From ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ilyena_sylph, a survival quiz.
I'm lifting it and reposting with my answers, for purposes of thought and discussion.
Please join in, and don't be shy about 'Why x, y, z? and what about a, b, c?'
You don't have to post answers to this one, just think about the questions.
For the next few weeks, I'm working from home, which gives me something of an advantage. However, since they're completely refurbushing my work area, I really can't answer most of the ones that relate to that location until I get back there.
As we have seen in recent years, most disasters aren't happening in the backwoods now -- they're where people live. If you're going to get through whatever comes, it wouldn't hurt to start thinking about how to do it.
Look around where you are right now. Can you see a way out of the building?
Yes, both the front and back door, or the window I sit in front of.
Can you see another way?
Yes... the window I sit in front of, or the back door, or the front door. ::G:: Barring those, all of the other rooms except the bathrooms have windows that could be readily converted to doorways.
Can you get there in the dark?
Yes
Or without electricity?
Yes
One of the side effects of certain kinds of explosions is an electromagnetic pulse that (for all intents and purposes) kills every electronic device deader than Raid kills bugs. Do you know how to manage without any of your electronic devices?
It would be less convenient, but yes.
Alternate transportation?
Rhi has a bicycle, and I have my feet. Having just finished a several-miles-long hiking/camping trip on the Appalachian Trail with a full pack, "feet" is a valid form of transportation for me.
Who do you need to contact in an emergency?
In terms of personal contacts? Only a very few locally. The others would require a working phone or internet.
Can you set up a way to do that? (And, yeah, your car's an electromagnetic device.)
For the local ones, bike to their locations and back here. 2 hours round trip, under normal conditions.
What survival gear do you have within reach right now? you have spare clothing? Food? Medicine? Water? First aid kit?
Literally within reach? LED lantern with fresh batteries and a knife. In the next room? A partially-packed backpack that I'm working on re-equipping.
Are you willing to defy authority in order to live? Most of the people who died on 9/11 were too obedient -- their bosses told them to go back to their seats, and they did, instead of getting out of the buildings. If it's a choice between your job and your life, which do you pick?
"Sucks to be you, boss!"
Can you swim?
6 years on a competition swimming team? yeah.
Can you climb?
Trees, ropes, etc., yes. Mountain climbing, etc., no.
Can you crawl?
Nope, too proud! LOL
Can you get training in how to navigate difficult terrain (and yes, I'm including cities in that)?
Yes
Can you find your way with a map and compass?
Yes
How about without one?
Yes. The book, "Finding Your Way Without Map Or Companss" makes a good resource, for those who are interested.
Can you use a watch as a compass? (Old-fashioned wind-up watches still exist, are not electromagnetic, and can be used to find directions.)
Within the limits of that technique, yes. But that is not a consistently accurate method. As I mentioned elseJournal: "Think about it for a moment. South is always in the same direction, but sunrise and sunset are at different time every day, which means that the sun's position in the sky at 4:00 on a July afternoon is going to be significantly different than the position at 4:00 on a December afternoon. This method can give you a ROUGH idea, but should not be used for anything more than that."
Do you know how to travel in a straight line when you're in an area without good roads, without going in circles?
Yes
If you had to leave where you are right now and not return for a long time, what would you take? How would you take it? What could you secure for later? Or hide?
Take:
I have a 5700 cubic inch backpack, rated to comfortably carry up to 66 lbs. The list of equipment for mine is at the bottom, and weighs in at just under 50 lbs.
In addition to that -- spare meds, my 9mm pistol and ammo, a walking stick, dice, 2 packs of cards, and as many of the following books as space/weight would allow:
Boy Scout Handbook, SAS Survival Handbook, A Modern Herbal. Any other books after that are gravy.
Hide/Secure:
As much of the electronics as I could stow away in less-obvious places in the house. Hopefully I'd be able to come back for them eventually, but not sure what scope this hypothetical disaster includes.
The emotional part of my brain rebels at this, but ::sighs:: my katana. Wrap it in both of its silk casings, wrap those in at least two trash bags, put it in a cardboard tube, and bury it in the back yard. Come back for it and more of the books and other weapons as soon as I can.
Can you find a way to learn what you need to know now, before you need it?
Yes
Contents of backpack: (some still "in progress")
General:
First Aid Kit
Clothing:
ilyena_sylph, a survival quiz. I'm lifting it and reposting with my answers, for purposes of thought and discussion.
Please join in, and don't be shy about 'Why x, y, z? and what about a, b, c?'
You don't have to post answers to this one, just think about the questions.
For the next few weeks, I'm working from home, which gives me something of an advantage. However, since they're completely refurbushing my work area, I really can't answer most of the ones that relate to that location until I get back there.
As we have seen in recent years, most disasters aren't happening in the backwoods now -- they're where people live. If you're going to get through whatever comes, it wouldn't hurt to start thinking about how to do it.
Look around where you are right now. Can you see a way out of the building?
Yes, both the front and back door, or the window I sit in front of.
Can you see another way?
Yes... the window I sit in front of, or the back door, or the front door. ::G:: Barring those, all of the other rooms except the bathrooms have windows that could be readily converted to doorways.
Can you get there in the dark?
Yes
Or without electricity?
Yes
One of the side effects of certain kinds of explosions is an electromagnetic pulse that (for all intents and purposes) kills every electronic device deader than Raid kills bugs. Do you know how to manage without any of your electronic devices?
It would be less convenient, but yes.
Alternate transportation?
Rhi has a bicycle, and I have my feet. Having just finished a several-miles-long hiking/camping trip on the Appalachian Trail with a full pack, "feet" is a valid form of transportation for me.
Who do you need to contact in an emergency?
In terms of personal contacts? Only a very few locally. The others would require a working phone or internet.
Can you set up a way to do that? (And, yeah, your car's an electromagnetic device.)
For the local ones, bike to their locations and back here. 2 hours round trip, under normal conditions.
What survival gear do you have within reach right now? you have spare clothing? Food? Medicine? Water? First aid kit?
Literally within reach? LED lantern with fresh batteries and a knife. In the next room? A partially-packed backpack that I'm working on re-equipping.
Are you willing to defy authority in order to live? Most of the people who died on 9/11 were too obedient -- their bosses told them to go back to their seats, and they did, instead of getting out of the buildings. If it's a choice between your job and your life, which do you pick?
"Sucks to be you, boss!"
Can you swim?
6 years on a competition swimming team? yeah.
Can you climb?
Trees, ropes, etc., yes. Mountain climbing, etc., no.
Can you crawl?
Nope, too proud! LOL
Can you get training in how to navigate difficult terrain (and yes, I'm including cities in that)?
Yes
Can you find your way with a map and compass?
Yes
How about without one?
Yes. The book, "Finding Your Way Without Map Or Companss" makes a good resource, for those who are interested.
Can you use a watch as a compass? (Old-fashioned wind-up watches still exist, are not electromagnetic, and can be used to find directions.)
Within the limits of that technique, yes. But that is not a consistently accurate method. As I mentioned elseJournal: "Think about it for a moment. South is always in the same direction, but sunrise and sunset are at different time every day, which means that the sun's position in the sky at 4:00 on a July afternoon is going to be significantly different than the position at 4:00 on a December afternoon. This method can give you a ROUGH idea, but should not be used for anything more than that."
Do you know how to travel in a straight line when you're in an area without good roads, without going in circles?
Yes
If you had to leave where you are right now and not return for a long time, what would you take? How would you take it? What could you secure for later? Or hide?
Take:
I have a 5700 cubic inch backpack, rated to comfortably carry up to 66 lbs. The list of equipment for mine is at the bottom, and weighs in at just under 50 lbs.
In addition to that -- spare meds, my 9mm pistol and ammo, a walking stick, dice, 2 packs of cards, and as many of the following books as space/weight would allow:
Boy Scout Handbook, SAS Survival Handbook, A Modern Herbal. Any other books after that are gravy.
Hide/Secure:
As much of the electronics as I could stow away in less-obvious places in the house. Hopefully I'd be able to come back for them eventually, but not sure what scope this hypothetical disaster includes.
The emotional part of my brain rebels at this, but ::sighs:: my katana. Wrap it in both of its silk casings, wrap those in at least two trash bags, put it in a cardboard tube, and bury it in the back yard. Come back for it and more of the books and other weapons as soon as I can.
Can you find a way to learn what you need to know now, before you need it?
Yes
Contents of backpack: (some still "in progress")
General:
- Tent
- Tarp
- Ground pad
- Cook stove/fuel
- Backpack (with 2-liter water bladder)
- Sleeping bag
- Compass
- Map
- Light
- Cook/Mess kit
- First Aid kit
- Snacks (protien bars, nuts/trail mix, powdered Propel/Gatorade mix, etc)
- Toiletries
- Second pair of shoes
- Phone (doubles as GPS and map, if no EMP)
- Water purifier (sterilizes but doesn't filter, need to add a filtration system)
- Rain poncho
- Space blanket
- Qaterproof matches
- Knife/leatherman
- Toilet paper
- Garbage bags
- Ziploc bags
- Lighter
- Duct tape
- Insect repellent
- Folding shovel
- Paracord, 100'
First Aid Kit
- Moleskin
- Asthma inhaler
- Allergy meds
- Anti-diarrheal
- Alka seltzer
- Cough drops
- Band aids
- Ace bandage
- First aid tape
- Burn cream
- Aspirin
- Sun screen
- Lip balm
- Hand sanitizer
- Anti-itch cream
Clothing:
- Cargo pants
- Cargo shorts
- T-shirt (duo-dry material)
- Underwear
- Socks (1 pair hiking socks, 1 pair plain cotton)
- Wide-brimmed hat
no subject
Fishing tackle (hooks, line, swivels, split weights)
Snare wire
Signalling mirror
Whistle
Cotton balls laced with Petroleum Jelly (fire-starting tinder)
Foil
Wire saw
Bullion cubes
Tea bags
Salt
no subject
Mine has to be just slightly bigger than that because without my meds, given the conditions I'll be in, I'm a dead-me if I don't have them.
But I do find them totally awesome.
no subject
And I'm with you, I think they're really neat.