i started putting this together many years ago and my health went down hill and this was as far as I went with it.
Module 1 Urban Survival
Why teach “survival” in the city?
Catastrophes vs. disasters
This is about your SURVIVAL, not volunteering
Priorities for human survival
Shelter construction
Fire making
Signalling
Equipment and supplies
Social implications of disasters
Personal security concerns
Complete loss of civil infrastructure
Minimal or no police, fire or EMS response
No electricity, municipal water, communications
Transport of fuel / food is severely impaired
Public safety agencies will be overwhelmed
Recovery is long term (over 30 days)
Disaster V. Catastrophe
Disasters are short term
“Make do for 3-4 days until help arrives…”
Catastrophic events are long term
Katrina-scale hurricane, tsunami, earthquake
Major terror attack, nuclear detonation, dirty bomb
No help is coming soon, “you are on your own”
What the military survival schools teach:
Seven Priorities For Survival
“Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst”
Positive mental attitude
First Aid / Sanitation
Shelter
Signaling
Fire
Water
Food
Situational awareness, basic knowledge and
a “survivor’s mindset” enable you to cope effectively
STOP Calm down, and size up your situation…
THINK Anticipate which hazards are most likely
Take stock of materials and resources around you
OBSERVE Orient yourself to your surroundings
PLAN Select equipment and supplies appropriately
ACT! Execute your plan, evaluate progress, adjust, “party on.”
PREPAREDNESS
Have an evacuation kit ready at all times
Don’t presume that a disaster will be short-term
Pack essentials first, then consider comfort items
In real emergences, forget last-minute purchases
Plan for more supplies than you “think” you may need
Inspect / renew your supplies each spring and fall
Provide entertainment for young children.
SIX STEPS TO PROBLEM SOLVING
Size Up Your Situation
Determine Objectives (stay or evacuate?)
Identify Resources (either stored supplies or salvaged materials from your surroundings)
Evaluate Options (use the safest way)
Plan (use your head)
Act…Improvise and overcome
FIRST AID AND SANITATION
Maintain personal and family health
Prompt treatment reduces infection risk
Sanitation reduces risk of disease vectors
Water borne illnesses, diarrhoea
Major cause of dehydration
Increases your survivability!
Disaster Injury Risk Factors:
Tool / equipment hazards, risk of hand, eye, head injuries, electric shock, chemical burns
Human factors stress / fatigue
Structural instability
Trauma risk, falls, building collapse potential
Terrain, loose rock, fallen limbs, wet or insecure footing, risk of falls, puncture wounds and lacerations from debris.
Disaster Contamination:
Stagnant surface water
Mosquito breeding
Contaminated flood waters
Sewage treatment system overflow
Petroleum, industrial, agricultural chemical contamination
Airborne contaminant plumes
Smoke, dust, toxic gases,
or radioactive fallout.
SHELTER
Protection from the elements
Wind and rain resistant
Insulation from cold
The “Stay or Evacuate” Decision
If evacuation is not mandatory, the same safety rules
for entering a structure apply to using your home as shelter
DO NOT OCCUPY IF:
There is structural damage
(6 sides of the “box” are not plumb)
Utilities cannot be controlled
Structure was damaged in a fire
DO NOT occupy a floor that has been flooded,
micotoxins from molds are respiratory hazard!
EVACUATION PLANNING
Best to relocate with friends or relatives outside of affected area
Don’t rely on government-run shelters
They are an “option of last resort” for those unable to evacuate
Evacuation route selection is important
Make sure your vehicle can carry essentials
A huge “bug-out” vehicle is a handicap on crowded roads
It uses more fuel, which may be expensive / scarce in an emergency.
Don’t plan on fuel being available en route
In normal times always keep your gas tank at least half full
Upon warning an event is imminent, conserve fuel, keep tank ¾ full
Carry extra fuel containers outside the vehicle
EVACUATE OR STAY?
Population of the area
Propensity to self-evacuate, overwhelmingly by automobile
Wide distribution of evacuation destinations,
Perceived vulnerability to terror attack, and anticipation of multiple attacks
Result:
A large-scale, chaotic mass self-evacuation should be anticipated.
SHELTER IN PLACE
Critical facilities that cannot evacuate (hospitals, EOCs) must continue to operate
Necessary if fallout/contamination would arrive before evacuation can be completed
Fallout Shelters will be needed to protect against high level radiation/detonation
Shelter-in-place (not necessarily Fallout Shelter) near RDD/very low level
Shelter stay may range from a few days to 2 weeks.
Authorities outside affected area can organize rescue/evacuation effort
Shelter occupants may be exposed and/or contaminated.
Necessary if operations can not be transferred or if staff, patients or clients cannot evacuate
Necessary if needed to support operations of other response agencies
Must have Radiological Monitoring & Exposure Control capabilities
Critical Facilities may be used to shelter families of the staff
Critical Facilities will not be used to shelter the general public.
DECONTAMINATION after a flood or attack
start immediately, even if you don’t know what the agent is.
EXPEDIENT FIELD DECONTAMINATION
If you are contaminated:
Remove everything, including jewelry
Cut off clothing normally removed over the head
Place contaminated clothing in plastic bag, tie closed
Wash your hands before using them to shower
Flush entire body with cool water
Blot dry with absorbent cloth
Put on clean clothes
Avoid use of affected areas, to prevent re-exposure
If professional help arrives, report to responders
for thorough decontamination and medical assessment.
Sheltering at Home During an Emergency
For using a building without working utilities as shelter
Exhaust – candles, camp stoves, lanterns, generators,
heaters, charcoal grills, all generate carbon monoxide
and must not be used indoors!
Open flame – above ignition sources
must never be left unattended!
Fuel – most of the above require flammable fuels
to operate, which must be stored outdoors.
Use Fire Marshal approved fuel containers
Improvised Emergency Shelters
As in all real estate, most important is location:
Avoid low spots with poor drainage
Seek a gently sloped area so that surface water drains away
Sheltered from prevailing winds
Away from bodies of water (attracts insects and animals)
Insulated from direct contact with ground, rock,
or concrete, which conducts away body heat.
Avoid as shelter:
Areas around downed utility lines
In or near culverts
Within the “collapse zone” of a damaged building
(maintain 2:1 ratio of distance away to building height)
Improvised Shelters:
Sheds
Tents
Tarps
Vehicles
Don’t disable a good car!
Remove car batteries to power communications and
shelter lighting only from cars that do not start
If a car starts reserve it for emergency evacuation, or
Use it as a “battery charger”
Salvage lighting, remove dome lights, tail lights,
trunk lights, etc. & with at least 36” of wires.
Position batteries in shelter; attach wires & lights
As batteries discharge, replace with new batteries
or recharge batteries.
Emergency Shelter Materials:
Salvage building materials from debris or
from damaged structures only when it can be done safely
Plastic sheeting
Roofing paper and shingles
Siding, plywood
Chain link fence
Lumber
Carpeting
Wire, rope, and fasteners
Build Your Shelter In Layers
Structural framing: lumber, plywood, fencing, metal
Fasteners: reinforce structural connections with nails, wire or rope ties, wooden spikes
Water and wind proofing: plastic sheeting, tarp, shingles, roofing paper
Insulation: drywall, leaves, tree branches, carpeting, (may also be used as ballast to hold water/wind proofing layer in place)
SIGNALLING
Day: Mirror flashes – best daylight signal device
Smoke
Brightly colored cloth flag / panel (VS-17)
ICAO surface-to-air signals
V Require assistance
X Need medical assistance
Y Yes – affirmative
N No – negative
→ I am proceeding in this direction
Night: Flashing strobe light
Fire
Signal flares
Sound, i.e. whistle, siren, vehicle horn
FIRE:
Maintains body temperature
Great morale booster
Deters wild animals and insects
Boils water
Cooks food
Used as day (smoke)
or night (light) signal
FIRE MAKING METHODS
Matches or lighter
Flint and steel (Doan Machinery Corp. Fire Starter)
Use cotton ball and petroleum jelly as tinder
Battery and steel wool
Fresnel lens
WATER SUPPLY
Minimum for drinking
1 gallon per person, per day
More water is needed for
Cooking and food preparation
Personal hygiene, sanitation and decontamination
Store a two week supply as minimum
Food grade containers with screw caps
Away from direct sunlight
EMERGENCY WATER SOURCES
Captive water in household hot water tank and interior plumbing is OK
Filter cloudy water to remove particulates, using an EPA-rated filter
with a pore size ≤ 1 micron, then:
Disinfect with Clorox (6% sodium hypochlorite) add 8 drops of Chlorox
bleach per gallon if clear, 16 drops if cloudy, let water stand 15 minutes before use
Or boil vigorously for 15 minutes
Store potable water in clean containers.
All natural sources (from springs, ponds, rivers or streams)
must be boiled or chemically disinfected.
Chemical disinfection or boiling – Kills bacteria and viruses
Doesn’t remove particulates or chemical pollutants
Filtration – Coffee filters, etc. remove gross particulates only
EPA-rated filters (pore size smaller than 1 micron) are needed
to remove bacteria, viruses and Giardia cysts, but don’t remove chemical pollutants.
Distillation is the most effective method.
FOOD
Lowest of the seven survival priorities
Need is mostly mental, because we are used to eating regularly
Healthy people will do OK without food for a week or more, if they are well hydrated
Balanced nutrition is a important health factor for elderly and infants.
SHELF LIFE OF FOOD STORED IN THE HOME
Food in a refrigerator is safe for a day after the power goes off,
either use it in 24 hours or throw it away
Frozen food is safe if there are still ice crystals,
once thawed, cook and consume it within 24 hours
Next use non-perishables and dry staples
Canned foods are best for long term storage
(up to 4 years) but are heavy to transport and bulky to store
Dry packaged foods are easiest to transport
Choose foods requiring minimal preparation
Eat at least one balanced meal daily
Include nutritional supplements in supplies
Drink enough water.
EMERGENCY FOOD SUPPLIES
MREs, or Heater Meals
Prepared survival rations
Primitive survival methods:
Fishing
Hunting
Trapping
Foraging
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Folding utility knife or multi-tool
Scout type, Leatherman, Swiss Army
Manual can opener, if not on utility knife
Sturdy fixed blade, such as 5″ Military knife
For chopping, digging, or as pry bar
Shovel, Gerber field spade or similar
Hand saw, #7947 Fiskars Woodzig Pruning Saw, folding 10″
Axe
ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES
Each person should have their own backpack of personal essentials
Flashlight
Portable radio
Extra batteries
First Aid Kit, (containing a first aid manual)
Personal medications and sanitation supplies
Cooking and eating utensils
Wool blanket or sleeping bag for each person
Sturdy shoes and extra socks
Rain gear
Change of warm clothing and underwear
Items for special needs, care of infants
DISASTER FINANCIAL PLANNING
Electronic transactions, account verifications may be impossible
Evacuate with enough cash for at least two weeks of essentials
Carry account numbers, contact addresses and telephone numbers for all important persons and institutions
Helping one’s unprepared friends and neighbours may prove expensive!
SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF DISASTERS
Cumulative psychological effects upon survivors
Evacuate or Stay? – Do you have a plan?
Where will you go? Is it safe to travel? Can you REALLY get there? Do you have enough resources to make it work?
Warn friends not to invite others to come and evacuate with them
They’ll overwhelm your limited resources!
Never allow family members to be separated
Even if it means waiting for later rescue and/or evacuation
The well prepared may be threatened by those who weren’t – get to know your neighbors NOW for a safer community later in case of a disaster
Make plans to ensure neighbourhood security/family protection
Post a guard in rotating shifts, to deter roving criminals or looters
Keep firearms and ammunition safely secured
Take a home firearms safety-protection course
Lessons from Hurricane Katrina
When help arrives, you may get it
“…….whether you want it or not.”
Don’t believe that all rescuers will respect your property
Relief workers from other States often don’t know local laws
Relief organizations have their own bureaucratic requirements that may conflict with your needs
Expect frustration over lack of communication and empathy by rescuers and local/State government.
COURSE SUMMARY:
Positive attitude – Stop Think Observe Plan
First Aid / Sanitation – Maintain proper hygiene, preserve family health, prevent illness or injury
Shelter – Protection from environmental hazards – use Time, Distance, Shielding
Signaling / Communication- be heard / seen
Fire – Warmth, light, food prep, water sterilization
Water – Prevent water-borne illnesses through filtration, chemical sterilization, boiling or distillation
Food – Eat at least one balanced meal daily, drink enough water, include nutritional supplements
Equipment- Flashlight, knife, saw, axe, shovel
Planning – Prepare a Kit, Make A Plan!
Module 2
Firearms Holster Proficiency
Course safety
Three fundamentals of gun control
Safety in the classroom
Safety on the range
Safety equipment
Legislation, Regulations and Rules
EQUIPMENT
What you need
Types of handguns used
Revolvers
Semi-automatic pistols
BASIC BALLISTICS
Range communications
Safe handling of handguns
Loading & unloading a handgun
Safe clearance of malfunctions
Safety checks on handguns
Basic reloading information
PRACTICAL COMPONENT
Module 3 Defensive Driving
Defensive driving is relevant, enjoyable, and will far improve your skills and ability levels. Young drivers are strongly encouraged to develop better on-road defensive driving skills and more solid techniques, but more experienced drivers also benefit enormously from advanced driver training, including the correction of old habits and improving judgement and reactions. This one-day Defensive Driving Course Level 1 course is suited to all drivers of regular passenger vehicles, including four-wheel drives and light commercial vehicles. The mix of practical and theoretical components of this advanced driver training session deliver actual on-road safety skills that underpin proactive driving.
The practical driving component of our Defensive Driving Program is conducted on wet roads at suburban speeds. It includes a variety of on road exercises including emergency braking, swerving and multiple direction changes.
The aim of these exercises is to educate drivers in:
A comprehensive open forum that exposes many well worn motoring myths and where we are most vulnerable in our driving habits. The open forum is a time for breaking down barriers.
Enlightening facts about tyre capabilities and the absolute necessity of understanding their limitations.
Practical simulated emergencies in a controlled environment on the bitumen. You do the driving.
Extensive correctional tuition in simulated emergencies in skid control/skid prevention/car control.
Practical simulated emergencies and skid control/skid prevention on an unsealed surface*.
Extensive correctional techniques for dirt driving*.
Explanations of vehicle dynamics and how they change according to the dirt surface.
Defensive driving guidelines that will help avoid “the other driver”.
*(Dirt component may be altered due to weather/track conditions – in the event of poor conditions an extension in bitumen surface training will be implemented).
The classroom component of this course covers basic road safety concepts and the key principals of defensive driving including:
Through practical driving exercises, become more ‘speed aware’, particularly in how the degree of vehicle control difficulty increases exponentially in relation to increases in vehicle speeds.
Develop an understanding of basic vehicle dynamics, in emergency situations
Learn to predict potential hazards, identify risky situations and minimise danger
Understand the importance of keeping your vision high and maintaining sensible safety margins around your vehicle at all times
Develop a positive and proactive attitude towards defensive driving
Module 4 Knife Skills
It has become increasingly clear that the world we live in is rapidly changing. Values that were once accepted as being the norm are no longer valid and the need to take control and responsibility for your own personal safety is now critical to individual survival. Violent crimes on the streets and inside of homes of the citizens that involve edged weapons are taking place on a daily basis. Awareness of personal safety issues are at the forefront of individuals everyday concerns and especially those who have families and work in occupations that put them in potentially risky situations.Nobody can expect criminals to do the right thing or for Government Agencies to be able to protect you from these people in times of social disorder, or in the instant that you life is threatened. Being proficient in some form of Tactical Knife Method is not an overreaction to the current state of the world or a product of unjustifiable paranoia, but more a small step in helping to guarantee yourself preservation and in turn, that of those in your care.
The rapid escalation of blade assaults on Australian streets, as well as the growing edged weapon problems emerging in areas of organised criminal activity, indicate that the use of the blade and other edged implements is on the increase and is now the weapon of choice amongst many career criminals, gang members, and even teenage groups, with the ease of availability and the ability to conceal these weapons making them attractive to those who have no regard for the laws of society.When it comes to teaching the concepts and techniques required to minimize potential injury by bladed weapon assaults, even the best martial arts generalist can’t be expected to have expert answers to such a specialist problem. In addition, it is a dangerous misconception to think that non knife specialists are in any way qualified to design concepts and techniques to be used against knife attacks, even if the attacker is someone who is untrained..
Module 5 Knife Defense
In this seven day intensive course you will be learn techniques from the highly respected and innovative combative systems.The extensive content covered in this course will take your edged, impact and improvised weapon skills to a whole new level. Learn how to defend against knife and stick attacks using both empty hand and improvised weapon defences. Learn how to utilise found items as edged weapons, short & long impact weapons and more!
Module 6 Hand to Hand
Level 1 – Foundation SkillsDay 1&2
Introduction, Isolation and Integration of Intercepting and Stabilising Skills
Forklift, Helmet, Dive, Arm Drag, 2 on 1 Escort, Wrist Weave, Seatbelt, Harness, Body Lock, Shake the Blanket, Under hook and Pike, The Triple Threat
Introduction to Resolution – The “S” Position, Arm Wrap and Knee Ride
Day 3
Resolution – above + back mount with rides, handlebar, resolution for cuffing
Integration of Day 1&2 skills against alive resistance during various drills including multiple subjects and confined spaces
Level 2 – Intermediate ApplicationsDay 4&5 Ground and Combative Applications including attached striking, clinch with cloth, ground recovery, clinch
Module 7 Medical
Field Medical training in Austere Environments
providing personnel with the skills, knowledge & attitude required to
undertake the initial or ongoing management of a range of life-threatening
medical emergencies, in a range of tactical situations & environments. Based on proven tactical medical practice
courses cover such topics as;
Introduction to tactical medical operations
Tactical Risk assessment & management strategies
Communications, leadership & decision-making
Phases of tactical care & scene management
Tactical medical equipment
Tactical patient assessment
Tactical trauma care
Tactical triage & evacuation techniques
Care through the barricade
Tactical emergency drills
Integrating with emergency services
Medical threat assessments
Module 8 Wilderness First Aid
Basic Wilderness First Aid (BWFA) (2 days – 16 hours) Fun, practical and loaded with scenarios this is the ideal introduction to the field of Wilderness Medicine for those playing in the outdoors. Wilderness First Aid (inc CPR) (3 days – 24 hours) This 3-day course covers the same material as the 2-day course as well as offering CPR and more scenario based teaching. A well rounded introduction to Wilderness First Aid for bushwalkers, climbers, paddlers and those who find themselves out and about. Advanced Wilderness First Aid (AWFA) (4 days – 32 hours) The AWFA course is an excellent starting point for serious recreational adventurers or those starting in the Outdoor Recreation/Education fields. Plenty of scenarios, CPR/EAR and a solid understanding of patient assessment sets you up for success.
Module 8 Defensive Tactics Course2 days full time
Content: Legalities, Force Continuum Techniques etc Baton Techniques Handcuff Techniques Pressure Point Control Techniques Joint Locks/Escort Techniques Blocks, Strikes & Kicks, Restraint and removal techniques.
This program presents in-depth information for instruction of operational personnel in empty hand defensive tactics, restraint & control, mechanical restraints, and intermediate force options with the expandable baton. The strategies presented are simple, practical and effective, and are designed for use by operational personnel in real world situations against real violence. Theory content covers threat assessment, interpersonal communication for conflict, understanding stress, lawful guidelines for use of force responses, human physiology, anatomy and biomechanics and fundamental combat principles and concepts. Practical content for empty hand component covers strategies for creating distance, escape countermeasures, strike theory, takedowns and ground work, low and high threat restraint and control strategies, fundamentals of weapons awareness and defence against multiple subjects. Mechanical restraints and baton components cover types of restraints and batons, carriage, lawful use and maintenance or equipment. Trainer content includes professional demeanour and presentation, safety in training, class formats and structure, using active and dynamic drills effectively, creating tactical blueprints and avoiding training scars, and general fitness for use of force incidents.
Module 9 Improvised weaponry
Tactical Shemagh, kubutons, improvised tools from everyday objects, tactical pens, Custom made SD Tools, short stick 21”, canes 36”.
Module 10 Blade introduction
Bevels – primary, secondary
Cuts – chop, push ,slice, whittle, tip cope, edge cope, draw, shearing, thrust
Grinds – flat, hollow, chisel, convex
Steels – stainless, carbon
Tempering – hardening
Parts – tang, clip, ridge line, ricasso, choil, belly, false edge, grind plunge
Grips – reverse, hammer, ice pick, fencers, sabre
Module 11 Lie Detection Techniques
Module 12 Bug out bags and EDC’s
Module 13 Home Security
Module 14 Self Defense Awareness
Module 15 Combative Anatomy
Module 16 Car Jacking Prevention
Module 17 Escape and Evasion
Module 18 Rape Prevention
Module 19 Pandemics
Module 20 IED Recognition
Module 21 Home Preps Test
Module 22 Vehicle Break in Prevention
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