A Survival Tips and Techniques Blog | UrbanWoodsman.com

Getting lost or disoriented in a survival situation can be very frightening. Put navigation equipment in survival kits with tips from an experienced outdoorsman in this free video on wilderness survival. Expert: kevin Barrett Bio: Kevin Barrett is an experienced outdoors man who has been honing his survival skills for many years. Filmmaker: Nili Nathan

A 72 hour survival kit for each person in earthquake country has been goal for not only the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) but also for the local Southern California based Survival Kits Online. As the â??Golden Guardianâ? earthquake drill approaches in November 2008, Californianâ??s are urged to sign up at www.shakeout.org and to participate in the largest earthquake drill ever.  On November 13, 2008 at 10 AM the entire state will be asked to duck and cover to simulate the â??Big oneâ? that is seemingly very over due.

After the year long study the USGS (United States Geological Survey) has concluded and presented a scenario of a 7.8 earthquake on the San Andres fault.

The study comprised eight counties: Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura. Its results will be used as the basis of an emergency response and preparedness exercise, the Great Southern California ShakeOut, and for this purpose we defined our earthquake as occurring at 10:00 a.m. on November 13, 2008. As members of the southern California community use the ShakeOut Scenario to plan and execute the exercise, we anticipate discussion and feedback. This community input will be used to refine our assessment and will lead to a formal publication in early 2009.

 

â??Another way that Californians can make sure they are fully prepared is to write their disaster plan and get a 72 hour survival kitâ? says Scott Kastner owner/partner Survival Kits Online. â??We opened our business with the goal of helping to save lives and this disaster drill will reach millions. If we just reach one person with the message and one life is saved this world will be a better place.â?

Each year in September â??Emergency Disaster Preparedness Monthâ? is observed by our nation. It stresses, as does the California ShakeOut, for citizens to make a disaster plan and get survival kits. But the ShakeOut puts a more urgent twist on preparation. It is not the unexpected that makes Californians prepare, just the contrary, the time bomb which runs through California is called the San Andres Fault and it is ripe for the shaking.

Each year California has thousands of earthquakes mostly under 3.0 on the Richter Scale. It is the once in a century or two type of earthquake which has the potential of killing hundreds if not thousands. These are the types of earthquakes which make preparations vital.

There has been some confusion in the past whether to stand in a doorway or duck and cover. These issues are spelled out very carefully on the www.SurvivalKitsOnline.com website. Following recommendations made by the OES and the USGS, Survival Kits Online points out that duck and cover is the most effective way to survive a temblor.

â??Making a disaster plan, purchasing a survival kit and practicing your plan increases your chances of survival exponentially. At www.SurvivalKitsOnline.com we are here ready to help you get prepared to surviveâ? Kastner.  

    

In a survival kit, products such as water canisters or bladders can help someone from becoming dehydrated or drinking bad water. Bring water supplies for a survival kit with tips from an experienced outdoorsman in this free video on wilderness survival. Expert: kevin Barrett Bio: Kevin Barrett is an experienced outdoors man who has been honing his survival skills for many years. Filmmaker: Nili Nathan

A good backpack for carrying a survival kit will make long hikes more comfortable. Choose the right backpack for survival kits with tips from an experienced outdoorsman in this free video on wilderness survival. Expert: kevin Barrett Bio: Kevin Barrett is an experienced outdoors man who has been honing his survival skills for many years. Filmmaker: Nili Nathan

In survival kits, safety pins, wires and knives can all be used for different forms of hunting. Pack hunting supplies for a survival kit with tips from an experienced outdoorsman in this free video on wilderness survival. Expert: kevin Barrett Bio: Kevin Barrett is an experienced outdoors man who has been honing his survival skills for many years. Filmmaker: Nili Nathan

Fire starters are important parts of survival kits for the sake of providing warmth and heat for cooking. Add fire starters to survival kits with tips from an experienced outdoorsman in this free video on wilderness survival. Expert: kevin Barrett Bio: Kevin Barrett is an experienced outdoors man who has been honing his survival skills for many years. Filmmaker: Nili Nathan

Exploring the wilderness is an exciting experience, but what would you do if you suddenly found yourself lost? Most explorers donâ??t think it can happen to them, but in the blink of an eye it can, even if you are experienced or have been in the area before.

Survival kits are recommended for everyone heading into the wilderness, regardless of where you are going, or how experienced you are with exploration. First, consider the area you are planning to explore and how you will carry the survival kit. If you are able to carry it in a vehicle, then you can have more items than if you are going to have to carry everything on you. Prepare for the conditions of the area. For example you will pack a different survival kit for a swampy area that for a dry desert area.

Being prepared will make all the difference in the outcome for you and those traveling with you. Planning ahead will help ensure the safety of everyone. Do not venture out into the wilderness if you are not physically fit enough to do so. You donâ??t want the risk of potential major medical issues to deal with in this type of situation. Make sure everyone has up to date immunizations as well.

Try to select items for your kit that can be used for more than one purpose. This will cut down on the number of items you need as well as the weight of the kit. For example, a multi purpose knife can be used in place of packing individual items.

Essential items to carry every time you head in the wilderness include first aid items, water purification tablets, items to start a fire, signaling items such as flares, food, items to prepare food, and shelter, or items to prepare a shelter. It is a good idea to also pack sunscreen, bug repellent,  and Chap Stick to help you feel better throughout the day.

If you are heading out on a wilderness trip you better make sure you have your wilderness first aid kits prepared and with you. Chances are that if you do not bring a kit with you then you will need it. Most times you bring a kit you will not need to use it, but that is fine, just as long as you have it with you.

If you are prepared for any sort of situation while on a wilderness adventure then chances are you will be able to deal with it. Being prepared is as important as taking your wilderness first aid kits with you. People who are prepared are usually much more safety conscious and thus does not experience as much trouble as other people would.

Even if people with you have wilderness first aid kits, you should avoid situations that could cause a problem. Prevention can be a much less expensive or even painful option.

Before beginning any trip, it is important to make sure everyone’s wilderness first aid kits are fully stocked. An empty kit is useless. At least two people in your travel party should have CPR training. You should have more than one person with this training in case the person with the training needs the CPR himself or herself.

There are courses available that focus on wilderness first aid training. This would be preferable to a general first aid course. Even if your trip is a short one, carry a basis first aid kit because you could still require a simple band-aid on your trip.

Before going on your trip, research the area to find any inhabited areas that you could evacuate to if needed. These would include cottages, camps or aboriginal settlements. People that live in the wilderness will have some form of communication that you could use in an emergency. Some remote camps will even have a bush plane that could be available in an emergency as well.

Your wilderness first aid kits should contain flares for emergency situations. If you are unable to get out of the bush, you need to be able to let someone know where you are. Other methods of attracting the attention of a plane include lighting three fires, writing a large SOS in the sand or using a signaling mirror. A wilderness rescue can be a very expensive operation, make sure you are properly prepared so that this does not happen to you.

Typically wilderness survival kits have first aid items, ways to make fire, a blade of some sort, and some water purification tablets. That’s the minimum in any case, and there are certainly other items in almost any kit that you buy. But of course not everyone is going into the same kind of terrain during the same seasons and engaging in the same activities. In other words, you might not find a kit that has just what you need in it. The solution? Build your own.To start with, you need a good nylon pouch or zippered bag to hold everything. You can start stocking it with the usual items. These should include matches, some other form of fire starter (lighter or magnesium stick), a signal reflector, whistle (also for signaling), water purification tablets, a compass, a knife, some cord, duct tape, paper, a pencil, needle and thread, safety pins, bandages, aspirin, gauze pads, sun block, antibiotic ointment, medical tape, tweezers, and moleskin.

Next, consider the types of environment you are normally going to be in. If you often hike in the desert, for example, a large garbage bag or piece of plastic might be a good idea. It can be used to make a solar still if you need water.

If you canoe to isolated locations far from civilization, fishing gear might be a good addition. A few rolls of line and a half-dozen hooks and split-shot sinkers will add only an ounce or so to the weight of the kit. This better prepares you to feed yourself should your other supplies get washed away.

If you do a lot of cold-weather backpacking you might include an emergency “survival blanket.” One of the metallic-plastic ones might weigh only a few ounces, yet work to warm you as well as keep the rain off of you.

If you hike in the mountains and are prone to twisted ankles or knee problems, add an ace bandage. If the metal hooks snag on things in your kit, you can leave them behind and just tuck the wrap into itself. I also sometimes carry an elastic knee-brace that weighs just a few ounces.

If you travel very far from roads or civilization in general, food can be a great addition as well. Find some granola bars or something else that has an expiration date a year away or more. That way you can leave the emergency food in your survival kit between trips, so you don’t forget it.

If you travel in cold wet places, add a good fire tinder that will light when wet. This could be cotton balls soaked with petroleum jelly, cardboard soaked in wax, or something similar. Alcohol-based gel hand sanitizer can help wet things burn as well (and can be used as a disinfectant).

Finally, consider making small survival kits for your pocket. Losing gear is not that uncommon, but you rarely lose the clothes you are wearing. This kind of kit should have aspirin, waterproof matches, a bandage, and a small amount of duct tape. You can add other items, but keep the whole thing small enough and light enough to comfortably carry in a pocket.

If you are going on a camping trip, make sure that your survival kit has an emergency blanket included. In case of unexpected downpours and windstorms, using them is sure to keep you toasty warm throughout the night.

Shopping Tips for Emergency Blankets
With so many bogus products crowding the market today, authentic emergency blankets, which may also be referred to as space blankets, are harder to find. Use the tips below to make sure that your purchase is 100% capable of keeping you safe and warm in whatever weather condition you find yourself in.

The Right Materials
Basic emergency blankets are made of aluminized non-stretch polyester. Anything else will not be able to effectively or sufficiently reflect your body heat and provide you with the extra warmth you need.

Heavy-duty emergency blankets, on the other hand, are made of a more durable kind of polyethylene. If you’re expecting to meet extreme weather conditions on your camping trip, you’ll be glad to know that this kind of emergency blanket is capable of reflecting 90% of your body heat.

Lastly, authentic emergency blankets are weatherproof. Be sure to test it out for yourself. Emergency blankets must not only be capable of keeping water out but it must also protect your body from strong gusts of wind.

Compact and Lightweight
Because emergency blankets are designed for outdoor use, its manufacturers have ensured that lightweight materials are used for making them to facilitate traveling. If the emergency blanket you are interested in buying is bulky and heavy then it’s probably a fake and won’t give you any semblance of safety or warmth when you finally make use of it on your camping trip.

Flexible
Be sure to test the flexibility of the emergency blanket. You want something that will effectively mold to your shape even in sub-zero conditions.

Size
If you are of exceptional height or girth, be sure to check the dimensions of the emergency blanket. Don’t settle for anything incapable of keeping you fully covered as this could compromise your health and safety.

Appearance
Look for something that’s easy distinguishable even in low light conditions. In cases where you’ll have to pack quickly and move to another camping site, you won’t have a hard time looking for your emergency blanket.

It’s Not for Sharing
Last but not the least, not all emergency blankets are designed for sharing and at the most, they are only capable of keeping two persons under wraps. Anything more would render the emergency blanket less effective than it should be.