78 Survival Skills Everyone Should Know

This is an article written by Jeremy Knauff on "How to Survive It.com"

While I applaude his workmanlike efforts to build a survival skills task list, this list is not complete as Jeremy admits. I don't think one person could build a complete list,...at least not in a short period of time. I decidely to post Jeremy's list and add my own, in italics, as his tasks generated thoughts of my own. Undoubtably the readers of this will have many more.

Jeremy's aticle:

Survival is based largely on two things: a positive mental attitude and knowledge. With those two covered, you can make up for any lack of tools. Knowledge doesn’t break, wear out, and short of forgetting a thing or two, you generally can’t lose it.

Below, I’ve compiled a list of skills I think everyone should know. This is by no means a “complete” list because there is always room to learn more, and the more you know, the greater your chances of survival. But this will give you a solid foundation and a far broader skill set than most people. Everyone should know how to:

Drive a stick shift. Jump start a car; siphon or procure fuel from a disabled/abandoned vehicle.
Swim. Make an improvised flotation device.
Start a fire without matches or a lighter. Use flint and steel, a magnesium fire starter, a magnifying glass and the bow method to build a fire.
Build a garden
Use herbal remedies
Produce beer/wine
Build your local community. Develop an early warning system(s) and communications methods within your neighborhood.
Tan leather
Cure/smoke meat
Make soap
Construct animal/fish traps. Construct and emplace booby traps and early warning devices.
Make activated charcoal
Survive hypothermia. Recognize and treat Hot and Cold weather injuries.
Properly load a backpack
Conduct basic repairs (home, auto, equipment, etc.)
Operate a ham radio. Develop and use a radio brevity code system.
Defend yourself without a weapon
Identify surveillance
Build a rainwater collection system
Weld
Accurately fire an arrow
Dehydrate food.
Construct snowshoes
Build a raft with a tarp
Navigate using the stars. Navigate with a compass (dead reckoning); read a map (terrain features and marginal information; perform intersection and resection using a compass and a map.
Right an overturned raft Build with stone/brick (basic masonry)
Cut down a tree with an ax
Forage for food. Identify edible (and poisonous plants).
Sew and/or make clothing
Pilot a boat
Shoot a firearm accurately. Be able to disassmble, clean, assemble and perform a functions check on firearms. Be able to perform remedial actions on stoppages.
Find water
Utilize camouflage. Build a single fighting position. Build mutually supporting fighting positions. Build a camouflaged and concealed observation/listening post.
Construct a pond
Can food
Ski
Dig a latrine
Build with wood (basic carpentry)
Determine authenticity of gold and silver
Rappel
Follow a trail/tracking. Sterilize your trail - employ counter-tracking measures.
Use less-lethal weapons (baton, stun gun, pepper spray, etc.)
Metal working (blacksmith)
Lose a tail
Operate power tools
Construct a splint. Build a field expedient litter.
Open a can without a can opener
Drive a motorcycle
Construct a net
Identify animals by tracks and/or scat
Patch a tire. Fix a flat by plugging a tire.
Reload ammunition
Build a bow and arrow
Administer first aid. Perform CPR; Treat for a gunshot wound; emplace a torniquet; treat a sucking chest wound;
Identify venomous snakes. Treat for poisonous snake bite.
Accurately fire a slingshot
Make candles
Raise fish (for food)
Distill water/alcohol
Hot wire a car
Cook without a stove. Build a solar oven.
Survive heat injuries
Raise livestock
Find tinder
Create fertile soil. Develop a compost system.
Make charcloth
Properly store food
Survive a riot
Sharpen a knife
Butcher livestock. Field dress and butcher wild game.
Purify water
Make leather products (sheathes, holsters, boots, etc.)
Hunt and fish
Cast bullets
Maintain a bee hive
Use hand tools
Tie a knot. Be able to tie these knots: square knot, bowline and clove hitch


On his site, Jeremy advertises: "Are there any skills you think should be on this list? Let me know (in the comments box below)." Go to the link and give him some suggestions.

Is FEMA Stocking up on Survival Food?

From an article by Shepard Abellas on Intellihub.com titled, "Survival Food Company Urgently Contacted By FEMA – Is a War Or Disaster Looming?"

Not that I'm buying into this right now,...it could be as simple as spending end of the year funds. The way the government agencies work is that they budget funding before the fiscal year and through the next fiscal year they may not need nor purchase what they budgeted for, leaving excess money. And another thing about government agencies,...they do not turn back money as the next year they'll get less. Kinda counter productive wouldn't you say?

Anyway, I'll let the readers decide for themselves about any spending by FEMA, wasteful or nefarious as it may be.

The Article:

Recently my friend who owns a preparedness and survival food company was contacted by FEMA and the questions might scare you. My friend Matt, the owner of MyPatriotSupply.com was contacted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by way of email, leading on that something is ready to pop off.

Matt being the patriot he is immediately contacted me with this disturbing news. He even provided screenshots of the actual email sent by a FEMA representative. The names and revealing information have been blurred out.

Matt of MyPatriotSupply.com wrote, “here we are, August 2013 and FEMA once again is trying to buy up large stockpiles of food. And they don’t want anyone to know it, and they want to take immediately delivery… I’ve studied history. That is what got me into preparedness in the first place. History has shown us time after time that those who depend on the government to come to their aid during a disaster are the ones waiting the longest for help. Sometimes help never comes…or comes too late.

I do not believe these critical emergency food supplies should be in the hands of the government, stored in some secret warehouse only to be brought out and distributed to their own agencies first, with the rest of us getting table scraps long after we need it.

These life-saving meals belong in the hands of people like you and me. This is why I declined the opportunity to sell to the Department of Homeland Security.

But let’s not forget the most important part of this: Why the sudden sense of urgency? What do they know that we do not?

I’m not one to cry that the sky is always falling, but when DHS/FEMA make a move to quietly buy up emergency food supplies and ask how much we can ship within 24 hours…I think this is far enough outside the realm of what is “normal” to beg some questions.

Fortunately I’ve been in this business long enough to predict what happens next. One or more of the other “survival companies” out there will inevitably see a chance to make a quick buck from Uncle Sam (which is really paid for by us, the taxpayer). This could create a run on many of the core raw ingredients used by emergency food makers that will cause a ripple effect throughout the industry as supply chains become bottle-necked handling the FEMA/DHS request.”

This is extremely disturbing to know.

What is the government gearing up for? A major disaster or war they know is coming?

I myself don’t want to be left in the dark.

Matt’s Preparedness Website here:

More on Community Organization for the Collapse

Anonymous left a new comment on your post Green Beret versus Doomsday Prepper: "I don't really disagree with this story. But I don't agree that 400 neighbors is necessarily better then going it alone. I can assure you some of those 400 neighbors don't like you and some want what you have. If you think politics and human greed will suspend itself until the crisis ends you are wrong. The difference will be that you will have enemies within AND outside. You will not know who is your friend. Those people who openly dislike you are probably harmless while those who dislike you but put on a fake front will probably do you harm. The lady down the street with three kids and a husband thrives on drama and enjoys turning one person against another. That middle aged quiet guy is infatuated with your wife and thinks if he could eliminate you he would have a chance with her. That sullen guy that never talks much is still pissed at you for parking in the street a year ago in a spot he thinks is for him alone. Some of these people will do you harm directly or indirectly and you probably won't see it coming. "

UrbanMan's reply:" I do not disagree with you. Most of us that have ever been involved with some sort of Mil or LE team would rather have a small team of trained and trusted individuals as opposed to having dozens of individuals with suspect motives and character.

Let's say you decide to Bug In. If you make no effort to develop your neighbors into at least a loosely based group for mutual support, then you face, potentially, a much larger close threat. Again, I agree with your supposition that you would have neighbors who dislike you, even hate you and want what you have be it supplies, weapons,...or as you put it "your wife". (side note: he would have no idea what he would be getting into!).

I think there will be several categories of people in your possible Survivor Group:

1. People who would gladly welcome leadership and assistance in the confusing chaos of the collapse. These people may initially be the least useful, but you would need the manpower to do everything from main observation posts and checkpoints; construct necessary things; garden and grow crops; procure and/or filter water; procure (scrounge) necessary items.

2. People who will worthless. Not able to do anything, but expect someone to take care of them because we have bred that into our population the last 50 years. You may be able to make some of the types marginally useful, but the trick is to not let them such up resources at a ratio that far exceeds their contribution.

3. There will be people who disagree with most or everything you would be trying to do such as establish OP/LPS, checkpoints, develop teams to garden, procure, etc. They may be disagreeing out of fear, or out of some character flaw like wanting status and power. There will be people who are jealous of you and your "stuff". There will be people who may exploit the situation to bully or harass or even sexually assault women. You would have to deal with these people in order to develop the bigger team. Use your "spidy sense" in detecting these people if their overt actions and words don't expose them first. Hunkering down by your lonesome, in my mind is not an option.

Let's just say, worst case scenario, you don't do any team building, ......don't interface with your neighbors,.......or anything. Then the collapse starts. Let's say it's an oil boycott, followed quickly by a stock market collapse and within days food deliveries to groceries and stores are drying up and the local government basically collapses as hyper inflation hits. Going to your nearest neighbors, the ones you think are approach-able and asking how they are doing and make some suggestions on security, protection, water storage, food stocks could only build rapport and enhance your standing with them. At a minimum they could become eyes and ears for you enhancing your security.

I have a bunch of FRS radios that I can give out to my neighbors, albeit at the right time, so we can communicate. I can replace their batteries periodically with my solar powered re-chargeable systems. If a neighbor makes comms with me saying he has some suspicious people lurking about, my choices are to address the potential or actual threat now or to wait until they try and loot my house. Me and mine? We're being pro-active.

Who knows maybe your neighbors have some skills that will augment your survival plan. Maybe the old lady down the street grows tomatoes and cans them. Maybe there is a young couple across the street wit hthe husband being a welder and his wife a practical nurse.

It is much better knowing all this before the collapse. It would makes organization much easier knowing your neighbors, having rapport, building respect between you and them now as opposed to when the collapse and therefore panic hits.

You are absolutely right about be wary of the shitheads, but you'll have to deal with them in order to build that community survival group for the benefit of all. Afterall, you can always Bug Out if need be.

The Cause of the Economic Collapse

We think, talk, plan and prepare a lot on the possibility or probability of some sort of economic or societal collapse. We discuss the indicators and the effects but never really mention the cause. That's probably because in some form or fashion that cause of the collapse will be politicians and our government. Through negligence, apathy, greed, idealogy, or even just plain stupidity the march continues to diminish our standard of living, our freedoms, and all this certainly makes the collapse look much nearer.

Here is another another article, called "Stupid to Tyranny", sent to me by a reader and written by William Horning on Constitutional Thinking. This article begins to lay out the argument,......

“The two aims of the Party are to conquer the whole world and to extinguish once and for all the possibility of independent thought.” George Orwell.

When you are either stupid, uninformed, or not thinking clearly, you don’t realize the time bombs are ticking for our country. Even the tea parties fall into one of these categories.

Professor Steven Yates wrote on America “Ticking Time Bombs” which could take down the country. First time bomb is political correctness, which is taught in the schools and promoted by the media. The government is the real problem, not whites, as it stirs up racial tension. The Zimmerman case was misreported from the start and improperly handled in court.

The second time bomb is Obamacare. “Its purpose … is to centralize sick care, fatten the profits of both Big Pharma and Big Insurance, and very possibly find a legal way of dealing with an aging population that will eventually break the Medicare and Social Security banks.” One researcher figures that the monthly health costs for a family of four will go up anywhere from 2-4 times.

While costs skyrocket, the quality of care will disintegrate. Patients over 70 had better not have anything major happen. Eventually care will be denied as they get an aspirin and a ride home. Cost cutting will demand it.

Our third time bomb is the employment situation. Full time jobs are declining and part time jobs are increasing. John Williams (www.shadowstats.com), a statistician/economist points out that the true unemployment rate is between 23% and 24%. It just isn’t so obvious due to government benefit programs. In addition, underemployment is growing. The outlook for improvement is not very good.

The fourth problem is the financial markets. The stock market is approaching record highs while the national debt approaches $17 trillion. The American people bailed out the banks that are making a killing while our economic health is declining. This situation won’t last.

Please note that all of these problems are created or allowed to happen by government. Our Criminal Congress, along with state legislatures, continues to make laws killing jobs, sovereignty, freedom, and honest government. We no longer have representative government. Our elected crooks only care about the power and rewards of being in office, not the Constitution.

The answer is to replace them with constitutional representatives. Devvy Kidd has written an article, “If You Ignore the Upcoming Primaries, We’re Toast.” I said the same thing months ago. The primaries are where constitutional conservatives can replace established Rhinos/Neocons. Tea Parties need to listen to this warning.

There are only approximately five months to prepare for the primary campaign. Instead of preparing, tea parties are doing stupid things, wasting time listening to current congressmen/state representatives, etc. They should be educating their members on the issues and how to recruit more members.

In 2010, 23 Tea Party Republicans were elected to the U.S. House, but most of them caved in right away voting to raise the debt limit, so candidates need education also. Tea Parties (or similar groups) should be recruiting candidates for every possible office. They should be planning a strategy to put the maximum number of “boots on the ground” and give financial support for the candidates.

I want to suggest that constitutional conservatives brush up on what real pastors believed at the time of the American Revolution. Then, they should get with their pastors and straighten them out. If that’s not possible, get out of that church. The churches are supposed to be leading our revival, but they are silent. Alexis de Tocqueville, searching for the secret to America’s success on his visit, stated that not until he entered the church did he learn, “why America was great and free, and why France was a slave.”

Today, we’re all slaves, because our churches are not engaged or are apostate. While 78% of Americas claim to be Christian, as Bradlee Dean, a preacher and talkshow host states, “effeminate hirelings have infiltrated the pulpits” and instead of preaching against sin, “they are attempting to cover it with false grace.” If we clean up our churches, we could have a strong force behind our push to restore