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Starter Survival
The sacred order is: Shelter first - then water, fire, food. In a survival situation, it is critical to conserve energy and resources. Panic and frustration get in the way of success in any situation - they can be deadly in the outdoors. If it's late in the day or you are in a place with limited resources, what you do first matters.
The point of building a shelter first is that for the outlay of energy it takes to gather branches and leaves, you can build a debris shelter without tools and ensure a way to maximize your body heat. The worst thing that can happen in the woods is not starvation or animal attack - it's hypothermia.
Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature suddenly and profoundly cools to below 96 degrees F or 35.5 degrees C. This can happen on a warm sunny day, when perspiration drenches your clothing, drawing heat away from your body. You can also be at risk for hypothermia from exposure to wind, breathing in cold dry air, or simply being improperly dressed. Shivering is a sign that your body is cooling off. Your survival depends upon your ability to warm up.
While it's tempting to build a fire, even if you have all the tools and dry wood available, you still need to keep feeding the fire. By contrast, building a debris shelter allows you to get a night's sleep and stay warm. When you're rested, you make better decisions.
Another advantage of building a debris shelter is that even if you need to use wet leaves, the air space between the leaves will collect your body heat and keep you warm. I've slept in a wet leaf debris shelter. When I woke the next morning, my fingers were wrinkled like I'd been in the tub too long, but I was warm. While it was no where near as comfortable as sleeping on dry leaves, cattail fluff or pine needles, I was able to relax and sleep, knowing I was safe.
Once you have shelter, water becomes your next concern. When in a survival situation, never eat unless you have enough water to keep you from becoming dehydrated. If you're in deciduous woods, the dew that collects on plants can be collected on absorbent cloth, like cotton. I make it a point to carry one or two bandanas. You can wipe them along the surface of the plants or you can tie them to your legs and walk through wet vegetation. Ring the cloth into your mouth, or suck on it.
I also carry pint and gallon size plastic bags. These can be placed around the green leaves on a tree branch with one corner of the bag hanging lower and tied off. The moisture that forms from condensation will collect in the plastic bag. This is potable water.
In winter, DO NOT EAT SNOW, unless you have water and a container to melt the snow. Eating snow will reduce your body temperature and lead to dehydration.
There are other ways to gather potable water, but these are the easiest.
Now that you've got your shelter and a way to get water, if you are still in a survival situation, fire is the next challenge. On a recent camping trip, two of my three lighters failed. It wasn't sunny, so my magnifying glass was not an option, and although I'm told fine steel wool and a 6-Volt battery (or even two AA batteries) will also start a fire, I typically do not carry them.
The only other alternative when you have no fire-making tools is to build the apparatus to start a fire. Making a bow drill or hand drill apparatus for fire by friction takes skill and practice. Understanding how fire by friction works and knowing something about wood is essential.
Starting a fire is only part of the process. You need to keep the fire going, which means gathering some kind of fire starter - dried grasses or leaves, lint from your clothing or small twigs. Once the fire is started, you need to keep it going with branches for kindling. When the fire is stronger, you can add large pieces of wood, like split logs.
It's necessary to have your tinder, kindling and fuel gathered before you start the fire.
Once you have access to fire, then you can turn your attention to food. All grasses in North America are edible. You chew the plants, extract the juices and spit out the pulp. Pine needles can be steeped in boiling water for an excellent source of Vitamin C.
Many wild edible plants have poisonous look-alikes. Never eat anything if you have even a shadow of a doubt, especially in a survival situation.
In the winter, you won't have access to plants or even insects. If you don't have the ability to trap animals, you will be at a serious disadvantage. Learning to make and set different kinds of traps is an extremely useful skill.
The best preparation for a survival situation is to practice skills before you get into that situation.
Even without mastery of these skills, if you respect and follow the sacred order: shelter first, then water, then fire, and food last - your chances of survival are greatly improved.
For a half-century, writer and passionate naturalist JJ Murphy, has been providing nature programs, original curricula, articles, product reviews, books and open discussion to children and eco-aware adults across the USA. She lives in Harriman, NY. http://www.writerbynature.com/index.php Creative Content for Your Nature Endeavors
Pokemon Platinum Johto/Kanto Starters?
Are there any trainers carrying any of them around (or any of their evolutions) so I can trade over the WI-FI connection? I *really* want one of them. I have the national dex so I hope there's one up by the Battle Zone/Survival Zone etc. Help?
Nope, not that I can think of. I have some of them, so I could offer to trade with you, though.
Let's see, I have... Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Cyndaquil, and Tododile. I could get a Chikorita in no time, as well. Willing to trade? :3
And in response to Slim Shady... Most people don't choose to imitate unpopular music artists, but you chose the other road there, didn't ya now.
WetFire and Cotton ball fire starter soaked in water
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 Orange Magnesium Flint Stone Fire Starter Survival Kit  US $.99
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 NEW 10.5" Stainless Survival Knife w/ Fire Starter US $4.25
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 11" LARGE SURVIVAL CAMP KNIFE W/ MAGNESIUM FIRE STARTER ROD FLINT US $9.87
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 Portable Cook Survival Flint Fire Starter Lighter Kit US $.10
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 11" SURVIVAL CAMP KNIFE W/ MAGNESIUM FIRE STARTER ROD FLINT US $9.94
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 Orange Magnesium Flint Stone Fire Starter Survival Kit US $.99
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 Orange Magnesium Flint Stone Fire Starter Survival Kit US $.99
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 SINGLE HAND SURVIVAL MULTI TOOL FIRE STARTER FLINT+RULER+WHISTLE US $9.95
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 Portable Cook Survival Flint Fire Starter Lighter Kit US $.99
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 Orange Magnesium Flint Stone Fire Starter Survival Kit US $.99
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 FULL SURVIVAL FIRE STARTER HUNTING CAMPING KNIFE W/FLINT. US $9.95
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 SURVIVAL MULTI TOOL FIRE STARTER FLINT+RULER+WHISTLE US $9.95
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 4 inch Blade Black Tanto Survivor Survival Knife with Magnesium Fire Starter!! US $1.36
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 Wholesale Waterproof Gasoline Match Flint Fire Starter Kit for Survival Tool BBQ US $1.25
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Trademark 7 Survival Knife w/fire Starter, Green Rope, Nylon Pouch
$9.98 Conquer the wilderness with the Rescue Team Survival Knife by M-Tech. This durable knife features a full tang blade forged from 440 Stainless Steel and coated in a Teflon finish in the Tanto shape. The handle has been crafted of a hard rubber for superior grip. Carry this knife by your side as you trek into the darkest wilderness with the included nylon sheath.... |
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Deluxe Sprouting Starter Kit w/ 12 Lbs. Of Organic Seed - Everything To Grow Sprouts: 3 Tray Sprout Garden, Seeds: Alfalfa, Radish, Clover, Mung Bean, Garbonzo Beans, Green Pea, Crunchy Lentil Fest & More
$89.95 This deluxe sprouting kit provides space saving "LIFETIME GUARANTEED"stackable tray system and a single sprouting lid for soaking the seeds and for making small amounts. ONE "SPROUTING FOR HEALTH IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM" Instruction booklet. Everything you need to learn the basic aspects of sprouting virtually every kind of organic seed, bean or grain is here for you in this deluxe starter pack! In... |
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Rothco Multi-Function Emergency Survival Outdoor Compass w/LED Survival Kit
$10.99 Camping Surviving Tool with 10 Vital Functions from Kikkerland Going camping or out into the wilderness? Take this handy survival tool just in case. This compact tool has 10 vital functions packed into one tool. It acts as a thermometer, hygrometer, mirror, compass, level, magnifying glass, ruler, LED light, whistle, and a flint fire starter! 2 button cell batteries required, included.... |
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Emergency Survival Firestarter Kit Magnesium Fire Starter, Matches, Tinder and More !
$9.99 Contents~~~ Magnesium Starter-- In survival situations, you'll want this simple, compact magnesium fire starter with you at all times to get a fire going even in damp weather. The magnesium fire starter is a small block of magnesium that is waterproof and fireproof in its solid form. Scrape some shavings and then strike the firesteel built into the starter to ignite the shavings. The fire generat... |
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First Aid Only American Red Cross Emergency Preparedness W/first Aid Kit, Soft Case (Pack of 2)
$22.86 This innovative American Red Cross 67pc. emergency preparedness kit (manufactured by First Aid Only) comes in a convenient, all-inclusive package. Zippered pocketbook design provides easy access to contents and the smaller size makes it versatile enough for travel, home, office, school or car. Kit includes: first aid guide, call 9-1-1 banner, vinyl gloves, ample bandages and gauze pads, blister p... |
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Kikkerland Magnifire Solar Magnifier (MG19)
$5.99 Believe it or not, but the designer of this item actually uses this magnifier to light his smoke. He says it has helped him to slow down his habit because there are not that many sunny days in Paris. The very flat lens, also called a Fresnel Lens magnifies up to 2.5. Probably best used for tiny print. Really, it is a cool little object. To use, slide open the magnifier. Hold it perpendicular to th... |
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Solar Spark Lighter and Survival Tool
This is the "hottest" product we sell, literally! The Solar Spark Lighter is the world's only pocket-size solar lighter. It is actually a stainless steel parabolic mirror, just like the one used to light the Olympic torch every 4 years. It is designed to focus the sun's radiant energy to a precise focal point that can reach hundreds of degrees! Keep out of reach of children, handle with care, fol... |
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Triple Seven Safety Siphon Self Priming Pump
$6.88 Triple Seven Safety Siphon Self Priming Pump.... |
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Deluxe Survival Kit Clear Case
$59.74 The Deluxe Survival Kit is a collection of some of the world's finest camping and survival gear containing what you need to start a fire cut limbs for shelter and signal for help. Whatever you do outdoors (camping hiking climbing hunting fishing etc.) these premier recreational safety and camping supplies can simplify your life every day and can help save your life on the worst days. This kit is i... |
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Deluxe Survival Kit Clear Blistered
$72.97 The Deluxe Survival Kit is a collection of some of the world's finest camping and survival gear containing what you need to start a fire cut limbs for shelter and signal for help. Whatever you do outdoors (camping hiking climbing hunting fishing etc.) these premier recreational safety and camping supplies can simplify your life every day and can help save your life on the worst days. This kit is i... |
Tags: Camping, fire, fire starter survival, howto, starter, survival