Prepare. Think. Survive.

How to Survive an Avalanche

Posted by Survive on February 21, 2012 Comments Off

Surprise! You just got buried in snow! An avalanche occurs when a large volume of snow quickly flows downhill, triggered when the volume of snow surpasses a threshold of weight, earthquakes, or animals.

It is disputed whether or not loud noises can trigger an avalanche, though the human voice is probably not loud enough to trigger an avalanche even at its loudest volume.
If possible, move to the side of the avalanche as much as possible, getting stuck right int he middle is the worst place to be.
Another option is to grab hold of a tree and hang on for dear life.
If you are being enveloped by an avalanche, cup your hands over your mouth, which will create space for you to breathe under the snow while you wait to be rescued.
Once caught in the snow, push your leg or arm out in hopes of reaching to the surface, where it is possible for someone to see you and come dig you out.
Rarely is it possible to dig oneself out of an avalanche. If it were, there would be a lot less deaths resulting from avalanches. Read more »

First Aid for Minor Cuts, Scrapes, and Burns

Posted by Survive on February 8, 2012 Comments Off

Not all injuries require a trip to the emergency room, but even minor wounds should be cared for in order to prevent infection (especially if you are out in the wilderness) or making them worse and slowing down the time it takes to heal.

Burns:

For first and second degree burns resulting from flame or heat, you should run some lukewarm water over the burn and wrap it up securely in a damp cloth. Try to keep the injury elevated. Avoid popping any resulting blisters.

Cuts and Scrapes:

Wash the injury with water and soap and try to keep the wound clean, watch for redness to appear around the injury, a possible sign of infection. Wrap the injury in a piece of cloth. If bleeding won’t stop, you will need to fashion a tourniquet. You can improvise one with a strip of cloth or a belt. Tighten the tourniquet the limb above the injury.

Disclaimer: The information in this post is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, emergency treatment or formal first-aid training. If you find yourself in a life-threatening/emergency medical situation, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Pooping in the Great Outdoors

Posted by Survive on February 6, 2012 Comments Off

If you’re stuck out in the wild and have nothing with which to wipe your ass after defecating, there are a few other good options for getting your butt clean:

Not only does it make for an easier, faster defecation, squatting (as opposed to sitting) also leaves your butt clean after the dirty deed is done, so there’s less to clean.
Leaves (of the non-poisonous varieties) are always a go-to toilet paper substitute. Beech leaves are prime.
In the cold, snow is a great way to get your ass clean after a good pooping. Read more »

First Aid: What to do if Someone is Struck by Lightning

Posted by Survive on February 2, 2012 Comments Off

Should someone you know be struck by lightning, you should perform the following:

Call for emergency medical assistance for the injured person.
Provide appropriate first aid measures. If the person is not breathing, perform rescue breathing. If their heart has stopped beating, provide CPR. If the injured person has both a pulse and is breathing on their own, look for other injuries.
Check for burns. Lightning burns two spots on the body: where the person was struck and where the electricity left the body. A lightning strike can also cause broken bones and a loss of hearing or eyesight. Read more »

The Speargun

Posted by Survive on February 1, 2012 Comments Off

A speargun is a fishing tool which fires a spear underwater. There are two general types of spearguns, those that are air powered and those powered by rubber or latex bands. Fishing with a speargun allows for fishing in deeper waters than permitted by traditional spearfishing. Read more »

First Aid: Broken Nose

Posted by Survive on January 30, 2012 Comments Off

Also called a nasal fracture, a broken nose is caused by physical trauma to the face, such as being punched in the face, falling, various contact sports, and other physical activities.

Symptoms and signs of a broken nose:

Bleeding from the nose
Bruising
Swelling
Pain
Tenderness
Difficulty breathing

What to do if you think you have broken your nose:

Breathe through your mouth and lean forward to reduce the amount of blood draining into your throat.
Apply an ice pack or cold compress immediately after the injury. Repeat four times a day for the following 1-2 days, 10 to 15 minutes each time.
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever
Elevate your head (even when sleeping) so as not to worsen swelling of the injury.
See a doctor for further medical care. The doctor may let minor breaks heal on their own, prescribe treatment and medicine as necessary, and in the case of more serious fractures (such as when the nose shape is deformed by the injury), may try to realign a broken nose. If you have difficulty breathing because of your injury, seek medical attention.

First Aid: Bee Stings

Posted by Survive on January 27, 2012 Comments Off

When treating a bee sting injury:

Remove the stinger as quickly as possible, delaying will only cause more venom to be released into the injury.
Apply ice or a cold compress to the injury in order to reduce swelling and pain.
If the bee sting sufferer is known to be allergic to bee stings or you suspect he or she is having an allergic reaction, seek emergency medical care as soon as possible.
If the sufferer is known to have an allergy and he or she has an EpiPen handy in order to deal with such a situation, you can help administer the treatment. An epinephrine autoinjector, or EpiPen, contains epinephrine, which helps treat or prevent anaphylactic shock.

Try not to scratch the sting as this can make the problem worse. The sting will likely be painful for up to a few hours after the sting for most people. Doctors often recommend a tetanus shot after being stung by a bee.

Survial Gear: Staying Dry in the Rain and Snow

Posted by Survive on January 25, 2012 Comments Off

If you find yourself in the wilderness, staying dry is extremely important for your health and hygiene. Wearing wet clothes can contribute to some illnesses. In cold climates, staying dry is necessary for avoiding hypothermia. Having an extra set of clothes in your water-proof bag is a smart idea.

If you know ahead of time that you are going into a wet and possibly cold climate, you should invest in some waterproof gear. Note that water-resistant gear is not the same thing. Water-resistant gear can help you stay dry in light rain for a little while. However, for more severe and long-lasting weather conditions, waterproof gear is the way to go. Waterproof gear is typically a little heavier than water-resistant gear. Waterproof fabrics shed water because they have been treated with a waterproofing agent or because of how the fabric is woven or what it is made out of. Read more »

Animals to Generally Avoid: Bees

Posted by Survive on January 24, 2012 Comments Off

Most folks are familiar with bees early from their childhood in the form of honey bees or bumble bees. They come in a large number of species on several continents. Hornets and wasps tend to have sleeker bodies and lack fuzz, compared to bees which look like little yellow and red poof-balls. Most bees, like honeybees) live in colonies.

Even honeybees can deliver a painful sting to a perceived threat, but unlike other insect species, a bee can usually only sting an opponent once before the stinger and venom gland rips out of the insects body, lodged in the opponent. At this point the bee dies and releases a chemical message alerting other bees in the area of the threat.

Save for those who have a severe allergic reaction to bee stings, a singular bee sting is painful but often not serious. Bees are generally less aggressive than hornets or wasps, with the exception of the dreaded and much-hyped killer bee species, which is a hybrid of different honey bees that happen to be much more aggressive than your typical bee. A singular killer bee sting likewise won’t kill you, but killer bees are known to follow perceived threats over longer distances more aggressively in order to kill the threat, thus making them more dangerous than traditional honey bees.

Avoiding a run-in with any bees is a good idea for protecting yourself. Be aware of the various fruits and flowers prefer to collect pollen to stay away from them.

Urban Safety: Take Off Your Headphones

Posted by Survive on January 17, 2012 Comments Off

In previous posts, I cautioned against wearing headphones while walking about town due to the increased risk of theft and crime you open expose yourself to, due to being less aware of your surroundings.

Now, there’s another good reason for ditching your headphones while walking the streets – wearing headphones has now been linked to an increased likelihood of pedestrian deaths and injuries. While wearing headphones (or maybe just fiddling with your smart phone while walking), you’ll be less likely to pay attention to incoming motor hazards. It’s a similar risk to texting or talking on your cell phone while driving. According to a new study (http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/early/2012/01/03/injuryprev-2011-040161), headphone related accidents have increased by more than three times in the last six years. Read more »

You best be prepared, son.