I recentlly discovered your website and thought that I
>needed a mini PSK. I used your PSK as my model. I
>hate to look ignorant but There are several things I
>do not know how to use or what they are used for.
>
>For example the teflon tube. What instance would you
>use this? Where would I get this?
>
>Another is if i have a compass, how will that help me
>to know where North and South is?
>
>Where would i get the waterproof matches, fire
>starter, etc.
>
>How would I use my blades?
>
>Where would i buy the wire saw and how would i use it?
>
>What is snare wire? where would i get it?
>
>what is potassium permanganate used for in a survival
>setting?
>
>what is the aluminum foil used for?
>
>is there anyplace that I can get a little fishing kit?
>
>how do you use fishing line with no pole?
>
>I know I am asking some pretty lame questions,
>
>Thanks for your help!
[color:"black"] [/color]

Well let me first say welcome aboard!! This site has lots of good information that you will be able to use. This is not something that will happen overnight it is a quest of a lifetime. For the same reason that not everyone drives the same kind of car or wears the same style of clothing EDC (everyday carry) items will vary greatly with circumstance, finances, locality and taste.
If you have not already done so go to the Website and read or at least skim the articles. Look at what is commonly carried for EDC type of stuff and then blend it to your situation.
Start simple then build on that. Start with your EDC put some Band-Aids in your wallet, carry a SAK(Swiss Army Knife), a small flashlight and a way to build a fire (lighter etc.) Get used to what you are carrying use it become familiar with it than build on that.
Do outside reading on First Aid, Orienteering (Map & Compass usage), Survival, and common tool usage (to include knife, hatchet, saw etc.)
Don?t try to prepare for TEOTWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) just work toward being comfortable during the next power outage, blizzard or other ?normal? type of everyday things.
Now I will give you at least one opinion on several of your questions there will be others who will add their ideas or clarify some of what I am not clear on.

_________________________________________________
I recently discovered your Website and thought that I
>needed a mini PSK. I used your PSK as my model. I
>hate to look ignorant but There are several things I
>do not know how to use or what they are used for.
>
>For example the Teflon tube. What instance would you
>use this? Where would I get this?

Many uses to include getting water that is in an area that you can?t scoop up into your container (canteen). Many probably have pet places to get theirs but I get my small tubing at Lowe?s, Home Depot (Not Teflon for mine)
>
>Another is if I have a compass, how will that help me
>to know where North and South is?

Marked or colored end of compass needle points North on most compasses.
>
>Where would I get the waterproof matches, fire
>starter, etc.

REI, Campmor, Wal-Mart, Make your own
>
>How would I use my blades?

Imagination is your only limit. I have done limited field surgery with small blades (not recommended but necessary at times)
>
>Where would I buy the wire saw and how would I use it?

REI, Campmor, Wal-Mart, Army Navy Store (Pull wire back and forth over wood, bone etc. to be cut)
>
>What is snare wire? Where would I get it?

Use to catch animals to eat, practical for only those skilled in their use.
>
>What is potassium permanganate used for in a survival
>setting?

You will need to know what you are doing with this one a little bit it can be used for all kinds of things but I suspect most stick with using it for killing germs in several different settings
>
>What is the aluminum foil used for?

Many uses to include make a cooking ?pot?, drinking ?bowl? fire reflector, wind guard or I suspect a hat for some. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> (sorry could not resist)
>
>is there anyplace that I can get a little fishing kit?

Yes but just make your own from Wal-Mart, fishing store
>
>How do you use fishing line with no pole?

Use pole you cut with wire saw or just use it in your hands etc.

>
>I know I am asking some pretty lame questions,

Learning is never lame try to learn something new every day!
>
>Thanks for your help!

No Problem! Hope this gets you started down the right path!!

Thanks sheepdog!

Having a survival kit and not nowing how to use it can be embarrassing to say the least. Its like being stranded on the side of the highway with a flat tire and knowing that you have a sparetire/jack but have no idea how to use it.

As far as a teflon tube....can you give me an example of getting water from a location using a tube?

As far a compass goess, since i know that straight ahead is north. Do I need to get an mental picture of where I am located on a map and try to head towards a town? or do i keep track of where I am going in the first place. BTW I am direction handicapped....I turn 3 times in a circle I am lost. haha!
For example, how could the people in the katrina disaster made their survival easier. Did you see any mistakes that were obvious? what about different terrains, different climates, etc. Would most of the PSK help in most cases.

I know its hard to be totally prepared for most situations. Hopefully I can become better mentally prepared. That is the key i think

Check your local library....you should be able to find at least a few books on "survival". If they are old then don't take what they say for 'gospel'. A lot of the older books have some bad info in them. Point is, it should provide you with some idea of what you could use things for (ie. what snare wire is used for, ets). It would be helpful for you as you could then get more from some of the postings. It would also be helpful in that you could 'just browse' the book while xxxxx (ie waiting for the bus or on the commute). It helped me to learn about things and it helped me to form my own opinions about what I thought was good or bad info.

Since you have yet to fill in any information about your location etc. I am going to have to keep answers very general in nature. www.thecompassstore.com has some information on how compasses work and how to use them to give you a general idea. One book that will explain it in depth is Map & Compass by Bjorn Kjellstrom.
The classic use of a tube to get water is probably from a solar still where you can suck the water out of the catch container with out disturbing the still. Some water seeps in the woods are very small and would also have to be taken with a sponge or tubing or something. I’m sure that there are many other uses this is just the first one to come to mind.
www.thecompassstore.com

The tube is usually used like a flexible straw. Suppose you were in the desert and saw a line of green and went toward it. You find a mostly dry stream, just mud and a few small pools of water caught in rock basins. You would put one end of your "straw" in the water & the other in your mouth, and suck up the water. You might be able to dig a hole in the mud, line it with a bandana or other clothing, and suck up the water as it accumulates. Mind you, this is not a SAFE thing to do, but it is an alternative to dying of dehydration.

It takes some time, but you could go back through the posts here and get a lot of info. If you find something that you don't understand, you can do a search of this site for it, or just ask.

Having a compass doesn't usually do much for you unless you know how to use it.

Keep in mind that you could conceivably need
*First Aid supplies
*Shelter or knowledge to make it
*Fire starting materials
*Water or a way to get it
*Ways to signal for help
*Food would make you more comfortable, but it's far from being at the top of this list.

Just realize that your most important survival tool is between your ears. If you can't use your head, there's a good chance that you probably won't survive without outside help. A lot of people who have survived have been blessed with pure dumb luck, which always helps, but you can't depend on it.

Sue

Thanks Sue. Alot of good info there. When you said you see green I was not sure exactlly what you meant, but I assume it would be something similar to a mirage? I live in western kentucky, not much desert area around here.

I may have presented this question already, but how could a person in New orleans made their survivabilty better? any mistakes that were obvious? What about the people in pakistan? 20,000 people perished. That is so tragic! Is there anything that could be done if you are trapped under rubble for days? or on top a house for days?

Sorry, didn' t know where you were. In the desert, a line of green usually indicates trees or shrubbery alongside a stream or dry streambed. The rest of the area is so dry and gray/brown that the green usually stands out. Where there is plant life, there may be some water.

The difference between New Orleans and Pakistan was advance notice. New Orleans got it, Pakistan didn't.

With advance notice, you can make some plans, grab some stuff and your family and pets, and maybe run, or dive for the root cellar. It gives you choices. Some people make wise choices, some people don't. In NO, many people left. Others stayed for various reasons: they trusted the local government to have shelter, supplies and security, or they may not have been able to leave, or they were just plain stubborn and figured they could singlehandedly fight off a hurricane and any looters to save what they have (too much TV, IMO). Some of them made it. Some of them survived and saw fit to complain about the quality of the food. Some of them changed their minds after the bell rang and cried for help that couldn't come. Some of them are now food for alligators. They all had some kind of choice, and some chose wisely, some did not.

Like I said, we all have to make choices, and some choose better than others. Those who leave the decision-making up to others tend to regret it if they live long enough. Many people in hurricane-prone areas, for example, have evacuated in plenty of time, with a plan, multiple times, just to have the hurricane change course and go elsewhere. Did they feel foolish? Probably not. All they had to do was return and continue with their lives. They used it as a practice run for the real thing.

Educate yourself and make your own decisions. Leaving your life and the lives of your family in the hands of some idiot who can't tell trouble from a toadstool doesn't leave many viable options.

(If you read this post before I edited it, it probably made no sense because I just discovered that there was an earthquake in Pakistan that killed thousands. Sorry -- no TV. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />)

Sue

Welcome to the forum, and a new way of thinking.
As you will fine out as you read through and adopt some of our ideas you will find that you will start to think as see things differently. It is this skill that will save your life when you need it. Think of this as a lifestyle and gradually change into some new ways.
As you start to build up your kits and everyday carry, you should start playing with items and researching how to use them one by one. Even buy 2 so you can learn with 1 and have the other item stashed ready for when you need it.
That way you are not carrying useless items around. By useless I mean you are carrying around things that you cant use and you would be better carrying something you can use. So learn as you go.
You can be the most equiped person in the world but your mind is your tool that makes use of them.
Start with some good books (see some recomended from the link from the ETS home page) and read how things can be used, and also read what other people have done to survive in different situations.

As for your questions, I live on the other side of the world so I cant give any suggestions about suppliers, but here goes:

Think of it as a straw. For example poke it into a crack in rocks, you can drink water that might be trapped.
Then think of other ways you might be able to use it, like slipping it over an electrcal wire to insulate it while making a repair.

Try and get hold of a local map. Then use the compass from where you are standing to point out local land marks. Then go to somewhere you are unfarmiliar with and try the same thing.
As you try this more and more you will build up a mental picture, and new navigation skills. After working out the directions and layout, you will be able to navigate by compass directions to get places when you cant see landmarks to navigate by. Picture standing out he front of your house in deep fog/smoke and trying to escape, no landmarks to use.

A knife is one of the most basic tools. Think of trying to use your kitchen if you had no knifes. With a knife you have the first tool that you can start to make other tools or fashion other items into usable objects. Again start with a good book. to get more ideas and build up some skills trying some things out. ( including first aid if you slip <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )

It alows you to tackle larger trees etc that the knife wont handle. Used by either slipping the fingers in the rings and pulling it the wire across or cut a small flexible piece of wood to slip the rings in and you have a hacksaw type of saw.

Any wire can be used for making repairs etc. but brass or stainless steel wire is easier to use for a snare, and wont corrode as fast as steel wire.

I would read some books and get some good advice about this before using it in some situations. Basically a disinfectant that can be used to sterilise water, but make sure you know how before trying.

If you dont know the answers they are not lame.
Lame would be getting all this stuff and not asking the questions. Its good to see that you are starting to prepare and ask the questions.
Your PSK is a small collection of usful items that could be hard to get when you need them.

I guess I will take a shot at the obvious.

In New Orleans, don't build your house 12 feet below sea level behind a dyke and then stay there till it is obvious the water will be coming in. If you must have a house so located, have an evacuation plan and follow it well in advance of the impending storm.

In Pakistan, don't build your house out of rocks and mortar and expect it to stay together when agitated. Don't build your house on the side of a steep mountain prone to sloughing and moisture. Don't live where there's only one way in and out overland and you're hundreds of miles from the nearest help.

Nothing can prepare you for survival better than a good dose of "Mr. Obvious" good sense. Most people contribute greatly to their ending up in a survival situation through their won actions.

I need to order some more Bill Engvall signs.

BTW I was looking for getting more stainless steel utility wire as the one in Doug's PSP. I found 22 GA S/S wire at Canadian Tire in the hunting department. Just a little detail: the wire in Doug's PSP is 0.020" that is 24 GA. 22 GA is 0.025" which means it's thicker. Is 22 GA still appropriate for snare wire or does it become too heavy to cut without a multi-tool?

Thanks

The biggest thing is to know your area. I live in WV where we flood and have winter storms as our two biggest natural disasters. When I moved here I shopped for a house that was above the floodplain. This minimizes my exposure to the threat of floods and was done naturally by me because I think about those kinds of things. The other natural disaster is winter storms, which I prepare for each fall by going over my checklist to make sure I have all the bases covered for the coming winter. I find that being ready for this kinds of things makes you ready to face most other things that are likely to come your way.

This is my favorite kind of question. We all feel confident that we have something to offer someone new. Some of the questions get so esoteric that only an expert could guess an answer.

If you look at the top right corner you can go to the ETS Home Page. There you will see a two books listed: "Deep Survival" and "98.6 The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive." Both of these book should be in your public library. If you read them you will know more than 99% of the general public about survival. Here is a link to Cody Lundin's book: Cody Lundin "98.6"

Please fill in some of the personal data. It would be good to know what state you live in.

Go to this web site:
http://www.olou.org/

Find their next event and show up. This is the best way to learn to use a map and compass.

Amen to that. I wonder how many lifetimes I have.

-- Craig

I just went to the fishing shop and got some stainless steel leader wire. Im not sure of the gauge but it came in 3 meter lengths.
I dont have access to a lot of suppliers and this was the best I found n my area.
I always carry a multi tool and this cuts it fine.

This survival stuff is just a solution to one of life’s many problems. I have found life in general to be a giant pain in the ass. Preparation can make a major calamity into a minor irritation. I have made a wide variety of mistakes, so I try to arrange things so that I don’t have the same problem coming up over & over. Example: spare keys, tools in truck, useful items for EDC, etc. Reading is the main way we learn what others know. There is good advice elsewhere on this forum about learning by doing. There is no substitute for experience. Don’t be an armchair “expert”. You’re never too old to learn. You have to evaluate problems in terms of probability and consequences. A home invasion is extremely unlikely, but would be a disaster of epic proportions. A leak in the cellar is more likely, but it probably wouldn’t kill anybody. Thus, I plan more extensively for the one and less for the other. You have to learn which “experts” really know their stuff, and which are full of hot air. One advantage we have is that we know we don’t know everything. The ones that run into trouble are the ones that don’t ask questions and just assume everything will be ok. “Normal” can come unraveled very rapidly. The fact that you’re asking is a sign that you are thinking about the world as it really is, not how it appears at first glance.

VERY WELL SAID!!!

The traditional snare wire has been brass. Strong enough to serve as a snare to catch food. It is plyable enough to work with the hands alone. Stainlees wire whlie stronger is not as plyable. If you have tools such as a multitool you can form the needed twists to form the sliding loop to make a snare but very hard useing just your fingers.

As for compasses using it well will only come with traing and practice. The suggestion seem tio be pointing you into good directions on how to use it properly. But the basic thing knowing north from south can keep you traveling in a relatively straight line anywhere between the two. While this may not get you to where you want to go. It will keep you going in the general direction to maybe near enough so that you can find what you want.

Out of curiosity, which one would you plan more for? The home invasion or the leak in the cellar? Personally, if I could plan for only one, I'd plan for the more likely scenario; however, my DH would probably plan for the more severe scenario.

I'm really attached to my creature comforts, and to me being prepared is more about staying comfortable in the more likely, but less severe scenarios, versus, staying alive in very unlikely scenarios. DH is of the opposite mind so we are probably prepared in either case. Fortunately, most of the things that I deem important for comfort, DH agrees will also be good to have in a major emergency.

Having a kit and not knowing how to use it is far better than not having a kit at all. In most cases you will not be alone when the emergency strikes. Someone else in your group might know how to use the items in your kit even if you don't.

I went on a morning canoe trip with some co-workers a few years ago. (One of those team building things.) DH packed my bag with a bunch of preparedness stuff in it. I had no idea what he put in it, but I carried it because he asked me to. We ended up using all sorts of stuff on the trip out of the bag. The running gag was if someone needed something, DH had probably packed it for me -- bug spray, extra napkins, plastic baggies, bandaids, sting-ez, etc. I had no idea what was in my pack, but it ended up being useful anyway.

On another note, I have always carried jumper cables in my car. I also have the stuff to change a tire. Do I know how to do either of those things? No. However, I am also physically incapable of doing either all by myself. I figure that in the event that I need any of those items, I can put on my best "I'm a pitiful girl incapable of taking care of herself" act. Eventually someone will come and help me and presto, I'll have the equipment available. At least it's worked every time I've needed it to.

Of course, that isn't to say that I shouldn't get off my bum and learn how to use the items in my kit. However, I see no reason to be embarrassed that I don't know how to use the stuff that I carry. At least I carry it. (And it took DH a long time to convince me to carry some of the stuff.)

-Kuovonne

Get yourself over to the closest bookstore and pick up a copy of the SAS Survival Guide.

Many, if not all, of your questions will be answered.

And remember - your best survival tool is between your ears.

There are all sorts of stainless steel wires, straightened, anealed and on and on. The best I have found for snares is .015 inch aircraft safety wire. It is the exact same wire packed in parachute harness survival kits for C-9 emergency chutes, and in other US military survival kits. It is about 30 to 40 Lb test for folks that worry about that. More than strong enough to snare small game. It also can be formed easily with just your fingers, no tools needed. It is hard to cut without a good cutter though! Do a web search for .015 stainless steel safety wire, usually about $10 per pound. A pound is a lot of snare wire!! CHeers!