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.