wilderness survival - the bsa way 11 08 09
DESCRIPTION
Covers a subset of Wilderness Survival that overlaps the Boy Scout Merit Badge and and Venturing Outdoor Bronze / Ranger requirements: - Risk management - 7 survival priorities - Emergency survival kit How to prepare for, be safe, and have fun for a high adventure at BSA's Philmont, Northern Tier, or National parks and forests.TRANSCRIPT
Steve [email protected]
WILDERNESS SURVIVALBSA STYLE
B117, University of Scouting, New Michigan Council, November 2009
Additional information, along with the most recent version, is hosted at www.vcrew1716.org Original material provided by Mike Doubleday ([email protected]), and
Andris Ikstrums ([email protected]), Greater Alabama Council
Philmont Contingent Leader, New Michigan Council
Associate Advisor, Venturing Crew 1716
centers on the Greek hero Odysseus (or Ulysses, as he was known in Roman myths) and his long journey home following the fall of Troy. It
Television
Movies
Books
Wilderness survival is a timeless theme played out in the media – capitalize on it.
Teach WS as a game when you go camping. It’s fun and exciting for younger scouts, and prepares them for high adventures .
High adventures challenges older scouts, which boosts retention, facilitating rank advancement, and deeper exposure to the 3 aims of Scouting.
TEACHABLE MOMENTS
CHARACTER
FITNESSCITIZENSHI
P
AGE APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIESTroop outdoor
program
National Parks & Forests
Philmont / Rayado
Northern Tier
Council summer camp
50-Miler Afoot / Afloat“fumes”
lead
ersh
ip
What we doWhy wedo
them
WS is great fun, but it’s more than a game.
In the backcountry, injury/death can occur:In seconds from lack
of thinking (panic)In minutes from lack
of oxygenIn hours from lack of
shelterIn days from lack of
waterIn weeks from lack
of food
To youTo your kidsTo the kids you’re
responsible for
POP QUIZ: Time
The #1 resource you can’t control
in ALL survival situations is?
TIME
CLASSROOM SURVIVAL - POP QUIZ...
You and your hunting partner Fred have become separated in the Big Hole Mountains southwest of Yellowstone during a late-season elk hunt. The truck is several miles away. Night is coming on fast and it’s beginning to snow. You’ve worked your way to a brush-covered ridge and can see the lights of Teton Valley way off in the distance. Fred is nowhere in sight. Yelling his name brings no response.
A. Stop and make camp where you are.B. Since you can now see the lights of town, keep going.C. Retrace your route and try to find Fred.D. Hike back to the truck, drive to town, alert local search
& rescue.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO - Separated and Lost?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
More @ NON-BSA SITE: http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/survival/2007/09/quiz-test-your-outdoor-knowledge
Knowing how to stay alive and well until the emergency is over.
Working with nature rather than against it. Maintaining a positive attitude.
Wilderness survival is taking care of ourselves in a way that allows us to come home safely.
What we’re going to do: Cover a subset of WS that
tends to overlap both the MB and OB/R requirements: Risk management 7 survival priorities Emergency survival kit
What you’ll get: How to prepare / be safe / have
fun for a high adventure at Philmont, Northern Tier, or National Parks and Forests
Materials to use as a scouting WS MB / venturing WS OB counselor
Pop quizzes to emphasize key points
Repetition to retain key points Back references to WS Merit
Badge and Outdoor Bronze/Ranger requirements are on the lower left.
Links to Internet resources (purple).
Updated presentation, with add'l reference materials, is avail on www.vcrew1716.org WS 10 Essentials & Personal Survival Kit WS Training Scenario, Script & Menu WS Pop Quizzes WS Tips & Tricks
How this material can help youHow we’re going to do it:
WS is part of both Scouts and Venturing. WS positions your youth for high adventures.
Wilderness Survival Merit Badge
Wilderness Survival Outdoor
Bronze / Ranger
Value of High Adventure• Entices them to “stretch”• Exhilarating outdoor experience
• Living and cooperating with others
• Overcoming difficulties• Living in harmony with nature
• Opportunities for leadership
• Emphasizes spirituality• Committed to wildland stewardship
• Meaningful and lasting experience
• Character, fitness, citizenship
Ref: Passport to High Adventure, pg 5
1. Show that you know FIRST AID for, and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur in backcountry settings, including- hypothermia - blisters- heat reactions - insect stings- frostbite - tick bites- dehydration - snakebites
2. From memory, list the SEVEN PRIORITIES for SURVIVAL in a backcountry or wilderness location. Explain the importance of each one with your counselor.
3. Discuss ways to AVOID PANIC and MAINTAIN a high level of MORALE when lost, and explain why this is important.
4. Describe the steps you would take to SURVIVE in the following CONDITIONS: a. Cold and snowy b. Wet (forest) c. Hot and dry (desert) d. Windy (mountains or plains) e. Water (ocean, lake, or river)
5. Put together a PERSONAL SURVIVAL KIT and explain how each item in it could be useful .
6. Using three different methods (other than matches), BUILD and LIGHT three FIRES.
7. Do the following: a. Show five different ways to attract attention when lost. b. Demonstrate how to use a signal mirror. c. Describe from memory five ground-to-air SIGNALS and tell what they mean.
8. Improvise a natural shelter. For the purpose of this demonstration, use techniques that have little negative impact on the environment. Spend a NIGHT IN your SHELTER.
9. Explain how to PROTECT YOURSELF from insects, reptiles, and bears. 10. Demonstrate three ways to TREAT WATER found in the outdoors to prepare
it for drinking. 11. Show that you know the PROPER CLOTHING to wear in your area on an
overnight in extremely hot weather and in extremely cold weather. 12. Explain why it usually NOT WISE to eat EDIBLE wild PLANTS or
WILDLIFE in a wilderness survival situation.
(Before you begin wilderness survival, you must have completed the cooking, land navigation, and FIRST AID aid core requirements.)
a. Write a RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN for an upcoming crew high adventure activity such as a whitewater canoeing or rock-climbing trip. The plan should include:- nutrition - insurance - in-service training- health - safety rules & regulations - environmental considerations- first aid - proper equipment - emergency & evacuation procedures- supervision - maps & compass - emergency contacts
b. From memory, list the SURVIVAL PRIORITIES and explain your use of each in a survival situation.c. Learn about and then make a tabletop display or presentation for your crew, another crew, a Cub or Boy Scout
group, or another youth group on the following subjects:1. Emergency SIGNALS used in the outdoors2. Search and rescue patterns3. Evacuation procedures and value of WHEN TO MOVE and when not to move in a wilderness emergency
d. Explain the following environmental exposure problems. Discuss what causes them, signs and symptoms, and treatment. FIRST AID 1. Hypothermia 4. Heat exhaustion2. Frostbite 5. Heat cramps3. Sunburn 6. Heat stroke
e. 1. Explain dehydration and the necessity of conserving fluids in a survival situation.2. Explain at least four methods of OBTAINING WATER in the outdoors and demonstrate at least two ways
to PURIFY that water.
f. 1. Demonstrate at least two different FIRE LAYS-one for cooking and one for warmth.2. Learn and discuss the use of fire starters, tinder, kindling, softwoods, and hardwoods in fire making.
g. Explain and demonstrate how you can gain knowledge of WEATHER patterns using VHF band radio and other radios, winds, barometric pressure, air masses and their movements, clouds, and other indicators.
h. 1. Explain the different ROPE materials and thicknesses that are best for wilderness use and how to care for them.
2. Know the use of and demonstrate how to tie the following KNOTS and LASHINGS:a. Sheet bend f. Clove hitchb. Fisherman's knot g. Timber hitchc. Bowline h. Taut-line hitchd. Bowline on a bight i. Square lashinge. Two half hitches j. Shear lashing
i. 1. Explain the usefulness and drawbacks of obtaining FOOD in the wilderness, including things to avoid.2. Prepare and eat at least one meal with food you have found in the outdoors.
j. 1. Make a list of items you would include in a WILDERNESS SURVIVAL KIT and then make copies to hand out to visitors to your wilderness survival outpost camp.2. Using your list, make a wilderness survival kit. Explain the use of each item you have included.
k. 1. Set up a wilderness survival outpost CAMP and spend at least TWO NIGHTS and two days in your site.2. Use and demonstrate several knots and lashings from requirement (h) in your wilderness survival campsite
demonstration.3. Know how to plan a wilderness SHELTER for three different environments and then build a shelter as part
of your wilderness survival campsite demonstration. 4. Have your crew, another crew, a Cub or Boy Scout group, or another youth group visit you in your outpost
for a presentation you make on wilderness survival (at least one hour).
(Note: Remember to use the Leave No Trace principles you learned.)
Wilderness Survival Outdoor Bronze / Ranger
WildernessMerit Badge
Both Scouts and Venturing support Wilderness Survival programs.
RISK MANAGEMENT…because the best emergency is the one that never happens, and an injury that’s avoided needs no treatment!
OB-A
POP QUIZ: Denial & Panic
Name the two primary reasons an emergency escalates into a
wilderness survival situation:
DENIAL and PANIC
CLASSROOM SURVIVAL - POP QUIZ...
Lost hiking in the woods Sudden storm comes up and you won’t make your
destinationSomeone is injured and requires immediate medical
attentionA sick / injured person can not move and requires
evacuationYour vehicle breaks down in a remote locationYour boat capsizes, gets damaged or suffers engine failureAn unplanned swim causes immediate risk of hypothermiaExacerbating Circumstances:
Responding to an emergency causes additional injury.After dealing with an emergency, darkness falls
Wilderness events that can cause denial and panic.
OB-A
Risk is inherent in everything we do in the outdoors, but it is the actions we take to reduce the risk that are important:We drink from a stream, which has parasites
and crud, but we filter and treat to reduce risk.
We share the outdoors with animals, but we protect ourselves by hanging food and “smellables”
Perceived risk can energize us to be cautious: climbing, guns, bows & arrows, cold, etc.
Totally eliminating risk requires staying at home; a realistic alternative is to heighten awareness at critical points.
Risk management reduces the potential for an emergency, and if one occurs, improving your odds for survival.
Three keys to effective risk management:
1.Everyone in the group commits to having a safe experience.
2.Everyone knows risks and follows guidelines established to minimize risk.
3.Everyone is involved in recognizing and dealing with risks that arise on an outing.
OB-A
Risk management helps you “be prepared”. Ensure qualified, adult supervision:
Understands risks of this adventure: BSA Handbook, Field book, MBs
Takes responsibility for the group’s safety: Trained, G2SS, YPT
Has relevant skills & certifications, e.g. CPR, WFA, Safe Swim, Safety Afloat, Climb On
Get fit & healthy: Evaluate skill/experience level of crew.
Match adventure to crew’s skill level & fitness
Train for it, just like any athletic event Insist on BSA physical - know who’s allergic
/ limited / restricted to what Gear up:
Gear appropriate to the terrain and season / identify special equipment requirements
Take extra required medications Calculate water storage requirements Calculate fuel requirements Check cell phone coverage, consider
satellite phone, GPS transmitter Prepare ESK and take it
Study the route: Know how to navigate and use a compass
(GPS optional, never relay on batteries) Calculate daily mileage, elevation change,
identify campsites, water sources and distances between them, danger points using trail and topo maps
Know seasonal temperature, average rainfall, typical weather patterns, sunrise/sunset, phase of moon, high/low tides
Research wildlife, predators, poisonous snakes / spiders / plants
Call the park ranger for the latest!Share plans with others who care: Leave a copy at home, inc. maps, routes,
timetables, and check-insExpect discipline: Roles, responsibilities, who makes
decisions , how they are madeBE PREPARED
OB-A More: BSA Fieldbook, Ch. 6
On the trail: having the outdoor 10 essentials is a key component of risk management.
1. Plenty of water2. Extra food3. Extra clothing 4. Matches/lighter
and fire starters5. Map & compass
6. Rain gear7. Pocket knife8. First aid kit9. Flashlight or
headlamp 10. Sunscreen / insect
repellant
When do you bring them – ALWAYS!Who brings them – EVERYONE!OB-J1MB-5
Expand the 10 essentials into an Emergency Wilderness / Personal Survival Kit to mitigate risk.WS Merit Badge book:Duct tape (small roll)Fishing line w/hooks & shots, 50 ftGarbage bag (sleeping bag dry, rain
gear)
Also recommended by experts:Medications (extra)Tinder (fire)Aluminum foil, 10 ft
(cooking/signaling)Bandana (101 uses)Emergency blanket (shelter)IdentificationLarge knife/hatchet
ESK:• Is in addition to the outdoor 10 essentials • Is personal preference and situation related•When do you bring a kit – ALWAYS!•Who brings a kit – EVERYONE!•Where is the kit – ATTACHED TO YOU!OB-J1MB-5
Snare wire – 24 gauge (repairs)Whistle (signaling)
Metal cup, pot or coffee can (cook)Mosquito head-netNylon cord, 1/8", 50 ftPaper/pencil (communicate)Safety pins, large needle, cable tiesSpoon (eat)Water purificationZip-loc bag
Special purpose gear depending on type and remoteness of adventureDesert - solar still equipment, tarpWinter - layers, gloves, balaclava, sleeping bagWater - flares, life jackets, tools, waterClimbing - climbing equipment, rope,
specialized footwear, helmetEach item should have multiple uses.Kit must be waterproof.Know how to use everything.Stress test everything (before you go).
Add special purpose gear depending on type and remoteness of adventure
OB-J1MB-5
7 SURVIVAL PRIORITIESWhat to do when things go wrong.
POP QUIZ: Your Brain
The single most important tool you must ALWAYS take with you
is: YOUR BRAIN
CLASSROOM SURVIVAL - POP QUIZ...
Clear-minded thinking, determination, the will to live, creativity, positive mental
attitude, skills, deliberate actions, and experience can make the difference between
survival and disaster.
POP QUIZ: Democracy
True or False: Survival is a democratic process – everyone
has a vote?FALSE
A survival situation is life-threatening!
CLASSROOM SURVIVAL - POP QUIZ...
P ick a leader: C lear thinking, determ ined, m ost experienced
Pick a leader: Clear thinking, determined, most experienced
In order of importance:1. S.T.O.P.: Stop, Think, Observe, & Plan2. Provide first aid3. Seek shelter4. Build a fire5. Signal for help6. Drink water7. (Don’t worry about) food
7 Survival priorities are key to staying positive and beginning to take charge of a situation - WSMB
OB-BMB-2
The WS Imperative: Positive Mental Attitude:
Decide to survive Anticipate panic & denial Control peripheral danger Be deliberate Keep doing
1. S.T.O.P.: Stop, Think, Observe, & Plan
OB-BMB-2
Do What :
How to do it:
•Stop •Hug a tree / relax•Seek safety (from weather, water, animals)•Seek shelter (from cold, rain, heat)•Seek visibility (so you can see and be seen).
•Drink some water, eat a snack. •Stay put if you are lost (a stationary person is easier to find than a moving one)
•Think •Are there any immediate dangers?•What went wrong?•How can I help myself?
•Can I help others find me?•Don't make quick decisions.•Don’t go anywhere, yet!
•Observe •Am I hurt?•What equipment do I have that may help? •What's the weather going to do?
•How much time do I have? •What other hazards are around me? •What natural resources are available?
•Plan •Assess conditions, crew, gear, location. •Develop a new plan based on your observations.
•Analyze risks vs. benefits of changing the original plan.
Panic and haste can make things worse.
2. Provide first aid
OB-DMB-1
MB OB
Preparation / Prevention Signs Treatment
Blisters X
Treat hot spots quickly.^Shoes/Boots & Socks are a System. Know & Practice with Your System Recognize potential beyond feet; hands, shoulders, hips
Hot spots created by rubbing or abrasion
Moleskin, gel pads^Scissors and foot powder. Anti-bacterial ointment for wound management. Treat blisters in morning after overnight rest (body re-absorbs blister fluids).
Dehydra-tion X X
Drink fluids^Understand your travel environment. Altitude/Humidity/Temperature (Hot & Cold). Drink fluids regularly before thirsty. Clear & copious urine.
^ Early sign: Chapped/Drying lipsLater sign: Dark urine, headache, weariness, body ache
Drink fluids. Stay in the shade
Frostbite X X
^Think C.O.L.D. to stay warm:
C - keep clothing CleanO - avoid OverheatingL - wear clothes Loose and in LayersD - keep clothing Dry
^Minimize exposure of skin & extremities. (Nose, Ears, Fingers, & toes) Minimize wetness (perspiration). Use natural insulation to keep ground from absorbing body heat
Pain / numbness on ears, nose, fingers, feet, grayish-white patches of skin
Get to care quickly. Seek shelter. Avoid rubbing, hold under warm water. Tuck hand under armpit, place toes on belly, palm on ear.^Do not re-warm if there is a potential for refreezing
Hypo-thermia X X
Body losing more heat than it can generate: Feel cold, numb, tired, anxious, irritable, clumsy, slurred speech, shiver, poor decisions, lose consciousness
^The symptoms are a progression depending on decreasing core temperature.
Seek shelter. Drink warm liquids. Wear dry, warm clothes & hat. Get in sleeping bag. Hold hot water bottles.^ Stay dry, sit on leaves, not ground.
Heat cramps X
^Hydrate, drink and eat regularly
^Muscle spasms and contractions (arms, legs, stomach)
^Rest, lie flat, and elevate legs. Gentle limb straightening. Massage not so helpful. Tums will add calcium and/or slowly drink water & salt mix (¼ tsp per liter).
Heat exhaustion
X XHeavy sweating, cold/clammy skin, nausea, tiredness, dizziness, fainting, headache, muscle cramps, weakness
Find shade and breeze. Drink fluids. Place wet cloths. ^Rest during heat – move during cool
Heat stroke X X
^Hydrate, drink and eat regularly, reduce strenuous effort in elevated temperatures & humidity.
Body temp rises to life-threatening level, 105 F, hot, sweaty, red skin, confusion, disorientation, rapid pulse^Altered mental state
Get to care quickly. Find shade and breeze (fan), loosen tight clothing, drink water, pour water on victim, use ice packs.^ Monitor temperature.More: *BSA Fieldbook, Ch. 6, ^EMT
This is a quick reference. Ensure your crew has First Aid Merit Badge and Red Cross WFA (Wilderness First Aid) skills
2. Provide first aid con’t
MB OB
Preparation / Prevention Signs Treatment
Insect stings X
^Know your tolerance to Insect Bites & Stings
^Initially Pain and swelling at the site. Depending on tolerance increasing hives, swelling with increasing respiratory/breathing distress,
Check for Anaphylactic shock – EpiPen* Scrape stinger with edge of knife blade, ice pack (reduce swelling)
Snake bites X
*Use hiking stick. Watch hand placement when climbing / getting firewood
^ Two small Puncture marks, redness and swelling. tingling at site, metallic taste in mouth, fever chills, nausea, vomiting, Blurred vision & muscle tremors
Get to care quickly. Carry victim. Keep wound lower than heart. Don’t apply ice. Don’t give aspirin.^. Clean wound; remove rings and constrictive items. Keep victim quiet, hydrated & comfortable.
Sunburn X
Broad-brimmed hat, long sleeve shirt and pants, sunscreen SPF > 15 or mud, stay in shade during middle of the day.^ Run sunscreen into skin thoroughly 30 minutes prior to exposure.
^Exposed skin redness (1st degree burns) and developing blisters (mild 2nd degree burns) usually after 24 hours
*Damp cloths / Aloe vera^Burns: cool wet dressings. Pain management with Anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin(adults only), ibuprofen) Anesthetic sprays & ointments.
^Blisters: cool wet sterile dressings, do not break. If broken, treat as open wound. Wash clean, dry, apply antibiotics and dry clean dressing.
Tick bites X
Wear long pants & long-sleeve shirtTuck cuffs into socks.Inspect yourself daily.^Treat outer clothes with Permethrin.
Inspect yourself daily. Lyme disease – red ring-like rash around bite*
Pull off with tweezers.Wash with soap and water.Apply antiseptic.
OB-DMB-1 More: *BSA Fieldbook, Ch. 6, ^EMT
This is a quick reference. Ensure your crew has First Aid Merit Badge and Red Cross WFA (Wilderness First Aid) skills
You thought you had given yourself enough time for the return hike, but suddenly night is overtaking you as you follow your trail back toward camp, which is still a few miles away. The going is slow as you fight your way through dense foliage in the deep canyon. This broken country is nothing but forested canyons separated by bald ridges. Finally, in utter blackness and feeling the onset of a biting chill, you give up and decide to make camp. You have nothing but the clothes you are wearing. How will you make it through the night?A.Camp in the deepest part of the canyon. B.Climb to the ridge top and camp there. C.Climb two-thirds of the way to the ridge top, find some cover
and spend the night there. D.Find the densest bunch of trees and hunker down for warmth.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO – The Right Elevation?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
More @ NON-BSA SITE: http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/survival/2007/09/quiz-test-your-outdoor-knowledge
Why is this important?Surviving long enough to
be rescued can be summed up as doing all you can to help your body maintain its ideal temperature without using more energy than necessary. That means … shelter – WSMB
Protection from wind, rain, sun, dead limbs, and rock falls
Find natural cover – caves, beneath the bottom branches of a tree or a rock overhang
Make cover - lean-to, ponchos, emergency blanket, snow shelters, garbage bag
Not in a low spot (water puddles) Not next to water (possible flooding) Away from fire hazards (fire is priority
#4) Away from ants, animal dens,
poisonous plants, and sharp rocks Next to a clearing (visibility) Plenty of resources nearby - building
materials (frame work, insulation, roofing), water, plants, and animals
3. Seek shelter
How to do it?
OB-K1,3MB-8
Things to consider• Check natural shelters for signs of animals,
snakes.• Don’t place food in shelters.• Don’t build a fire in your shelter, unless it’s well
ventilated.• Put signals or signs out; shelters are difficult to
see.
3. Seek shelter – 1-man shelter, works anywhere, requires a tree, a pole, and a space blanket / tarp/rain fly
OB-K3MB-8 More @ NON-BSA SITE: http://www.wilderness-survival.net/shelters-2.php
3. Seek shelter – debris hut, forest, easy construction,
OB-K3MB-8 More @ NON-BSA SITE: http://www.wilderness-survival.net/shelters-2.php
3. Seek shelter – desert, below ground to reduce heat
OB-K3MB-8 More @ NON-BSA SITE: http://www.wilderness-survival.net/shelters-2.php
3. Seek shelter – winter, requires evergreen and digging tool
OB-K3MB-8 More @ NON-BSA SITE: http://www.wilderness-survival.net/shelters-2.php
3. Seek shelter – swamp bed, standing water or continually wet ground
OB-K3MB-8 More @ NON-BSA SITE: http://www.wilderness-survival.net/shelters-2.php
Why is this important?Warmth for comfort
and positive mental attitude
Keeps you in one placeSmoke for signalingHeat for purifying
water, sterilizing bandages, protection from animals, cooking and making tools
Choose a location that’s dry and out of the wind. Wet ground / snow - place tinder on a dry
surface, a split log! Windy - create a fire ring (requires less wood) Don’t build fire in dry creek bed or rain run-off
point. Dig a shallow pit to protect it from the wind.
Clear an area at least 4 feet around the pit. Build a rock wall about 2 feet high in a "C"
shape on the pit, to reflect heat back toward shelter.
Collect enough fuel (3-4x) to last the night - WSMB
Small fires are controllable, larger, smoky fires are more visible.
Heat dry rocks in a fire for boiling water and cooking food.
Bury large, hot rocks inside shelter to keep it warmer.
4. Build a fire
How to do it:
OB-F1MB-6
4. Build a fire – teepee: leans toward the center, where flames naturally rise, starts easily, burns efficiently, high flames hold up in rain or snow
OB-F1MB-6 More @ NON-BSA SITE: http://www.wilderness-survival.net/fire-4.php
Ingredients Tinder - dry material that ignites
easily Cotton char cloth wax paper Dryer lint dried grasses Cat tail fuzz cotton ball
w/Vaseline Fungus from birch trees Shred inner bark birch or cedar Insect repellent is flammable
Kindling - material that can be added to burning tinder Small sticks Pine cones Pine tree nodules
Fuel - burns slowly and steadily once ignited
Flint & steel Metal match or “fire striker” and
magnesium bar Magnifying glass / Fresnel lens
Bottom of a coke can Ice lens Camera lens, binoculars, etc.
9 volt battery spark…and “0000” steel wool
Bow and drill Hand drill Fire drill / bow / plow / piston Glycerin and potassium permanganate
(old-fashioned 1st aid kit items) Brake fluid and bleach An ember from last night’s fire!
4. Build a fire without matches/lighter
Techniques
How many ways have you started a fire?Make a game of 1 new method on each
campout.
OB-F2MB-6
4. Build a fire with a convex lens, sunny days, use binoculars, camera, or magnifying glass
OB-F2MB-6 More @ NON-BSA SITE: http://www.wilderness-survival.net/fire-5.php
Why is this important?Get your rescuer's
attention Send a message your
rescuer understands. Aircraft signals:
Rock wings - message received and understood
Right hand circle - message received, not understood
Cell phone / know coverage area / extra battery
GPS transmitter “3 in a row” is a universal distress signal –
three fires, three piles of rock, three circles in field, …
Make your fire smoke, build it larger and add green or wet leaves.
Don't yell - it doesn't carry far and is tiring. Whistling carries further and takes less energy.
Change terrain features – nature doesn’t have right angles or straight lines
Scratch out a message in sand, dirt, grass, etc.
Signal mirrors reflect sunlight for miles Make contrasting colors, shapes, etc. Be creative, use as many ways as possible.
5. – Signal for help
How to do it:
OB-C1MB-7
5. Signal for help
OB-C1MB-7C More @ NON-BSA SITE: http://www.wilderness-survival.net/chp19.php
It’s late August and you want to do some preseason scouting. You’ve heard that some big bucks hide down on the slick rock desert, so you drive way, way out on flat dirt, the road barely visible. Without warning, your truck utters a death rattle from somewhere down in the crankcase. You’ve lost a rod bearing and now you’re stranded in the most remote half-acre of terra firma you’ve ever seen. It’s 105 degrees in the sun and there’s not a hint of shade anywhere—no outcroppings or trees. Luckily, you brought a gallon of drinking water, and you figure that’ll keep you alive for a day and a half. But what do you do as the water slowly disappears?A. Drink the coolant fluid from the truck’s radiator. B. Urinate in the water bottle and let it sit out in the sun to kill any
microbes. Then drink what’s left.C. Ration your water to a cup a day to lengthen your survival time and
try to follow your tire tracks back. D. Set out signal devices and then crawl under the truck to get out of the
sun to minimize body fluid loss.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO – Too Much Sun?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
More @ NON-BSA SITE: http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/survival/2007/09/quiz-test-your-outdoor-knowledge
Why is this important?
Your body loses fluid as a result of heat, cold, stress, and exertion. To function effectively, you must replace the fluid your body loses.
Clean/Safe Sources Rain - collect in a rain fly / emergency blanket. Dew - collect with a cloth early in the morning Solar still: http://www.wilderness-survival.net/water-2.php
Other sources need to be treated (next page):Lakes, streams, puddles: Water flows downhill, look in low areas.
Ponds and lakes are more polluted; look for the stream that feeds it.
Trickles from cliffs / overhangsBest sources are fast moving, clear streams with healthy plants and animals in and around.
Polluted water can cause severe diarrhea and nausea; both can be deadly in the wilderness.
Sap from maple or edible succulent plants
Avoid:Don’t eat snow - burns energy, loses body heatDon’t drink urine - body needs fluids to rid itself of waste, urine is high waste, salt
Don’t suck plants that aren’t edibleDon’t drink sea waterCactus pulp - be careful of sickness/vomiting
6. Drink water
How to do it:
OB-C2MB-10
6. Drink purified water if at all possibleBoiling
Requires fire/fuel (5-10 minute boil)
Iodine tabs/Polar Pure Temperature dependent,
30+ min Does not kill all pathogens Limited shelf life / tastes bad Do not use if:
allergic to shellfish take Lithium thyroid problems pregnant small children women over 50 liver or kidney disease
Bleach 5 drops per quart and
shake 10-30 min wait Limited shelf life
Pumps/filters Can clog/break – bring
spare partsTripod “filters”
Removes sediment and improve flavor, DOES NOT remove dangerous bacteria / toxins!
Better to drink impure water than to dehydrate
OB-E2MB-10
Why is this important?
In most cases the energy you burn in trying to capture an animal and prepare it to be safely eaten would be better used improving your shelter, gathering water... - WSMB
WARNING: do not eat ANY plant or animal unless you are absolutely positive what it is.
Many poisonous plants look similar to edible plants. Train with an expert. Learn to identify edible and poisonous plants. Learn how to prepare and cook them.
Eat small amounts to avoid an upset stomach. Diarrhea or vomiting will leave you worse off.
Grass - no grass is poisonous, but don't eat too much (especially mature stems) as it is hard to digest. Choose tender young shoots; cooking for several minutes will help. Brown or green grass seeds should be toasted. Do not eat purple or black seeds; they contain a poisonous fungus.
Cattail - young shoots, roots; also seeds (tinder), leaves (insulation, weaving)
Acorns - boil in several changes of water to remove bitter taste. Pine needles - finely chop needles and boil to make a tea. Dandelion, sunflower, grass seeds Insects - remove stingers, legs, hard shells, and wings. Look for
them in moist shady areas like in rotting logs and under bark and leaves.
Healthy mammals, birds, insects are edible Anything you see eaten by rabbits, rodents, beavers, squirrels,
raccoons. Do not eat things eaten by birds.Do not eat plants with soapy, bitter, acid, burning taste.Do not eat plants with milky saps, or that are sickly looking.
7. (Don’t worry about) Food
How to do it:
OB-I1MB-12
Animals: Most flying, crawling, walking or
swimming animals can be eaten Smaller animals are easier to kill and
prepare Overcome personal bias against foods
Eating bugs, wild animals like raccoons, skunks, road kill
Animals can attack and inflict injury Reptiles are generally edible
Don’t eat box turtles, due to their diet of mushrooms
Amphibians are generally edible Don’t eat frogs with bright colors or a
visible X on back Don’t eat or even handle toads
Cook freshwater fish to kill parasites
Stay away from unknown plants and:Milky or discolored sapBeans, bulbs, or seeds inside podsBitter or soapy tasteSpines, fine hairs, or thornsDill, carrot, parsnip, or parsley-like
foliage"Almond" scent in woody parts and
leavesGrain heads with pink, purplish, or black
spursThree-leaved growth patternRed fruitMany commercial fruits and vegetables violate the general rules for identifying poisonous wild plants!
7. (Don’t worry about) Food
Plants:
OB-I1MB-12
Mushrooms: Don’t eat mushrooms. Eating the
smallest piece can result in DEATH!
No room to experiment Negligible nutritional value:
You need 54 grams of protein per day
1 cup of raw mushrooms = 2 grams
Can affect central nervous system Symptoms may show up several
days later: Too late to reverse effects
For most mushrooms, there are no antidotes
Kills bacteriaKills parasites,
diseasesBoiling removes
some toxins from plants
Easier to digestHot food improves
morale.
7. (Don’t worry about) FoodCook meat and plants:
OB-I1MB-12
You’re casting for trout along a river in northern Montana when a sudden crash in the bushes spins you around and you find yourself face to face with a big grizzly bear. It rears up to full height, bares its teeth and roars. Then it drops to all fours and rushes you. What would you do to survive this encounter?A.Stand as tall as possible, wave your arms and roar back at
the bear in an attempt to convince it that you’re a threat to be avoided.
B.Lie face-down on the ground, cover your head with your arms and play dead.
C.Climb a nearby tree, preferably one that is small enough that it won’t support the weight of the bear.
D.Dash across the river, because bears are often afraid of crossing current.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO – Bear?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
More @ NON-BSA SITE: http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/survival/2007/09/quiz-test-your-outdoor-knowledge
Remember risk management? Here’s a typical information you’d gather for a backpacking trip in Michigan.
Black Bear: 15K – 19K, ~ 90% in UP, 10% in northern LP. Cougar: expatriated at turn of last century, unlikely to encounterCoyote: rarely attack humansGray Wolf: few, endangered, found at Pictured Rocks, Isle Royalehttp://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12205---,00.html
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake – only venomous snake in MI.Found in wetlands and nearby upland woods throughout the lower peninsula.Shy, sluggish, typically avoids confrontationIf bit, get to doctorhttp://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12201-32995--,00.html
Brown recluse spider – vary rarehttp://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12204-36491--,00.html
Northern Black widow spider – toxic venom but small amountTypically runs rather than bitesFound in old stumps, hollow logs, under fallen fence posts, in abandoned animal burrows or piles of brushIf bit, get to doctorhttp://www.pestid.msu.edu/InsectsArthropods/NorthernBlackWidowSpiderLatrodectusvariolus/tabid/263/Default.aspx
poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac
Give it a try: Choose 1 of the 7 survival priorities, e.g. building a fire w/o
matches/lighter. Give a talk and demo (if permissible) at Troop meeting. On the next campout.
Create a “story”, a.k.a. reason Make it a patrol competition Give the winners a token prize Have fun, discuss what to try next
Repeat! Or dive right in:
Use the WS “Scenario, Script & Menu” (separate file) on your next campout.
Script includes a realistic scenario, with 3 related WS situations that require teamwork, knowledge of the 7 WS priorities, and stamina to resolve.”
Calibrate intensity to # of participants and experience level. Teach the rest of the merit badge.
Next steps: Integrate WS into your camping program
Learn–Survive–Return
STRONG VALUES, STRONG LEADERS, LEADERS, CHARACTER COUNTS
WS ResourcesBSA
Backpacking Merit Badge, # 35863Camping Merit Badge, #35866Canoeing Merit Badge, #35867First Aid Merit Badge, #35897Hiking Merit Badge, # 35907Okpik: Cold-Weather Camping, #34040Orienteering Merit Badge, # 35925Wilderness Survival Merit Badge, #35966
Basic Essentials SeriesKnots for the Outdoors, ISBN 0-7627-0428-4 Map and Compass, ISBN 0-7627-0481-0Weather Forecasting, ISBN 0-7627-0478-0Wilderness First Aid, ISBN 0-7627-0477-2
First AidWilderness First Aid, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2005
FoodFeasting Free on Wild Edibles, Bradford Angier, 1972
General How to Stay Alive in the Woods, Bradford Angier, 2001Keller’s Outdoor Survival Guide, William Keller, 2001Outdoor Leadership, John Graham, ISBN 0-89886-502-6Outdoor Safety and Survival, Paul H. Risk, 1983Participating in Nature, 5th Ed Thomas J. Elpel, 2002US Army Survival Manual , FM 21-76 Wildwood Wisdom, Ellsworth Jaeger, 1945
NavigationThe Essential Wilderness Navigator, Seidman, ISBN 0-07-056323-3
Non-BSA Internet SitesBackpacker Magazine, www.backpacker.com The Backwoodsman Magazine, www.backwoodsmanmag.com Outdoor Life Magazine, www.outdoorlife.com
TagsBSA, “Boy Scouts of America”, “Venturing Crew 1716”“Detroit Area Council”, “Clinton Valley Council, Michigan”Philmont, “Northern Tier”“wilderness survival”, camping, hiking, backpacking, canoeing’“3 aims of scouting”, character, fitness, citizenship