Monday, April 25, 2016

U - UNUSUAL

U IS FOR UNUSUAL SURVIVAL TIPS


In Alaska and Canada there are guidelines in place for what pilots must carry in their planes. Alaskan Survival Kit Regulation.

If you're a hiker, snowmobiler or just a tourist and traveling into the Alaskan wilderness, even if only for a few miles or a few hours, your life may depend on what you're carrying.


If you're foolish enough to go into the wilderness without a survival kit, you may still save your life.

Water, shelter, and warmth should be your first priorities:
  • Find a dry location and use the vegetation like pine boughs to build yourself a nest.
  • Lipstick or chap stick could help you start a fire. It's petroleum based.
  • A mirror can signal for help.
  • Dental Floss can be used as a fishing line, for cutting food, or even capturing it.
  • Duct Tape is a favorite of mine and one I used in Murder & Obsession. There are numerous uses for Duct Tape! From first aid to creating containers.

This survival kit has everything you might need - no matter what emergency you find yourself in. You should keep one in your car!

  • Gerber® Miniature Multi-tool
  • Needle Nose Pliers
  • Wire Cutters
  • Fine Edge Knife
  • Phillips Screwdriver
  • Small Flat Driver
  • Medium Flat Driver
  • Lanyard Ring
  • Bottle Opener
  • Tweezers
  • Waterproof Bag
  • Miniature Light
  • Hand Saw
  • Signaling Mirror
  • Survival Blanket
  • Fire Starter
  • Waterproof matches
  • Cotton Ball - Fire Tinder
  • Snare Wire
  • Emergency Cord
  • Waxed Thread
  • Fishing Kit
  • Sewing kit
  • Lanyard Whistle
  • Lightweight, ripstop nylon bag with waterproof zipper
  • Land to air rescue instructions
  • Priorities of Survival - Pocket guide contains Bear’s survival essentials
Do you have an unusual survival tip you can share?

Stay safe!

*****


Please add my books to your Goodreads Account.
Murder, Madness & Love
Memories of Murder
Murder & Obsession


Read Christine Rains' Review
of Murder & Obsession
HERE!



Please support my Thunderclap!

Remember every comment during the A to Z will be an entry to win a 
paperback copy of the trilogy!
(signed if I can send by mail)



67 comments:

Ella said...

I love this post! So, true to be prepared in this part of the world-you never know what could happen~ I hope you are doing better!

Unknown said...

Some interesting and really unusual items! I'd recommend a Swiss knife :)

kaykuala said...

One can never really tell especially in such extreme conditions. Having a kit in the car boosts the confidence and one is at ease even if nothing untoward happens.Thanks for the tip Yolanda!

Hank

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Duct tape is the answer to everything!
Chapstick can catch fire? Brings new meaning to the term hot lips.

Christine Rains said...

I had no idea about that fact about chapstick. We always have a few things in the car during the winter, but it's nowhere near as bad down here as it is in Alaska!

Tamara Narayan said...

I think I'll just stick to day hikes and hope for the best.

Pat Hatt said...

Duct tape sure can be used for all. Chaptstick can do that? New one to me. My survival tip? Stay out of the woods.

Nilanjana Bose said...

Didn't know that about chapsticks!

Being where I am the first tip is never to stir out without carrying some supplies of water and sun protection. I wouldn't survive an hour in the wilderness on my own.

Just a few more days! Have a good week.

Pat Garcia said...

Yes, I do have one for Europe. If you're lost go to the nearest Catholic church, especially if it is late at night and you are out of gas. The Priest will take you in until daylight.

Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge.

Shalom,
Patricia @ EverythingMustChange

Sophie Duncan said...

Duct tape is like the Force, it has a dark side, a light side and it holds the universe together.

I don't really have any survival tips, although Brownies (now that's a really long time ago) taught me to map read and do stuff like rolling someone in a blanket to put them out if they're on fire.

Sophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles | Wittegen Press | FB3X

Debbie D. said...

That's an excellent survival kit! Not that I would likely ever find myself in the wilderness; much too citified. ☺ You've covered everything by the looks of it. Bottles of water would be essential, apart from the kit.

cleemckenzie said...

We forget that there's a such a small line between living and dying in places like Alaska with extremes in environment. I will never forget Jack London's To Build A Fire. Thanks for the survival kit list. You never know when you might need something in a kit like this. I'm remembering the Loma Prieta earthquake! Since that day, I always have water and a blanket in my trunk. That's the minimum to survive a few hours stuck in your car.

Deborah Drucker said...

Interesting information. People should not be casual toward travel into wilderness areas. This reminds me of a movie about a bush pilot who crashes his plane. His passenger is a native American (Inuit?) woman. She helps him survive as they hike out because she has many survival skills. I forget the name of the movie.

Bish Denham said...

I think I'd have some medical supplies...

Unknown said...

I would be toast, considering I only carry chap stick, a small swiss army knife thingy and itty bitty flashlight. Good to know I need to bump up my survival odds.

The AtoZ of EOS
#TeamDamyanti

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Like Samantha, I would be toast since I only carry about the same things she does -- and I know better, living in hurricane country!

Nicola said...

Hmmm..don't think I'd be a very good survivor. I'd last about 30 minutes with my bottle of water. Certainly have to be strong to carry all that stuff.

Yolanda, just finished reading Murder and Obsession and it was a fantastic read!! Kept me on the edge of my wits the whole time and I adored the strength that Sarah showed throughout. One sassy lady! I'm looking forward to reading the others in the series now. I didn't realise it was part of a series and Murder and Obsession can be read as a stand alone. Just goes to show how brilliant you are! Praise where praise it due. Thank so much for introducing me to some awesome people.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

A couple packets of military food - MREs? - would also be helpful.

Annalisa Crawford said...

I completely agree with the bottle opener suggestion. You never know when a bottle will need to be liberated :-)

Annalisa Crawford said...

I completely agree with the bottle opener suggestion. You never know when a bottle will need to be liberated :-)

Beth Camp said...

Love the way this post emphasizes self-reliance. Cell phones don't always work. Don't we remember too many stories about cars stalled in heavy snow and the poor soul who marches out to find someone, leaving the others behind. We traveled once in northern Canada. When our car had a flat, we had to wait several hours for help. So I recommend taking Scrabble. Not that it's necessary for survival, but maybe!

Jeffrey Scott said...

I think a good survival note (if this counts) is to travel with a buddy. Then if one gets hurt, someone else can go for help. You don't want to be left along, but it's a better alternative than if you were to travel alone to begin with.

Susan A Eames said...

I really like that short list of essentials - I would never have thought of using lipstick or chap stick as a fire lighter!

Susan A Eames from
Travel, Fiction and Photos

Ryan Carty said...

I am a sucker for survival shows, but prefer Survivor Man to that poser Bear Grylls.

As a boy, I'd play at being lost in the woods or tundra and try to imagine how I'd survive. Not to well is my bet.

Mina Lobo said...

Did you deliberately not list the instructions for starting a fire with lipstick because you knew lunatics like me would try to? ;-)

Jo said...

My tip for survival is don't go there. Having said that, we drive around in the winter, not far, but if we broke down, we would not be prepared.

Michelle Wallace said...

In survival mode, certain items can be used in such inventive ways that you wouldn't think of under normal circumstances.
Duct tape? Mmm. I told a talkative student that I'd duct tape his mouth if he doesn't quit the non-stop chatter. LOL
Writer In Transit

Michelle Wallace said...

I forgot to mention that I read a wonderful review on Christine Rains' blog.
Now I'm really eager to read your stories.
But, I'd love to read the 3 books in the correct order.
I'm making a plan...

Sandra Cox said...

Did not know that about chap stick! Duct tape can fix anything. I love that designer duct tape is out now;)

Yolanda Renée said...

Haven't bought the designer stuff, but use duct tape way too often. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

I'm thrilled you want to read the books. I hope you can find the time. I know how big all our TBR lists are! :)
Careful with that duct tape!

Yolanda Renée said...

I think most of us feel that way, but even a few miles from home, we can find ourselves in trouble!

Yolanda Renée said...

So happy to see you back in the blogosphere. No I didn't leave the instructions, but they say added to twigs and brush or leaves with a good spark you've got fire! LOL

Yolanda Renée said...

I've caught a few of them. I tried to find all the cold weather survival shows as research for my books. I'd have done better as a kid than now as an adult too! :)

Yolanda Renée said...

During those days or nights when it cold and or wet, it'll give a boost for sure!

Yolanda Renée said...

Traveling alone is just asking for trouble. On all my hiking trips in the mountains I always had a partner.

Yolanda Renée said...

In real life the cell phone battery is always dead when you need it. LOL Scrabble would be a great way to pass the time and take your mind off the cold. Maybe?

Yolanda Renée said...

I'll have to check, I thought the book was listed as number 3, but I've heard that from more than one person.
I'm thrilled it stood alone, as you said, that's been my goal with all three. It's the love story that ties them all together. Each one has a different mystery though.
As for the safety kit, all hat stuff fits into the small bag shown, unless you add blankets and sleeping bags, food and water, it's a pretty small package, but could deal with some pretty huge issues.
Thanks a million for enjoying M & O. Your assessment means a lot!

Yolanda Renée said...

None of us do enough, and the car is the best place to have such a kit, but of course if you're hiking, remember to take it with you. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

That's a pretty good start, Sam. Better than most of us have!

Yolanda Renée said...

A first aid kit is a must. Whether in the car or in the backpack! I agree!

Yolanda Renée said...

Sounds like a good movie. I hope he at least had some safety supplies in the plane!

Yolanda Renée said...

That death by cold was frighteningly graphic. And here in PA drivers during winter have been caught on the roads for up to 72 hours. It's mind boggling in this day and age but it happens. A survival kit, is needed in every home, car, and backpack. Just think, all that protection would insure you never had an emergency. I'm ordering mine now! Seriously!

Yolanda Renée said...

Water, shelter and warmth are the top priorities, then food, but yeah you'll need it all!
The city could turn into a jungle in an unexpected emergency. Just say'n!

Yolanda Renée said...

Stop, drop, and roll. Oh yeah, a good one when on fire! Duct tape holds the universe together, good one! Just watch the Mars movie, I'd have to agree!

Yolanda Renée said...

That's great to know, here the churches would be locked, but if there's an adjoining house, you might be in luck!

Yolanda Renée said...

Sun protection, that's a good one too. Me neither, I hate the heat!

Yolanda Renée said...

Ha, there are more places than the woods to get lost in. :) Yeah, chapstick can do that, just add to twigs, dry leaves or brush and add a spark. You've got fire!

Yolanda Renée said...

Wouldn't be that much to add a small kit but maybe hoping for the best is good if the path is well used.

Yolanda Renée said...

No where near, but folks have been caught in their cars for up to 72 hours on the turnpike here in PA, during a snow storm!

Yolanda Renée said...

Exactly, Ella! I am getting there. LOL May is break month, time for healing all!

Yolanda Renée said...

A very good addition. Knives will always be need in an emergency!

Yolanda Renée said...

I'm convinced. Buy three of them and now I'll never have to worry about being caught unaware. When I lived in Alaska, I always had one, down here in the lower 48, not so much!

Yolanda Renée said...

LOL It does have it's uses! Chapstick and duct tape too! :)

Yolanda Renée said...

So true and they come on the Swiss Army knife!

Yolanda Renée said...

Which you can pick up at an Army Navy store. Wouldn't want to have to rely on them, but they are compact and will keep you alive if necessary!

klahanie said...

Hi Yolanda,

How are U doing, my fine friend? Ah yes, nicely done in this post. Having been out in the wilds of British Columbia, I know all about survival skills.

Delighted to note the alphabet stuff is almost over. I'm looking forward to coming out of hiding in May, or maybe June, if the alphabet reflection post go on and on :) Sigh....

Take good care, Yolanda.

Gary :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Gary, I've missed you. You're coming out of hiding and I'm taking a break in May. But I'll sneak back to see if you've posted. A reflection post, oh dear! LOL

You take care too!

Denise Covey said...

Heh I never knew lipstick could be so useful. Really? Cool! I'll never leave home without it. :-) (It's nearly over! Well done you!)

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Denise. Does this mean your home now? How's the writing going? Yes, almost over, TG! I'm looking forward to a break in May, and writing, writing, writing! :)

Debbie D. said...

Auto club, cell phone, kindness of strangers. ;)

Deborah Weber said...

I vote for adding a bottle of Rescue Remedy to any survival pack, to help deal with the stress of any emergency requiring the pack.

Jessica Ferguson said...

Wonderful post, Yolanda! Interesting about the lipstick. :)

Elizabeth said...

I took a disaster preparedness class last year and the teacher had us make some really simple fire starters. You take an old prescription bottle and alternate layers of dryer lint and petroleum jelly.

Yolanda Renée said...

Very cool! I understand that cotton balls are a good fire starter too.

Yolanda Renée said...

Isn't it. Had fun with the research. Learned lots of cool things!

Yolanda Renée said...

LOL, sounds like a solid idea!