HOW TO USE A MAGNESIUM FIRE STARTER STICK
A magnesium fire starter stick has three basic pieces: flint, magnesium and carbon steel. The large, light grey section is the magnesium. The narrow dark cylinder embedded in one edge of the magnesium is a flint rod. The third component of the tool is a separate piece of carbon steel that resembles the blade of a jig saw.
Utilize the toothed side of your carbon to scratch some particles off of the bar onto your tinder nest. It is best if you don't forcefully slice into the bar. The thinner the shavings are, the easier they are to ignite. Work in a place shielded from breezes as these shavings are feather light. If you use a knife, don't dull your blade on this tool; rather, use the back of the blade.
Some guidelines advocate creating a dime-sized pile of shavings, however with a well constructed tinder nest
With the flint bar turned upward, support the magnesium bar inside your less dominant hand. Within your favored hand, pinch the flat of the saw blade in between your forefinger and thumb. The short edge of the blade will extend just beyond your fingers. Point the device towards the shavings inside your tinder nest and run the short side of the carbon piece down the flint rod. You ought to immediately observe sparks. If the shavings do not immediately catch the spark, move the tool a little nearer to the tinder nest. Hesitate long enough between strikes to check the tinder for flame.
Another way to coax a spark is to support the jig blade steady and pull the flint towards your body as you scrape it across the blade, directing the sparks into your tinder bundle. Test out each method to determine what is best and more effective for you.
CAUTION:
Take the time to become familiar with your fire stick before you need it in an emergency. Magnesium fire starter sticks can be found at most outdoor retailers for two dollars or less. Purchase two of these and practice with one until you're comfortable using it. This small expenditure of time and money could possibly save your life.
Below is a video showing of how to start a fire with a carbon steel knife and a magnesium fire starter. Gouging at the magnesium isn't recommended, but this tool is forgiving, and it worked for this demonatration.
MAKING A TINDER NEST
greatly increases the incidence of successful fire building. When a flame is caught, a tinder nest is used to ignite a bigger fire.
When crushed or bent, dry tinder will easily break. Sometimes, the surface area will feel dry, but when it bends without breaking, the material isn't really dried out on the inside. If the ground is damp, search out materials which can be found resting on top of bushes or branches. Because they have been exposed to the sun and air flow, these materials are going to be drier than ground litter.
If the driest tinder you can find is damp, place it inside your jacket leaving a clothing layer between it and your bare skin. When you find yourself ready to prepare a fire later in the day, the heat from your body will have served to dry the tinder.
Shredding the tinder creates extra surface area that will more readily catch fire. Fluffy materials are ideal for nursing a spark into a flame. Use a bandana or other cloth to gather your tinder. Select a long piece of tinder and hold it in your hands as you move them in a bike pedaling movement. Repeat this process across the full span your tinder. The tinder will soften and grow more flexible. Bits and fine dust will fall down from your hands and fall onto the bandana.
Take a few of the rough pieces of shredded tinder and create a loose over hand knot with a diameter of around four inches.
SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION -- REASONS YOU MUST HAVE WATER
Humans can live without water for about three days, however the human body is not going to have the capacity to function properly during that time. Dehydration is defined as a circumstance that exists when your body starts to shed more water than you ingest. Perspiration, excretion of waste materials and breathing are the 3 main means by which your body will lose fluids. Before you begin to feel thirsty, you've in fact begun to dehydrate. Even moderate dehydration is going to impair your overall health.
The volume of water you naturally lose may be increased by diuretics like coffee, tea, caffeine, beer and alcohol. Drinking salt water will raise the concentration of salt within your body and drive fluids away from vital organs in order to correct the ratio. In this way, drinking salt water can diminish the fluid content of your entire body sooner than if you had drank nothing.
Metabolic processes are impeded without the proper amount of water. The water content of one's blood diminishes and it also thickens into the consistency of sauce. This increases the stress on your circulatory system. Blood pressure may drop to dangerously low levels. Blood clots may form. Normal kidney function might be reduced.
Thirst associated with weariness is a symptom of the fluid level of the body has fallen by only 2 %. Additional signs include headaches, lethargy, dizziness, lack of appetite, muscle cramps, depression and mental fuzziness. Any difficulty performing on an emotional level or physically is made worse by moderate dehydration.
As dehydration becomes severe, the mouth area will have a dry sensation. This is known as "cotton mouth," and you'll detect a crease forming on the tongue. The frequency and amount of urination will decline. Your urine will become a deep yellow or orange color and have a stronger odor. In more advanced cases, the eyes will look sunken and feel dry; the pulse will increase.
When conditions become severe, urination will cease. Lethargy increases, together with irritability, and you will become nauseated. Vomiting will increase dehydration. Should fluid levels drop by over 10 %, rehydration needs to happen so that you can prevent death.
The time to forestall dehydration is prior to being threatened with an absence of proper water supply. Take the time to learn how to filter AND disinfect found water options with simple devices. Learn to find natural water sources by knowing how to identify indications that water is near. It is not wise to be left trying to recall untested skills and information while you are suffering from mental befuddlement brought on by dehydration. Being trapped in a group of dehydrated, baffled and cranky individuals can jeopardize the survival of everybody. In a survival situation, knowing how to meet this primary need is crucial.
5 METHODS TO GET ALONG WITH A DIFFICULT PERSON
Many people are just much easier to work with than others. The ability to handle these types of associations may mean the difference between living and dying in a survival situation. Below are a few useful techniques:
FIRSTTHIS IS NOT A UNIQUE PREDICAMENT.
When a person is persuaded that he is 'chronically unique,' many problems arise. This is actually the notion that an individual's history, problems, wants, needs, requirements and yearnings are so distinct that no one could possibly fully grasp or be trusted to make judgments affecting him. Informing this person he's mistaken will certainly place him on the defensive and result in more time-consuming turmoil. Guard against this in your thinking and avoid taking offense when you identify this self-deception in others.
SECOND -- DO NOT LOOK TO OTHERS TO SOOTHE YOUR EMOTIONS.
The whining needs to rapidly cease. With lives hanging in the balance, it is important that this tough advice is heeded. It isn't the duty of your friends to hear your ongoing emotional challenges. Your determination to avoid complaining will add to your value as a team member. Reserve the details of your internal battles for a diary. When it is needed, talk about necessary information and facts. Having said that, take the time to try and encourage others. By seeking to find positive items of conversation, you will not only manage to move your thoughts in another direction, but you will also help other people.
- A mural in the rotunda of Oregon's State Capitol shows the Lewis and Clark Expedition arriving at Celilo Falls on the Columbia River in 1805.
THIRDACCEPT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IN THE PROBLEM.
The group's dynamic will suffer if you only blame other people for conflict. These problems AREN'T just someone else's problem. In the event that the other person avoids your presence, discounts your input, and concludes conversations quickly whenever you join in, you might unknowingly be adding to the discord. Here are two steps that can help smooth the difficulties:
STEP ONE: If it is not nice, do not say it.
Learn how to redirect a discussion instead of taking part in an exchange about the flaws of others. Should your team member come to suspect that you're talking about him or her, it's going to make a rift. When others' trust in you has been damaged in this way, resentments may develop which are exhibited in the disposition and actions of others. Your associate becomes exactly what you colored him to be through his response to your harmful language.
STEP TWO: Build up abilities and strengths.
Search for opportunities to speak about positive attributes in your team member. Use this even if he isn't within earshot. You'll benefit by the reminder of these strengths and abilities much more than you would by cataloging the things that result in your angst. Redirect your thoughts if you find yourself falling into this habit. This will make it easier for you to be less harsh towards this individual without having to put on an act.
FOURTH
FIFTH
Individuals sometimes grow to be so bitter, hostile or proud that they are not able to work through their difficulties. Keep in mind, the goal is to survive, not to be proved right. Nagging other people and pressuring them to do things your way is only going to create greater conflict. Not only will a man convinced against his will still secretly disagree with you, but he will be quietly irritated about being bullied into compliance.
Whenever you set an example of versatility and refuse to hold grudges, you encourage others to follow your lead. Set aside conduct that causes discord and demonstrate your determination to promote the welfare of the group. This willingness to get along will help make the best of a bad condition.
TIPS FOR EMERGENCY WATER STORAGE
The human body can only survive three days without drinking water. Water is really a high priority in terms of emergency preparedness.
Nearly 25 gallons each day is used by each individual in the average household. This isn't only drinking water, but that put to use in cleaning cooking and flushing as well. The majority of the systems that are utilized to supply water into these homes are driven by electricity. Even properties with wells often make use of electric pump systems. So, water storage is very important should the power grid stop working.
If you know beforehand that you could suffer a loss of your supply of water, take the occasion to fill up bathtubs, sinks, ice chests and any other container you've got that is good enough to hold water without leaks. Divide your stored water into some that will be useful for drinking and that designated for other use.
Plan to keep enough water to last the home seven days. Every person will need to have 21 gallons of water stored. To be safe, you might wish to double this amount. A family of five would call for a bit more than 100 gallons of water in storage. Double this amount would mean you'd need 210 gallons. So, two or four, fifty-five gallon drums would satisfy your storage needs.
The weight of a gallon of water is under eight and a half pounds. Bear this in mind when planning storage and transportation of water. Large amounts of water are safest kept on a reinforced concrete floor for the reason that weight of fifty-five gallons of water is nearly 500 pounds -- and that doesn't include the weight of the drum! This is too heavy for most other floors.
In case you are unexpectedly without water, there are locations within your house that have useable water. Typical hot water heaters may hold forty or more gallons of drinkable water. The water tank part of the commode also has water which is able to be used for drinking purposes. Ice cubes within the freezer are another resource. Do not discard the water found in canned goods because it is another valued way to obtain moisture when every single drop counts.
Water can be collected via downspouts or inside a kid's swimming pool in the course of a rain. On top of that, clean sheets and bedspreads can be placed out to soak up the dew or rain and then wrung out over a storage container. Non drinking water sources include things like water from the toilet bowl and the water bed mattress.
Prepare ahead to prepare for possible water shortages. Use your imagination to replace stored water when utilities are not working. Educate yourself and your loved ones to reduce the use of the water you DO possess.
