Leon Pantenburg at Smith Rock State Park

A woman sprained her ankle at dusk, in the middle of a forested urban park on a routine evening winter run and almost froze to death. A car got stuck in the snow on a rural road only a few miles from a major highway and the driver died of hypothermia and dehydration.  A man took a day-hike on a well known trail, got lost and was never seen again.  These avoidable tragedies happen all the time.

Most people never think about the need to survive anything. But you, the average person, could easily be one slip, journey, natural disaster or crash away from real trouble.

This website, written by Leon Pantenburg, is about proven and tested common sense survival techniques that anyone should learn whether living in a major metropolitan region or recreating in the wilderness.

• Using your common sense to survive any unexpected calamity can turn a dangerous situation into a mere inconvenience.
•  Pack and easily carry the right tools with the confidence to know how to use them and you and your family will survive any emergency.
• Check out the categories on the left hand side of this page to learn how to be completely prepared for anything that life throws at you.

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com

Before technology entered the backcountry world of the outdoors, the primary and proven tools of navigation were a map and compass. Compass navigation remains an important component of the “Ten Essentials” for wilderness travel. Knowledge of how to use map and compass takes education and practice. Further, such knowledge will enhance GPS navigation as many concepts are interchangeable.

by Blake Miller

This article will discuss one of the basic uses of a compass, how to adjust the compass to walk a specific direction to get to a destination; to get from point A to point B.

Let’s start with a review of the key features and parts of a compass; see Figure 1 below. This figure is an example of a standard baseplate compass found in most outdoor stores. I recommend the backcountry navigator use a declination adjustable compass such as the Brunton 8010G or the Silva Ranger 515CL.

Figure 1:Compass parts.

Figure 1

• The red magnetic needle rotates freely and points to magnetic north. Remember that metal objects such as belt buckles, watchbands, rifle barrels and car bodies will deflect the needle. Battery powered electronics will cause the needle to deflect too.
• The “direction of travel arrow” points in the direction of intended travel. Always point the direction of travel arrow away from you; perpendicular to your body.
• The “compass housing” rotates on the baseplate. The degree dial (0° to 360°) of the compass is found on the housing. With the baseplate, the “compass housing” can be used as a protractor while plotting on a map or adjusting to a specific direction.
• The “orienting arrow” is a red arrow inscribed in the compass housing cylinder. As the cylinder rotates so does the red arrow. The “orienting arrow” is not the red magnetic needle.

For more detailed information refer to the compass’ owner’s manual.

Let’s define some important terminology.

• Bearing: The direction to an object is the bearing. Bearing information is expressed in degrees such as 090° or 320.°
• Heading: The direction one is facing. If the hiker is facing north then the heading would be 000°. If one is going to travel to an object that has a bearing of 120° then the heading could be 120.°

Now that some of the key concepts of a compass have been discussed, the next series of steps will involve applying this information to a map:

• Using a map to first determine a start point and a destination.
• Laying out a track (the hiker’s path through the woods) on the map with a straight edge. Laying out a track gives the hiker the direction need to get to the destination.
• Determine the bearing from the start point to the destination.
• Adjusting the compass to travel a specific bearing to reach the destination.

For this exercise, the western shore of Sunset Lake will be the start point and the destination will be the eastern shore of Colt Lake; see the map in Figure 2.

Figure 2

Figure 2

A straight edge or ruler is used to lay out a track from the start to the destination. (The general direction of travel is indicated by the red arrow.) The track is the desired path through the woods. Do you need to layout a track line? The answer is “No.” One could just “wing it” and estimate the bearing to Colt Lake. That said, in back country navigation, accuracy is important.

In Figure 3, the compass is placed on the map with the clear baseplate aligned along the black line (adjacent to and parallel to the black line.) The compass is placed so that the direction of travel arrow is pointing toward Colt Lake; pointing from start to finish.

Figure 3

Figure 3

In Figure 3, the compass housing (with the bearing information) is rotated so that north (the “N”) of the compass housing is aligned to map north; map north is straight up to the top of the map. In this example the map’s grid lines are used to align the compass housing; red compass lines (in the compass housing) become parallel to map black grid lines. Once adjusted, the compass direction provided is 018°.

At this point the traveler has learned that the direction from Sunset Lake to Colt Lake is 018°.

Note too that bearing information is expressed as three digits, 018° instead of 18°.

In my formal navigation classes, I recommend to my students to double check one’s work. For example, move the compass out of the way and look at the black line drawn on the map. Does the line look as if it is laid out to the north east, does the bearing of 018° make sense?

Now it is time to move from the western shore of Sunset lake to the destination.

As shown in Figure 4, hold the compass at waist level. The base plate and direction of travel arrow should be perpendicular to the body.

Figure 4

Figure 4

With the compass adjusted to 018°, turn left or right and watch the red magnetic needle move. Continue turning until the red magnetic needle aligns directly on top of the red orienting arrow of the compass housing. With the two red components aligned the compass is now pointed in the direction of travel (018°.)

With the compass aligned and held as discussed above, the hiker should

• Use the direction of travel arrow essentially as a sighting tool; pointing in the desired bearing of 018°.
• Look down range (on the bearing of 018°) and sight on a distant object such as a single tree or land feature several hundred yards away.
• Using the feature as a landmark, walk straight to the object without using the compass. On arrival sight on another object, repeating the process until arrival at the destination. This process is akin to leapfrogging through the woods along the line of bearing to reach your destination. It also keeps you moving in a generally straight direction as you move forward.
• Note that in featureless terrain, a hiking partner can move downrange several hundred yards. To keep the partner on track, his position left or right of the line of bearing can be adjusted by hand signals or voice commands.

References that I frequently use are:

www.landnavigation.org

Staying Found, The Complete Map & Compass Handbook by June Fleming

Blake Miller has made a career out of staying found and knowing where he is at all times. His formal navigation training began when he joined the U.S. Navy in 1973. He served as an officer aboard several Navy ships over his

Blake Miller

twenty-year career; many of those tours included the duty of Navigator. Blake began working with satellite navigation systems at sea in 1976, culminating with the then-new satellite positioning systems aboard the Battleship WISCONSIN in early 1990.

In 1998 Blake started Outdoor Quest, a business dedicated to backcountry navigation and wilderness survival. Blake has taught classes to wild land firefighters, state agency staffs, Search and Rescue team members, hunters, hikers, skiers, fishermen and equestrians. He regularly teaches classes through the Community Education programs at Central Oregon (Bend) and Chemeketa (Salem, OR) Community Colleges.

As a volunteer, Blake teaches navigation and survival classes to students in the local school districts, and conservation groups. He is a member of a Search and Rescue team.

If you have any questions about land navigation or wilderness survival, you can contact Blake through SurvivalCommonSense.com@gmail.com, or you can go to his website.

Contact Information:

Website: www.outdoorquest.biz

Blog: outdoorquest.blogspot.com

Phone: 541-280-0573

Email: outdrquest@aol.com

To hear the Blake Miller interview about choosing a magnetic compass and GPS on SurvivalCommonSense.com Radio, click here.

For more navigation information, click here

Check Out Our Affiliate Blogs!

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com

The thought was to take a quick stroll before dinner, and the plan was to be gone about 45 minutes. But now you’re lost, and the safest course of action is to stay put and spend the night. Luckily, you have your Ten Essentials, and whatever food you packed, but no tent, sleeping bag or insulite pad.

Oh. And your matches don’t work. You have to build a shelter, and figure out how to stay warm, since the temperatures could drop into the 30s.

Have a nice night!

Eagle Scout Jesse Brummett demonstrates a quick shelter made with a tarp.

by Leon Pantenburg

That was the scenario last weekend when 13  Boy Scouts and five adult leaders from Troops 18 and 90, located in Bend, OR. went on a “Ten Essentials Campout.”  The idea was to train for surviving an unexpected night out in the wilderness. The theme was: “No tents, no sleeping bags, no matches, No PROBLEM!”

And it didn’t prove to be a problem.

While some of the scouts and leaders were experienced hunters and backpackers, some of the participants had little or no experience in camping. The scouts seemed to be about equally divided between those who just needed the overnighter requirement to complete the Wilderness Survival merit badge, and those who were just starting that merit badge.

But enthusiasm can be really contagious. After a five-mile cross country hike, using map and compass, the participants set out to make shelters, using whatever natural materials were available. The goal was to have the shelter done before dusk. Then, the idea was to make a warming fire, and if you had something to cook over it, such as a dehydrated meal, that would make your night even better.

The idea was to take a quick hike before dinner...

But this outing was all about training, not camping, and part of the plan was to see what tools worked best. Some scouts made shelters out of trash bags, and got through the night with a minimum of discomfort. (Our bags for this outing were donated by the local Les Schwab tire stores. They are bright yellow tire bags, easily seen by searchers, compact and easy to carry!)

Others found  a small tarp to be a really effective tool for making a shelter. Sometimes, a combination of tarp and tire bags worked best. (I was doing some first-time testing of an Adventure Medical Kits Emergency Bivvy  Sack made from Thermo-Lite reflective fabric. So far, its grade is a C- !)

Though the daytime temperatures were in the 90s, in the Central Oregon high desert, the lows could go  below freezing. Saturday night is was in the 40s and 50s, so everyone had a chance to see how their shelters and gear worked under actual survival conditions. 

The cheap mylar "blankets," as usual, failed miserably under survival conditions!

The end result made us all proud – everyone came through with flying colors!

Here is one lesson learned from this outing: Your gear won’t save you in a survival situation! Knowing how to use that gear can, but only if you have it along!

(Editor’s note to the scouts and leaders: Hey, guys, thanks for letting me come along – this was a lot of fun!  Let’s do another 10 Essentials campout again in a few months when the snow is on the ground!)

For more information on wilderness survival techniques and equipment, check out these SurvivalCommonSense.com affiliate blogs: wilderness survival gear reviews, best survival knife, survival kits, and survival cooking.

This shelter used natural materials, a tarp and Les Schwab tire bags.

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com

The older couple at the Swampy Lakes trailhead, a few miles outside Bend, Oregon,  didn’t have any maps or survival gear at all, were unsure how to put on their snowshoes and were reluctant to take the firestarter and matches I offered them. From their inadequate clothing and  lack of preparation, it was obvious they were tourists visiting Central Oregon and had no clue of the potential danger.

In 2006, less than six miles from where they stood, a veteran snowmobiler had died when an unexpected blizzard had blown in.

Click here to visit Peter Kummerfeldt's website!

“We’re not going to do any of that survival stuff,” the woman said. “We’re only going out for a little while.”  – Leon

by Peter Kummerfeldt

Many things get people in trouble when they venture into the outdoors, including lack of preparedness, not paying attention to the weather, accidents etc. More commonly, it is the  attitude toward our safety that is the precursor to a life threatening event occurring.

How many times have you said to yourself or have heard others say, I am just, as in I am just going to walk up the ridge and see if I can see a deer, or I am just going to be out for fifteen minutes,” or perhaps “I am just going to run down to the store.”

I believe these three little words I am just get more people into trouble than any other three little words I can think of!

Most commonly you don’t verbalize these words out loud, but say them to yourself, silently ─ which is even more dangerous. Many times you are not even conscious of your decision to leave your gear behind. Unconsciously you already have made the decision to leave it because I am just…  When spoken out loud there always is the chance that someone, upon hearing you say, I am just will step in and remind you of the importance of always taking your emergency clothing and equipment with you ─ even though the possibility of having to spend an unplanned night out is remote.

When nothing looks familiar, and every direction seems to be the same, STOP and think about what to do next!

 It is easy to convince yourself that nothing life threatening will happen ─ after all you are “just…”   When you use the word “just,” you are convincing yourself that the weather will remain pleasant, that no accident will happen, that you will not get lost, or that you will be able to get back before dark!

You are saying to yourself that you don’t need to carry your daypack with your emergency gear and warm clothing because you won’t need it ─ you are “just…”

It also is easy to rationalize away the need to always carry your backup clothing and emergency equipment. As the years ago by, one hunting season follows another, and you have yet to spend that unplanned night out, the temptation to reduce the weight of the daypack you are carrying by leaving your survival kit at home, can be very attractive.

As you look to the mountains in anticipation of having to ascend on foot and hunt at higher altitudes, it is natural to want to lighten your load and leave behind those pieces of equipment that you have seldom, if ever, used.  Sometimes it is “space” or the lack of it, which causes you to decide to leave items behind that you should take.

Most often, it’s the short trips that get you in trouble!  After all, I was just…  You get complacent.  Nothing life threatening ever has happened in the past and so it is easy to  convince yourself that it won’t happen in the future and if it does you can handle it ─ whatever “it” is!   Ignoring the possibility of finding yourself in a survival situation is like playing Russian roulette.  Falling victim to the I am just… syndrome is like playing Russian roulette with five out of six chambers loaded!

 History is replete with examples of those finding themselves in trouble who, after being rescued from some horrendous situation, said I was just…

This trash can liner can provide a quick emergency shelter. (Peter Kummerfeldt photo)

Several years ago in Oregon an older man left his camp one evening ─ he was just going to walk down to the end of the ridge and see if he could spot an elk.  The following morning was the opening day of elk season.  He never returned and despite an extensive search he was not found alive.

Ten days later his body, partially buried under snow, was discovered by other hunters.  His emergency gear consisted of a .357 Magnum pistol and thirty seven rounds of ammunition, which he had used to try to signal his hunting partners.

Thirty-six of the thirty-seven cartridges had been fired, but were never heard by either his partners or those that searched for him.  He had tried to shelter himself by drawing two log ends together and laying slabs of bark on top of the logs to provide a crude roof.  His clothing, a mixture of cotton and wool, failed to provide the protection he needed from the environmental conditions he encountered.

Physiologically he died from hypothermia, but it also could be said that he died because he had rationalized away the need to carry any additional emergency gear.

Equipment that might have prevented the situation from developing in the first place – a map, compass or a GPS Receiver.  Equipment that he could have used to increase his protection from cold temperatures, precipitation and wind-chill.  Equipment that he could have used to attract the attention of the rescuers that were looking for him – a mirror, whistle, survival radio or 406 MHz emergency beacon.

He was “just going to walk to the end of the ridge, look for an elk and then return to camp!

The words “I am just” when spoken out loud or silently should be considered a red flag warning!

When you say them yourself or hear others say them ─ STOP!  The trap is being set! Continuing on only will spring the trap and once you are in it, there may be no escape.   Without adequate clothing, without basic survival equipment (reliable fire starting devices, waterproof, windproof sheltering materials, a signal mirror and whistle), without the ability to build a fire or signal to others, survival depends on an individuals tenacity to live, their ability to improvise what they need and luck – sometimes that’s not enough!

As you contemplate what you should have with you as you begin a trip – even a short one, don’t use the words I am just…

Peter Kummerfeldt has walked the talk in the wilderness survival field for decades. Peter grew up in Kenya, East Africa and came to America in 1965 and joined the U.S. Air Force. He is a graduate of the Air Force Survival Instructor Training School and has served as an instructor at the Basic Survival School, Spokane, Washington; the Arctic Survival

Peter Kummerfeldt has taught wilderness survival for more than 40 years, all over the world in different environments.

School, Fairbanks, Alaska, and the Jungle Survival School, Republic of the Philippines.

For twelve years, Peter was the Survival Training Director at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He retired from the Air Force in 1995 after 30 years of service.

In 1992, concerned with the number of accidents that were occurring in the outdoors annually and the number of tourists traveling overseas who were involved in unpleasant and sometimes life-threatening incidents Peter created OutdoorSafe.com

He is the author of Surviving a Wilderness Emergency and has addressed over 20,000 people as the featured speaker at numerous seminars, conferences and national conventions.

Check out Peter’s blog at: OutdoorSafe.blogspot.com

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com

Past articles have defined the word survival and have discussed the importance of being prepared as opposed to trying to manufacture what you need from materials at hand. (For more info, see “Preparing to Survive” at the bottom of this page.)

Now, we need to look at some of the situations that people find themselves in where their knowledge of how to survive, combined with a basic survival kit and good clothing, can bring about a positive ending to their experience – or the lack of knowledge, equipment and clothing could result in tragedy.

By Peter Kummerfeldt

The question then is: “What am I preparing for?”  As I see it, there are five broad categories. These capture most situations where a person may have to “survive” until rescued, or until the weather conditions improve and the individual can rescue him or herself.

When nothing looks familiar, and every direction seems to be the same, STOP, sit down on the log for 30 minutes and decide what to do next!

The categories are: Becoming lost, being caught out after dark, becoming stranded, becoming ill or injured and unable to proceed and bad weather that makes travel dangerous. This article will look at the first situation of those situations, “Becoming Lost”, and the remaining scenarios will be discussed in upcoming parts of this series.

BECOMING LOST.

If it hasn’t happened yet it will sooner or later. Probably more than once!   Becoming lost is, in itself, not a critical situation. After all, as a friend says, “If you like it where you are, you ain’t lost!”

There are people who appear to be truly gifted in their ability to keep themselves oriented. But no one has a “built-in homing device” that enables them to find their way out when the countryside is obscured by dense timber, bad weather or darkness.  Whether we do it consciously or unconsciously, when we travel, we keep ourselves oriented by what we can see. When we can’t see, we must use a compass, a map or Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver.

Finding yourself lost can be a terrifying experience.  How you react when you discover that you are lost will often determine the eventual outcome.   When suddenly nothing looks familiar…  When the sun is setting in the east and the river appears to be flowing uphill…  

You are lost!  Admit it!

When you are no longer able to determine which path will lead back to the truck the urge to keep moving faster and faster can overcome you.  It’s easy to convince yourself “It’s just over the next hill” or the next one and you keep running!  This urge to keep moving must be controlled.

Continuing to move makes a bad situation even worse – it increases the risk of injury; you dehydrate yourself; you waste the your limited amount of energy and you often move further and further away from the last place where you were still “found!”

Sit down!  Get off of your feet!   Have a drink – of water! Drinking water has a very calming effect and helps you overcome the panic you feel.  Don’t let the fact that the stream you are looking at may contain giardia or other harmful organisms that discourage you from drinking the water. 

Drink the water!  Prevent dehydration.  The doctors can treat giardia, but they can’t treat dead!

Start using your brain (it’s the best piece of survival equipment you possess) to puzzle out what has happened and, more importantly, what  to do next.  Find a log to sit down on and stay there for at least 30 minutes.  This will give you time to work through the feelings of panic you will experience and overcome the urge to keep moving.  Thirty minutes will give you the time to objectively evaluate your situation, determine what needs to be done and then put your plan into action.

S – Stop moving around.

T – Think about what needs to be done.

O – Observe your surroundings.

P – Plan a course of action and implement it.

Don’t let the promises made to others override the need to protect yourself.   Often these promises, as in: “Honey, I’ll be home for dinner at seven” or “Boss, I’ll be in to work in the morning” cause survivors to continue trying to find their way out. They should be thinking about a fire and shelter and staying put for the night.  Break that promise and protect yourself!

As with most things “It is a lot easier to prevent horrific things from happening than it is to correct the problem after it has occurred!”  This is certainly true in the case of “Staying Found.”  Those who recreate in the outdoors should become proficient in the use of a map and a compass.  A GPS receiver is also a very useful navigation aid.

This compass is adjusted for declination

While it is not possible to learn to use a map, compass and GPS receiver in the next few lines, the following tips might help you become a more proficient navigator:

• Buy an orienteering compass that  can be adjusted for local declination.
• With an engraving pencil or other sharp point engrave the color of the north pointing end of the compass needle on the back of the compass base plate.  I.e. R = N (red equals north.) In a panic it’s easy to forget which end points north.
• Avoid using your compass around metallic objects which will deflect the needle and give you a false reading.
• Carry two compasses – if they both indicate the same direction to camp then proceed in the direction indicated.  When you are in trouble, it’s easy to believe one compass is defective.
• Learn how to walk a straight line heading using your compass.  It may not be the most efficient method to get from one point to another, but it is the most reliable.
• Always mark your starting point on your map before you depart.
• Identify “boundaries” on your map that surround the area you will be traveling in. Boundaries include roads, railway lines, long lake shores, power lines and rivers. If possible locate boundaries to the north, south, west and east of your starting point.  Mark these boundaries with a yellow or green highlighter pen.  In the event you become lost, determine which boundary is closest to you (this may be an educated guess) and follow a compass heading to that boundary.
• Having located yourself, make your way to your original starting point.  It can be a long walk back but at least you will know where you are!  In some situations less than four boundaries may be available and if this is the case, determine which direction you would have to travel to get back to the boundary you started from.  (I.E. If you walked north away from a road, follow a southerly heading to return to that road.
• When using a GPS receiver ALWAYS mark your departure point.  Unless the device knows where “home” is, it won’t be able to take you there later.

OK, so you’re lost and the day is coming to an end. You are faced with an unplanned night out.

However, because you had considered the possibility of such an event occurring, it’s not totally unexpected.  You have your survival kit, an extra sweater and a rain suit to keep you warm.   The initial urge to keep moving has been overcome and now it’s time to settle in for the night.

Look for the most protected area you can find, an area out of the wind – it’s easier to cope with ambient air temperature than it is wind chill.  Look for a level area under the protection offered by the limbs of a large tree.  Move uphill out of

Look for a sheltered spot out of the wind, such as this small cave.

cold air sinks.   Look around for any naturally occurring shelter – caves, overhangs etc.

Add layers of clothing before you get cold.  Locate any available firewood and build a fire.  You will find that a fire is a valuable companion in addition to all the other benefits it provides the survivor.  Once a fire is burning and you are sheltered you are “home.”

With the camp chores done, your thoughts will turn again to those you are separated from – your buddies in camp or perhaps family members at home who are expecting you for dinner.  Here again the need to be reunited with them will emerge.  RESIST THE TEMPTATION!  Traveling at night in unfamiliar country is dangerous!

It is possible that as the sky darkens you will be able to see the lights of distant homes or towns and again be tempted to make your way toward them.   Survivors tend to underestimate distance and overestimate their ability to travel to a distant destination! 

Sit tight. Survive.

Be alive when the sun comes up in the morning!  Crawl into your plastic bag shelter or under a lean-to made from a blue-crinkly tarp and get some sleep.  Depending on the temperature, you will probably wake up frequently during the night as your body cools. Exercise.  Eat some food. Have a drink and then go back to sleep again.  In cold conditions, it may be necessary to be more active during the night to keep yourself warm.

Don’t get spooked by the night sounds.  Our minds tend to make mountains-out-of-molehills – the cricket chirping under a nearby leaf can become a hungry mountain lion!

Take heart, the sun will come up the next morning; the weather will improve, you will “find” yourself once again and make your way back to worried, but now relieved, family and friends.

Peter Kummerfeldt has walked the talk in the wilderness survival field for decades. Peter grew up in

Peter Kummerfeldt has taught wilderness and emergency survival for more than 40 years.

Kenya, East Africa and came to America in 1965 and joined the U.S. Air Force. He is a graduate of the Air Force Survival Instructor Training School and has served as an instructor at the Basic Survival School, Spokane, Washington; the Arctic Survival School, Fairbanks, Alaska, and the Jungle Survival School, Republic of the Philippines.

For twelve years, Peter was the Survival Training Director at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He retired from the Air Force in 1995 after 30 years of service.

In 1992, concerned with the number of accidents that were occurring in the outdoors annually and the number of tourists traveling overseas who were involved in unpleasant and sometimes life-threatening incidents Peter created OutdoorSafe.com

He is the author of Surviving a Wilderness Emergency and has addressed over 20,000 people as the featured speaker at numerous seminars, conferences and national conventions.

Check out Peter’s blog at: OutdoorSafe.blogspot.com

For more Peter Kummerfeldt and OutdoorSafe survival tips, click on:

• Preparing to survive
• The importance of water to survival.
• Avoid becoming an altitude casualty.
• Wilderness emergency management
• Making water safe to drink.
• Don’t become a lightning casualty.
• Questionable water: to Drink or Not?
• Self Rescue: when staying put is not an Option
• Survival Kit List for beginners
• Preventing dehydration during emergencies
• Winter Survival Equipment Test: Blizzard vests and emergency blankets

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com

March 11, 2011:

People living on the west coast of the United States today may be looked toward sea, and getting ready to evacuate. I hope you’re ready.

The earthquake that devastated Japan early this morning caused tsunamis, and we can expect one to hit the  California and Oregon coasts soon

But, unfortunately, nobody wants to worry about possibly evacuating your home quickly, or having to just grab a few important items and head out the door.

Most of us live in areas very vulnerable to natural disasters!

But the facts are grim: 91 percent of us live in an area that could be affected by a major natural disaster such as a flood, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, tsunami, forest fire or mudslide, and you could have to leave very quickly.

That doesn’t even take into account the potential for terrorist activities, pandemics or nuclear attack!

(Click here for the latest videos of tsunami damage in Japan.)

So if you have to leave very quickly – what is important to take along?

Don’t wait until the last minute – get ready now, to minimize the chaos of an emergency evacuation. Here are some suggestions on what to pack from the Red Cross and the Department of Homeland Security.

Important Family Documents

• Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container:
  • Will, insurance policies, contracts deeds, stocks and bonds
  • Passports, social security cards, immunization records
  • Bank account numbers
  • Credit card account numbers and companies
• Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers
• Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
• Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the supplies kit in the trunk of your car.
• Keep items in airtight plastic bags. Change your stored water supply every six months so it stays fresh. Replace
  

  Natural disaster can take many forms, and you may have to evacuate the area.

  your stored food every six months. Re-think your kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothes, etc.

• Ask your physician or pharmacist about storing prescription medications.

Water

• Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot environments and intense physical activity can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need more.
• Store one gallon of water per person per day.
• Keep at least a three-day supply of water per person (two quarts for drinking, two quarts for each person in your household for food preparation/sanitation).*

Food

• Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking, and little or no water. If you must heat food, pack a can of sterno. Select food items that are compact and lightweight. Include a selection of the following foods in your Disaster Supplies Kit:
• Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables
• Canned juices
• Staples (salt, sugar, pepper, spices, etc.)
• High energy foods
• Vitamins
• Food for infants
• Comfort/stress foods

First Aid Kit
Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car.

• (20) adhesive bandages, various sizes.
• (1) 5″ x 9″ sterile dressing.
• (1) conforming roller gauze bandage.
• (2) triangular bandages.
• (2) 3 x 3 sterile gauze pads.
• (2) 4 x 4 sterile gauze pads.
• (1) roll 3″ cohesive bandage.
• (2) germicidal hand wipes or waterless alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• (6) antiseptic wipes.
• (2) pair large medical grade non-latex gloves.
• Adhesive tape, 2″ width.
• Anti-bacterial ointment.
• Cold pack.
• Scissors (small, personal).
• Tweezers.
• CPR breathing barrier, such as a face shield.

Non-Prescription Drugs

• Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Antacid (for stomach upset)
• Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the
  Poison Control Center)
• Laxative
• Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)

Tools and Supplies

• Mess kits, or paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils*
• Emergency preparedness manual*
• Battery-operated radio and extra batteries*
• Flashlight and extra batteries*
• Cash or traveler’s checks, change*
• Non-electric can opener, utility knife*
• Fire extinguisher: small canister ABC type
• Tube tent
• Pliers
• Tape
• Compass
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic storage containers
• Signal flare
• Paper, pencil
• Needles, thread
• Medicine dropper
• Shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water
• Whistle
• Plastic sheeting
• Map of the area (for locating shelters)

Sanitation

• Toilet paper, towelettes*
• Soap, liquid detergent*
• Feminine supplies*
• Personal hygiene items*
• Plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses)
• Plastic bucket with tight lid
• Disinfectant
• Household chlorine bleach

Clothing and Bedding
*Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person.

• Sturdy shoes or work boots*
• Rain gear*
• Blankets or sleeping bags*
• Hat and gloves
• Thermal underwear
• Sunglasses

Special Items

• Remember family members with special requirements, such as infants and elderly or disabled persons

For Baby*

• Formula
• Diapers
• Bottles
• Powdered milk
• Medications

For Adults

• Heart and high blood pressure medication
• Insulin
• Prescription drugs
• Denture needs
• Contact lenses and supplies
• Extra eye glasses

Entertainment

• Games and books

From “Preparing for Disaster.” Developed by the American Red Cross and the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency.

For more related SurvivalCommonSense.com tips and stories, click on the highlighted words:

• STOP: Use this exercise to reduce stress and focus your thoughts.
• Write a note to let people know where you went, before you left.
• Dress with the right fabrics.
• Have a plan to make a tarp shelter.
• Carry lightweight, compact firestarter.
• Find the most effective fire ignition system.
• How to make charcloth, a material that can catch a spark from any source.
• Use charcloth as an effective method of catching a spark to make a fire.
• It can kill you: Hypothermia
• Hardtack: A great emergency food
• About Leon Pantenburg

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com

More people die of drowning in the desert than of thirst, according to the United States Geological Survey. In the wilderness, and in particular desert areas, flash flooding can be a real, immediate and deadly danger.

by Leon Pantenburg

Death Valley, California, December, 1977:  The rain pattering on the tarp woke us up and my backpacking partner, John Nerness, groaned for a moment, then started to laugh.

“I don’t believe this,” was his comment. “I just don’t believe it! It rains less than two inches a year here, so it decides to do it now!”

The hilarity – and seriousness – of the situation wasn’t lost on either of us. We were camped in a ravine in the desert backcounty and had been backpacking for two days. We immediately got up,  packed up the tarp and the rest of the camp and headed for higher ground.

There was no flash flood in our  area, but we could see lightning off in the distance. The weather and rainfall several miles away could have affected us, even in one of the most arid places in the United States!

A flash flood is a rapid flooding of geomorphic low-lying areas – washes, rivers,  dry lakes and basins, according to the National Weather Service. It may be caused by heavy rain associated with a storm  or melt water from ice or snow flowing over ice sheets or snowfields.

Flash floods can also occur after the collapse of a natural ice or debris dam or a human structure such as a man-made dam. A flash flood differs from a regular flood, according to the NWS,  by a timescale of  less than six hours.

Flash flooding has been in the news lately, particularly in areas that have been affected by rapid snow melt, heavy rains and the after affects of  Cyclone Yasi in Australia. This flood video from Toowoomba , Australia on January 10, 2011 was sent in by Bob Patterson, and it shows how fast the water can rise! Click: Flash Flood!

In the wilderness, and in particular desert areas, flash flooding can be a real and immediate danger.

In the desert, a rain storm several miles away could cause a buildup of  rainwater that gathers and sweeps down a ravine or valley with the same speed, and more power, than a herd of stampeding horses.

Desert sand doesn’t soak up water quickly, so heavy rains can produce flood conditions very quickly and without warning. Dry channels, ditches and lake beds will fill quickly and the water can be strong and violent – sometimes creating a wall of water 10 to 30 feet high. (Click here to see a flash flood in the Sahara Desert!)

Because of the threat of a flash flood, you should never rest or sleep in ditches or dry creeks – even if it doesn’t look like rain.

In the event of a flash flood, get to higher ground as fast as you can and avoid standing near rocks or trees. It’s best to get 30 to 40 feet higher than the nearest low point. If you’re in a vehicle, pull over and put on your hazard lights until the rain has passed. If the rain continues and rises up the vehicle, abandon it and move to high ground on foot. These desert storms and floods are rough, but usually short-lived.

Your best bet for surviving a flash flood is to keep an eye out and anticipate its arrival. Most people who die in these floods, according to the USGS,  are caught off guard. Pay attention to weather reports and be alert for thunder and lightening in your area. If you suspect a storm is coming, get to high ground and wait it out.

Here is some flash flood advice for drivers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency:

• Drivers should not be lulled into a sense of false security when they encounter flood waters. If they are in a vehicle during a flash flood or if water is rising around it, all occupants of the vehicle should get out immediately and get to higher ground.
• When water is running across a road, drivers should always turn around and choose a different route. Just six inches of water can cause tires to lose traction and slide, according to FEMA, and 12 inches will float many cars.
• Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
• Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away.

For more related SurvivalCommonSense.com tips and stories about hydration, click on the highlighted words:

• STOP: Use this exercise to reduce stress and focus your thoughts.
• The importance of water to survival.
• Make a practical hydration system part of your survival kit.
• Product test: the Sport Berkey Water bottle.
• Effective methods of  carrying water.
• Keep your water bladder storage system smelling and tasting great.
• Where to find water in the desert.
• Find water in vines.
• About Leon Pantenburg

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com

Can too much technology in the backcountry be dangerous? Can you depend on GPS and other electronic devices and technology  to the point of  it becoming deadly?

That seems to be an increasingly recurrent pattern of  behavior in some parts of the country, as the following story: “Death By GPS’  indicates.

Any GPS can mislead you or give inaccurate information.

Whenever I see a particularly interesting or, in this case, disturbing story related to land navigation, I forward it for comment and analysis to land navigation expert Blake Miller.

Here are Blake’s thoughts on  “Death By GPS” by Tom Knudson, and published in the Jan. 30, 2011 “Sacramento Bee.” (To read the complete story, click here.)

One goal of SurvivalCommonSense.com,  and my fervent hope, is that expert analysis of deadly situations such as these, will prevent them from happening again! – Leon

by Blake Miller

The scenario mentioned in the “Death By GPS” story  is consistent. Drivers rely solely on their car GPS for directions, they have no map and mostly likely, didn’t talk to anyone about their planned trip.

In Death Valley, 12 vacationer have died under these circumstances over the last 15 years. In Oregon, it was the James Kim family tragedy in 2006 that brought this to the forefront nationally. (To view  video coverage of the Kim Tragedy, click here.)

A Death Valley Search and Rescue coordinator commented that: “GPS units are not only fallible but send people across the desert where no road exists.”

I was surprised just how much backcountry road information was provided by the car GPS (a Garmin Nuvi) during a deer hunt last fall on the western slopes of  Oregon’s Cascade Mountains. But GPS road data can be dated. The article commented that some GPS receivers reported closed roads (as active) that had not been used in 40 years!

When traveling with a car GPS, my recommended planning considerations include:

• Always carry a map. Maps from the American Automobile Association are a great place to start and complement the car GPS. National Geographic has maps of many of our national parks and are well worth the investment. Delorme’s state gazetteers are wonderful for big picture planning. For deep backcountry travel consider a quality topographic map. (For more information click here.)

• Always check in with authorities who can help with your travel planning. Visiting the local Ranger station and visitor center is a good first step. Ask about road and climatic conditions for the area you will be visiting, and what roads are under construction, are permanently closed or are impassible. Many states have online travel sites that provide current conditions. (In Oregon it is www.tripcheck.com.)

• Internet sources may well have the same issues as GPS receiver data bases. Many sites
on the web provide topographic mapping. Take care to notice the age of the maps. Much can be out of date. Google Maps/Earth are fine products when used intelligently.

• Place “via points” into your GPS. For example, to keep you on the desired route, insert new destinations so that you’ll stay on the right path. You can add a small town or intersection as a “via point.” This will cause the GPS to use the route you determine, rather that what the data base builds.

• A personal locater beacon such as those made by SPOT and ACR are excellent tools to alert authorities when in trouble. The small units are carried in addition to your GPS.

• Always let a responsible person know of your plans. This person is someone you will coordinate with in advance of your trip. For example, if you don’t return from your journey this person will call 911; the search doesn’t start until 911 is called. For a suggested trip plan look here.

• Whether traveling on foot or in a car always have the Ten Essentials with you. This is your emergency kit that will go a long way toward sustaining you and your party. For information on the Ten Essentials go here.

You have to be smarter than your electronics. Electronics are our aids, not our decision makers!

Blake Miller has made a career out of staying found and knowing where he is at all times. His formal navigation training began when he joined the U.S. Navy in 1973. He served as an officer aboard several Navy ships over his

Blake Miller

twenty-year career; many of those tours included the duty of Navigator. Blake began working with satellite navigation systems at sea in 1976, culminating with the then-new satellite positioning systems aboard the Battleship WISCONSIN in early 1990.

In 1998 Blake started Outdoor Quest, a business dedicated to backcountry navigation and wilderness survival. Blake has taught classes to wild land firefighters, state agency staffs, Search and Rescue team members, hunters, hikers, skiers, fishermen and equestrians. He regularly teaches classes through the Community Education programs at Central Oregon (Bend) and Chemeketa (Salem, OR) Community Colleges.

As a volunteer, Blake teaches navigation and survival classes to students in the local school districts, and conservation groups. He is a member of a Search and Rescue team.

If you have any questions about land navigation or wilderness survival, you can contact Blake through SurvivalCommonSense.com@gmail.com, or you can go to his website:

Contact Information:

Website: www.outdoorquest.biz

Blog: outdoorquest@blogspot.com

Phone: 541-280-0573

Email: outdrquest@aol.com

To hear the Jan 7, 2010 Blake Miller interview about choosing a magnetic compass and GPS on SurvivalCommonSense.com Radio, click here.

For more navigation- related SurvivalCommonSense.com tips and stories, click on the highlighted words:

• How to choose a magnetic compass.
• How to buy that first GPS.
• Help the searchers find you in the wilderness.
• Is the Bushnell Backtrack the right choice for you?
• Improve your GPS skills now.
• Find your directions by the moss on trees?
• Simple survival tips for using a map and compass.
• Three maps you should carry in the wilderness.

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com

The late James Brady is a favorite author of mine. As a professional word-arranger I particularly admire his ability to make the reader feel part of  the scene. In this case, it’s easy to imagine being in a briefing room in Quantico, VA as a guy who

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com

Win a free sample of SurvivalCommonSense.com  wallet-sized firestarter by guessing the location of this photo!

This sod-roofed cabin is preserved on its original site on private land. The history is fascinating!

This one-room log cabin, with a sod roof, was built  in the late 1850s and played an interesting part in the local history of a part of the American West. The complete story of the cabin, along with more photos, will be published in next week’s photo contest!

Contributors of selected photos will be published here, receive a byline and a free sample of firestarter!

The point of the photo contest is to get you started on making or upgrading a personal survival kit. The photo contest is for fun,  and I hope you check it out every week, and the post reminds you to think about your survival kit!

But, a survival kit  is a serious piece of urban or wilderness survival equipment. During a disaster or emergency you may be literally be staking your life on your survival equipment. Think about these survival tips:

• Don’t let a survival kit give you a false sense of security!
  

  Last week's photograph was taken by Kevin Collins and it’s a southeastern view toward downtown Gatlinburg, TN, with Mt. LeConte and its foothills in the background.

• The best survival knife in the world, or any survival item, is useless without the skills to use it.
• No piece of equipment will ever be able to replace a survival mindset. Mental preparation is paramount!
• No collection of gear can replace knowledge and practical survival skills. Get the gear, then practice with it.
• NEVER think your pocket survival kit can replace a full-blown, complete Ten Essentials kit.

To participate in the weekly photo contest, send your guess to: survivalsenselp@gmail.com. Participants will entered into the weekly email update list, but you can unsubscribe at any time, and your email address will never be sold or shared! Winners will be notified by email.

Recommended Reading:

Surviving a Wilderness Emergency
Build the Perfect Survival Kit
GPS Made Easy (GPS Made Easy: Using Global Positioning Systems in the Outdoors)
Staying Found: The Complete Map and Compass Handbook

For more SurvivalCommonSense.com Hunting and Survival knife reviews click on:–>

• What is the best survival knife?
• A Survival Knife: The Swiss Army Classic?
• A Scandinavian Survival Knife: Can  The Mora do it all?
• Axe or Saw: Which is best for your outdoor needs?
• What should you put in the hollow handle of a survival knife?
• Cold Steel SRK: Is it the best survival knife?
• Cold Steel Master Hunter: The best knife for hunting?
• Choosing the best backcountry/survival knife.
• Make a quick, safe knife sheath.

Stay Prepared!

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com