Sadhe's Survival Site

Helpful Articles on:

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HOW TO COOK

HOW TO Clean utensils,

FIRST AID ESSENTIALS

HOW TO SAVE WATER make water

HOW TO SAVE ON ENERGY – POWER ETC.

Vehicle usage

	Tips for Setting up a Tent
	Light a fire with and without matches
	Treating small wounds and cuts
	Bivouacking
	Simple Gardening

How to Clean utensils,

If you are by a stream, use the running water and sand for the first wash. For the second wash with some soap or detergent, rinse off with boiled water. A variety of combinations and variations from this are also optional depending on circumstances and availability of water. The important element here is that the final rinse should be with clean running water.

Children especially (and many adults for that matter) have sensitive stomachs and some small amoeba can cause major medical problems that could easily be avoided by a simple rinse.

When Setting up a Tent

Each tent has its own assembly method and you should upon purchase assemble the tent to see how it is done and perhaps if you need additional pegs or rope or other accessories. A tarp or poncho hung over a rope stretched between two trees also can make for a reasonable shelter.

The first step when setting up a tent - or any shelter, lean-to or other, for that matter – is to find an appropriate location. Do not camp on the ridge of a hill as, in the instance of lightening your dew dampened tent becomes a lightening target. And Camping in a dry river-bed is not advisable if there is the slimmest chance of rain.

Important considerations:

- That the ground should be level and clear of rocks; that if it should rain the water does not run in and under the tent;

- If possible a natural wind-breaker such as a tree, hill or shrubs should be utilised;

- keep an open space between the tent and the nearby shrubs and if you have chosen to utilise a tree see that there are no dead branches that could fall. Four or no-legged visitors are less likely to cross a clear space trodden down by humans.

- Clear the area of rocks, sticks and anything that can damage the floor of your tent. A torn or cut floor will inevitably let the bugs in.

- Position the tent so as to be able to see the fire from the entrance but at least 10 feet from the tent. Main reasons: the fire hazard and that you don’t want the smoke from the campfire filling the tent.

- The tent should have its opening facing away from the direction of the wind so that it will not fill with air and ‘lift off’. Also if you are sitting in the opening of the tent and wish to light a fire or gas cooker, it is important that you have some protection.

- Peg and tie down the tent properly as there is nothing so depressing as returning to an upside down ‘home’.

- Dig a small trench around the edge of the tent. If it should rain, this will keep the floor dry. The drain away should be in a direction not usually used by campers.

Steps to setting up a tent.

1. Choose your site carefully.

2. Clear the ground and even the space.

3. Raise the tent as per instructions with the particular tent.

4. Dig a small trench around the base edge of the tent and a drain.

5. Check that the tent is fixed firmly in place and then arrange the interior.

6. Light the fire.

7. Enjoy the camp.

Gardening:

If you find yourself Bivouacking for an extended period or even as a precaution for a fresh natural food supply a small kitchen garden can prove to be life-saving.

The essentials of gardening are simple: 1) till the soil, 2) plant the seeds and 3) water regularly.

Tilling: tilling the soil can be done with a knife, stick, garden-fork or a plough. For a small kitchen garden locate a plot of soil with as few as possible rocks or stones preferably on a slight slope such as the terraces commonly found around here and turn the soil just a few inches deep, in heaped long rows approximately 10 inches wide and a few inches high. Remove weeds, stones, grass and other non-soil elements from the tilled soil.

Planting: With the handle of the knife or a small stick, along the top of the rows of soil, make small holes approximately 1-2 inches deep and spaced evenly approximately 6 inches apart. These measurements are suggestions. For some plants it is sufficient to sprinkle the seeds on the surface and lightly sprinkle soil over the seed to prevent the birds from pinching them. It is best to have several garden vegetable seeds such as carrots, lettuce, radishes and the like, obtainable in packages and follow the instructions on the pack. Plants that take too long to grow are not advisable unless you know you will be bivouacking on a ‘permanent’ basis. Many municipalities and land-boards provide gardening spaces that can be fun and economical.

Watering: This stage is essential for any growth and two much water will also drown the seedlings. Normally, sprinkling the garden patch with a hose using low pressure and a finger over the end of the hose to spray the patch or a simple watering can is ideal and depending upon the season make sure the soil is damp – not water-logged. Avoid watering in the heat of the day. Ideally an evening schedule every second or third day will prove to be sufficient. Another method often used in the middle-east is simply channelling water to the top of the garden rows and opening each row one at a time allowing the channels to fill. This is less efficient however does not require extra equipment and is good if a natural water source is readily available.

Practice and discussions with the neighbours make for good gardens. Man is a social creature and gardening is recreation and a social activity.

The English are great for their gardens and it is told that on one occasion an English gentleman, envious of his neighbour’s onions, inquired over the hedge as to how he managed to have such good onions. The neighbour replied that he had daily visits from certain onion flies. “Oh,” asked the curious one, “how do you know that they are onion flies?” – “Ahhh,” came the response, “I can tell by their breath.”

First Aid

The list of items in any First Aid kit is based on elementary basics. Redundant as this might seem at first let me explain. ‘Elementary’ refers to the treatment and ‘basics’ refers to the equipment. As you will see note on the ‘Tips’ under First Aid Tips, cleanliness is elementary. All the bandaging and binding in the world will not help if the wound becomes inflamed because of an infection. Simply cleaning a cut or wound with water and covering it generously with an antibiotic and clean gauze will heal fairly rapidly most wounds.

A first Aid kit should therefore include the following:

- Swabs

- Hydrogen-peroxide

- Gauze pads

- Polydine or similar anti-biotic ointment

- Triangles for stabilising and protection (see illustrations for suggested usages)

In addition, basic internal illnesses on the immediate level range from headaches (primarily due the lack of water) to stomach cramps, diarrhoea, or constipation and allergic reactions. Therefore the First Aid Kit should include an assortment of Tablets for headaches, for diarrhoea, for constipation as well as water-purification (chlorine or similar) tablets, and some antihistamines and nose drops for dust or similar allergies. Include medication and perhaps hygiene pads for personal needs. *

* See my suggested list for a First Aid kit.

The Essentials for Urban Bivouacking

Matches. Use "Strike-anywhere" matches. Whatever you do, don't use "Strike-on-box' matches." It is impossible to light "Strike-on-box" matches on anything other than the special striker strip on the box. If the box gets wet, you are in big trouble - especially the Israeli version. Once you're sure that you have the right matches, place the matches in a waterproof case or bag and include a striker. A piece of emery board makes a good striker. In very wet conditions, you'll want to have a dry striker along with your matches. Matches, which weigh nothing and easily fit in your pocket, are one of your most important survival tools. Not only does fire allow you to survive a cold, miserable night, but it is an important moral booster as well. Always include fire starter with matches. Always. Place some fire starter in your pack but the matches or lighter should be in you pocket.

Flashlight, Extra Batteries and Bulb. A torch/flashlight, or better yet, a headlight--is another one of those tools cheap insurance - should night overtake you. Candles are also handy though can become quickly a fire-hazard especially in a tent and blow out easily using up your fire-starting or match supplies.

Extra Food. Having extra food is critical in emergency situations. It helps ward off hypothermia in cold, wet weather, and it keeps you thinking clearly in a crisis. Chocolate, or honey and nut bars are small high energy snacks that can keep you going.

First Aid Kit. Be prepared for emergencies. Carry basic first aid supplies such as sterile gauze and pads, band-aids, triangles and medication for headaches, insect bites as well as water purifying tablets. (see separate list)

Pocket Knife. With a pocket knife--a multi purpose Swiss Army knife is ideal or Leatherman tool or Swiss Army Knife - you can make field repairs, shave branches to make kindling, punch holes to repair a tarp, cut nylon cord, etc.)

Water Don't forget one or more containers of water (an important item for any outdoor activity ) and a piece of plastic for making a solar still.

Here's some other important items that you'll want to consider in addition to those listed above.

Shelter. Small one or two man tents are ideal. These can be set up between two trees and provide protection and shelter. All considered, the best way of surviving wet or blazing midday heat as well as nights is have some type of roof over your head and a dry floor under you. One of the best shelter options is a combination of a lightweight nylon poncho, nylon cord and a lightweight space blanket. The poncho can be tied to trees or placed over a rudimentary snow shelter to keep out wind and weather--and in a pinch it doubles as a rain jacket. Use a nylon poncho or tarp. Avoid plastic ponchos and tarps. They rip easily and become brittle in cold weather. For a dry floor underneath you, a lightweight space blanket is a good choice. They are inexpensive, light, and aren't much larger than the size of a bar of soap. Since such lightweight space blankets, however, can tear easily, they are best used as a floor and not depended upon as a tarp over your head.

Weather considerations: sunshade lotions (summer), nylon poncho (winter) and a small tent for cover.

A small transistor radio with batteries separate. Today one can also obtain wind-up radios that function without batteries. These are also good and don’t forget that a set of small ear-phones for listening use far less battery-power.

Extra Clothing. (You should carry at least a rain jacket. It keeps you dry and also serves as wind protection. A good hat (wool or pile) stocking hat is also high on the list of extra clothing since a large amount of body heat is lost through the head and neck area. When deciding what to take, stay away from cotton which is worthless when wet.)

Lighting a Fire With and Without Matches

As I have noted a small campfire becomes the centre of the ‘home’. The basics for lighting a fire are that dry materials burn and secondly, that heat rises. Remember these two essentials always. Another safety aspect to keep in mind is that heat causes expansion and therefore stones or other objects set near to a fire will expand on the warm side which can cause pops and cracks and also batteries to explode (do not throw batteries in a fire) First place a piece of dry bunched up paper on the ground. Around and over this, in tepee style lay, small dry twigs leaving a small opening to light the paper ball in the centre. Have some larger twigs handy and a supply of stick and logs at the ready.

If you have matches light the centre piece of paper from as low as possible and add small twigs till the flames are strong enough to light the bigger sticks. Gently lay the bigger sticks on as the fire grows being careful not to smother the flames or knock down the structure.

The tepee structure is of importance as without oxygen the fire will die. Heat rises thus the oxygen supply must come from the airflow from below. Keep this in mind when you build or wish to put out any fire. If you hold a lighted match upright the heat will rise and the wood below the match-head below will not burn.

Regarding fire starters: there are on the market solid kerosene based fire starters. These can be purchased at most hardware stores or any place that sells anything to do with camping or barbeques and charcoals. These are handy and by far the safest. Simply instead of the dry bunch of paper in the centre of the wood-pile place a piece of the fire-starter and set fire to it.

Liquid fire-starters function well and simply spraying the dry wood pile with the fluid and lighting it is sufficient. Important: in a warm setting these fluids are extremely explosive and should never be sprayed on an already lit fire or on hot coals. Keep a good distance when using fluid fire-starters.

General: flammable liquids themselves do not burn – it is the evaporating gas surrounding the liquid that ignites. Therefore, pouring igniting fuel on a hot surface increases the gas quantity, thus creating a very explosive situation. Gas bottles and the like, explode only after the metal containers or seals have melted sufficiently to let the heated liquid out.

Fire is a tool and important but is not a toy and must be respected especially in warm and dry regions. We do not have grass, trees, nor homes to spare to allow for out of control forest fires. Fires must be supervised at all times.

We are all familiar with lighting a fire with matches and the use of a gas lighter is also common to most however, if neither are available we can be in dire straights. A simple piece of string ( a shoe string will do) and two fairly straight strong sticks about 12 inches long can also do the trick with a bit of practice. Tie the string firmly to the two ends of the one stick. Pen-knife a small notch at each end of the stick and tie the string in the notch to prevent the cord from slipping. The string should be about 6 inches longer than the stick so as to make for a loose bow like structure. (Il. 1)

Place the second stick between the chord and stick, approximately in the centre and rotate the second stick so as to wrap the cord two loops around the second stick (Il.2a) and then turn the sticks to right angles to each other. The centre of the assemble should look similar to Il. 3

Holding the ends of the cross assembly intact with the bow and string in the horizontal plain and holding the upper end of the vertical stick, place the lower end of the vertical stick in an indent on a piece of dry tinder. (Il. 3)

While holding the vertical stick in place, draw the horizontal stick-and-string assembly rapidly back and forth as one would a violin bow, thus causing the vertical stick to rotate in the indent in the tinder. (Il 4a,b,c)

Providing the tinder is dry, the friction between the point of the rotating stick and the tinder will ignite the tinder. Adding dry paper or dry grass and leaves to the point of friction while blowing gently on it will with practice ignite the leaves, grass and tinder-wood. (Il.5a,b)

It is possible also to simply rotate rapidly, the vertical stick in the tinder hole between the palms your hands but this requires even more practice.

1. 2 3

4a 4b 4c

5a 5b

First aid:

- bandages

- creams sun screen lotion, anti bug etc

- tablets for colds and headaches

- polydine cream and ointment

- antibiotic ointment

- chlorine tablets for water purifying

- cleaning alcohol

- vitamins

Food:

- long lasting food that requires no refrigeration

- rice

- pasta

- dried beans and peas

- dried corn

- canned foods

- Tea and coffee and sugar

- Spices ( helps to get the kids to eat) chocolate

- Canned fish in oil,

- Olive oil

Liquids:

- keep 30 –60 litres stored in plastic containers out of sunlight

- keep several litres of bottled water for drinking purposes

- drink concentrates such as blackberry and such are also handy and can also be obtained in powder form for longevity.

- Change the water on a regular basis