Post your ONE survival hint here....

In the immortal words of Tuco Ramirez (in the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly):

When you have to shoot, shoot don't talk ! :)
 
Okay, I'm going to post a second one because I can't believe no one else has said it yet:

When going out to the woods carry a good map of the area you're visiting and a compass and know how to use them.
 
Stainz said:
You folks have not learned a thing from Bear Grylls' 'Man vs Wild' show... carry a good MasterCard!

Stainz
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Actually the one thing Bear always says is pretty useful. Always carry a knife, water bottle, and tool to start a fire. He says it practically every show and he's right. They are the most basic of items but can be very important in certain situations.



I've plenty of friends that carry neither knives or firestarting tools and its pretty annoying. ESPECIALLY when they ask to borrow my knife.


Compass is another basic lightweight small item everyone should know how to use and carry. If you do you shouldn't get lost. Stranded maybe, but not lost. :D
 
southbeachlaw said:
Mine is: use little visine dispenser (fits easily into an altoids tin) and fill it with bleach. It dispenses drops easily and you can add bleach to water to kill any organisms. I think it is 2 drops of bleach per gallon, but I'm not sure. That one little bottle will help you clean alot of water.
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My piece of advice is "KNOW FOR SURE!" Not to pick on southbeachlaw but the knowing how much bleach to use could either make you sick, or prevent you from becomming sick. The generally accepted amount of bleach to use in unknown water is 2 drops per "quart". Then if you do not smell residual chlorine in the water, use 2 more drops. The chlorine in sodium hypochlorite (makes up just over 5% of household bleach) is an oxydizing agent that will destroy bacteria if there is enough available to do so. If you put 2 drops into brackish water, the chlorine will complex with the organic material in the water long before it has a chance to kill the bacteria.

Using 2 drops per gallon would only anger most bacteria and likely leave the pathogens to make your survival take on a new meaning of misery.

So if you carry something, anything, in your kit, know how to use it or it's just dead weight. (southbeachlaw, still a good thread with lot's of good knowledge!).
 
Use a sturdy staff,
Very few do this, three points on the ground make for safer travel, use as a weapon, extend reach,procure small animals, push brush and weeds out of the way. I like to see where I'm stepping.
 
small to medium container of olive oil , it can help start a fire , lubricate and prevent rust, can use it for a light source (candle) and can be eaten as a sorce of fat, use as a sun burn preventative and for chapped lips and the uses go on and on.
 
bruce said:
My piece of advice is "KNOW FOR SURE!" Not to pick on southbeachlaw but the knowing how much bleach to use could either make you sick, or prevent you from becomming sick. The generally accepted amount of bleach to use in unknown water is 2 drops per "quart". Then if you do not smell residual chlorine in the water, use 2 more drops. The chlorine in sodium hypochlorite (makes up just over 5% of household bleach) is an oxydizing agent that will destroy bacteria if there is enough available to do so. If you put 2 drops into brackish water, the chlorine will complex with the organic material in the water long before it has a chance to kill the bacteria.

Using 2 drops per gallon would only anger most bacteria and likely leave the pathogens to make your survival take on a new meaning of misery.

So if you carry something, anything, in your kit, know how to use it or it's just dead weight. (southbeachlaw, still a good thread with lot's of good knowledge!).
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Very good post bruce.

I would like to expand a little on adding bleach to brackish water. Like was stated in bruces' post, adding bleach to brackish water is a waste of time, because the bleach attaches itself to the particulate matter that is floating in the water. For that reason, amoung others, I carry a couple of bandanas and coffee filters in my kit so that I can prefilter the water prior to adding the chemical treatment. This ensures that the chemical has a chance to kill off any bacteria that may be present in the suspect water.
 
If you're ever unfortunate enough to get buried by an avalanche, you obviously need to do your best to get out before the snow sets hard. But which way is up and which is down? Spit will show you the way!

And for more mundane situations - Good hygiene can save a lot of heart-ache!
 
Encourage the people with whom you spend a lot of time to be interested in their own survival. Offer to help them put together their own kits for car, home, pocket, and pack. You may spark an interest, or at the very least, when you're in a situation with one or more of them, they'll at least have some gear and supplies.
 
southbeachlaw said:
Mine is: use little visine dispenser (fits easily into an altoids tin) and fill it with bleach. It dispenses drops easily and you can add bleach to water to kill any organisms. I think it is 2 drops of bleach per gallon, but I'm not sure. That one little bottle will help you clean alot of water.
Click to expand...

SBL,
Make sure to use a Sharpie and label the Visine bottle! :eek: You don't want somebody bleaching their eyes!

-- FLIX
 
A small 1 oz. tube of petroleum jelly (Vaseline). Multiple uses, prevent blisters, chapped lips, dry skin, wind burn, minor burns, protection from immersion foot, and fire starters.
 
Don't take chances!!
Like climbing that cliff.Walking across that high fallen log bridge without looking for a better way around.I could go on and on.
 
Be Prepared: I Never leave My house without my leatherman wave, lighter, and duct tape When I go into the woods I also have a Buck hatchet, SOG Flash II, tarp, space blanket, and 50 feet of paracord
 
Yor wits are your most valuable resource. Stop and use your head, Think twice about your next move.
 
When you dress in layers wear a sweat shirt that unzips, regulating your body temperature and making sure you dont over heat and start sweating is very important. Having layers that you can easily unzip lets you keep working at a high pace instead of having to stop to cooldown.
 
Since no one has mentioned this one yet. A tube of ChapStick contains things like Petroleum jelly as well as mineral oil, paraffin, a couple of types of alcohol, some wax etc. and can be used to start fires and of course prevent chapped lips. :D Small, convienient to carry and flammable. :thumbup:

KR
 
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