What's in your survival manual?

In addition to putting together some food and equipment storage, I've also been preparing a "survival" manual. If something major were to happen, I wanted to have a guidebook for making it through the mess. If things got bad enough to need this info, i don't think I would be able to look it up on the Internet I've included information specific to the area I live in (Ohio), such as topo maps, population densities, edible wild plants, etc.

Has anyone else put together anything like this? What else should be in a collection like this? There are a few survival manuals in print out there (I've got Wiseman's SAS Survival Manual), but they are not specific to geographical region.

Happy to make my first post!


[edit on 13-7-2008 by telefrog]

reply to post by telefrog


Since none of us are going to get out of here alive,

learning and understanding the Bible, chapter by chapter, verse by verse

is the only survival book worthwhile.

probably not what you were looking for, but there it is anyways...

Hello there....

Congratulations of your first post too!

I read this just after I've been bibbling on the web for stuff to put in my manual, so I guess great minds do think alike....*grin!*

What I'm most concerned about, apart from food supply, is medical information...not just first aid, but herbalism, and how to use plants medicinally...and herbalism for pets, which many people don't even consider. I've been searching for basics that I can study, print off and keep for reference, as well as practical issues that I can deal with in advance, like supplies and storage ideas.

There are so many things we've forgotten how to do it's ridiculous.

Hope this helps a little


Cait

[edit on 13-7-2008 by caitlinfae]

reply to post by toasted

I should have clarified... physical survival, not eternal survival!

Instead of taking all the time to write a survival guide, I'd recommend hitting up your local bookstore and picking up a copy of the SAS survival guide. It details what you should carry, what plants can be used for food and medicine (and which ones to avoid), as well as schematics for building traps to catch small game.

Just saying that it might be better to shell out a few bucks than to have to put together all the information yourself.

Edit: Nevermind, didn't catch that you already have the same book. As for topo maps, look them up on the internet, print them out, and laminate them. Keep them in your BOB for when/if TSHTF.

[edit on 13-7-2008 by Gray Fox]

Since you have already put together the mapping, look at your local area foliage. Think back to high school science class. We were told to go and pick several leaves from plants and trees. We then went to the library and looked them up. Match them up with the ones in the books and all the information you need on that particular plant is readily available.

If you do have an area picked out, why not seed it. Take berries and various plant life into a small area and seed that area well in advance so that you know it will be there and where it will be when you need it. As well, that may attract wild game into the area, so that you have meat for food and bone for tools and flesh for covering/protection.

reply to post by caitlinfae


If its medical/nursing information you are after, I could give you a list of books that are easily available second-hand on Amazon. Most Medical and Nursing students get rid of them after their training, so are only 3/4 years out of date.

You wont find lots of medical and nursing info that is up to date or even correct on the internet as the profession likes to keep this information close to its chest ........ it stops the quacks.

Wotan...

Thank you so much...invaluable info...I didn't even consider that possibility. Please U2U me when you have time, or post here for everyone.

Cait

Originally posted by caitlinfae
Wotan...

Thank you so much...invaluable info...I didn't even consider that possibility. Please U2U me when you have time, or post here for everyone.

Cait

No problem. It will take a while as I need to find the references from all my notes. By the way, they will be UK specific as there are differences between the US and UK medical/nursing professions, especially when it comes to the lingo.

Please appreciate that I have a bookcase 6ft tall by 5ft wide filled with medical and nursing books (2 nurses in this house) and some are pretty advanced and specialist.

In fact, if you look at Amazon yourself, you will probably find the books using a medical/nursing students listmania selection. Most of the books will be same ones used year in and year out - the courses dont change much, book wise.

[edit on 13/7/08 by Wotan]

Page ONE!

Have faith and trust in our God the farther of all creation and the first sorce and center of all things. For with true faith the road will be made easy.

Heres a good link which covers some bushcraft basics...

tions.net...

Have a look its got some really good info

Originally posted by Wotan

Please appreciate that I have a bookcase 6ft tall by 5ft wide filled with medical and nursing books (2 nurses in this house) and some are pretty advanced and specialist.


[edit on 13/7/08 by Wotan]

6 X 5 hey ? sounds about right.


But on a more survival orientated note, please remember that nursing is not aimed at the survivalist - it is aimed at being part of an intergrated package of health care professionals delivering structured care under a rigid frame work of guide lines.

I would suggest to the O/P that you look more along the lines of doing a remote area first aid course over a week. This will give you wound care, basic trauma care, care of a casualty suffering from shock and hypothermic conditions....

I am not knocking nursing skills, as I would love to build a nurse / former nurse survivalist group - Nurses can multi task, focus and do group work and adapt... just whats needed in the wilds when TSHTF.

I second what Dan has just said.

The nursing skills really come into their own post-scenario as they are more directed in that area, though most if not all could do the first-aid bit. Incidently, did you know that Nurses are not actual First-Aiders ..... strange that.

There are several layers of First-Aider nowadays going from first responder upwards to close to Ambulance Techs/Paramedics. I suggest going on one of these courses or even joining your local NHS Trust as an Ambulance Technician Trainee.

Thanks for all of your ideas.

I agree that nursing / first aid is critical for a SHTF scenario... however, my focus has been on food, water, and shelter. I've always thought that while I or a member of the group might need first aid, we will all need food, water, and shelter to sustain life.

I've neglected preparing first aid supplies and information... but it's surely something I need to start rounding up... I think the SAS manual has a good bit, so that may be sufficient. I should really start stocking gauze and other supplies!

[edit on 13-7-2008 by telefrog]

hi all
you want to check out this guy he has heaps of manuals and information to wade through and download

reply to post by caitlinfae


Here you go..
my fave plant resource and free free free..
They had some fund problems a wee bit back but back online..

www.pfaf.org...
Categorised for food and med value too..

Here's a good online archive with a lot of good stuff, Mostly PDFs for ease of printing.

sparc.areyouprepared.org...

There is a PDF version of "when there is no doctor" which is a great SHTF med book.

I took a course on emergency suturing, and then later on, military-sponsored training. Had to use it twice. The doctor surveying my work last time said, "it's ugly work, but it's clean. If you don't give a # about a scar, I say let's leave it."

Then I took emergency dental. ewg.

I have a book that I treasure. It's called Wildwood Wisdom, and has been a guideline for homecraft footwear for years, as well as a bunch of other stuff. I like books that are geared toward long-term things -- living in the changing system, not just surviving an event.

reply to post by argentus


Thanks, I'll check that book out. I think we're all too concerned with the immediate shock of a significant Earth change (whatever that might be). We should also consider the long term effects of having to live in this new environment. My plan: live like the Native Americans, with the added ability to use and scavenge for some modern conveniences