Blog Archives

Natural Mosquito Repelant

18/8/2016

Basil is a natural mosquito repellent.

Basil makes a great natural mosquito repellent for your yard.
Make a peppermint spray for your yard to keep the mosquitoes out.
Repel mosquitoes with rosemary plants, this is great for kids and dogs.
Catnip is a stronger mosquito repellent than DEET!

Basil makes a great natural mosquito repellent for your yard.
Make a peppermint spray for your yard to keep the mosquitoes out.
Repel mosquitoes with rosemary plants, this is great for kids and dogs.
Catnip is a stronger mosquito repellent than DEET!

SURVIVAL TIPS & FUN FACTS:

Fun Fact: Possibles Kit (Frontier Days)
Survival Kit (Modern)

Fire
Shelter
Signaling
Is the foundation of survival

Audible Communication:
Sound in the form of a whistle offers the very best chance at being heard at longer distances. The human voice is at times not nearly loud enough to be heard over great distances or through heavy winds or rains.

Metal Match, Fire Strikers are great to have in place of a Cigarette Lighter. However having a cigarette lighter is handy to use. Nothing replaces primitive skills in fire crafting. This will ensure you can start a fire no matter what the situation might be if you carry these three forms.

Mirror = Signaling Mirror visible as far as 26 miles away (Seen). A mirror is ideal for aircraft & land base signal flashing.

Royal Blue & International Orange
Royal Blue is the best color (Tarps & Trash Bags)

Flagging Tape = Marking Trails
Colored Duct Tape or ribbon tape. Mark every visual horizon along your path and direction change. Mark in obvious locations and on trees mark both sides so you see the markings coming and going.

Survival Blade/Knife must have unless you know primitive tool making skills. However it's best to have a pocket knife as well as a survival knife. Folding Saws, Flexible Saws & a sharp axe are highly suggested.
**Stones, Antlers, and Bones.

Direction Finding:

Compass (Rated or Mil Spec)
360 degrees/6400 Mils

Know cardinal direction finding via Shadow Stick Method or Watch Dial Method. Celestial Navigation is also a handy skill to know.
(Based upon the hemisphere you are in for night navigation.)

• Make a compass with a silk cloth and thin wire or sewing needle. Rub one side in the same direction. This will magnetize the wire/needle and if you suspend the wire with a string or float on a leaf in a pool of water the magnetized metal will point Magnetic North.

• GPS Devices
(Always mark your start point first) *pack extra batteries.

• MAP Reading (Region Specific)
All of the above are known as the TRIANGLE of Navigation.

If your ever lost, don't panic!
Remain calm and practice S.T.O.P.

-Sit
-Think
-Observe
-Plan

Water Treatment:
• Boil water
• Filter Water
• Chemical Water Treatment

Note:
Cryptosporidium is not treated with Iodine. Chlorine Dioxide is a much better choice for a chemical water treatment versus Iodine.

Mylar Blankets are a very poor choice for shelter:

Instead use-
Trash Bags (Thick Heavy Duty) Colored Royal Blue or Orange. They are tougher to tear and serve as a weather barrier. Avoid breathing into to trash bag as your breath carries moisture in it and will condensate.

Mylar Blanket is good for signaling rather than for shelter. It's reflective and has a mirror sheen. Mylar has a tendency to puncture and tear. This is a big reason it makes a poor choice for shelter. A wool or fleece blanket will keep you warm. Fleece will hold heat even if wet.

Tarps make great shelters:
They pack easily, all you need is cordage.
**Not tents, poles or steaks. Makes for lighter weight in load bearing. Tarps are more cost efficient as well.

Match Storm Proof is the best match REI STORM PROOF MATCH Cigarette Lighters are air pressure sensitive. They get wet and don't work. Metal matches are preferred. But keep a bic style lighter with you.

Primitive Fire Crafting is a wonderful skill to have. I highly recommend you take a class on fire crafting at a local survival School.

Continued:
Cotton Balls 100% cotton and Vaseline. Store in a plastic bag. Great fire starting aid.

**Aluminum Foil is highly recommended for use with cotton balls and Vaseline.

Fuel/Gasoline Fire Starting
DANGEROUS!!!

**Note:
To safely start a fire with automobile fuel. Use the bottom of a pop can or dig a small hole in the ground. Then fill the bottom of the pop can or hole. This is safe to light. NEVER splash fuel or spill fuel then light it. That will get you severely burned.

Signal Mirrors & Signal Fires
(Visual Aids)

• Spot Beacons
(Personal Locator Beacons)
Has a transmitter and receiver works off of a satellite.
Great asset to communicate with people back home.

Wild edibles:
Research the region your headed in first. Know the five edible plants, berries and tree bark commonly found in the region your visiting. This preparedness practice will serve great dividends towards your survival.

Traps & Snares
• Spring Snare Trap
• Dead Fall Traps
• Funnel Basket Weave Fish Traps

These are the most commonly used primitive traps and easy to set once you learn correctly how they are made. Best to set along game trails or animal runs.

Primitive Fishing/Hobo Fishing are great skills to develop as well. This knowledge will last a lifetime. Your only limited by your own imagination as with many things related to survival.

Campsite Location Selecting:
Avoid Ravines, Animal Game Trails
to avoid become trampled on by deer or other animals. Avoid natural animal habitats such as snakes and other critters. Also avoid river and creek beds as they tend to be unpredictable and dangerous to shelter in for any length of time during rainy season.

Written by Survivalist & Adventurer
Daniel W. Shrigley
CEO of SURVIVAL EXTREME CATALOG INC.

Host of Survival Trek Escape (Talk) on www.Speaker.com

Creator of SURVIVAL TREK ESCAPE
PRE-Production Television Series

Exploring San Isabel National Forest

12/8/2016