54 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [OCTOBER 2019]
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tent.it out by rope so we had rain protection at our
camp.FIRE
It would be hard for me to imagine a viable
winter camp without a fire. The fire keeps you
dry, warms you and gives you a way to always
have a hot beverage and a warm meal. The
best tool to have a ready-to-go fire is a butane
lighter. Carry several. Yes, bring backups too,
such as a magnifying glass (no good when
it’s overcast or dark), ferrocerium rods, and
even matches in a waterproof container. Bring
several methods for getting that fire going.SUN PROTECTION
Sunburn doesn’t happen just in summer. If you’re in snow, the sun can reflect off the snow
and give you sunburns or even temporary blindness. If you’re on the water, you also need some
protection. You need a hat, sunglasses, lip balm and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of
30 or more, or sunblock.FIRST AID
Remember, your knowledge of how to handle basic medical emergencies is far more important
than the stuff in your kit. If you don’t know how to respond, the stuff in your kit is not very useful.
So, yes, get a kit, but also enroll in an emergency first aid course to learn real world skills. There
are many portable first aid kits available for purchase in stores ranging from supermarkets to
pharmacies to online sources. Buy the kit that fits your particular needs.
In the case of cold weather, you need to be aware of hypothermia in yourself and others. See
sidebar about hypothermia on page 52.› Keith Farrar shows
the knots that are
most useful for
turning a tarp into a
tent.› Above: Survival
instructors show
how to set up a tube
tent, which requires
only some cordage
and two trees
or other similar
anchors to tie it to.