SHOW ME HOW TO SURVIVE
The handbook for The Modern heroJOSEPH PRED
mark your trail
read animal tracks and scat
walk a straight line in the woods
navigate with your watch
stay on track in the desert
navigate out of a swamp
read the stars
find the equator in a forest
build a campfire
light a fire with chocolate
construct a fire drill
use a fire plank
purify water in green bamboo
boil water in a tree stump
collect water from fog
get water in the desert
signal an airplane
erect a quick tepee
assemble a debris hut
set up a shade shelter
build a swamp bed
dig a snow cave
survive an avalanche
prevent snow blindness
be avalanche aware
find an avalanche victim
make a fish trap
catch a fish bare-handed
go ice fishing
snare a hare
gut a hare
squash a squirrel
nab a fox
trap a rodent
impale an elk
be bear aware
fend off a mountain lion
save a child from a coyote
treat a snake bite
get jungle savvy
remove a botfly with bacon
prepare tasty snake meat
eat a scorpion
eat wild around the world
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help after an accident
call for help
check a pulse
bolt from a wrist grip
escape from a choke hold
break out of a bear hug
deal with a burgled home
follow up after a burglary
perform cpr on an adult
do the heimlich maneuver
give cpr to a baby
save a choking baby
improvise an airway puncture
suture a wound
decompress a chest
stop bleeding
bandage a nasty wound
cauterize a wound in the field
save a toe
improvise a leg splint
wrap a sling
know your fractures
test for edibility
deal with a poisoned kid
identify natural poisonous foods
identify venomous insects
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help
prevail
navigate the mean streets
stay safe in the wilderness
be prepared at the office
make a family emergency plan
stock an emergency kit
stock a bunker
prepare a flood dinghy
set up a panic room
bury a tornado shelter
make your home safe
prepare your pet
keep pets safe after a disaster
know animal warning signs
weather a hurricane
build a flood barrier
fill sandbags properly
firescape a yard
fight fire with an extinguisher
be prepared in a house fire
prepare for travel
stay smart abroad
protect against identity theft
burglar-proof a home
check a car before a trip
pack a car emergency kit
stay safe in a parking garage
get help for a boat in trouble
read storm clouds
boat safely in a storm
know your knots
sleep on the beach
pitch a snow camp
shelter in the jungle
camp in the desert
prepare for social collapse
prepare rugged venison jerky
preserve meat in a smoker
catch backyard game
hunt pigeons in the city
feed a family without a farm
get fit for the outdoors
clean a gun
store a gun
be safe at the range
disarm a shooter
keep from spreading the flu
pack a first-aid kit
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protect
first aid
home safety
wilderness skills
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treat a bee sting
treat a jellyfish sting
make a ginger poultice
evaluate your medicine chest
remove a small fish hook
treat a blister
remove a splinter
remove an object from your eye
put out a clothing fire
halt an electrocution
avoid lightning on a mountain
identify burns
deal with a superficial burn
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handle a chemical burn
help a seizure victim
recognize a heart attack
identify a stroke
treat hyperventilation
survive an asthma attack
soothe a mild allergic reaction
spot a severe allergic reaction
stop a nosebleed
free a frozen tongue
preserve a dislodged tooth
fill a cracked tooth
spot and treat a concussion
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help a lost child
rescue a cat up a tree
rescue-breathe for a dog
protect a baby bird
rescue a swimmer in trouble
identify heat-related illnesses
treat heat exhaustion
help clean up an oil spill
clean an oiled bird
help someone out of an ice hole
treat frostbite
save a hypothermia victim
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survive a shipwreck
use pants as a flotation device
find land when lost at sea
build a dugout canoe
pick a coconut
use coconuts
ace an emergency scuba ascent
escape a kelp forest
avoid a shark attack
fend off a shark
resist a wolf pack
battle a pit bull
spike an assailant
embrace your enemy
do a handshake takedown
deal with failed brakes
handle a hydroplaning car
weather a chemical spill
survive a snowbound car
improvise a signal mirror
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Teach kids to trust emergency workers.Add emergency numbers to family phones. Set a meeting place in case of separation.
Have an out-of-state contact person.Practice appropriate responses.Discuss possible local hazards.
make a family emergency plan stock an emergency kit
An out-of-state friend or relative can relay information between members of your family if you’re separated during an emergency . Make sure everyone has that person’s phone number and knows to check in.
eyedropper
condoms
prescription medications
prescription glassesfeminine supplies
paper and pendice
cards books
vices
diapers
baby for mula
pet food
baby wipes
bleach
documents in waterproof bag
sleeping bag emergency blanketscamp stove
rope
wrench
dust maskmoist towelettes
cash
can opener
candles and matchesfresh batteries
first-aid kit
1 gal (3.75 l) water per person
regional map
plastic sheeting
whistle
garbage bags zip ties
spray paint
extra set of keys
flashlight
duct tape
nonperishable food
fire extinguisher
cell phone and battery-powered charger
emergency contacts
hand-cranked radio
health and hygiene
essentials
family-care items
handy extras
boredom busters
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Install safety latches on cupboards.
Make sure shelves are properly braced.
Lock up chemicals and potential poisons.
Strap down
your water heater and
install a flexible gas
line.
Keep valuables in a safe.
Install nightlights throughout the house.
While you’ll want to prepare your house for the dangers unique to your region, there are some steps that everyone can take to make their homes safer.
Change smoke detector batteries twice a year.
Position beds away from windows.
Hang heavy pictures away
from sitting areas and beds.
Check repair or service personnel’s ID before
allowing them in.
Keep a wrench near the gas valve in case you need
to shut it off.
Don’t hide keys outside.
Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, garage, and on every floor.
make your home safe
Balcony railing slats should be no more than 4 in (10 cm) apart.
Have your chimney checked by a professional once a year, whether you use it often or not.
deal with a poisoned kid
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Copy important documents. Register with your embassy . Pack extra meds. Dress modestly . Wear a money belt. Stay sly by silencing ringer. Only take reputable taxis. Use cards instead of cash.
Unplug appliances. Stop any leaks or drips. Adjust the thermostat.Lock the windows.Dispose of perishables.Set lights on a timer.Have your mail held. Give travel info to a neighbor.
stay smart abroad
prepare for travel
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Look before answering door.Secure sliding windows.Keep garage doors locked.Store ladders and bins inside.
Trim trees away from house.Add motion-sensor lights.Install an alarm system.Start a neighborhood watch.
burglar-proof a homeprotect against identity theft
Review your credit report annually .
Don’t carry sensitive ID materials with you.
Shred documents, especially any displaying credit card, bank account, or government ID numbers.
Only provide government ID number when legally required.
Keep sensitive information and documents in a secured space.
Be wary of unsolicited
business calls.
Verify communications from banks, utilities, and commerce sites. Never e-mail passwords
or account numbers.
Use your credit card only on reputable sites.
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bowline monkey’s fist cleat hitch double fisherman’s knot square knot surgeon’s loop uni double overhand stopper
boating rescue sailing rock climbing emergency sutures fishing bridge-making ladder construction
know your knots
help someone out of an ice hole
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disarm a shooter
Sidestep and grab the wrist.
Always point downrange. Line up your sight. Squeeze the trigger.
Keep finger off trigger.Load the gun.Verify the range is clear.Use a case or a holster.
Clean the magazine. Clean the slide.Run cloths down the barrel.
Use a cable lock.
Clean the bore of the barrel.
be safe at the range
store a gun
clean a gun
Enter stance; turn off safety.
Twist to break finger. Grip and pull down. Take control.
Verify gun is unloaded. Disassemble gun. Remove residue.
Reassemble; wipe off excess.
Unload before storing. Store guns and ammo apart. Secure the key to the safe.
help
Oh, man! A jellyfish just stung your buddy, there’s a fishhook stuck in your finger, and your hunting cabin has burst into flames. Worst vacation ever? Not if you know what to do (and no, it doesn’t involve peeing on anyone. Sorry!). When things start going wrong, you can totally be the hero who has studied up on what to do and is ready, willing, and able to help out. Studies show that people who have thought about possible scenarios and planned out what they’d do are the ones who stay calm when things start falling apart around them. So read up, and be sure you really know how to handle tough situations. You (and your friend with the jellyfish sting) will be glad you did.
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Gather info to recount later.Stay calm; answer questions.Call within view of accident.Observe accident details. Treat any minor injuries. Call back if situation changes. Stay until responders ar rive. Provide infor mation.
Count beats.Press gently with two fingers.Move to side, under jaw.Find the Adam’s apple.Reassure the victim.Keep him warm.Elevate the victim’s legs.Assess the situation.
call for help
check a pulsehelp after an accident
Help is on the way.
Multiply by four to get the beats per minute. Generally, a pulse below sixty bpm or above one hundred is cause for concer n.
15sec
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Fully insulate toe; put on ice.Add butterfly strips, gauze.Wash wound and toe.Pick up the toe.
save a toe
Elevate and wash site. Assess need for stitches. Add non-adhering bandage. Cover with gauze.
bandage a nasty wound
stop bleeding
If the wound is so deep that you see yellow fatty tissue, or if it’s hard to pinch closed, it needs stitches.
This neat trick is both risky and incredibly painful. Only try this in the case of a massively bleeding wound when help is days away.
5–10sec
Tape gauze in place.Layer gauze as needed.Remove any constrictions.Elevate; apply pressure. Bandage wound.Remove; repeat.Hold to wound.Heat knife to red hot.
cauterize a wound in the f ield
If there are skin flaps left, fold them over the wound before bandaging. Don’t put adhesive directly onto an open wound.
treat frostbite
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1 drop eugenol
preserve a dislodged tooth
f ill a cracked tooth
Apply to reduce pain.Rinse with disinfected water.Remove pieces of tooth.Wash hands thoroughly.
Bring to a dentist.Place in glass of milk.Clean in bowl of war m water.Hold by crown, not roots.
See a dentist.Bite to set in place.Place wax filling in gap.Roll melted wax into a ball.
15min
free a frozen tongue
stop a nosebleed
Keep victim still and calm. Pour war m water. Gently ease tongue away.
If bleeding persists, get help.
If it’s caused by dryness, breathe into a damp cloth.
Catch blood with a cloth.
Try pushing on your upper lip.
Lean forward.Apply inter mittent pressure.
Comfort victim.
Different nosebleeds may respond to different approaches. Here are some alter nate abatement methods to try.
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Locate stranded cat.
Feed cat immediately.
Cinch top; climb down.
Pull bag inside out, enclosing cat.
Grab cat by the scruff of the neck.
Climb tree; don glove.
Stitch a work glove to slit in pillowcase.
Cut a slit in the side of a pillowcase.
If bird is featherless, replace in nest.
rescue a cat up a tree rescue-breathe for a dog
protect a baby bird
Repeat every three seconds.Cover snout and breathe.Close mouth.
Cover loosely with a towel.Place bird in box.
Put tissue paper in a box.Call a wildlife aid center.
Pull tongue forward.
catch backyard game
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read animal tracks and scat
mark your trail
danger
not the way
tur n left
tur n right head this way
oval with apointed end
pellets withbone and hair
teardrop shaped
tubelike withtapered ends
small, circular pellets looks like
pencil lead
If you want others to be able to follow your path in the wild, make these inter national trailblazing symbols using grass, sticks, or rocks.
If you want to avoid crossing paths with unfriendly creatures, or to follow the trail of something tasty, keep an eye out for their unique scat and tracks.
trap a rodent
birds of prey cat family dog family deer family rabbits and hares rodents
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154128127 get water in the desert
Dig a hole in the sand. Add a container to collect water. Insert the tubing. Cover the hole with the tarp. Anchor the tarp with rocks.
Seal the airholes with sand.
Put a rock in the center.
Wait for water to condense.
serious injury
Yes!Need help!
No.Don’t need help.
Make symbols on the ground large enough to be seen from above.
need compass and map
indicate directionto proceed
Make symbols using branches, footprints, or any other
available material.
need foodand water
all is well
believe safeto land here
am goingthis way
Any waterproofcontainer will do.
The tubing should be at least 3 ft (1 m) in length.
The plastic tarp must be clear.
Medium-sized rocks work best.
Dig with a shovel or a large flat stone.
Dig deep enough to reach the damper subsoil. You can help the process by
by urinating near —but not inside!—the container.
During daylight hours, water vapor will condense beneath the tarp and drip from its lowest point.
signal an airplane
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Remove the feet and tail. Slice the abdomen open. Remove the organs. Clean the carcass.
Cut the head off.Peel the skin off.Make incisions in the pelt.Hang and bleed out.
gut a hare
snare a hare
Attach noose to sticks.Secure wire noose to tree.Place sticks along rabbit trail.Trim two forked sticks.
trap a rodent impale an elk
squash a squirrel nab a fox
Lean a heavy rock on the
top stick.
Anchor the linchpin with a baited stick
Prop the rock with notched
sticks.
Bait the bottom stick.
Prop a log over the hole, making what appears to
be a shelter.
3 ft (1 m)
5 ft(1.5 m)
Dig a hole in a field.
Tie a rope to the tree, then
wrap it around the linchpin.
Set the noose undreneath the
baited stick.
Dig an elk-sized pit and add thick, pointed sticks to
the bottom.
Cover the pit’s mouth with branches and leaves.
A rodent will run under the log and be
unable to see the hole.
Use extreme caution when climbing out!
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Remove your pants. Knot bottoms of the legs. Pull down to fill with air. Cinch belt and hug.
Suck on a button to ease thirst.
See land? Swim to it.Collect rainwater in a tarp.
Shield yourself from the sun.Get war m and dry.
use pants as a flotation device
Cumulus clouds gather near solid ground.
If you see a shape on the horizon, note its color. Land will be green; shadows and
clouds will appear gray.
Seabirds head away from land during the day and toward it in the evening.
Test the wind: it blows toward land during the day and away at nighttime.
You’ll spot driftwood from trees (make sure it’s not
debris from a boat).
Fields of seaweed grow near land.
If you’re adrift at sea and antsy to make landfall, watch for these signs that ter ra fir ma is near.
survive a shipwreck f ind land when lost at sea
do the heimlich maneuver
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Crack the window and light an emergency candle.
Put on any and all clothing items you might have.
If your reception is low, try texting for help.
Keep the car turned off.
Make sure tostretch frequently.
Don’t wander away from your car.
Crumple papers and stuff into clothing for extra warmth.
Portion out and eat high-energy foods.
improvise a signal mirror
survive a snowbound car It’s best to stay off the roads during a snow storm, but if travel can’t be avoided, be sure to be safe. Always add additional items like space blankets to your emergency kit.
Reflect light through “V.”Align object between “V.”Hold a CD with other hand.Form a “V” with fingers.
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