Show Me How to Survive (Outdoor Life): The Handbook for the Modern Hero

Stave off hyena attacks, light a fire with chocolate, and outride an avalanche with How to Survive: The Handbook for the Modern Hero. This entirely illustrated step-by-step guide teaches readers the ins and outs of survival, from life-saving first aid to extreme wilderness-conquering tactics. Outdoors enthusiasts and safety gurus alike need look no further than How to Survive—a practical hands-on guidebook that will help you conquer any situation with cheeky humor and simplified instructions, including tutorials on how to: - Survive a shipwreck - Spot and treat a concussion - Prepare for social collapse - Catch backyard game - Navigate out of a swamp - Use a fire plank - Drive on black ice - Catch a fish bare-handed - Fill sandbags correctly - Wrap a sling - Spike an assailant Presented in the bold new visual style of the award-winning Show Me How series, drawing on the best of information technology and graphic-novel communication, this is an innovative reference book that can and will be enjoyed as a work of art and as a quirky, thoughtful gift. From basic first aid to battling wild animals, 175 things every modern-day survivor needs to know--one step at a time. Packed with useful hands-on tutorials, How to Survive is a real-life resource that can turn anyone into an expert in any situation

SURVIVE SHOW ME HOW TO

SHOW ME HOW

TO SURVIVE

THE HANDBOOK FOR THE MODERN HERO

JOSEPH PRED

help after an accident call for help check a pulse bolt from a wrist grip escape from a choke hold break out of a bear hug deal with a burgled home follow up after a burglary perform cpr on an adult

do the heimlich maneuver give cpr to a baby save a choking baby improvise an airway puncture

suture a wound decompress a chest stop bleeding bandage a nasty wound cauterize a wound in the field save a toe

improvise a leg splint wrap a sling know your fractures test for edibility deal with a poisoned kid identify natural poisonous foods identify venomous insects

48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73

help

navigate the mean streets stay safe in the wilderness

be prepared at the office make a family emergency plan stock an emergency kit stock a bunker prepare a flood dinghy set up a panic room bury a tornado shelter make your home safe prepare your pet keep pets safe after a disaster know animal warning signs weather a hurricane build a flood barrier fill sandbags properly firescape a yard fight fire with an extinguisher

be prepared in a house fire prepare for travel stay smart abroad protect against identity theft burglar-proof a home check a car before a trip

pack a car emergency kit stay safe in a parking garage get help for a boat in trouble read storm clouds boat safely in a storm know your knots sleep on the beach pitch a snow camp shelter in the jungle camp in the desert prepare for social collapse prepare rugged venison jerky preserve meat in a smoker catch backyard game hunt pigeons in the city feed a family without a farm get fit for the outdoors clean a gun store a gun

be safe at the range disarm a shooter keep from spreading the flu pack a first-aid kit

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

protect

first

aid

home

safety

wilderness

skills

mark your trail

read animal tracks and scat

walk a straight line in the woods

navigate with your watch

stay on track in the desert

navigate out of a swamp

read the stars

find the equator in a forest

build a campfire

light a fire with chocolate

construct a fire drill

use a fire plank

purify water in green bamboo

boil water in a tree stump

collect water from fog

get water in the desert

signal an airplane

erect a quick tepee

assemble a debris hut

set up a shade shelter

build a swamp bed

dig a snow cave

survive an avalanche prevent snow blindness

be avalanche aware find an avalanche victim make a fish trap catch a fish bare-handed

go ice fishing snare a hare gut a hare squash a squirrel nab a fox trap a rodent impale an elk

be bear aware fend off a mountain lion save a child from a coyote treat a snake bite get jungle savvy remove a botfly with bacon prepare tasty snake meat eat a scorpion eat wild around the world

112

113

114

115

116

117

118

119

120

121

122

123

124

125

126

127

128

129

130

131

132

133

134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155

prevail

74

75

76

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

treat a bee sting

treat a jellyfish sting

make a ginger poultice

evaluate your medicine chest

remove a small fish hook

treat a blister

remove a splinter

remove an object from your eye

put out a clothing fire

halt an electrocution

avoid lightning on a mountain

identify burns

deal with a superficial burn

87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99

handle a chemical burn help a seizure victim recognize a heart attack identify a stroke treat hyperventilation survive an asthma attack soothe a mild allergic reaction spot a severe allergic reaction stop a nosebleed free a frozen tongue preserve a dislodged tooth fill a cracked tooth spot and treat a concussion

100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111

help a lost child rescue a cat up a tree rescue-breathe for a dog protect a baby bird rescue a swimmer in trouble identify heat-related illnesses treat heat exhaustion help clean up an oil spill clean an oiled bird help someone out of an ice hole treat frostbite

save a hypothermia victim

156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175

survive a shipwreck use pants as a flotation device find land when lost at sea build a dugout canoe pick a coconut use coconuts ace an emergency scuba ascent escape a kelp forest avoid a shark attack fend off a shark resist a wolf pack battle a pit bull spike an assailant embrace your enemy

do a handshake takedown deal with failed brakes handle a hydroplaning car weather a chemical spill survive a snowbound car improvise a signal mirror

95 167

45

As an emergency manager, I’ve advised individuals and organizations

on everything from minor problems such as stopping a nosebleed (#95) to large-scale environmental challenges, like avoiding an avalanche (#136) While writing this book, I was lucky to be able to draw on my day-to-day professional experience with life-saving procedures like CPR (#56), as well as my personal interest in the challenges in the great outdoors, such as cleaning up

an oil spill (#107) and a few problems I hope to never have to deal with, like repelling an angry pit bull (#167) Through my research

in preparing this book, I learned a few new things that may prove useful one day, such as keeping pets safe after a disaster (#12), how to fight

a shark (#165), or how to build a flood barrier with sandbags (#15)

In my line of work, you can never be too prepared, so although I hope no one will ever need them, I’ve

also included instructions for saving a child from a coyote (#149) and disarming a shooter

(#45) Stay safe out there!

a note from joseph

disarm a shooter battle a pit bull

stop a nosebleed

104

To be truly prepared for any emergency, it’s

best to start getting ready now, before you

find yourself face-to-face with a mountain lion

Start by packing a go bag (a kit containing

everything you’d need to get by for 48 hours

in an emergency) Include personal items like ID, food,

medicine, tools like a flashlight and knife, and other handy

survival items like a dust mask, a radio (with extra batteries),

and a list of emergency contact numbers.

Now that you have your physical needs handled, work

on your brain by practicing “situational awareness.”

Stay attentive to your surroundings, your wellbeing, the

presence of others, and possible dangers or threats It isn’t

about looking for problems, it’s about avoiding becoming

complacent and making mistakes as a result

For instance, imagine yourself hiking through an unfamiliar

jungle (#151) Without worrying or panicking, stay aware

of whether anyone in your party is tired, hungry, or injured

Focus on the path ahead of you, while keeping a relaxed

state of awareness about your surroundings—watching for

predators, poisonous plants, and insects.

A positive, relaxed, open mindset also saves lives in the

field Someone with a negative outlook might panic or give

up when faced with a swimmer in trouble (#104), but a

person who focuses on solutions will quickly scan the beach

for a rescue aid and jump in the water.

Ready for an adventure? Just keep these basic tenets of

great rescue work in mind as you read through the book

and you’ll be a hero in no time!

get jungle savvy

rescue a swimmer in trouble

1

1

3

3 5

2

2

4

4 6

1

3

5

4

6

111

111

CROSS-REFERENCES When one activity just leads to another, we’ll point it out Follow the links for related or interesting information

how to use this book

MORE INFORMATION Follow the * symbol to learn more about the how and why of the given step

In the pages that follow, virtually every piece of essential information

is presented graphically In most cases the pictures do, indeed, tell the

whole story In some cases though, you’ll need a little extra information

to get it done right Here’s how we present those facts.

Smooth, grassy slopes without rocks or trees are most dangerous.

Slopes of 30 to 45 degrees are most likely to avalanche, but even slopes of 25 to 60 degrees can slide in certain conditions.

Everyone in your party should car ry an avalanche beacon Should you lose someone

in an avalanche, you can use your beacon to hone in on the radio signal emitted by the victim’s beacon and find them quickly.

A heavy, compacted layer of snow resting on a powdery layer is highly unstable.

Snow debris and broken trees indicate previous avalanches—be wary of repeat slides.

Avoid avalanche-prone areas in the forty-eight hours after rough weather

or a thaw If you must go, pack a collapsible shovel, a snow probe, and an avalanche beacon.

Make airhole as snow slows.

If submerged, cover face.

“Swim” on top of snow.

Grab a sturdy tree or rock.

Move perpendicular to flow Cut a strip of duct tape; fold Make a long slit.

Fasten around head with tape Blacken cheeks with soot.

Try to jump above the break line.

find an avalanche victim

be avalanche aware

Send for help Uncover head first.

Dig downhill from victim Poke with snow probe.

Set beacon to receive mode.

Go to location of last sighting.

save a hypothermia victim

1 ft (30 cm)

save a hypothermia victim

ICON GUIDE Throughout the book, handy icons show you just how it’s done Here are the icons you’ll encounter.

Check out the timer to learn how much time a relatively short task takes

2–3 min

A NOTE TO READERS The depictions in this book are presented for entertainment value only Please keep the following in mind:

• RISKY ACTIVITIES Certain activities in this book are not just risky but downright nutty (like

#169, for example) Before attempting any new activity, make sure you are aware of your own limitations and have adequately researched all applicable risks

• PROFESSIONAL ADVICE While every item has been carefully researched, this book is not intended to replace professional advice or training of a medical, architectural, sartorial, culinary, athletic, or therapeutic nature—or any other professional advice, for that matter

• PHYSICAL AND HEALTH-RELATED ACTIVITIES Be sure to consult a physician before attempting any activity involving physical exertion, particularly if you have a condition that could impair or limit your ability to engage in such an activity Or if you don’t want to look silly (see #75)

• ADULT CONTENT The activities in this book are intended for adults only Some of them are probably unwise even for adults; use your common sense and discretion (if, for instance, you plan to attempt #39)

• BREAKING THE LAW The information in this book should not be used to break any applicable law or regulation In other words, just don’t even think about trying #60 Ever

All information in this book has been carefully researched and fact-checked However, the publisher makes no war ranty, express or implied, that the information is appropriate for every (or any!) individual, situation, or purpose, and assumes no responsibility for er rors or omissions You assume the risk and full responsibility for all your actions, and the publishers will not be held responsible for any loss or damage

of any sort, whether consequential, incidental, special, or otherwise that may result from the information presented Just between us, though, you’re probably safe planting a garden (#40)

The calendar shows how many days, weeks, or months an activity requires

Look to the ther mometer to learn the temperature needed for a given action

Repeat the depicted action the designated number of times

The phone icon lets you know when it’s time to call for professional medical help

Danger! Avoid this if you’re not trained (Or if you don’t want to get into trouble!)

TOOLS Everything you’ll need

to perform an activity appears

in the toolbars Having a hard

time deciphering an item? Turn

to the tools glossary in the

back of the book

ZOOMS These little circles

zoom in on a step’s important

details, or depict the step’s

crucial “don’ts.”

MATH When measurements

matter, find them right in the

box Handy “angle” icons help

you do it from the right angle

1 lb

7 prepare a flood dinghy

periscope air filter

Remove

clothing

before

entering

bunker.

gas masks

geiger counter

clean water

radio nonperishable foods

Add 2 drops of bleach (containing 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite)

to each qt (1 l) of water ; wait thirty minutes before drinking.

3 ft (1 m) underground

life vests blanket rope

whistle flashlight

boat patch kit

radio

rain gear reflective tape

first-aid kit

Nuclear war may be passé, but a well-appointed underground bunker will never go out of style.

If you live in a flood-prone area, be ready to make a quick escape in a stocked dinghy, launched from an upper floor.

walls made from multiple thicknesses of lead, concrete, and packed dirt

hand-cranked air exhaust

stock a bunker

chemical toilet

extra clothing

air pump

clean water

blankets

radio flashlight

8

9

bury a tornado shelter

security

cameras security

monitor

toilet

buried phone line

ventilated generator

gas masks intercom

Hide the entrance behind

a bookcase or in a closet.

first-aid kit

flashlight radio

clean water wool blankets

bus

Nervous about home invaders? Stay safe in the comfort

of your own home with a custom-built panic room.

If tornados are a concern in your town, partially bury an

old school bus in your yard, then stock it with gear.

water and

nonperishable food

set up a panic room

Soundproof the walls and reinforce them with steel.

nonperishable food