How to Signal For Help

Imagine this: you find yourself in a situation where you are lost, despite the fact that you had the right map, and thought you were headed off for that safe disaster shelter or just cover, and in the right direction.

Maybe you might have carried a lousy map or even lost your way due to rough weather, but does it matter now?

However, what does matter now is the fact that you are lost… and you have to signal for help in order to be found. Your very survival seems to be at stake…

Signalling for Help – Is it important?
If you are a seasoned survivalist, you’d know that this is one of the most important things that survival training can teach you, and is something that should not be missed when it comes to learning as it can determine whether or not you will live or die.

And the truth is that there are several ways by which you can signal for help whether it is to people who are within sight or who are far away.

If you get it done right, you can soon find yourself whisked away to safety by a hunting party or a plane that might be in the vicinity looking for survivors or even you in particular.

How to Signal for Help

Method #1: Using a whistle
Always carry a whistle with you because the general rule for signalling for help is signalling three times. In the case of a whistle, you should blow the whistle in three clear and separate bursts. This will help you to get the attention of people who might be in the vicinity. Similarly, three gunshots are also an excellent idea.

What you should keep in mind is that it isn’t a good idea to strain your vocal chords and scream yourself hoarse. Hence, keep a whistle with you instead.

Method #2: Signal fires

Yet again the method is to start three signal fires that spaced from each other, most likely 50 feet apart and in a triangular shape as well. Ensure that these fires are placed in such a location where you can control the fires easily and which is most likely to be spotted for planes overhead.

If you are building these fires during the day, use wet and green wood to send up thick smoke while it is imperative for you to use dry material to get a roaring fire going if this is at night.

Method #3: Using brightly colored material or an SOS signal
Yet another way by which you can signal for help is by using brightly colored material which should be placed again in a triangular shape, and in particular, in an open space.

Alternatively, making an ‘SOS’ or ‘X’ signal is a good idea especially if you find yourself in an open snowfield, and which can increase the possibility of being rescued by planes overhead.

In Closing
Since this is a vital skill that must be understood by the help of visuals, please watch this video so that you can benefit and find yourself getting acquainted with how to send help signals easily.

Backpack Survivor Skills – What to Pack in the situation of a disaster

Have you noticed how many things women pack for a trip? Almost everything that they own… isn’t it? It’s as if their life depended on it even if they can’t haul it past their doorstep.

While this might one of those Life situations that is funny, there are other times (such as in the case of being prepared for a disaster) where knowing what to pack in order to survive the worst natural or man-made disaster can make the difference between Life and death.

The Backpack Survivalist

While you are busy laughing at the situation provided earlier, there comes a point when being a backpack survivalist entails lugging into the woods whatever you can carry, and in some case, you’ll realize that you need more than a backpack.

Take for example, the situation of a nuclear disaster or even a hurricane. In both cases, you have to leave the scene for a carefully chosen hideout where you might have to stay at for a certain amount of time.

So, what do you carry then?

If you’re thinking: A year’s supply of food… you’ve got another thing coming because of the fact that you will need a truck to carry so much with you, not understanding that there are other things that you might need in order to survive especially if you have carefully picked a hideout where there isn’t any ready made food or water.

Bare Necessities to carry in a Backpack

While you might ideally want to carry a lot of food, water, medication, guns and so on and so forth, it wouldn’t be a good idea to carry all this stuff in vehicle and drive off since there will be several people like you on the road as well.

However, there are some items that you must carry with you in your backpack in order to survive in these situations because without which – there will be no second chances.

#1: Maps, guide book and a compass
Lewis Carroll once quoted: “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” And while this saying was meant in a figurative sense, there is great truth in it especially if you are attempting to survive a national disaster. Keep the latest maps, guide books and a compass with you at all times.

#2: Water
In order to avoid infection, carry water with you, even if you wish to risk your life and limb by drinking water from natural sources. This is imperative!

#3: Fire
The ability to build a fire is one of the most basic skills that one has to learn when in the jungle. Waterproof matches, tinder, firesticks, lighters, lighter fluid are necessary just in case you are cold.

#4: Knife
Try a Swiss Army knife which can really come in handy in a variety of situations.

#5: Items like an emergency blanket & a rain suit
You won’t enjoy hypothermia if you are caught in the rain, and these two items can not only provide you with warmth but serve a dual purpose in creating a shelter.

#6: First Aid, medication and extra clothing
Just in case you slip your footing and get injured, it would be advisable to carry first aid so that you can tend to yourself rather than being left susceptible to infection out in the wild.

In Closing
Remember that not carrying any of these items can cause you more harm than good, and truthfully speaking, still is a bare essentials list.

How to Treat a Snake Bite

I’ve enjoyed most of the Rambo movies but there’s one scene that sticks in my mind, and has been parodied in the movie Hot Shots Part Deux! very well.

Yeah, it has to do with Rambo protecting himself from a snakebite. Unfortunately, not all of us can be like this reel-life icon as depicted in the tough guy one-man-army movies, and are susceptible to a snakebite especially if we are out in the jungle and on our own – with no prior experience.

In more cases than not, it becomes evident that you will not be able to escape the venom of a snake especially since it will catch you unawares with its speed and precision.

And since a snakebite is life-threatening, this means that you have to take steps to save yourself until you are able to find a hospital or even be able to find someone who can help you with a lasting cure.

Types of Snakebites
Usually there are two types of snakebites: venomous and non-venomous.

However, it is difficult for you to determine whether it is a venomous snakebite or not unless you use a particular method that will demonstrated in a video that you will find as a summary.

(Hint: It involves looking into the snake’s eyes… no fibbing here!)

Even though non-venomous snakebites are not life-threatening, they can be extremely painful for the person who has been bitten and can lead to infection later.

So you have ensure that you disinfect the wound with soap and water while also applying a disinfectant. Bandage it well so that any later infection is prevented. Remember to stay calm at all times…

How to treat a snakebite of the poisonous variety
So here are a few steps that you MUST keep in mind when dealing with a venomous snakebite:
Step #1: Get yourself or the person bitten away from the snake to prevent any additional snake bites.

Step #2: One important symptom of a venomous snakebite is the fact that the area swells up rapidly and severely. Ensure that you remove any constrictive clothing such as jewelry or clothing from the affected area.

Step #3: Ensure that the person rests as high activity increases blood flow, and the poison can spread faster throughout the body.

Step #4: Clean the wound with soap and water, and ensure that you tie a tight elastic bandage around the affected area so that you prevent blood from flowing to the heart but allowing blood to flow throughout the body from the heart.

Step #5: Very important, use a splint to restrict movement (to stop blood to the heart in doing this) of the affected area, especially since your legs are most susceptible to snakebites. Ensure that the level of affected area is kept below the heart even when in a resting position.

Step #6: Ensure that the victim is calm at all times, and if possible, give him or her to fluids to drink if they are conscious.

In Closing
Now watch this funny but information video which details out the steps by which you should treat a venomous snakebite especially if you are out.

Remember, as always, prevention is better than cure!

How to Start a Fire

Who knew that pyromania and arsonry are different conditions (read as: impulses) the people resort to?

At least, I didn’t until today…

You’ve got to admit that the desire to create is a much better impulse as opposed to wanting to destroy using the all-powerful force of fire.

And while it’s very easy to create fire when living in civilized conditions, it’s hardly the same especially when you are in survival mode without the gadgetry and fire-starting implements that you get for under a dollar.

Don’t count on getting a matchbox or a lighter (forget lighter fluid) in a situation where you have to survive… from the cold, wetness and in being in the middle of nowhere.

And for any of you who have been in this situation, you would wish that there was this strange desire to set things alight, if you get what I mean.

Why fire is important to survival
Not only does a fire give us light but warmth as well especially if you have to survive the cold at night or even the wetness of the rainy season. Apart from this, a fire can help you cook food while also serving an important purpose in protection as it can be used to ward off wild animals from attacking.

So let’s look at how you can start a fire with or without matches…

How to Start A Fire – Tips
While there are several ways by which you can light a fire, the thing in common with all these is that you will have to use fire-generating items that are freely available in the wild, not unless you have already prepared for.

You have to understand that it is one of those vital survival skills that must be learned, and it isn’t easy unless you’ve had some practice.

But before you run away and try to acquire, here are a few tips that will help you to start a fire:

Tip #1: The Location
Remember to select a location which isn’t windy because it will make the effort of the initial kindling much more difficult than it should be. Also, ensure that you dig a shallow hole so that a draft can fan the flames once it is lit.

Tip #2: Gathering firewood
There are three kinds of materials that you must collect so that you can make a fire quite easily, and these are tinder, kindling and wooden logs.

Tinder consists of dry grasses, shredded bark, mosses and fungus and must be finely shredded and as dry as possible. Kindling are nothing but medium-sized materials such as dry leaves, small twigs and sticks or larger pieces of bark. Wooden logs are what you will use to keep the fire going once you have gotten it started.

Tip #3: Lighting the fire
Now since explaining it in words will not help you visualize, here is the link to an interesting video that gives you a good idea as to how you can start a fire in the wilderness while using matches.

There are interesting ways by which you can build fire without matches or lighter fluid, and this video link might give you a good idea how, as they have been mastered by people who have to survive in the wilderness.

In Closing
Sooner or later, wherever you are in the woods, you’ll understand the importance of lighting a fire even if you aren’t much of a pyromaniac yourself.

Survival Food Storage – Tips

Survival. It’s in the genetic code of every living thing. Yes, we’re talking about every living thing in the form of a plant or animal or even a single-cell organism.

Strange, isn’t it?

Since the four seasons also play an important part in their survival, hibernation is a way by which these beasts of the field survive these harsh months.

Another interesting aspect of surviving the winter is the storing up of food, and animals know which foods to pick which can last them for as long as the winter as there won’t be much food to gather during the cold months.

But does this activity of storing food pertain to humans as well?

You can be sure it does… so as to prepare oneself for a natural or man-made disaster!

Survival Food Storage – Tips
No matter what kind of disaster happens, being meticulous about the way in which you go about storing food in case of a disaster is probably the best approach to take.

Think about it: with the trouble and turmoil that surrounds us in all its forms, don’t you think it is a wise idea to store up food for the long-term so as to ensure the survival of our loved ones and ourselves?

This certainly isn’t paranoia but who’s to say how safe we will all be when the time comes and that nuclear disaster or even a hurricane hits your city or state, leaving millions homeless in its wake (and dead, most of all).

If you give it some serious thought, you will recognize the reason for taking some time off to research about how one can survive such a catastrophe just in case we’re caught in the middle of one.

Strangely enough, it’s those who aren’t prepared for such events are those who are thrown into such situations, and so, it bodes well for those who love life and limb to actually take such precautions for life.

Now there are several things that you must take into account especially when it comes to understanding how to go about storing food, and so here is an interesting (and detailed) article that shows you what to do in case this is for the long haul (much like animals do).

And if you think it’s not that complex to store up food (since these simple animals do the same), think again!

Here is a video that you can watch that will give you tips on how to store food for the long-term in the event of a disaster as well.

In Closing
Of course, there’s another way by which animals (and all living beings) survive other than storing up food for the hard times (like we save money for a rainy day), and that is to procreate…

Since Charles Darwin understood how animals, plants and human need to function properly, you can be sure that his analysis of the entire species’ ability to survive took into account the birth of offspring.

And yet, if there wasn’t any food to consume, the offspring wouldn’t survive either… and perhaps, that is what we share in common with other species no matter how evolved humans consider themselves to be.

Taking the storage of food seriously… is not craziness but accepting the fact that circumstances can go out of control in no time, and it’s fair that we make arrangements for these tough times.

Survival Seeds: And man’s dependence on Technology…

When Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong and Arnie got together in Terminator 2: Judgement Day, the movie brought an interesting fact about how mankind’s vulnerability lay deep in their greatest strength: technology.

Our dependence on technology is growing day-by-day, and it’s getting to be a bit too much, honestly. No one uses a normal cellphone anymore but they have the need for a smart phone that does anything but washes your butt. (And I’m sure they come up with something like that!)

People use calculators to add numbers below 100… that really sucks! Doesn’t anyone use what they learned in school anymore?

And for all you know, the technology used in the nuclear warheads might be the very reason why mankind might tip over the cliff and into complete extinction.

God forbid, any of these situations arise, and we lose what we so tend to take for granted, survival will become difficult if we aren’t able to find nourishment in the form of food and water.

Are Survival Seeds the answer?
While some people might dismiss the very idea of an apocalypse happening, there are a few indications that the environment is under pressure.

The lack of water is one of the most pressing concerns that affects governments everywhere while natural disasters ensure that families have to cope with little or nothing as soon as they’re struck by a tsunami or an earthquake. The possibility of these natural disasters (as opposed to man-made disasters) are just as likely…

This is where survival seeds come into play, and here is an interesting video that introduces you to the world of these seeds, and the underlying philosophy that involves the selling of these seeds.

But is it really needed?

Some of these folks… well, watch the video, and that should tell you enough! (Read this link while you’re at it too.)

Now there are two things that you can derive from the video though… you must either think that these people are crazy or are smart depending on how you view the economy.

However, the truth is that you shouldn’t order these items unless you take the assistance of a farmer who will tell you the difference between what is ‘fake’ and otherwise.

But if you are interested, you might want to know where you can find these survival seeds.

Where you can find Survival Seeds
Honestly, the first place that you can look for these seeds is over the internet. It’s everywhere… propaganda and all!

You wouldn’t even need me to help you with some links for this… all you will have to do is Google the very words to find sites that will help you with the details, and you will have the options that you can pick from. (So I won’t even bother to look for them, and insult your intelligence in the process!)

In Closing
Perhaps if your greatest fears should be conquered, it should be in our minds. It’s too often that we give way to our fears and do crazy things. However, in being positive towards the extreme, there’s no harm in actually taking a second look!

Survival Skills Course

No matter how you look at it, we learn new things everyday. Yet some people make an assumption that as soon as they’re out of college, their learning ends.

Nothing can be further from the truth… look at the people who lived through the Old Stone Age, for example. How did they manage to survive with little or no know-how when it comes to getting their basic needs met?

Yes, we’re talking about food, clothing and shelter… and perhaps while you can relate these people in being street smart (as opposed to book smart), you should be able to read between the lines because it’s a significant part of today’s fast-paced life albeit in a different way.

The only difference being that we have proper courses that have been structured keeping learning psychology in mind, and which will be as skills-oriented as possible.

The “old guard” of learning by doing is now supplemented by proper courses, books, blogs and websites that can definitely teach you what you need and more is the way you can take up courses which help you develop communication and language skills but also survival skills as well.

Survival Skills Courses

Since these courses need to be kinesthetic (meaning skill oriented) by nature, it’s doubtful that an effective course can be taught indoors. Meaning, the classroom…

So if you are looking to learn about how to survive in the wild, not only will this require you to find books, short tips from the internet but also explore the wild in the form of courses offered in several skills such as wildlife tracking all the wilderness survival courses taught by guides with years of experience.

Alternatively, joining the marines will also teach you a lot in terms of survival skills, and with just a knife at that too.

Yes, military training in this area requires you to not only survive in the jungle by learning how to hunt for food, make a fire, find or even make your own shelter but also use these skills to camouflage yourself from the enemy.

To say the least, this is serious survival training where you might even be hunted down like a common criminal by the enemy, and so, this means that you have to use the jungle against them and make it work for you at all levels.

You must remember that when you are behind enemy lines it is paramount to be able to destroy your enemy, whether man or beast, without guns but silently. Of course, this means that you will also learn how to make traps to hunt for animals and your enemies, and thus survive their own as well.

Stealth is everything…

This will be a comprehensive course which will go on for army personnel which will get more and more difficult as the years go by.

Now if you aren’t so keen on developing these skills at an extreme, you can also avail of civilian courses such as found at this link.

In Closing
No matter whether this is about just acquiring the basic survival skills in order to be prepared for any kind of disaster or even to relish the highest form of commando training in several environments, survival training courses are available to all. You just have to pick which one you would like…

Wilderness Survival Guide – A Necessity, if you will

Could there be a reason why marines are often provided with an intensive training program before they head off for a mission into the jungle?

Most of these men have been through years of combat training already but when it comes to special missions such as those that requires them to live off the jungle, it is considered a necessity to undergo a training program where all you need is a knife in order to survive in the jungle.

Wilderness Survival – In the Movies
One classic example of this type of training has been exhibited in the first of the Rambo series, Rambo: First Blood with Sylvester Stallone starring as John Rambo who is a Vietnam war veteran and has just returned home.

As he sets traps and is able to deal with both men and dogs with hostile intentions, it doesn’t take long for you to wonder what you would do if you were in that place.

Of course, even when there is no way out (where he gets trapped in a building), he still is able to find a way out by using the fire he lights.

No doubt the movie was a hit but it also tells you one more thing – for reasons other than people who get a rise out of pushing you (as played by the cop in the movie), it shouldn’t be long if you have to learn these survival skills yourself.

But where would you find tips and tricks that will help you in a situation such as this?

The Importance of A Wilderness Survival Guide

When you buy a new electrical appliance that needs to be handled in a particular way, doesn’t it always come with a manual?

While some folks might take on that ‘devil-may-care’ attitude, it’s often provided along with the appliance to ensure that the people who use it are safe.

It’s no different when it comes to being prepared for a situation that the folks from the TV series “Lost” find themselves in. You definitely need a wilderness survival guide for the same, don’t you?

You can not only buy them in the form of books but also look for information that is available over the internet as free resources in the form of text and DIY videos.

Here is a link to an interesting video that can help you to purify water, and you can find several others as well.

Here is the link to an interesting survival e-book that you can purchase for a small price if you’d like to learn more about surviving in the wilderness.

Finally, you can also get excellent books written by army personnel who have first-hand experience and years of training in wilderness survival on Amazon for a small price. (For example, look at this link.)

In Closing
If you are one of those types who don’t need a training manual, you’ll have to rewire that thinking process of yours at least when it comes to guides that teach you to survive in the wilderness. Because, when you least expect it, you’ll need these skills to survive, and you’ll be on your own!

Outdoor Survival Skills

While mankind might have evolved from the age of the hunter-gatherer, the word “survival” continues to hold water in the physical sense, if you are stranded in the jungle with little or no aid.

Human being are really not very different from animals, and ever since Darwin proposed his theory of ‘natural selection’, you can see it in action as soon as someone gets lost in the jungle.

Of course, not all of us will get training such as fictional character known as Rambo who never dies no matter what odds he is up against, so we have to get trained (if only in a limited fashion) in order to meet only our lower-order needs if we are stranded in the jungle.

The Fight or Flight Response
From the very dawn of time, the human brain has been wired to survive, thanks to the part of the brain that is geared to respond to instinct as opposed to intellect.

And while this was a theory that was derived from observing animals and their response to a threat, it isn’t any different with humans either even if this threat does not come from the jungle.

So what should this tell you?

Humans have the ability to survive in any situation as it only requires them to only use their instinct (the most basic of thought processes) in learning to do so.

Why you should learn survival skills

But is it really necessary to learn survival skills?

To answer that question, here are a few situations that we might find ourselves in where these basic skills might come in handy:

Instance #1: World War III,
Albert Einstein said that if we used nuclear warheads in World War III, we’d soon be back to fighting with bows and arrows, thanks to the mass destruction capabilities of these weapons.

Instance #2: Natural and Man-made disasters
Natural and man-made disasters come a close second as you never know when either of these situations will strike the location where you live as well. Trust me, it’s not funny hanging on for dear life beneath a pile of rubble which can so easily be remedied if you had learned the basic survival skills earlier.

Instance #3: Power Outage
In the case of a power outage in your town or city, how will you survive without light and heat? What makes this situation even more scarier is if you have little children to take care of.

Instance #4: Food shortage
Now let’s say there is a food shortage or famine, how do you think you will survive without food or water? Learning the basic skill of finding different sources of food and water in the jungle can come in handy especially if these items are scarce.

Instance #5: Epidemic
Thanks to an epidemic, it can become impossible to obtain your basic necessities of food and water or even live in the proximity of those who are “sick”. The only way by which you can survive is by looking for other (read as: purer) sources of food and water in the jungle or away from people who are afflicted by the epidemic.

In Closing
No matter what you think, there are several reasons why you should attempt to learn these survival skills as you never when disaster strikes! And as Darwin said: there is no doubt that only the strong (and the prepared) will survive!

Wilderness Survival Guide – 3 Things To Avoid A Miserable Death

Wilderness Survival Guide

Wilderness Survival Guide

No matter how much you think you know, having a wilderness survival guide on hand can definitely come in handy when you find yourself in a true life-or-death situation.

Sometimes, when put in extreme conditions, even the savviest book survivalist can freeze up and forget much or all of what they thought they knew.

Finding the right guide or book to keep with and around you at all times could mean the difference in knowing what to eat, how to catch it, and what else you need to do to last as long as possible until help arrives or you find it yourself.

What Your Wilderness Survival Guide Should Include

Any survival guide should include the basics, but with the sheer number of publications out there, ensuring yours meets the following criteria will give you the best chance for success.

  1. What’s for dinner? One of the most important things to include when it comes to survival is an entire chapter or more on finding, capturing, and preparing food.

    Make sure your guide has extensive information on what you can and should eat in the wild, along with tips and tools needed to take it from where it is to where you need it to be: inside your stomach.

    A berry and plant guide and comparison of what’s edible, what’s not, and what’s poisonous is also a great addition.

  2. Raise the roof! Besides food and water, you’re going to need shelter from the elements, the sun, the animals, or all of the above.

    Being able to build a makeshift shelter is essential to prolonging the amount of time you can survive in the wilderness.

    Look for a guide that focuses on materials that you will find in nature, so you will have everything you need on hand to make your new home, but you should always keep your survival kit on you anyway, which, by the way, isn’t a bad place to keep your survival book too!

  3. “I saw the sign…” While you may be perfectly cozy and well-fed in your new home thanks to the first two chapters, you’re probably going to want to mozy on back toward civilization at some point there, Tarzan.

    Knowing how to signal for help using sounds, fire, lights, and sand can get you rescued faster and easier than just waiting for an eagle-eyed personnel to track you down.

    If you’re the go-getter type, navigating your way back toward help can be made easier with detailed information on using compasses and stars to find your way around in the outdoors.

No matter where you go, having the right wilderness survival guide with you could pay off big time in the right (or wrong) situation.