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If the winter weather has you trapped, would you be able to make it out alive?
 | First ResponseSprains and fractures are common injuries that require swift attention. |
 | Meet Tim MacWelchThis survival expert brings 23 years of experience to OL Survival. |
 | The Silent KillerCarbon-monoxide poisoning is a real threat for outdoorsmen. |
 | Make a Family Emergency PlanMake sure your family is prepared for anything. |
 | Snowbound CarWinter storms can move in without warning, catching you unprepared. |
 | Burglar-Proof a HomeTake steps to keep your home and belongings safe. |
The tactical knife market is one of the fastest growing segments of knife retail today. Many folks select one of these knives as a multi-purpose survival blade; or as a backup method of self-defense. And some folks will admit to the fact that they just bought one because it looked cool. I have many of these knives, but not because they seem to be a fad. I use mine often, if not daily. So how do my three favorite tactical knives stack up? Check out our knife showdown and find out. [ Read Full Post ]
Bamboo is just one of those things, like rope or duct tape, that can be adapted to create an infinite number of material items. From survival gear to homesteader equipment, bamboo’s uses seem to only be limited by the imagination of the user.
So what are the 10 best ways to use bamboo for survival?
1. First, you’ll want to get a survival shelter built in the event of an emergency. Bamboo poles are both strong and lightweight, which makes them a great choice for building shelter elements. [ Read Full Post ]
Rub-a-dub-dub, imagine spending 26 hours floating in the waters off Sitka, Alaska, in a 4-by-4-foot tub. That’s what Ryan Harris, 19, did late last week after the 28-foot aluminum boat he and a friend were fishing from capsized. The Coast Guard rescued Harris on Saturday, two hours after his fishing buddy Stonie “Mac” Huffman was found alive on a beach 25 miles northwest of Sitka.
The two men had been fishing for coho salmon two miles from Cape Edgecumbe when the hydraulics on their boat failed. They fixed the problem and started heading to port when a massive wave knocked the boat on its side, dumping the men into the water before they could send a mayday. “We had no radio, no cell phones,” Harris told the Daily Sitka Sentinel. [ Read Full Post ]
This snare set up is a classic. It’s just a wooden pole and a few feet of wire that gives you a reusable trap that is easily moved, requires no bait, and takes advantage of the squirrel’s natural love of short cuts.
Here’s how to make it.
Select a 4-foot to 6-foot pole that is about the diameter of your arm. It’s best if the pole has a rough, natural look to it, so don’t carve off all the bark. It’s also helpful if the pole has a fork at one end, which you can stick into the ground or pin against the tree to keep the pole from twisting out of place. [ Read Full Post ]
As Hurricane Isaac bears down on New Orleans, Gulf Coast residents are hunkering down and bracing for impact. The storm is expected to hit within miles of where Katrina made landfall seven years ago on Tuesday night, and experts say Isaac could drop up to 20 inches of rain throughout the region.
While Isaac is a Category 1 hurricane (Katrina was a Category 3), preparedness and cautiousness are still critical. If you're going to be caught in the storm, prepare yourself by reading through the hurricane survival tips listed below from The Outdoor Life Ultimate Survival Manual.
Hurricane Safety: How to Survive a Massive Hurricane
Hurricane Safety: Prepare a Checklist for Your Home
Hurricane Safety: How to Reinforce Garage Doors
Hurricane Safety: How to Rescue Someone in a Flood
Hurricane Safety: How to Build a Sandbag Dike
[ Read Full Post ]
It has been argued by more than a few outdoor enthusiasts whether a sharp knife or a dull knife is more dangerous to the user. The logic has always been that the dull knife might not plunge as deeply into you as the sharp blade, but the more jagged wound may take longer to heal (not to mention that you have to push harder to even use the dull knife, increasing the likelihood of a mishap).
So let’s take the dull knife issue off the table by learning some sharpening tricks that work at home AND in the field. [ Read Full Post ]
The weapon does you NO good if you cannot reach it. This is the bottom line.
Maybe you can’t reach it because it is buried in your backpack, or you left it in the truck, or--worse still--it’s sitting in the safe at home. This is the ultimate irony of all ironies: To own something that could save your life and not have it with you in an emergency. The topic of bears, bear spray and self-defense came up in one of my survival classes last week when someone asked if it’s smart to hike and backpack with a handgun. I said yes, absolutely, if they own a handgun that they are experienced with, and if they can safely carry it within easy reach.
If you are already walking around in your day-to-day life with a concealed handgun in a low-profile holster, then you are already halfway there. All you need to do to add a concealed carry option to your outdoor gear is to simply change the holster. [ Read Full Post ]
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