What should you do if your clothing gets wet and the temperature starts to drop?  What must you do if snow is covering the ground and nothing can be found to build a shelter?  And food -- what can you do when you run out of supplies and face starvation? 

          Did you know that a common item found in every household can be used to make water safe for drinking?  Or that a common edible weed actually contains more vitamins and nourishment than any vegetable found in a supermarket?

          All of these things and much more is covered in THE OFFICIAL URBAN & WILDERNESS SURVIVALGUIDE available on line at www.robertwpelton.com.  Read these tips and suggestions year 'round.  They may one day save your life!

EATING QUEEN ANNE'S LACE

       1.  The entire plant is edible.

          a.  Leaves, flowers, roots, stems, seeds.

          b.  Plant parts impart carrot-like flavor.

          c.  Dry seeds over embers of fire or in sun.

          d.  Eat as crunchy, nourishing snack.

       2.  Entire plant in high in vitamin A and fiber.

       3.  WARNING:  Don't eat this plant if flowers and roots don't smell like carrots.

          a.  It is probably a dangerous hemlock lock-alike.

TREATMENT OF HYPOTHERMIA

       1.  The treatment of a victim of dangerous hypothermia consists of:

          a.  Quickly removing victim's wet clothing.

          b.  Drying victim's skin.

          c.  Dressing victim in dry garments.

          d.  Build small fire nearby to help warm victim.

                                      or

          e.  Put victim in sleeping bag, unclothed.

          f.  Have another unclothed person get in sleeping    bag with victim.

                   1.  This transfers body warmth by skin                   contact.

       2.  Use caution to not burn skin of victim when using a heat source of this type:

          a.  Canteen of boiling hot water.

          b.  Heated rocks, etc.

WHEN AWAY FROM CIVILIZATION

       1.  Every person should prepare to be self-sufficient when unexpectedly away from civilization.

       2.  Consider the problems you may encounter and things to try and avoid.  Ask yourself:

          a.  Do I have everything needed for emergencies?

                   1.  Comfortable waterproof boots?

                   2.  Poncho for rain wear or to make shelter?

                   3.  Eating utensils; sturdy hunting knife?

                   4.  Water purification tablets, etc?

          b.  Do I have enough food to eat?

          c.  Do I have reserve food for unexpected delays?

          d.  What will I do for a shelter?

          e.  Do I have things needed to build a fire?

MILITARY PREPARED MEALS

       1.  MREs (Meals Ready To Eat) consist of generous half-pound servings of fully cooked, tasty foods.

       2.  Developed for the military, MREs have a shelf life of up to 15 years.

       3.  MREs include meals such as:

          a.  beef or chicken stew.

          b.  escalloped potatoes and ham.

          c.  pork barbecue with rice.

          d.  spaghetti and meatballs.

       4.  MRE side dishes include:

          a.  applesauce, peaches, pears. etc.

          b.  crackers, cheese spread, peanut butter, etc.

          c.  cookies, cakes, and other desserts.

BACKPACKS AND THEIR CARE

       1.  Every household should have ready-to-go backpacks for each family member.

          a.  Backpacks come in a great variety of shapes,     colors and designs.

       2.  One of the best and least expensive backpacks is the military A.L.I.C.E. pack.

          a.  It's lightweight.

          b.  It's compact.

          c.  It's exceptionally sturdy.

          d.  It's loaded with storage pockets.

TREE BARK COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

       1.  The inner bark of many trees can be:

          a.  cooked and eaten.

          b.  simply eaten raw.

       These trees include:

          a.  Aspen.

          b.  Birch.

          c.  Cottonwood.

          d.  Pine.

          e.  Willow.

       2.  Pine bark and the bark from other cone-bearing trees are rich in vitamin

          a.  Scrape away outer bark,

          b.  Strip inner bark from tree trunk.

          c.  Eat bark fresh, dried or cooked.

          c.  Dry inner bark and pulverize into flour.

USING A MAGNIFYING GLASS

       1.  Gather a small amount of extremely dry tinder.

          a.  Shelter tinder from rain and wind.

       2.  Use magnifying glass on sunny days to

          a.  concentrate the sun's rays.

          b.  ignite tinder to start camp fire.

       3.  A small, inexpensive magnifying glass can be purchased almost anywhere for as little as a dollar.

       4.  A magnifying glass can also be obtained from:

          a.  a pair of glasses.

          b.  a telescopic gun sight.

          c.  binoculars.

MORE METHODS OF WATER PURIFICATION

       1.  All water may have to be made safe to drink

          a.  in wilderness lakes, rivers and streams.

          b.  when trapped at home during an emergency.

       2.  Here are more ways to quickly purify water:

          a.  Boil it for at least one minute.

          b.  Add one purification tablet per quart.

          c.  Use iodine crystals.  One tiny bottle will   purify thousands of quarts of water.

FOREMOST RULE FOR SURVIVAL

       1.  The first and foremost rule of survival is:

          a.  Try to not panic.

       2.  It's normal to experience feelings of fear in survival situations.

          a.  Fear is a powerful defense mechanism against    the unknown.

          b.  It raises the level of a person's senses.

          c.  It attunes the mind and body to potential dangers and hazards.

       3.  Out of control fear leads to panic!

LONG-TERM FOOD STORAGE

       1.  There are four major kinds of food on the market for long-term storage.

          a.  Dehydrated.

          b.  Freeze dried

          c.  MRE's (military Meals Ready to Eat).

          d.  Ordinary everyday canned goods.

       2.  A small amount of each type should be purchased.

          a.  Test for taste to see if they suit your         family's needs.

       3.  Then buy in quantity and store in basement for:

          a.  unexpected emergencies.

          b.  survival situations.

GARLIC -- A WONDER DRUG?

       1.  Garlic oil is excellent for:

          a.  rubbing on wounds, cuts, scratches, etc.

       2.  Garlic oil does the following:

          a.  Kills bacteria.

          b.  Promotes faster healing.

       3.  Garlic oil was used extensively by Russian soldiers during World War 11.

          a.  Carried in lieu of unavailable antibiotics.

WHAT TO DO WHEN LOST IN THE WILDERNESS

       1.  Immediately get a fire started

          a.  in order to keep warm.

          b.  with which to prepare food, coffee, etc.

       2.  Take shelter.

          a.  If you have a tent, set it up.

          b.  If tent not available, improvise a shelter.

          c.  Kind of shelter unimportant so long as it   protects from weather.

       3.  Get into sleeping bag to keep warm and rest.

          a.  The less energy expended, the less food   needed.

TAKING CARE OF A SLEEPING BAG

       1.  After each use, zip open sleeping bag.

          a. turn inside out.

          b.  Shake thoroughly and fluff up.

       2.  Hang over tree limb or lay on ground.

          a.  Breezes and the sun will dry out and         freshen the bag.

       3.  Always carry in waterproof carrier:

          a.  to keep sleeping bag dry.

          b.  to protect the bag.

TREATING BOT FLIES

       1.  Bot flies are dangerous.

          a.  They bore into the skin.

          b.  They cause painful boil-like swellings.

       2.  Treat by laying moistened tobacco on the bite.

          a.  This kills the larvae.

          b.  Once dead, squeeze the larvae out of the skin.

WATER REQUIRED TO SURVIVE

       1.  Drinking plenty of water is an absolute necessity in order to stay healthy.

          a.  Your life depends upon your water supply.

       2.  Typical water needed if sitting quietly in 100 degree weather.

          a.  If you have this much   You'll probably die

                   1.  None                    after 3 days.

                   2.  1 gallon                after 4 days.

                   3.  2-1/2 gallons             after 5 days.

                   4.  5 gallons               after 7 days.

THE MIRACLE OF CAYENNE PEPPER

       1.  Ordinary household cayenne (red) pepper can be a wonderful medical aid in a survival situation.

          a.  Pour over a minor cut or more serious wound.

       2.  The red pepper:

          a.  instantly stops bleeding (2 to 3 seconds).

          b.  helps cut or wound to quickly heal.