380 likes | 461 Views
Winter Preparedness CERT. Class Premise. Worst case scenario: having to spend a night in wilderness situation What should you have in your packs to prepare for this situation?. Pack Supplies. Simple, light, essential items Ask yourself the “What if” questions. Cover these areas. Shelter
E N D
Class Premise Worst case scenario: having to spend a night in wilderness situation What should you have in your packs to prepare for this situation?
Pack Supplies Simple, light, essential items Ask yourself the “What if” questions
Cover these areas Shelter Fire Water Food
Pack Supplies • Matches, lighter, metal match • Clear plastic sheeting • ‘Contractor’ trash bags • Gallon ziplock bags • Lightweight cooking pot • Cordage • Knife • ‘Space blanket’ • Water purification • Duct tape • Try to think of items which either have MULTIPLE uses or are NECESSARY
Fire Always have more than one way to start a fire Never rely on just one method Your life may depend on it!!
Pack Supplies: Lighter • Inexpensive • Widely available • Easy to carry • Downside: needs some fine motor movement
Pack Supplies: Waterproof Matches • Waterproof matches • Waterproof container
Cotton / Vaseline • Can coat cotton balls with vaseline • Untreated will burn about 30 seconds • Treated can burn for 3-5 minutes
Shelter • Protection from: • Wind • Rain • Snow • Able to have a fire for warmth
Pack Item • Clear plastic sheeting • 10 to 20 feet in your pack • Hardware, Walmart, etc • Uses: • Ground cloth • Shelter building • Rain / snow poncho
Pack Item • Contractor Trash Bags • Home Depot, Lowes, etc • 4 or 5 in your pack • Uses: • Ground cloth • Shelter building • Rain / snow poncho
Pack Item: Cook Pot • Large enough to boil several cups of water • Small enough and light enough to carry in a pack
Pack Item: Cook Pot • Dehydration can occur quickly in cold weather • Can purify water • Calories for warmth! • Soup • Hot chocolate • Etc.
Two birds, one stone? • Stainless 1 liter water bottle • Get the ‘wide mouth’ • Unscrew lid before boiling…
Survival Cook Pot • Tin foil can be easily shaped into a bowl • Take a large sheet, fold it many times into a small space • Not durable
Pack Item: Water Purification • A few different types • Usually a tablet or liquid drops • Small, fits easily into a pack
Pack Item: Gallon Ziplocks • Keep tinder (or other supplies) dry • Can be used to hold water • 3 or 4 in your pack
Pack Item: Gallon Ziplocks • Water purification • Can have 2 or 3 gallons of water ready to drink • Difficult to carry
Pack Supplies: Cordage • Parachute cord best • Comprised of several threads • 50 to 75 feet
Pack Supplies: A good knife • A knife that can chop if needed • Full-tang fixed blade is best • A sturdy lock-blade good too
Pack Supplies: Miscellaneous • Dry soup mix or dry rice mix • Hot chocolate packets • Peanut M&M’s or Snickers • Whistle • Red / Orange surveyors tape • Small flashlight / Headlamp • Tin Foil (folded)
Cold Weather Clothing • Cotton: Worst • Loves moisture! • Loses 90% of insulating value when wet and wicks heat 25 times faster than when dry
Cold Weather Clothing • Polypropylene • Good base layer • Wicks moisture from the skin to outer layers of clothing
Cold Weather Clothing • Goose down • Light, great insulation when dry • Sucks up moisture worse than cotton • Loses all insulating value when wet
Cold Weather Clothing • Wool: my favorite • Will wick moisture, but slowly • Maintains its insulation value even when wet • Downside: can be heavy
Cold Weather Clothing • Polyester: Not just for the 70’s anymore • Resists water • Retains a lot of insulating value even when wet • Lighter and more compact than wool
The Layering System • Base Layers: • Designed to trap warmth against the body • Remove moisture to outer layers • Polypropylene good • Insulating Layers: • Can be added or removed to control sweating
The Layering System • Environmental Layer • Windbreaker • Waterproof layer or water-resistant layer • Fairly loose and easy to vent out moisture • Multiple thin layers is much better than one thick one • Can be adjusted to prevent sweating
Lost? Making the Decision • “When you’re lost, smoke your pipe” • Sit down, relax • Think • Observe / Options • Plan • Act • Walk Out? • Stay Put?