Cheat sheet suggestions?

D

DOC-CANADA

Joined
Apr 14, 2006
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Awhile back I posted prototype cheat sheets for the PSK I sent jwilliams and he said one of the things he would like to see is a trap refresher sheet. They are quite small, so great detail would be problematic, but more of a memory jog, so I came up with these: (They are laminated and pictures are on both sides - this one shows the front and back)

trapscheatsheet.jpg


A couple more:

fire-screamcheatsheets.jpg


contentsandnavigationcheatsheets.jpg


These are sized to fit in the jute pouch beside the can, not in it.

I also have 3 more sides - an L-7 lifting pole trigger, the Rule of 3's, and land-air symbols.

Do you have any more suggestions for things that could be included? Any comments on the ones shown? Thanks for your help.

Doc
 
anything on locating and using natural shelters or improvising or making a shelter perhaps.
water purification methods perhaps.
 
Great idea and a really neat job Doc. What about tying them all together flip chart style, you could use a multi use piece of jute twine :)
 
Awesome Doc. The laminated disk is such a great idea!

How about a couple of knots, front and back on one. Bowline, sheetbend and one of the hitches e.g. pile hitch come to mind. I'm sure you can think of several others.
 
Hey guys,

Thanks for the positive remarks and the suggestions. I will be experimenting.

I wanted to bring this back to the top, because I'm sure there are even more good suggestions out there.

BTW, as discussed with a couple of BF members, another type of cheat sheet would be a picture of a loved one, boosting your morale and giving you increased impetus to get your ass home, such as this one for pitdog:

Maisy.jpg


Doc
 
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DOC,
How about some of these ideas:

Different spear/arrow configurations, different aboriginal/improvised hook types, different fish traps patterns, and sling/survival bows designs.
 
Doc,

what a neat project. very useful. seems you have put into application what many have had a need for.

ryan
 
I think it looks great as is Doc. You got the basics covered, I would just add a Reynolds Oven bag, It folds up really small and flat; it might fit inside.
 
RescueRiley said:
anything on locating and using natural shelters or improvising or making a shelter perhaps.
water purification methods perhaps.
Click to expand...

All important information. More specific? Remember it has to fit on a 2-1/2" diameter piece of paper (for this kit, anyway).

IUKE12 said:
Great idea and a really neat job Doc. What about tying them all together flip chart style, you could use a multi use piece of jute twine :)
Click to expand...

I like the fact that you are emphasizing multi-use material. However, there is very little additional room in my kit, maybe only enough for 3 or possibly 4 double sided cheat sheets. These can be tailored for the specific user. For example, being a knot junkie, I probably wouldn't need knots on one.

Also my kit lives in a jute pouch which is completely unravelable (this is a word? :confused:)

ForPhotobucket1.jpg


kgd said:
Awesome Doc. The laminated disk is such a great idea!

How about a couple of knots, front and back on one. Bowline, sheetbend and one of the hitches e.g. pile hitch come to mind. I'm sure you can think of several others.
Click to expand...

Good idea, k. I think maybe the 6 or 8 most important knots? So far, I've done Strait Bend (prefer it to a Sheet Bend for joining rope- doesn't spill and is easy to untie after strain), Bowline, Snare Loop, and Buntline Hitch. This covers joining 2 ropes together, a loop at the end of a rope, a snare, and a hitch to fasten to something. Why do you think a Pile Hitch would be important (not arguing, just curious)?

LittleHairyApe said:
DOC,
How about some of these ideas:

Different spear/arrow configurations, different aboriginal/improvised hook types, different fish traps patterns, and sling/survival bows designs.
Click to expand...

LHA, I have interest in all of these things, but I wonder how useful they would be as a survival reminder. I think you're interested in these things as well, and because of that, you wouldn't need the reminder and remember, on a 2-1/2" sheet, it's difficult to get too specific. Although, maybe you have some specifics that would fit?

tonym said:
I think it looks great as is Doc. You got the basics covered, I would just add a Reynolds Oven bag, It folds up really small and flat; it might fit inside.
Click to expand...

Good idea, but no room GS, but maybe a reminder about burning out bowls and spoons, etc.?

Anyway guys, thank you so much for participating.

Doc
 
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DOC-CANADA said:
LHA, I have interest in all of these things, but I wonder how useful they would be as a survival reminder. I think you're interested in these things as well, and because of that, you wouldn't need the reminder and remember, on a 2-1/2" sheet, it's difficult to get too specific. Although, maybe you have some specifics that would fit?
Click to expand...

I am not at the point where I have any sort of mastery of the topics. I could, speaking just for myself, benefit from a few carefully chosen visual reminders of solutions that people have found to solve the problem of obtaining food.

In my thinking, I am remembering something Les Stroud said, which I am paraphrasing, about having a "six week window" in the fall to gather food, after which one had to either hunt or starve.

And since you were asking for suggestions, I gave you my suggestion, which is rather like my opinion. You know what they say about opinions... ;) A lot of my suggestions stink too.
 
Doc- those are great!

I was floating around an idea a while back about making computer files like jpgs that could be used to print 4x6 photos at the drugstore. laminating those would be sweet. Do you think yours could be modified to fit that sort of idea, as well as the discs?

I've been taking photos of some local vegetation but haven't got anything done up yet.
 
What about some basic ground to air and air to ground signals so you can talk to search aircraft or at least draw attention to their location. Maybe some basic instructions on using them as well.

It also gives them something to do make them feel like they are aiding in their own rescue, which they are.

Here is a good write up on signals that I have always liked.

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/chp19.php









 
LittleHairyApe said:
I am not at the point where I have any sort of mastery of the topics. I could, speaking just for myself, benefit from a few carefully chosen visual reminders of solutions that people have found to solve the problem of obtaining food.

In my thinking, I am remembering something Les Stroud said, which I am paraphrasing, about having a "six week window" in the fall to gather food, after which one had to either hunt or starve.

And since you were asking for suggestions, I gave you my suggestion, which is rather like my opinion. You know what they say about opinions... ;) A lot of my suggestions stink too.
Click to expand...

There is nothing wrong with your suggestions. I appreciate them. What I would like to know is what, specifically, would help you to this end? You know this is very subjective - I think a knots reminder is a good idea, but I wouldn't need it, others may. I can never remember land to air signals, so this would be good for me, maybe not for you.

As far as food goes, fishing, hunting and trapping is the way to go, in a survival situation. Most wild plant foods are incomplete protein, have no fat (very important in a cold climate) and take more energy to find, harvest and prepare than they give up. Not to completely discount wild plants though, they can supplement a diet of meat/fish/fowl, provide vitamins and minerals, give you something to do to occupy your mind to stop you from 'When in worry, when in doubt, Run in circles, scream and shout.' :D

BTW, IIRC, Les was talking about the Boreal forest.

koyote said:
Doc- those are great!

I was floating around an idea a while back about making computer files like jpgs that could be used to print 4x6 photos at the drugstore. laminating those would be sweet. Do you think yours could be modified to fit that sort of idea, as well as the discs?

I've been taking photos of some local vegetation but haven't got anything done up yet.
Click to expand...

Thanks koyote. I don't think you'd need to get 4 X 6 photos made - most printers can print reasonable facsimiles of a jpeg on printer paper, which is what I'm doing (much cheaper). I am using a bit heavier paper, though, to stop some of the visual 'bleed-through'. As far as laminating goes, an 8-1/2" X 11" sheet costs about $0.75 around here. Probably where you are as well.

Regarding your local vegetation, are you making these to take in the field or to use at home?

Doc
 
1_BIG_BUNKER said:
What about some basic ground to air and air to ground signals so you can talk to search aircraft or at least draw attention to their location. Maybe some basic instructions on using them as well.

It also gives them something to do make them feel like they are aiding in their own rescue, which they are.
Click to expand...

Very good idea 1BB, in fact I have already included some in the latest sheet:

currentsheet.jpg


They look better when they print up, but I copied the Word document to Paint to a jpeg so that I could post it. The column on the right has no circles, so that when they print on the other side, if there is any circle misalignment, it won't show through. The circles are to aid in picture/text sizing and also to cut them out of the sheet before laminating.

I also have a blank circle to fill, maybe with the unraveling instructions for the jute pouch, once I settle on how to do it.

Doc
 
I've already been discussing some of this with Doc and it's one of my projects (although I don't have a lot of time to play right now:grumpy:). The idea doesn't just have to conform to Doc's circle kits, you could size it for any PSK container or even make one for it. My intent is to make a couple for the kids' kits along with me and the wife. A picture of the whole family in every kit would be a good motivator. I really want to work of some edible plants with better pictures throughout the season and how to prepare or use them. That's long term for me, but I have several ideas I need to get on paper and there are a ton of resources and pictures for fire making, useful knots, water purification/filtration, signalling, etc.

This is a great idea that hopefully will get tagged for continual updates and ideas from other forum members.

ROCK6
 
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