The survival handbook : essential skills for outdoor adventure

As we come to rely on technology in almost every aspect of our everyday lives, there is a large and ever-growing interest in how we would survive without the conveniences of the modern age. The Survival Handbook: Essential Skills for Outdoor Adventure shows you not only how to adapt in such circumstances, but also how to thrive in the wilderness environment. Packed with specially commissioned, crystal-clear, step-by-step illustrations for every survival technique, from what to do if you meet a bear in the woods to how to navigate by the stars, this book also includes exciting stories of real-life survival--what happened, who survived, and how they did it. CONTENTS......Page 5 Introduction......Page 9 1. BEFORE YOU GO......Page 16 Introduction: Prepare yourself......Page 17 Getting into shape......Page 19 Mental preparation......Page 21 Planning your journey......Page 23 Emergency plan of action......Page 25 Introduction: Know your environment......Page 27 Temperate environments......Page 29 Tropical environments......Page 31 Mountain environments......Page 33 Desert environments......Page 35 Cold environments......Page 37 Marine environments......Page 39 Introduction: Get the right gear......Page 41 Choosing your kit......Page 43 Choosing a backpack......Page 45 Dressing for the outdoors......Page 47 Extreme survival— in the wilderness......Page 51 Sleeping systems......Page 53 Eating on the trail......Page 57 Camping stoves......Page 59 Your survival kit......Page 61 2. ON THE TRAIL......Page 64 Introduction: Find your way......Page 65 Maps and map-reading......Page 67 Get your bearings......Page 69 Route finding......Page 73 Navigating without a compass......Page 75 Natural navigation......Page 77 How weather works......Page 79 Weather phenomena......Page 81 Understanding local weather......Page 83 Introduction: Make a move......Page 85 Traveling on foot......Page 87 Crossing rivers......Page 89 Scrambling and climbing......Page 91 Extreme survival— in the mountains......Page 93 Moving over snow......Page 95 Using pack animals......Page 99 Four-wheel driving......Page 101 Kayaking and canoeing......Page 105 Building a raft......Page 107 Swimming......Page 109 3.CAMP CRAFT......Page 112 Introduction: Camp essentials......Page 113 Organizing your site......Page 115 Staying clean......Page 117 Making fire......Page 119 The elements of fire......Page 121 Char cloth and fire can......Page 123 Types of fire......Page 125 Making sparks and flames......Page 127 Extreme survival— in the desert......Page 129 Fire by friction......Page 131 Introduction: Manual skills......Page 135 Man-made cordage......Page 137 Natural cordage......Page 139 Tying knots......Page 143 Using cutting tools......Page 147 4. TAKING SHELTER......Page 154 Introduction: Taking shelter......Page 155 Hollows and caves......Page 157 Use-anywhere shelters......Page 159 Forest shelters......Page 163 Tropical shelters......Page 167 Extreme survival— in the jungle......Page 173 Desert shelters......Page 175 Shoreline shelters......Page 177 Snow shelters......Page 179 5. WATER AND FOOD......Page 184 Introduction: Find and treat water......Page 185 The importance of water......Page 187 Finding water: Temperate climates......Page 189 Finding water: Hot climates......Page 193 Finding water: Cold climates......Page 195 Finding water: At sea......Page 197 Carrying and storing water......Page 199 Treating water......Page 201 Introduction: Find and prepare food......Page 203 Wild cooking......Page 205 Edible plants......Page 207 Catching fish......Page 209 Preparing fish......Page 213 Extreme survival— adrift at sea......Page 215 Trapping animals......Page 217 Preparing small mammals......Page 221 Preparing large mammals......Page 223 Preparing other animals......Page 225 Catching birds......Page 227 Preparing birds......Page 229 6. IN AN EMERGENCY......Page 232 Introduction: In an emergency......Page 233 Assessing your situation......Page 235 Attracting rescuers......Page 237 Wild animals......Page 243 Extreme survival— in cold conditions......Page 245 Environmental hazards......Page 247 Surviving at sea......Page 251 7. FIRST AID......Page 258 Introduction: First aid......Page 259 First aid essentials......Page 261 Flesh wounds......Page 263 Bites and stings......Page 267 Poisonous plants and intestinal parasites......Page 269 Bones, joints, and muscles......Page 271 Treating exposure......Page 273 Treating shock......Page 275 Breathing difficulties......Page 276 Unconsciousness......Page 277 Moving a casualty......Page 279 Wild food......Page 281 Temperate plants......Page 282 Desert plants......Page 284 Tropical plants......Page 286 Plants in cold climates......Page 288 Coastal plants......Page 290 Mammals......Page 292 Birds......Page 294 Amphibians and reptiles......Page 296 Fish......Page 298 Invertebrates......Page 300 Natural Dangers......Page 301 Wild animals......Page 302 Insects and arachnids......Page 304 Poisonous plants......Page 306 Resources......Page 307 C......Page 309 H......Page 310 Q......Page 311 Z......Page 312 C......Page 313 F......Page 314 H......Page 315 M......Page 316 R......Page 317 S......Page 318 Z......Page 319 Acknowledgements......Page 320 Essential skills for outdoor adventure from the Royal MarinesLearn to stay alive with the Royal Marines. Want to know what to do if you met a bear in the woods, how to light a fire in the rain or what to do in shark-infested waters? Get the answers to these and many more questions with the ultimate guide to survival techniques as experienced by the Royal Marines.Pick up survival basics, from staying fit, to planning your expedition and packing essential kit. Discover what to do on a trail, from navigating and using pack animals to hiking or even skiing to your destination. You'll pick up wilderness techniques and learn to make shelters, find water, spot, catch and cook wild food. And when there's an emergency you'll be glad you learned how to mount a rescue, use essential first aid techniques and even how to get found.Learn survival techniques from the men who've been there, done it and survived. And take on the most testing challenges nature can throw at you. Essential skills for outdoor adventure from the Royal MarinesLearn to stay alive with the Royal Marines. Want to know what to do if you met a bear in the woods, how to light a fire in the rain or what to do in shark-infested waters? Get the answers to these and many more questions with the ultimate guide to survival techniques as experienced by the Royal Marines. Pick up survival basics, from staying fit, to planning your expedition and packing essential kit. Discover what to do on a trail, from navigating and using pack animals to hiking or even skiing to your destination. You'll pick up wilde