Disaster Preparation: Page 9

Learn how to tie the sheep shank Boy Scouts knot. A sheep shank knot has two uses. First, you may use it to shorten a rope and maintain its strength for pulling. Its most useful purpose, however, is in situation when you cannot retrieve your rope. When lowering yourself over a rock (with no intention of returning up the face) how are you going to retrieve the rope that it tied to a rock or tree at the top? Tie a sheep shank knot close to the top end of the rope. Maintain tension on the rope and...

Learn how to tie this Boy Scouts knot. The tautline knot builds a loop that will easily get bigger - by sliding the knot up the rope toward the free end. But, when pressure is applied to the loop, it will not get smaller. Its most common use in Boy Scouts is on the ropes that attach a tent to tent stakes in the ground. The loose end is attached to the tent. The loop goes around the stake and the knot slides by hand to tighten or loosen the rope. But the tautline hitch knot will not slide by...

Learn how to tie the Turk's Head Woggle Knot. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Turk's Head Woggle Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip.

Learn how to tie the Monkey's Fist Knot! This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Monkey's Fist Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip.

Learn how to tie the Matthew Walker knot! This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Matthew Walker Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip.

Learn how to tie the Crown Sinnet Knot. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Crown Sinnet Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip.

Learn how to tie the Timber Hitch (Lumberman's or Countryman's Knot). This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Timber Hitch (Lumberman's or Countryman's Knot) fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way.

Learn how to tie the Sheep Shank Knot. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Sheep Shank Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your Boy Scout requirements.

Handy technique for search & rescue, learn how to tie a hasty webbing harness with this knot tying animation. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Hasty Webbing Harness Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip.

Learn how to tie the Sailmaker's Whipping Knot. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can tie the Sailmaker's Whipping Knot fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip.

Learn how to coil an unnattached rope. This animated knot tying tutorial is the best you'll find. With this knot tying how to, you can coil an unattached rope fast or slow, or pause it at every step along the way. Learn to tie knots for your next outdoor trip.

Learn how to deal with a black bear or grizzly encounter with Shannon Davis and Ted the Bear. Black bears are distinguished from brown bears by lack of a prominent shoulder hump; a Roman profile or sloping nose and forehead instead of a dished forehead; and shorter, thicker claws for climbing versus longer, more slender claws for digging. Although brown bears are generally bigger, size is not a dependable indicator. Also, fetal position is often recommended as opposed to lying prone as shown.

You never know when you'll have to defend yourself against one of these bloodsuckers, so be prepared to bring a vampire to his knees. While you may not believe in vampires, there are those that do. In any case, prepare now for a hypothetical attack from the un-dead and you won't have to kick yourself later. You will need garlic, a cross, rice, grain, or seeds, holy water, a wooden stake, an axe, matches, and some water. Watch this video survival training tutorial and learn how to fight off a...

The Adjustable Bend, demonstrated in this how-to video, was invented by the Canadian climber Robert Chisnall sometime before 1982. More accurately a coupling of two identical knots, the bend is a great way of lengthening or shortening two rope ends tied together. Watch this video survival training tutorial and learn how to tie the adjustable bend knot.

A well stocked first aid kit is a good tool to have at home at any time, and it will help you be better prepared in the event of an emergency. It's also a good idea to have a kit with you while hiking, biking, camping or boating. While kits can be bought preassembled, you can also build your own. For more information on keeping and creating your own first aid kit, take a look.

Insects can be a big nuisance while you are hiking. Different parts of the country and different parts of the world have different kinds of stinging, nasty, biting insects. Preventing insect bites is easy with these tips. Get advice on backpacking, hiking, and the great outdoors in this how-to video.

Follow along with the steps in this how-to video and find out how a magnifying glass can be used to start a fire.1. Crumble a few leaves into a small pile.2. Get you magnifying glass and make a beam from the sun as small a circle as you can. It has to be a circle or it won't work.3. Try to light the middle of the pile with the beam.4. Patience; keep the beam in the same place.Watch this video survival training tutorial and learn how to make a fire with a magnifying glass.

Char cloth is just a piece of cotton that's been burned. It's a great way to easily start a fire. Check out this survival training how-to video and learn how to make char cloth.

An MSR sweetwater micron pre-filter will purify water to drinking quality. It's a handy water filter to take along on camping trips or outdoor activities. Watch this video survival training tutorial and learn how to replace an MSR Sweetwater 5 micron pre-filter.

A Millbank bag is a great way to filter water into drinking water. While bacteria is not removed by a Millbank bag, large debris is filtered out so the water can be boiled or purified by other means. Watch this video survival training tutorial and learn how to use a Millbank bag to filter water in nature.

By scraping a magnesium fire starter with a blade, you can create a spark to start a flame. This is basically the same idea as flint, rubbing rocks together, or sticks, but a little bit more foolproof. Watch this video survival training tutorial and learn how to make a fire with a magnesium fire starter.

This is how to use a magnesium fire stick.Steps:1. Using the back of your knife scrape small pieces of magnesium into a pile the size of a dime or penny.2. Get something like newspaper or dry grass (somthing that will easily light) Put it over the magnesium because the magnesium burns only for a few seconds.3. Using the flint part of the Magnesium fire starter and the back of your knife at a 45 degree angle strike it so it makes sparks. Try to land a spark on the magnesium pile. After the spark...

Check out this instructional video that demonstrates how to unroll a 25 foot piece of rope known as the Tamale. The tamale rolls out using Jacks 3 strand hemp. The Tamale was designed to hold long bundles of leather for whip braiding. It is useful for bundling larger diameter rope for use in hojojutsu or shipboard. Learn how to unroll the tamale with this tutorial video.

Check out this instructional knot tying video that demonstrates how to tie the Fool's Cuff knot. This is an attachment cuff for a winch that spreads the weight evenly and does not tighten up. This knot is useful for attaching towing gear or blocks to the winches. Learn how to tie the Fool's Cuff knot with this tuturial video.

Check out this instructional safety video that demonstrates how to build a shelter in the Savannah. Rock walls, leaf roofs, and elephant dung mattresses might not make for the most ideal lodging, but they will protect you from the elements, and that is what really matters in the African Savannah. Check out this safety tutorial video and learn how to build a shelter in the Savannah.

Check out this instructional safety video to learn how survive a snake bite. Snakes are not uncommon in the continental United States. There is no region in the country where you'll be completely free from a venomous bite. When a snake bites out of hunger, it releases venom through glades in its teeth. But when a person disturbs a poisonous snake, it will attack with a dry bite, in which venom is not released. Watch this tutorial to learn all about surviving a snake bite.

Probably the first knot anyone ever learns after the granny and shoe tie, the square or reef knot is used to reef the sail but is prone to spill if asymmetrical force is applied to it. The square knot is also useful in that it forms it's own handle when the knot is completed. Watch this video knot-tying tutorial and learn how to tie a square knot.

The Tamale was designed to hold long bundles of leather for whip braiding. It is useful for bundling larger diameter rope for use in hojojutsu or shipboard. Difficult and time consuming but it does work on lengths up to 5 fathoms. Watch this video knot-tying tutorial and learn how to tie a tamale knot.

The bowline on the bight knot, demonstrated in this how-to video, is tied by doubling the line. Create a clockwise eye then thread the bight through the loop and bend the bight back over the loop. Work the knot by pulling the standing part. Watch this video knot-tying tutorial and learn how to tie a bowline on the bight knot.

The tensioning knot, demonstrated in this how-to video, is a useful way to tie the strands of my whips to the rope machine. It is also useful anytime that quick tension is needed and a truckers hitch is too much or the distance is too short. Tie a noose in the line and snug it up then a slippery half hitch locks it in place. Watch this video knot-tying tutorial and learn how to tie a tensioning knot.

Back braiding, as demonstrated in this how-to video, is used instead of a whipping to hold the strands at the end of a rope together. Back braiding is the simple process of braiding the loose strands of a piece of rope. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to back braid a rope.

Check out this video to learn how to tie another version of the pegged bowline. In this case, the running end of the rope is run around behind the standing part as though it were going to be finished in the usual manner, but is instead pegged on the loop. Watch this video knot tying tutorial and learn how to tie a version of the pegged bowline knot.

The pole hitch, demonstrated in this how-to video, is used on a marling spike or rack quite often but it is also a great way to tie off to a winch to bolster your mooring. The Winch Pole Hitch can be tied in the bight, meaning that neither end of the rope needs to be accessed in order to be tied, making it idea for tying up animals. Watch this video knot-tying tutorial and learn how to tie a Winch Pole Hitch.

The pegged bowline, as demonstrated in this how-to video, is similar to a bowline on a bighte knot. Using pegs to construct knots is well documented. Simply tie the bowline as usual in the bight of the rope then peg the running end to the standing part. Watch this video knot-tying tutorial and learn how to tied a pegged bowline knot.

The Mexican braid isn't so much a knot as it is a stitch. This how-to video demonstrates an easy way to join two separate strands, as long as you have a needle. Watch this video knot-tying tutorial and learn how to make a Mexican braid.

The method of rope handling demonstrated in this how-to video came from the Japanese. Pirates during the warring states period used such bundles to secure prisoners among other shipboard duties and the bundle stays alive today in hojujitsu. A few fathoms of paracord in a pocket and a handier tool aboard a boat would be hard to find. Watch this video knot-tying tutorial and learn how to tie a paracord bundle.

This how-to video demonstrates the easiest way to make a hammock. Simple, easy and safe, with no sewing required, make a hammock anytime in a pinch. All you need is fabric, rope, and the knot-tying skills from this instructional video. Watch this video tutorial and learn how to make an easy hammock.

The Double Bowline has the same strength as a figure eight knot but is simpler to tie. This variation of the double bowline knot differs from the original in that the end of the rope doubles back to go the same direction as the length, instead of hanging down into the loop. Watch this video knot-tying tutorial and learn how to tie a variation of the double bowline knot.

As the clove hitch knot is adjustable and slipper, it can be useful attached to a carabiner, allowing the load to move fluidly up and down the rope. However, the clove hitch is not particularly useful or advisable as a securing knot. Watch this video survival training tutorial and learn how to tie a clove hitch knot on a carabiner.

A bowline knot can tighten up really easily, in such a way that it's a headache to get the rope untied. The slip bowline knot, however, has a pull tab that releases the knot when you're ready. Watch this video knot-tying tutorial and learn how to tie a slip bowline knot.