SURVIVESHOW ME HOW TO

SHOW ME HOW

TO SURVIVETHE HANDBOOK FOR THE MODERN HEROJOSEPH 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

151

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

211

33

5

22

44

6

1

3

5

4

6

154134 135 137136

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.

survive an avalanche prevent snow blindness

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 victimbe 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.

2–3min

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 (450 g)

½ in (1.25 cm)

6

7 prepare a flood dinghy

periscopeair 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

whistleflashlight

boat patch kit

radio

oars crowbar

rain gearreflective 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

cleanwater

blankets

radio flashlight

8

9bury a tornado shelter

security cameras security

monitor

toiletburied phone line

ventilated generator

gas masksintercom

Hide the entrance behind a bookcase or in a closet.

first-aid kitflashlight

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