Hot Disaster Preparation Posts
How To: Make a bow drill
There are various tools to be made and a number of items to be used during a disaster. One can utilize the wood logs for firewood. A bow drill can be made by just crafting the ends of a long wooden stick into necks so that plastic wires can be notched and it can be used made into a bow. Any stone with holes can be used as a notch. This notch holds the end of the bow drill. The wire of the bow drill can be wrapped in a stick and then vigorous forward and backward movement of the bow drill arou...
How To: Make char cloth with found materials
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make a char cloth. The materials required for this process are: cloth, container and tinder. The cloth must be made of any woven, cotton material. Begin by placing the cloth into a container. The container should be a metal material. Then close the container and make a while on top to allow the smoke and flames to escape. Leave the container in some fire and wait for it to finish. Then take it to cool and take out the cloth. Now strike some spark o...
How To: Use an ABC foam fire extinguisher
Firefighters Al Bennett and Jesse O’Quinn of the Houston Fire Department give instructions on using a fire extinguisher. Most fire extinguishers have a rating of ABC, which are suitable for most fires that occur in the home. There are also D and K fire extinguishers, but these are not commonly used in the home.
How To: Use the yucca plant to care for feminine hygiene
Being in the wilderness for an extended amount of time can be bad for your health. One thing it can do for you is cause major problems in the personal hygiene department. Find out how to keep yourself nice and clean by using a yucca plant.
How To: Make a parasling from #550 paracord
Ever hear of David and Goliath? Well the weapon that David used was none other than a sling. A sling is a very old, but still effective tool that can possibly help save your life someday, especially when it comes to facing wild animals. Find out how to make a parasling using #550 paracord. Enjoy!
How To: Make easy buttons to repair your clothes in the wild
The wilderness can be a tough place to be found in. There are a plethora of problems that can arise, but being without clothing can be a problem. Especially when your clothing relies on buttons. Find out what it takes to make easy buttons to repair your clothing by using the wilderness. Enjoy!
How To: Make & use your own char cloth
Fire is something that no camper or survivalist can be without. There are many different methods that can be used to make a nice warm fire. One way is by using char cloth. So in this four part tutorial, you'll find out how to make your own char cloth and how to use it. Enjoy!
How To: Construct a debris hut shelter
Surviving in the wilderness can be tough. But for anybody who is smart enough and has learned a few tricks, they can make it out alive and well. So in this video tutorial, you'll learn what it takes to construct a debris hut shelter. Enjoy!
How To: Make & use pitch glue
The wilderness can give you all sorts of different types of material needed to survive. If you need food making a trap can be made with ease, but what if you need glue? Well in this two part tutorial, you'll find out how to make pitch glue with a variety of uses, such as fixing equipment and fletching arrows. Enjoy!
How To: Make a monsoon shelter
Finding yourself lost in the desert is not good news. Especially if you are without food, water, or even shelter. So in this three part video tutorial, you'll find out how to take care of one of your problems: shelter. Find out what it takes to make a monsoon shelter in order to survive in the desert.
How To: Make an arrow and tent pole bow
There's nothing like the great outdoors. The fresh air, the seperation from today's society, and being in a quiet relaxing environment. So in this two part tutorial, for all you nature lovers, find out what it takes to make an arrow and a tent pole bow. Enjoy!
How To: Start a fire using a can and a chocolate bar
If you are stuck in the wild and run out of matches, dip into your food supply and start a fire that way. This handy tutorial will show you how to stay warm with nothing but a can and a chocolate bar.
How To: Suture a wound in an emergency
This two part tutorial will teach you exactly how to close a wound like a doctor would. This is a good skill to master for emergency situations where medical help may not be immediately available. Watch this video for step by step instructions on how to suture.
How To: Make a simple ghillie suit
Learn how to make a simple Ghillie suit in easy steps. 1. First find out some burlap bags and cut them up. 2. Now dye your burlap by choosing the proper colors that are suitable to the environment you are going to be in. 3. After selecting the dye color, soak them in it, let it dry and string it. 4. Now attach a netting to your selected base and then tie on the dyed burlap strings to the net. 5. Finally make any changes if needed and then test it out to finish.
How To: Survive a bite from a cottonmouth snake
Watch this video to learn how to survive a bite from a North-American Cottonmouth snake. If you are ever bitten by a cottonmouth snake, also known as a water moccasin, you would want to follow these steps: 1. Call for emergency assistance. 2. Don't suck out the venom. 3. Don't cover the snake bite. 4. Don't apply a tourniquet or any pressure to the bite. 5. Treat the person for shock. Give them water and make them sit down. 6. When help arrives, get the snake bite victim to the hospital immed...
How To: Build an impact cracker with a penny
You will need a penny, a roll of caps, and a seloptape to make an impact cracker with a penny. First take the roll of caps and rip off of the beginning and end parts that are without caps. Then divide the roll of caps in half and take one half of the roll and start folding it in half all of the way from the beginning to the end. Then take your penny and wrap the caps around the penny, the penny should be off center. Then wrap your wrapped penny in seloptape to finish. Make sure that all of th...
How To: Make a camouflage ghillie suit
This video demonstrates how to make a variety of ghillie suits. You can adapt your camouflage to many different environments to make yourself more invisible. Additionally, this series shows you how to make multiple types: rifle covers, partial suits, equipment covers, etc.
How To: Survive in a Falling Elevator
The tragedy of a falling elevator is not unheard of. This could happen to you at any time, and you will most likely not be expecting it. Who would step into an elevator if they had an idea it might plummet to the ground? The best thing you can do is be prepared. First you want to stay calm. Next you want to lie, belly down, on the elevator floor with your hands behind your head. Make sure you do not panic. This is crucial in times of crisis. When all is over, you'll notice that you're still a...
How To: Start a fire with char cloth
This video shows the viewer how to start a fire using char cloth and a fire steel. Char cloth is a fabric which burns/smolders very slowly. This makes it very useful for starting fires. The video suggests gathering dried grass. The smoldering chard cloth should then be placed in the middle of the grass. Blowing gently on the char cloth will increase the oxygen reaching the flame so will increase the chances of success. Waving the bundle of straw should also help. Remember to always wear glove...
How To: Construct a door for a debris hut
If you ever get lost in the wilderness, with no shelter you'll be happy that you watched this video beforehand. From Maine Primitive Skills School instructor Mike Douglas shows how to build a door to a shelter made out of debris as well as troubleshoots common problems. Don't lose to the wilderness... beat it with your own survival skills!
How To: Make a Hobo Stove
In every wilderness adventure, there needs to be some form of stove, even if it's only a fire. To prepare and heat canned or caught food, the stove is a must! In this two-part video tutorial, learn how to build your very own hobo stove with the help of a few tools: A number 10 tin can, knife, 2 tent sticks, a church key can opener, and a coat hanger.
How To: Make a sleeping bag from a wool blanket
This video is about making a mummy type sleeping bag or an over bag for a hammock with a woolen blanket. The first task is to make coat rings and hooks. Take a piece of flexible wire and bend it into a ring of diameter 1 3/4 inch or 2 inches with a overlap of about 1 1/2 inches make 6 or 7 rings. Now take a small straight wire and make a hook of 1 or 1 1/2 inch, make the tips of the wire pointed so that it can penetrate. Overlap the edges of the blanket by 2to3 inches. Fix the rings with the ...
How To: Survive an attack in the street
The video describes an easy way to survive an attack from someone in the street. When the assailant grabs your, your first reaction should be to guard against their initial blow. Then, punch them in the groin, grab them around there neck in a sleeper hold type move using your arm to wrap around the back of their head and/or neck. Proceed to knee them hard either in the stomach or groin, and then simply push them off of you presumably giving you enough time to run and escape.
How To: Make a basic survival shelter from a Mylar blanket
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make a basic survival shelter using an emergency blanket. The materials required for this shelter are: an emergency blanket, paracord and duct tape. This is a basic shelter that would be great for certain conditions. This setup would be ideal for the following conditions: light to medium rain, low wind, and above freezing temps. This video is very descriptive and clearly explains all the instructions. This video will benefit those viewers who are c...
How To: Start a fire using a hand drill
This video explains how to start a fire without matches through the use of a hand drill. To start the fire, the process consists of the use of a straight stick or weed such as goldenrod to be used as a hand drill. Hold the stick between both hands while holding it against a piece of wood which has a notch along the side. Press the hand drill stick against the wood near the notch and proceed to roll the stick between both hands. This action will result in the production of heated ash which wil...
How To: Survive a zombie apocalypse
Worried about a zombie apocalypse? Of course you are, we all are! This tongue in cheek video divulges the steps you'll need to take should zombies begin roaming the earth. Using clips from horror movies, this video shows you the right way to hide from zombies and even explains who you can trust. Learn what weapons work on zombies and how to cripple them and most importantly, destroy their brain! Nobody wants to get bitten by a zombie, learn how to escape, travel and even how to recognize if o...
How To: Survive a knife attack from behind
This video details how to survive a knife threat from behind. When threatened from behind with a knife, do not attempt to move the body first, this will result in the attacker maintaining the capability to thrust the knife into the body. When threatened, place arms out and low in a submissive position, this is to be followed by moving the left arm backward in a sweeping motion to push aside the arm which is holding the knife. Once the arm is moved, turn the body and bring the elbow up into an...
How To: Use a compass with no problems
David Wilcox and Caitlyn Szyska demonstrate how to use a compass without a problem. Parts of a compass include the ring, the orienteering arrow, magnetic needle, direction of travel arrow and declination scale. First, hold the compass out in front of you, making sure you hold it level. Move your whole body and point the direction of travel arrow to the object that you want to reach. Move the ring until the magnetic needle is lined up with the orienteering arrow pointing north. Once they are l...
How To: Easily use a clock as a compass
This how to video explains how to use a clock as a compass if needed. To start, simply place a clock on a flat surface and place a match in the very center of the clock so that the shadow of the match is even with the hour dial. North will be located at the midpoint between the 12 on the clock and wherever the shadow of the match is cast. The video then shows an example of the application by using a piece of paper and a pin. The narrator shows how the user can go about finding where north is ...
How To: Use a compass and map to navigate
This video is a step by step guide to navigating using a compass and map. The clip shows a field trip with the instructor showing youngsters how to navigate their way round the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. The compass has to be held firmly to the map so that the north can be seen. The compass can then be placed against the chest and you swivel round until the line on the wheel and the line on the outer disc line up. The grid lines on the compass must run parallel to the gridlines on the map....
How To: Use a map and compass tutorial
Without good navigational skills, your expedition could lead to failure or result in a dangerous situation. Try to use a laminated map which is better in wet conditions. 1:25,000 scale maps provide the greatest detail. One grid square equals 1 kilometer. Use map keys for reference. Don't mistake boundary walls for footpaths. A compass points to magnetic north and the top of the planet is called true north. Magnetic north is constantly moving and its position relative to true north is differen...
How To: Keep warm sleeping in the forest
You know your going to have to sleep outside and you don’t know how to stave off the chill of the night. With the right equipment, some layering techniques and a full belly you be sure to get a good nights sleep even if it’s cold out.
How To: Prepare a storm shelter
Depending on where you live, you will have to prepare for the hazards from different types of natural disasters. You can sleep easy if you have a secure location, stalked with food and supplied you might need if there is an emergency.
How To: Read a map and use a compass
Watch as "4-H Forestry Facts" shows you how to survive in a forest or any other environment using a map and a compass. When holding a compass the needle will always point to the direction of north because of the poles of the Earth and the magnetic pull of the compass. After knowing which direction is North you can then figure out what direction is South, East and West. Then looking at the map you can see where it is you need to go. Watch the rest of the video to learn all the tricks and never...
How To: Prevent home invasions
Keep you and your family safe by equipping your home to prevent home invasion. Discourage home invasions by being cautious and making a break-in more difficult. Have a plan in the case your home is invaded.
How To: Read a paper map
Have you ever found yourself lost in the Appalachian Mountains, or stranded in the Mojave Desert? Maybe it was because you couldn't read a map… a real map… a real hands-on, folding paper map. Reading a map is an important skill that may be lost in the internet and GPS era, but it' s a skill that everyone should have.
News: Pentagon Searches for Perfect Body Extraction Bot
Rescuing wounded soldiers in a war zone is extremely dangerous. Again, (previous entry, Futuristic Warefare), the Pentagon turns to scifi technology and robotics for the answer. The current solution is to develop robots that perform as "combat casualty extraction system[s].” And not just one robot to go in and save the day, but an "autonomous EMS crew, complete with an unmanned ambulance and robodocs, who can aid fallen troops 'with minimal intervention by medic or other first responder opera...
How To: Tie a Rorschach knot
If you have ever wondered how to create a Rorschach knot, this tutorial will show you how to do it in no time. A Rorschach knot is indicative to the blotchy silhouette of Rorschach inkblots, which are primarily used during psychological evaluations. A subject's perception of inkblots are recorded using these. This video is going to be walking you through the process of tying your Rorschach knot, as well as the ways in which it needs to be adjusted while being tied. You will also learn a bit m...
How To: Make your own compass
Matt Preye shows you how to make your own emergency compass. Here are two ways of making your own compass: If you have a sewing needle and a magnet you can magnetize the needle by running it down the magnet a few times. Find some stagnant water and set a leaf in it. Now set the pin down on the leaf, and the leaf will swing just like a compass. If you don't have anything other than the sun, you can do the following: Put a stick in the ground and then add more sticks at 9am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm and ...
How To: Tie a rising sun knot
In this beautifully crafted video by Tiat presents the keyhole weave method of tying the rising sun. Grab about a yard of smooth decorative twine and you are ready to follow along. You will end up tying both the double coin and the ring of coin knots to make create the rising sun. But, fear not, the demonstration is clear and simple to follow.