Every Man Should Be Able to Save His Own Life: Tradgang Edition

[ahab78]

A few months ago I read an article on The Art of Manliness about how every man should be able to save his own life (http://www.artofmanliness.com/2009/09/15/every-man-should-be-able-to-save-his-own-life-5-fitness-benchmarks-a-man-must-master/).

Since Tradgang is a bunch of adventure seekers, I was wondering what ya'll thought would be the benchmarks for a self-sufficient woodsman to save his own life or at least get himself out of a jam in the wilds?

I'll get us started with a few:

1. Land Navigation with a compass. (GPSs break and batteries die.)
2. Start a fire by at least three different methods.
3. Sharpen a knife. (Never know when you might have to resort to hand-to-hand combat with the wildlife!)
4. Construct a survival shelter to fight off hypothermia and the elements.
5. How to treat a venomous snakebite.

[Michael Arnette]

You think waay to much like a marine lol ...to me traditional archery and the pursuit of game with such equipment is an art, suitable to many expressions.

Good stuff though! Thank you for your service!

BTW I have survived hyperthermia mostly from my own stupidity and I can light a fire with three methods, gasoline, a lighter, and matches      

[ahab78]

Once a Marine, always a Marine!

I thought it would be a good post to get people talking. We've got some salty guys on this forum with a wealth of knowledge from all corners of the globe, so I thought it would be good to pick their brains. I want to canoe into a remote public land and do some deer and hog hunting. Never done it, and I honestly don't know what the dangers would be. If I were hunting my own land, I'd just yell for my dad until he found me!

[ahab78]

And I use "salty" in the Marine sense, meaning experienced, and not how the kids these days use it, meaning bitter.

[Fattony77]

I like the post. You can never be too prepared. I would add to your list:

How to obtain and make safe water;

A knowledge of local plant life for medicinal and sustenance uses. (Something that I am horrible at, btw.);

General first aid knowledge.

[ahab78]

Thanks, Fattony77. Let's keep it going! Guys don't start hunting with traditional gear because they want or expect things to be easy in the woods!

[JakeD]

Knowing how to tie a variety of different knots for different applications.

Being able to use whatever resources are available to obtain something to eat. If you only had a knife what would you do?

[Msturm]

Primitive trapping
gear repair afield
various distress signaling methods
winter survival skills ( I grew up in Alaska)

[Roadkill]

5  "C" of survival
Combustion
Cutting instrument
Container
Cordage
Cover
Everyone has additions to these, but these are a logical start.
Finding and making it drinkable,  water is key-even in the arctic.  Everyone should know at least two local  to them ways of getting or finding water.

[Warden609]

People talk about survival kits a lot and there are many opinions on what to carry. One thing I have added is a tourniquet. A life saving piece of gear that can be used on yourself or somebody else. Hunt safe >>->

[forestdweller]

I like this idea. One thing I'd never go into a survival situation without is a hatchet.

Very multifaceted low energy expenditure tool can be used to cut down trees for lumber or shelter, can do pretty much anything a knife can do, can use it to make make shift weapons (cut down a tree limb with the hatchet and shave sharpen the bottom edges of it to make a spear).

It has a hammer head on the back so can do hammer related tasks (like hammering in make shift wooden posts as navigation markers or any other posts).

Hell you can even make a bow out of green wood bow in a survival situation using nothing but a hatchet.  

Can use it to make navigation posts, and it's a very good weapon as well which is why the vikings were renown for their hatchets and axes in general.

Plus it just looks badass.

[SAM E. STEPHENS]

Absolutely the best thing a person can do is just slow down and not lose your head. Don't make a situation worse than it is , knowledge and being able to put that knowledge to use. Just plain being prepared for anything that might come your way on any given day. My kit will vary on any given hunt or trip and always put together for what's at hand..

,,,Sam,,,

[Kevin Dill]

I look at it this way: Your top 5 survival things aren't necessarily tangible items. They are the skills and knowledge brought to bear when needed the most. Tools and things without knowledge and skills are one step above useless.

Secondly, there are so many potential survival situations an outdoorsman can experience. Paring it down some still leaves a very large core of scenarios where life (or death) could hang in the balance.

First up is first-aid which is definitely a combination of knowledge and acquired skills. People with illnesses or injuries do die...but could be saved with timely and correct first-aid treatment.

Navigation on land or water without any tools is a critical skill. The best map is the one your mind can see. A compass is obviously a very good instrument, but a man should still constantly practice navigating in strange terrain without it or other in-hand aids.

Shelter/Protection are so obvious. You won't survive long in cold/wet (or extremely hot) conditions if you can't create, find or maintain some type of protective shelter from the elements.

Physical condition isn't a skill or a talent. Staying in some form of good shape/condition can mean survival if things go bad. Your body is the best tool you take everywhere, and keeping it in good condition is important.

Water and Nutrition shouldn't need any explanation. If your situation stretches beyond 12 hours it is essential to replace lost fluids. Caloric intake isn't initially critical but your body can't eat itself indefinitely without degradation of strength and energy. I try to keep a porterhouse steak in my pack...ok the equivalent which would be a couple thousand calories worth of energy foods.

Extended hunts in the Alaska backcountry...alone or with a partner...will give you plenty of reasons to think about survival and what you would do if something happened.

[crazynate]

I still use a compass in the woods. Batteries die. I learned to use a compass in the Corp and it's got me out of a few jams. And ahab78 doesn't think to much like a Marine. He is one and so am I. We're wired a little differently. Especially us that we're 03s. Constantly thinking about what could go wrong or what's behind the next corner. We're a weird bunch that's for sure. Good info here about survival. It may help guys to not over think basic survival skills.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I like to have my teddy and blanky. They keep me warm and safe.        

Sorry this topic has already been nailed I had nothing better to add except....


To reiterate, a person's mind and body ate his best tools. Sam is correct, slowing down and being safe is your best bet. An ounce of prevention.....  

I understand where Kevin is coming from when he talks about remote hunting in places like Alaska..  things happen, usually weather related and you have to survive but I'd say the majority of hunting in the lower 48 is walking in to a hunting area in less than 30 minutes.  Unless you have a heart attack or get injured not much survival needed.

[Mike Vines]

#1...Have a strong back for all the stupid stuff you want to carry to survive.  #2...have patience and be able to keep a clear mind (cool heads always prevail).  #3 is for those who don't have the ability to attain #1 or #2...never get out of cell phone service.

[Al Dean]

Growing up in western Wyoming and hunting and fishing all the time never had a compass.  Can you save your self without one.  Better be able to.

[reddogge]

We learned those thing in Boy Scouts.

[Bowwild]

Good thread.

I like Kevin's list.  

I'd start any list with self-confidence and determination. Of course confidence is a result of being prepared and experienced.

Sometimes, being prepared to survive might depend upon having a way to reach out for help.  Much easier to accomplish these days than it used to be.

[Roadkill]

One thing I learned about survival classes at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Center is that reading how to do things does not guarantee you can do some of these survival things.  Most folks have to practice these various things: tie knots, make traps and snares, build temp shelters, find/purify water, use watch to determine direction, identify food sources and general first aid.   You would be amazed to see how many people have never built a fire...can't do it easily with an iPod (can be done).  Serious topic, serious consequence and most on this site are better prepared than the average guy.