Welcome to Oscar Mike Survival.
Do you want to learn about survival and have no clue on where to start?
Well then, this is the blog just for the FNG that has no clue. We simplify the who, what, when, where, why, how on survival. These blogs will go over techniques ,prep checklists, realistic situations, equipment reviews, and to start you out in the right direction to hopefully saving your ass one day.
Oscar Mike Sierra = "On The Move Survival"
FNG = "Fucking New Guy"
From David Crockett, to the Native Americans, to the Vikings and now in modern times, Axes, Tomahawks and Hatchets have been an important weapon and tool throughout history. Its an amazing tool and a very effective weapon for defense when used properly.
For hundreds of years the Hatchet, Axe and Tomahawk have been used and prized by most outdoors people as an invaluable tool. Used to cut, chop, hammer, hunt and defend with; these puppies do it all.
What's the difference between a Hatchet, Axe and Tomahawk? Well let's see. A Hatchet usually is a short small-handled axe with a blade on one end and a blunt hammer type end on the opposite side of the blade. An Axe can be short-handled but usually has a longer handle on it and can be double or single bladed and is primarily used for chopping wood or a common tool for fire fighters. The Tomahawk is primarily used as a fighting weapon and can be thrown. It's light-weight with a sharp edged blade or sharp edge all around the head with a sharp or blunt point on the opposite end.
Hatchet
Tomahawk
Axe
I was fascinated by the Hatchet and soon got one after reading Hatchet by Gary Paulsen when I was a kid. It's a fantastic survival scenario of a kid that is stranded in the woods after a plane crashed and all he has is himself and a hatchet he got as a gift. Great Story of wilderness survival.
So whatever be your choice Hatchet, Tomahawk or Axe. I would highly recommend getting one for your needs. My personal fav's are the CRKT Kangee T-Hawk (Columbia River Knife and Tool Company) and the Gerber Fiskars Hatchet. Use safety while using any sharp object and have fun out there.
What would you do if you found yourself in a situation you're not prepared for? Panic and give up? Look around and you might be surprised at what you already have on or around you. Imagine you on a day hike to a new place in a national forest . You decide to wander off the path and venture into the woods. You're enjoying the beauty of the woods not paying attention to where you're going, and then you decide it's time to head back to the car. You look around realize you have no idea on how to get back. An "Oh Shit" moment hits, and panic soon begins to set in.
Remain Calm and Carry On
Take a breath and let's look at possible gear you might find yourself with, whether you're a man or women, there are some things you might find on yourself. Plastic water bottles or refillable ones, miscellaneous snacks, a bandanna, a lightweight sweater, an extra pair of socks, a small airplane sized vodka or other booze, and an emergency blanket. If you carry a purse here are some items you might have that prove useful: tampons, mints (for morale), Extra Strength Tylenol pills or other pain killer/fever reducing meds, reading glasses, a lighter, cigarettes, mascara and lip balm. Don't forget about your pockets, maybe you have some of these items: pocket knife, keys, flash light on a key ring, and lets say you left your cell phone in the car.
Let's take a look at how we can use some of these items for survival purposes. Let's go in order with the Priorities List.
First Aid: Tylenol, socks, vodka, bandannas, lip balm, belt, shoelace and tampons
Tylenol:Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever
Socks:Bandage or Sling Vodka:Disinfectant Bandanna:Bandage or Sling Lip Balm:Stops bleeding of small cuts and of course helps chapped lips or dry skin Belt:Tourniquet or Sling Shoelaces:Brace for sock, tampon or bandanna bandage or use as a Sling Tampons: Bandage for every kinda wound, these sterile little dudes are life saver
Water:Water bottles, bandanna, tampons
You can reuse your plastic water bottles, fill them up and place on a string hanging them near a fire and moving around so it doesn't melt to boil them for suitable drink water. Use your bandanna for a filter for water, works great to filter out sediment not pathogens. Tampons can also be used as a straw water filter.
Creek Stewart, tampon water filter straw
Fact: You can drink your own urine twice if you need to stay alive and hydrated. Shelter:Emergency Blanket, shoelaces
You can use an emergency blanket many different ways- in the form of a tent, tarp, or just a blanket. It has great heat reflective capabilities as a half shelter as seen in the photo to the left. I have personally used this type of shelter and it works great. Use your shoelaces for ties and put dirt on the back to keep it down.
Fire: Lighter, eyeglasses, cigarettes, lip balm and mascara
If you were ever that sick kid with a magnifying glass and liked to use it on bugs, you know what damage it causes when the sun hits it just right. Same goes for a pair of reading glasses, hit the sun just right on a pile of dried debris and bam FIRE!. Cigarettes can be used as a fire starter as well as lip balm, or the very flammable mascara.
Food: Shoelace, rocks, wire from a bra and knife
After you dusted your miscellaneous food that you packed, it's time to get some food from mother nature. Well you should have already been looking for food before that happens. Get a fish spear going as seen in the picture to the left or attach your knife to a branch like the picture to the right with a sholace or belt.
Use those shoelaces either for a fishing line with a make-shift hook from a bra wire or something else metal you can find or make a snare out of it. Also, look for trash in the woods, you never know what you might find that you can use. Soda cans also make great make shift hooks or improvised knife or spear head. Necessity is the mother of invention and instinct is what keeps you alive (combine them and your unstoppable). Use your imagination, be creative and always keep on the look out for a more efficient and less energy using way to do things in a survival situation.
Cool Simple Video on how to build a 4 pronged spear.
by: The Back Woodsman's Institute.
skip ahead to 1:50
We humans can survive 3 to 5 days without water, that is depending on the conditions we are exposed to. Food is another story, we can survive about three weeks or more without food (Mahatma Gandhi went 21 days without food). Along with water and food you've got to be aware of exposure to the elements, stay dry and stay warm because hypothermia sets in quickly whether in the water or on the land. Do whatever it takes to stay alive and find rescue. Having hope is as important a lifesaver as First Aid, Water, Shelter, Fire, Food and Rescue.
A list of priorities to remember in an emergency situation are as important to survival as the gear you have. Remember the steps and keep them fresh in your head so when the time comes you will know exactly what to do.
My List of priorities might differ from others, but here they are:
First Aid: You have to take care of yourself and others in your party first, above everything. If you're sick or wounded, you're not going to survive unless you deal with all that before you work on the other priorities. So study up on some self-aid buddy care.
Water: I choose to look for water above shelter first. If you don't have water to hydrate when exerting yourself setting up a shelter, well....that's kinda not so smart. I look for a water source then build a shelter at a reasonable distance from the water source to keep me resupplied. Just make sure you keep your distance, animals are most likely to venture to the watering hole at a daily basis and you don't want to be exposed to a possibly dangerous situation with a bear or other deadly fury woodland critter.
Shelter: Try to locate near a watering hole but not too close (like I said previously) and find something with natural protection from the elements and critters. Near a rock, big tree or small cave (just check out the cave beforehand to make sure no nasties are in it). If you have a tent or tarp, Sweet! If not you're gonna have to improvise with what nature provides, branches, foliage and downed trees are your tent.
Fire: Hopefully you have fire gear to light one up (Fingers Crossed). If you're in a dry area, you're gonna make a fire no problem. If you're in a wet environment (like the northwest) then you better practice making fires in the wet damp of the wild. I find the dried sap on some of the trees around Mt. Hood make fantastic fire starters for even the wettest of environments.
Food: Hopefully you have your BOB if it comes down to it but if not, you're gonna have to improvise and be sharp to get some grub. Bugs, fish, frogs, squirrels, birds and edible plants, usually a few of these are around every area and with a little practice and knowledge you can snag a few of them. Use snares (shoe laces/550cord), spears(branches, twigs), traps (rock fall, punji pits) and rocks (throw'em big or small). Always study up on your local edible plants it could save your life one day and always remember don't eat anything unless you're skilled enough to do so (leaves of three let them be, and for god sake don't eat any mushrooms unless you're a mushroom master). It never hurts to pack a book about local edible plants in your pack.
Rescue:If you're in need of rescue, set up markers, signal fires, pretty much anything you can think of that someone can find easily. Don't move around too much, you might get yourselves more lost, hurt or even dead.
BE SAFE
Anytime your head out to a hike or camping trip, be prepared for such an occasion and tell a few of your peeps where you're gonna be and when you're coming back just to be safe. Better safe then sorry, you never plan for a car accident but we all still wear a seat belt.
Stay Safe and Have Fun Out There! Stay Informed, Stay Sharp and Stay On The Move. I'm Oscar Mike
If your hunting, playing paintball, in a military exercise, find yourself in need of concealment or just want a cool Halloween costume. Then your gonna wanna blend in with your surroundings. Be it in the woods or in the city, a little knowledge will help you achieve the maximum affect of concealment. So your gonna need yourself some Camouflage.
WHAT IS CAMOUFLAGE?
Anything in the environment your in to use to keep yourself, position, and equipment from looking like what they are. CAMO comes both from man-made and natural materials. Natural camo, like fresh vegetation eventually will die and wilt and needs to be changed well before this happens. Man-made material will over time fade and become ineffective. So maintain your camo.
LEARN FROM NATURE
Mother nature has provided animals with amazing camouflage, for protection and for advantages in hunting.
Take a look at the animals in your environment and check out their color patterns and take heed on what they look like and copy them if you can.
CAMO UP!
HELL YEAH CLINT!!
Study up on the terrain and vegetation that your in, pick camo that best blends into that area. when placing branches, twigs or grass on you and your equipment, make sure you break up the pattern of man made materials. When applying camo to your face, apply a two or three color combo in an irregular pattern. Paint shiny area with a dark color (top of nose, ears, chin, forehead, checkbones). Paint shadow areas with light colors (under the chin, under the nose and around the eyes)
BELOW IS A GOOD VIDEO ON FACE CAMO
WHEN CONCEALED
Movement draws attention and is noisy when moving. If you need to move, stay low and move from covered concealed routes. Avoid open areas and watch your shine! During the day keep exposed metal, glasses, bi-nocs, watches, exposed skin or shiny man-made martial in check. At night be aware of flash lights and fires along with keeping your noise level at a minimum.
HAPPY BLENDING! Till Next Time, Stay Informed, Stay Sharp and Stay On The Move. I'm Oscar Mike.
For hundreds of years the Hatchet, Axe and Tomahawk have been used and prized by most outdoors people as an invaluable tool. Used to cut, chop, hammer, hunt and defend with; these puppies do it all.
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