will be of service to those around me

Our bodies have physical requirements to stay alive, in a survival situation the priorities are as follows:

·         Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) – Included because a PMA correlates with all over survival actions

·         Air – We require oxygen to live, you have3 to 6 minutes without it before you perish

·         Shelter from extreme environments – Maintenance of core body temperature is critical

·         Rest – Your body requires rest for maintenance of bodily processes, you have about 48 hours before requiring rest

·         Water – The body requires water for a number of physiological processes, plan on finding water within 3 days

·         Food – The last priority to consider in survival situations, most people can survive 3 weeks or more without food

The major threats to survival are as follows:

·         Not having a PMA

·         Core temperature

·         Mechanical Injury

·         Illness and/or Infection

People have the ability to make mental adjustments that affect the probability of survival. Survivors generally had the ability to adapt and improvise according to their situations. Furthermore, they stayed calm, were prepared mentally and physically, and had the ability to make critical decisions. Lastly, they were self-aware of their limitations and had practiced survival skills prior to the event.

Fear is a natural response to any life threatening situation. Unfortunately, fear clouds judgment and prohibits effective problem solving.

To control your fears:

·         Don’t Run.

·         Recognize your fear.

·         Control the situation through action

·         Plan

·         Set Realistic Goals

·         Affirmative Self-Talk

·         Don’t shy from Spirituality

To help others control their fears:

 Cultivate Support

·         Lead by Example

·         Spread Positive Thinking

·         Resentments are Useless

·         Comfort Others

·         Involve Others in Tasks

·         If fear has engulfed an individual, get close, look directly at them, and help them maintain control through talking with them

To cope with threats and ensure we meet the physical requirements of survival, a phased approached to managing the situation is recommended.

Phase 1 – Initial Response - The first few hours

·         Make sure those needed medical care are in a stable condition

·         Inventory equipment and resources

·         Make sure everyone is in safe conditions

·         Signal

Phase 2 – Continued Survival

·         PMA

·         Situational Awareness

·         Physiological Requirements

·         Conservation of Resources

·         Find Additional Required Resources

Phase 3 – Rescue                                                       

·         Signal Distress

·         Develop Rescue Plan

During any of the phases, a step by step action plan can be an effective method to organize thinking and exact a response.

1.       Be Situationally Aware

2.       Identify Contingencies

3.       Determine Goals

4.       Identify Required Resources

5.       Plan

6.       Take Action

7.       Repeat

Survival Kit - Swamp

Survival Kit (Swamp) – In all actuality, I feel my initial kit is pretty good for all environments, so I’ve included most of the initial gear. Due to the nature of the swamp, I have included made some additional changes. For reference, I grew up in Florida near a host of mangrove swamps, so I’m fairly familiar with the territory.

The additional items added to the survival kit are at the top.

Additional Fire Starters, such as - Ultimate Survival WetFire Fire Starting Tinder – The swamp is wet and humid, most tinder and wood is damp and punky, so getting a fire going can be tricky. The fire cubes burn for a long time and can even get damp wood started.

Repel Bug Spray – 100% deet in the small tube with pump. About the size of a marker and works great for keeping biting insects off, they get so thick in the swamp, you can hardly think about anything else.

Sun block – A travel size tube of waterproof/sweat proof sunscreen can help if you need have to spend extended periods of time in the sun.

Additional water purification – Water in the swamp is generally sketchy at best, I would include water purification tablets in case of filter failure. In addition, I would carry a small metal container, like a canteen cup, so boiling water was a possibility.

Larger size fishing hooks – The fish in the swamp are generally bigger and meaner than our northern counterparts, larger fishhooks would be better suited.

Small trowel – Digging for food / fresher water, and disposal can be important in the swamp, a small light trowel will help you accomplish these things without damaging your hands. (If you’ve ever tried to dig clams by hand, you feel my pain)

Sting reliever – tube about the size of the pen, not necessary, but help keep you from itching the bites and potential infection (when you get a cut/scratch/abrasion in the swamp, it’s bound to get infected) and makes life a bit better.

Spiderwire fishing line – strong enough to meet the increased strength requirements of swamps, small enough to barely notice the change.

Extra Bank line – making a trot line is an effective and simple way to catch calories. 30’ won’t cut it in the swamp, I’d up the length to 100 or 200’ if the space is available.

Cutting – I generally carry a Buck folder in my pocket, a fixed blade Condor Bushlore on my pack, but in my kit I carry the following back-ups.

Mora Classic #1 – Not a primary cutting tool for me, due to a number of factors (e.g. not full tang), the Mora makes a great back-up knife, which maintains are great edge and is razor sharp out of the box.

Leatherman Wave (Orange) – A great multi-tool that serves a variety of functions, but also includes two separate blades. Other functions include a file (sharpening blades and hooks), screwdrivers (repair or tear down of resources), saw (good backup saw), scissors, and of course pliers. The wave can make any number of improvisional tasks much easier.

Razor Blades – Small, lightweight backup cutting tools, can be used for processing game, small carving tasks, cutting cordage, making shaved tinder,  etc. and at minimal weight and space are good 4^th back-ups.

Combustion

Ferro Rod – I like longer versions, I seem to be able to get a better more accurate spark from them. Getting fire started can be essential in survival situations. Ferro rods will produce sparks in any conditions. Getting a fire started with a Ferro rod is another story, but I have practiced enough to feel confident in my ability.

Bic Lighter x2 – Small, lightweight, functions in numerous conditions, Easy to use, 100s of starts.

Altoids Tin – Can be used for making Char-cloth (charred cloth which takes a spark readily), filled with jute twine and cotton balls (both good tinder). I can use the cotton and twine in conjunction with Neosporin anti-bacterial petroleum jelly in severe conditions.

Cordage

100’ of 550 paracord – Paracord can hold 550 lbs, and can be broken down semi easily into smaller 

strands for snares, fishing, sewing, or can be braided to support even more weight.

30’ Tarred Bank Line – Useful for snares and fishing applications (smells like shit so I put it in a Ziplock Baggy)

Container –As mentioned before, a canteen cup packed full of other gear will allow for boiling water.

Sawyer Mini - To satisfy the basic water requirement of the container, I also carry a Sawyer Mini filter. The Sawyer can filter thousands of gallons of water; I can drink directly from any water source by carrying the straw attachment, and I replaced the standard backflushing device with a 5ml syringe that can backflush (with more effort and time) but requires much less space that the backflushing device included with the kit. In cold weather scenarios, I can bag snow in baggies, use my body heat to thaw, and drink directly from the straw. Another feature I love about the Sawyer mini is that it will thread on to any water bottle and allow for filtration directly from the bottle as well.

Cover –

Mylar Emergency Blanket – retains/reflects 90% of heat. Great immediate cover and then utilizing in shelter building in more permanent situations. This blanket could also useful for signaling applications, due to the reflective surface. 

Clear Plastic Poncho – Small, lightweight and great for staying dry wet weather, can be used for shelter building, or if needed you could improvise a solar still or transpiration bag with a little engineering.

Garbage Bag (Black) – A backup for the other two – can be used for immediate shelter, used for improving your shelter, a make-shift poncho, carrying water or anything else, making into a pillow, etc.

Additional Stuff

A Cliff Bar (Carrot Cake flavor) - That shit is delicious and has a bunch of calories. This can also be used to bait snares or fishing hooks.

Vitamins (10 1/day) – Staying healthy and focused in high stress situations is vital for survival. Vitamins can give you a boost and make sure your body has the required micronutrients.

Tylenol (10) – Pain reliever, self-explanatory.  Helps you stay focused on getting out alive instead of pain.

5 hour power (1 bottle) – I’m addicted to caffeine, I don’t want to deal with a horrible headache on top of everything else – can potentially give you a needed boost, you could carry a small amount of something in the empty bottle if needed.

Fishing Kit – I carry a small light kit, with about 100 small hooks (3 sizes) a small bobber, some fishing line, 2 small jigs, and 2 sizes of weights.  With these items I can effectively catch fish with minimal effort. 

Needle Set – I have a small set of needles (3 curved, 3 standard) which allow for repair of garments, fabrication of other implements, sewing up myself (I’ve had to do it once), etc. It lays flat, weighs nearly nothing, and can make a ton to other tasks doable without fabricating the needle itself.

Compass x2 – extremely small circular compass. These allow me to get an overall direction sense with minimal effort.

First Aid Kit – minimal kit carried in a polyethylene test tube – I carry 6 or so Band-Aids, some gauze, and a few alcohol prep pads, and moleskin. In a pinch I can use the gauze, band aides, alcohol pads or oil patch for fire starting applications.

Test Tube Container - The test tube is water-tight can be used for a makeshift fishing hand-reel, to keep tinder dry, and carrying a small amount of anything (pine pitch, berries, etc).

Spare Batteries – AA and AAA.  I use a GPS which runs on AA batteries, I don’t have any other reason for having them, accept getting lost sucks. AAA are good for my headlamp.  I’ve heard you can start fire with batteries, but I haven’t learned how yet (Gum wrapper or steel wool works supposedly)

Mini-Lamp – Seeing in the dark is good. I carry a very small clip on type LED light as a back-up to the headlamp in my pack. Also good for signaling (in the dark) if needed.

Whistle/ Signal Mirror – Both are small and lightweight and allow for signaling to potential rescuers.

Survival Kit - PNW

Survival Kit (Local Area) – During the construction of my kit, I thought about the 5Cs of survivability from Dave Canterbury and the Pathfinders Institute – Cutting, Combustion, Cordage, Container, and Cover. In addition, I try to carry the tools which will allow me to fabricate the things I need, as fabricating tools themselves is difficult, and requires specialized materials and a skill-set that can take years to develop.  I also like the items I carry to have multiple uses, thus increasing redundancy.

Cutting – I generally carry a Buck folder in my pocket, a fixed blade Condor Bushlore on my pack, but in my kit I carry the following back-ups.

Mora Classic #1 – Not a primary cutting tool for me, due to a number of factors (e.g. not full tang), the Mora makes a great back-up knife, which maintains are great edge and is razor sharp out of the box.

Leatherman Wave (Orange) – A great multi-tool that serves a variety of functions, but also includes two separate blades. Other functions include a file (sharpening blades and hooks), screwdrivers (repair or tear down of resources), saw (good backup saw), scissors, and of course pliers. The wave can make any number of improvisional tasks much easier.

Razor Blades – Small, lightweight backup cutting tools, can be used for processing game, small carving tasks, cutting cordage, making shaved tinder,  etc. and at minimal weight and space are good 4^th back-ups.

Combustion

Ferro Rod – I like longer versions, I seem to be able to get a better more accurate spark from them. Getting fire started can be essential in survival situations. Ferro rods will produce sparks in any conditions. Getting a fire started with a Ferro rod is another story, but I have practiced enough to feel confident in my ability.

Bic Lighter x2 – Small, lightweight, functions in numerous conditions, Easy to use, 100s of starts.

Altoids Tin – Can be used for making Char-cloth (charred cloth which takes a spark readily), filled with jute twine and cotton balls (both good tinder). I can use the cotton and twine in conjunction with Neosporin anti-bacterial petroleum jelly in severe conditions.

Cordage

100’ of 550 paracord – Paracord can hold 550 lbs, and can be broken down semi easily into smaller strands for snares, fishing, sewing, or can be braided to support even more weight.

30’ Tarred Bank Line – Useful for snares and fishing applications (smells like shit so I put it in a Ziplock Baggy)

Container - I do not carry to standard container for purifying water and/or cooking. I like my EDC kit to be small so I don’t debate bringing it. I do however carry 2 gallon size zip-loc baggies, and 4 quart sized baggies. I can use these to gather water and carry it, collect and keep food, keep tinder dry, and any other number of tasks.

Sawyer Mini - To satisfy the basic water requirement of the container, I also carry a Sawyer Mini filter. The Sawyer can filter thousands of gallons of water; I can drink directly from any water source by carrying the straw attachment, and I replaced the standard backflushing device with a 5ml syringe that can backflush (with more effort and time) but requires much less space that the backflushing device included with the kit. In cold weather scenarios, I can bag snow in baggies, use my body heat to thaw, and drink directly from the straw. Another feature I love about the Sawyer mini is that it will thread on to any water bottle and allow for filtration directly from the bottle as well.

Cover –

Mylar Emergency Blanket – retains/reflects 90% of heat. Great immediate cover and then utilizing in shelter building in more permanent situations. This blanket could also useful for signaling applications, due to the reflective surface. 

Clear Plastic Poncho – Small, lightweight and great for staying dry wet weather, can be used for shelter building, or if needed you could improvise a solar still or transpiration bag with a little engineering.

Garbage Bag (Black) – A backup for the other two – can be used for immediate shelter, used for improving your shelter, a make-shift poncho, carrying water or anything else, melting snow, making into a pillow, etc.

Additional Stuff

A Cliff Bar (Carrot Cake flavor) - That shit is delicious and has a bunch of calories. This can also be used to bait snares or fishing hooks.

Vitamins (10 1/day) – Staying healthy and focused in high stress situations is vital for survival. Vitamins can give you a boost and make sure your body has the required micronutrients.

Tylenol (10) – Pain reliever, self-explanatory.  Helps you stay focused on getting out alive instead of pain.

5 hour power (1 bottle) – I’m addicted to caffeine, I don’t want to deal with a horrible headache on top of everything else – can potentially give you a needed boost, you could carry a small amount of something in the empty bottle if needed.

Fishing Kit – I carry a small light kit, with about 100 small hooks (3 sizes) a small bobber, some fishing line, 2 small jigs, and 2 sizes of weights.  With these items I can effectively catch fish with minimal effort.  

Needle Set – I have a small set of needles (3 curved, 3 standard) which allow for repair of garments, fabrication of other implements, sewing up myself (I’ve had to do it once), etc. It lays flat, weighs nearly nothing, and can make a ton to other tasks doable without fabricating the needle itself.

Compass x2 – extremely small circular compass. These allow me to get an overall direction sense with minimal effort.

First Aid Kit – minimal kit carried in a polyethylene test tube – I carry 6 or so Band-Aids, some gauze, and a few alcohol prep pads, and moleskin. In a pinch I can use the gauze, band aides, alcohol pads or oil patch for fire starting applications.

Test Tube Container - The test tube is water-tight can be used for a makeshift fishing hand-reel, to keep tinder dry, and carrying a small amount of anything (pine pitch, berries, etc).

Spare Batteries – AA and AAA.  I use a GPS which runs on AA batteries, I don’t have any other reason for having them, accept getting lost sucks. AAA are good for my headlamp.  I’ve heard you can start fire with batteries, but I haven’t learned how yet (Gum wrapper or steel wool works supposedly)

Mini-Lamp – Seeing in the dark is good. I carry a very small clip on type LED light as a back-up to the headlamp in my pack. Also good for signaling (in the dark) if needed.

Whistle/ Signal Mirror – Both are small and lightweight and allow for signaling to potential rescuers.

Wilderness Survival Terms

Paul Reilly

Wilderness Survival Terms 

Survival: The act of living through a situation which could be life threatening

BCS: PMA+98.6oF = BCS

Positive mental attitude + proper core body temp = best chance for survival

Will to live: A psychological condition in which a person fights for survival, seen as an important part of conscious and unconscious reasoning. This generally occurs when a person is under severe distress.

Necessities of life or Priorities of Survival:

1.Positive Mental Attitude

2.Oxygen (3 to 6 minutes)

3.Body Shelter (3 to 4 hours, extreme temps)

a.      Dress for Egress

b.      Carry instant body shelter

4.Rest (30 hours)

5.Water (3 days)

6.Food (3 weeks or more)

Major Threats to survival:

Not having a PMA

Core temperature

Mechanical Injury

Illness and/or Infection

Outline the phased approach to managing survival situations:

Phase 1 – Initial Response - The first few hours

·         Make sure those needed medical care are in a stable condition

·         Inventory equipment and resources

·         Make sure everyone is in safe conditions

·         Signal

Phase 2 – Continued Survival

·         PMA

·         Situational Awareness

·         Physiological Requirements

·         Conservation of Resources

·         Find Additional Required Resources

Phase 3 – Rescue                                       

·         Signal Distress

·         Develop Rescue Plan

Define the fundamental law of the mind:

Humans act, feel and perform in accordance to what our perceptions tell us about our surroundings, well-being, and situation. To survive a life threatening situation, maintain a clear mental state, and focus on success. Picture yourself surviving, and never waiver from this though pattern.

List three Traits of a Survivor:

1.Strove to be prepared

2.Adaptable, and made the best of the situation

3.Practiced (beforehand)skills that directly contributed to their survival

List two strategies for controlling your fear:

Recognize your fear for what it is, and accept it is normal

Don’t be afraid of faith, try hard, pray hard.

List two strategies for controlling fear in others:

Cultivate mutual support

Comfort others without encouraging them to feel sorry for themselves

Conduction [body heat loss]: Heat loss that occurs when skin is subjected to cold air or water. This is especially dangerous in water, in which the body loses heat ~25X faster than in air of the same temperature.

Evaporation [body heat loss]: When your clothing or skin gets wet from sweat or any other liquid, the change from liquid to vapor promotes heat loss, and the result is a cooling effect.

Radiation [body heat loss]: When the heat generated by the body is given off to the surrounding environment

Wind Chill Factor [body heat loss]: Wind chill increases the rate of heat loss from other processes, and can reduce temperature quickly. The air “feels” cooled than it is due to the chilling effect on the skin, and can promote adverse environmental effects.

Platform and Brace fire: A method of fire building that emphasizes two major components, a brace and platform. The platform can be any material that protects the fuel from the ground (e.g. non-porous rock, bark, broken sticks, etc.). The brace is placed on the platform and is vital to allow oxygen to allow proper ignition of the fuel. The tinder is burned next to the brace, and larger fuel is placed above the tinder.

Dehydration: The loss or use of more fluid than your body takes in. If fluids aren’t replaced, a host of negative side effects, ultimately ending in death, can occur. 

Frostbite: An injury caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissue. In general this occurs on the extremities first (fingers, toes, nose, etc.), and can be exacerbated when the body stops circulating as much blood to the extremities due to the necessity of keeping core temperature at an appropriate level.

Hypothermia: When your body loses heat faster than it can produce it. This generally occurs as your body passes below 95F.  Numerous mild systems occur first (shivering, dizziness, nausea, etc.) and as core temperature continues dropping, symptoms worsen, and eventually organs shut down, causing death.

Heat cramps: Involuntary muscle spasms that generally occur during heavy exertion in hot environments. Cramps can be extremely painful and prolonged, inadequate fluid intake can exacerbate the condition. Most often in the calves, arms, abdominals, and back, but may involve and muscle group involved in exercise.

Heat exhaustion: A condition which may include heavy sweating and rapid pulse as a result of your body overheating. The condition is generally due to exposure to high temperatures, and strenuous physical activity. The condition can lead to heat stroke if not treated.

Heat stroke: The most serious form of heat injury caused from the body overheating. If your body temperature reaches 104F or higher, the condition can damage your brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles. If not treated immediately, the condition can cause serious implications and death. Like the previous two conditions, it is generally caused by heavy exertion in high temperatures. 

Explain C.O.L.D.E.R. – An acronym that is useful in preventing hypothermia using clothing is COLDER. Defined below, utilizing these methods will give you the best chance of survival (and comfort).

C – Keep clothing CLEAN

O – Avoid OVERHEATING

L – Wear clothing LOSE and in LAYERS

D – Keep clothing DRY

E – EXAMINE clothing for defects or wear

R – Keep clothing REPAIRED

Explain the S.T.O.P. method to control panic:

STOP when you realize you are being hijacked by your emotion

TAKE a deep breath

OBSERVE what is going on in your body

PROCEED after you have done the previous steps

Immediate Action shelter: Shelters that protect the survivor from the environment that can be erected quickly and with minimal effort.  Environmental shelters such as caves, stranded vehicles, abandoned cabins etc. are examples of immediate action shelters, but furthermore, sheltering the individual by using a tarp, trash bags, survival suits, or other methods are suitable to keep the core body temperature at acceptable levels. Using these methods in conjunction with debris can offer additional insulation.

Shelter for a specific environment: When building a shelter, the type or environment you are surviving in is of paramount importance. Survival shelters will differ remarkably due to the overall risk you are trying to mitigate. For example, cold weather shelters are trying to maximize heat retention, whereas in a desertic environment, you are trying to keep the body as cool as possible. Each type of environment has its own special circumstances, such as the need to dry out in tropics and avoid biting insects. Before building any shelter, identify the requirements you have, and adapt your shelter accordingly.

Water Transpiration Bag: A method of obtaining potable water by using rooted vegetation and a plastic bag. The branches of vegetation are placed inside of bag, and tied off.  As the green plant loses water through the stomatal openings due to evapotranspiration, the vapor condenses on the inside if the plastic and can be collected. The species of plant used will make a huge difference in overall water production. Speaking from experience, this method is difficult at best to procure large amounts of water, but in some scenarios is the only option, and can be utilized to collect some water, providing a physiological benefit, and often large morale boost.

Size and Ratio of a Ground-to- Air Signal: Your signal should be a minimum of 18 feet long (30 feet is better). 6:1 is the standard length to width ratio. Thus a 30 foot long signal would be 5 feet wide.

Describe two (2) ways to purity water in a survival situation:

Boiling - Use any number of improvised containers, add water, and bring to a boil over a heat source. This method kills all the biological components in the water.

Chemical Treatment - use iodine, bleach, potable aqua, or any other number of chemical treatments and follow manufacturer instructions. Cold water takes twice the treatment time to be safe to drink.