How To Use Your Watch & The Sun As A Compass

If you ever find yourself stranded somewhere with no compass for direction, then look no further than your wrist. If you happen to be wearing an analog watch then there is an easy way you can find your direction in a matter of minutes. To perform this trick you will have to make sure that your watch is set on standard time. This trick will not work if you are currently in a time zone whose time has been adjusted for Daylight Savings Time. Daylight Savings Time is an adjustment made in the summer season to adjust the actual time an hour ahead, therefore you will need to set your watch backwards one hour if this is the case. This method is also best to be used sometime between 7:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. in order to ensure proper accuracy. First lay your watch on a smooth flat surface and point the hour hand directly towards the sun. If the weather is heavy overcast and makes it difficult to find the sun, then use the shadows to help triangulate it. The sun will point directly opposite to the direction the shadow falls. A quick look around or a small stick stuck in the ground will help you pinpoint the suns exact coordinates. Then find the midpoint located right between the hour hand pointing towards the sun and the 12 o-clock marking on the watch. This location will represent your South heading. If you draw an imaginary line from the middle of the watch out to this midpoint then that will be your line or orientation. The end of the line in the center of the watch will point North and the end of the line on the outer edge of the watch will point South. This will vary however according to which hemisphere you are currently positioned in. The line will point South if you are located within the Northern Hemisphere and it will point North if you are within the Southern Hemisphere. The picture located above shows the correct directions for someone located within the United States which resides in the Northern Hemisphere. The opposite directions would be labeled for example if you were attempting this while in South America which is located in the Southern Hemisphere. Once the directions are noted, you can draw a quick picture in the sand or dirt to help make a more permanent mark or use sticks and stones to mock up a temporary compass.

                                                                

If you have a digital watch, clock on your phone, clock on a vehicle, or any other device that has the current time, then you can still use that device to help locate your North and South poles. Simply draw a clock on a piece of paper, cardboard, clothing, etc… or anything else that can be moved and turned around for orientation. Use something round to draw and trace the clocks outline or draw a circle to the best of your ability. Then make your 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock markings followed by the additional hour markings. Try to keep the clock picture as accurate as possible with the same amount of space between all hour markings. Next, take the time that is displayed by your digital clock and transpose that time to your clock that you have drawn. Now point the hour hand towards the sun and use the same directions listed above to complete the rest of the process.

Snake Bite 101 – A List Of Do’s & Don’ts That Could Save Your Life

Nearly 50,000 people are estimated to be bitten by snakes each year within the United States, 9,000 of which are bitten by a poisonous species of snake. Fortunately though, with today’s technology and the availability of Anti-Venom, in most cases you have less than a 0.5% chance of actually dying from a snakebite within the United States. Most experts estimate that over 5 Million people around the world are bitten by snakes each year but only about 125,000 people actually die from them. When it comes to the snakes themselves, only about 15% of the over 4000 species of snakes in the world are actually poisonous. Now with that being said, most poisonous snakebites are extremely painful and take several days or even weeks for someone to recover from. Keep in mind that small children are even more susceptible to death or serious injury from snakebites due to their smaller size and higher venom per body pound concentration. The Venom itself in many species of snakes is strong enough to cause nausea and vomiting soon after being bitten.

Most snake bite victims also experience one or more of the following symptoms: severe localized pain at the site of the bite, bleeding from the bite wound, low blood pressure, rapid heart rate, numbness, blurred or temporary loss of vision, dizziness, loss of motor functions or coordination, burning, convulsions, fever, difficulty breathing, difficulty speaking, excessive and uncontrollable sweating, overall weakness, skin discoloration, fainting, etc… Long story short, Snakebites are serious injuries and proper care needs to be performed as soon as possible. Even a bite from a Non-Poisonous snake needs to be properly taken care of as they can still cause serious infections or cause allergic reactions in some people. Even Non-Poisonous snakes often feed on birds, mice, rats, and other rodents that can often carry diseases that can then be transferred to a bite victim. So be sure to still seek Medical attention and it’s always a good rule of thumb to get a Tetanus shot if you have not received one within about 5 years.

If you ever find yourself snake bitten out in the wild then just remember the “DO’s” and “DON'TS” when it comes to treating yourself or others. Here’s a list of things to remember NOT TO DO:

DO NOT cut the wound and try sucking the venom out yourself.

DO NOT apply ice to the wound.

DO NOT put on a tourniquet.

DO NOT take any medication.

DO NOT take anything else orally by mouth.

DO NOT consume any alcohol.

DO NOT try to catch or kill the snake.

DO NOT drive yourself to the hospital if you are alone unless it is absolutely necessary.

DO NOT overexert yourself.

Here’s a list of things to remember to DO:

DO separate yourself or the victim from the snake to prevent additional bites.

DO call 911 as soon as possible.

DO call the Hospital in advance if at all possible to inform them of the snakebite so they can prepare the anti-venom.

DO call the National Poison Control Center if you are unfamiliar with the treatment of snakebites. They can be reached at 1-800-222-1222 and will walk you through step by step instructions for treating yourself or others.

DO use a snake bite kit if available when you’re located far from a Hospital. I would highly recommend the Sawyer Extractor brand as it requires no cutting and has high enough suction to actually remove the majority of the snake’s venom.

DO take a picture of the snake if possible or quickly draw yourself a note with colors, shapes, and markings. This will help doctors identify the snake to ensure that you get the correct Anti-Venom once treated at a Hospital.

DO remain calm and try to slow down your breathing by breathing in and out of your nose.

DO keep the wound below your heart level.

DO monitor your or the victims vital signs.

DO keep the portion of the body that was bitten immobilized and move it as little as possible.

DO wash the wound with soap and water if available.

DO lay the victim flat with their feet raised about 1 foot above their body if they go into shock.

DO remove any rings, necklaces, watches, ankle wraps, knee braces, or anything else that could be restrictive to proper blood flow.

DO loosely apply a bandage roughly 2 to 4 inches above the bite on the side closest to your heart if you are unable to seek specialized care within approximately 30 minutes. However, the bandage should be loose enough to be able to place 1 to 2 fingers underneath it. The idea here is to slow down the venom without significantly disrupting blood flow or cutting off blood flow all together. Be sure to check the bandage frequently to ensure it remains semi-loose as the limb may continue to swell and require the bandage be readjusted. DO NOT let the bandage become a tourniquet as swelling increases, at that point it’s better to have NO bandage then too tight of one.

DO be sure to notify Doctors or Nurses if you are allergic to Horses, as Anti-Venin is commonly prescribed for snakebites but is a serum derived from the antibodies found in the blood of Horses. If you are allergic to Horses, then you might still be able to receive the antidote but may require additional medication or alternative care as well, so BE SURE they know in advance.


*** The material(s) discussed within this guide could be DANGEROUS if not executed properly and precisely, so it is to be used at YOUR OWN RISK!***

A Helpful Way To Carry Duct Tape On The Trail

We all know just how helpful and versatile Duct Tape is and how it can be a life saver out on the trail. It can be used for everything from shelter repair, splint making, shoe/boot repair, band aids, rope making, clothing repair, temporary cup making, trap making, trail marking, and much much more. However if you’re packing light and limited on space then sometimes it’s hard to justify carrying an entire roll of Duct Tape with you. Fortunately there’s a trick to not only carrying a large amount of Duct Tape but also insulating your thermos, coffee mug, or canteen and it couldn’t be easier to do. First clean the surface of which ever item you wish to wrap with soap and water or window cleaner to ensure that any dust, grease, dirt, and grime is removed so that it will provide a good adhesive surface for the Duct Tape to stick to. For this example we’ll say that we are wrapping a canteen. Next, wrap the duct tape around the canteen in a circular motion slowly working your way from top to bottom. The amount of Duct Tape to be used is strictly up to you but I would recommend somewhere between 5 to 10 feet. That should be plenty to use while you’re on the go out in the wilderness. By doing this, you not only eliminate the roll itself but you actually provide another layer of insulation to your canteen to help keep you liquids cooler or warmer longer. You can also wrap several other items as well to increase your overall capacity and split up the Duct Tape on multiple items in case you become separated from the majority of your gear or happen to lose it for some reason. Here are just a couple ideas of other items that can be wrapped:  handles of knives, handles of a magnifying glass, water filters, bowls, foldable shovel handles, lighters/mini torches, flashlights, axe handles, sunscreen bottles, insect repellent bottles, etc…

How To Use Shadows & The Sun As A Compass To Find Your Direction

If you’re not familiar with celestial navigation or if you’re trying to find your direction during the day, then the sun itself can be one of the most useful tools you never knew you had. The sun rises from the Eastern hemisphere and sets in the Western hemisphere. If you are within the Northern hemisphere then the sun will be due South at noon and if you are within the Southern hemisphere then it will be due North. The actual hemispheres themselves can be indicated by the direction a shadow moves. Shadows move counter clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. Below are some of the most commonly used methods of using the sun and shadows to determine direction:

Setting Up For The Shadow Stick Method – First find a straight stick that is roughly about 3 feet long and about ½ to 1 ½ inches thick. Then locate a smooth area out in the sun that will not be affected by the shadows of other surrounding objects. I personally always try to locate a spot offering the highest elevation so that you have a great observation point to assign objects within your horizon a direction or angle of departure. Once a location is found, then drive the stick into the ground enough to ensure that it is secure and that it will not be affected by the wind or elements. If it is a rocky or sandy area, then you can drive the stick as far down as possible and then secure it with some type of cordage to help keep it upright and straight. It is critical that the stick remain in the same spot in order to provide accurate measurements. Also, try to position the stick as vertically level as possible. The easiest way to check is to make a quick homemade plumbing bob by tying a rock to some cordage and hanging it by hand close to the stick to compare them, adjust if needed. Now there are two main ways to use a shadow stick, so we will discuss both of them below.

Method A – In the morning sometime before 10 A.M., mark the spot that the tip of the sticks shadow meets the ground by either marking the soil or placing a rock on top of it. This marking will represent your West heading. Now using a piece of string or other cordage, measure the distance from this point to the base of the stick. Now use this same distance to draw an arch or circle around the stick. The shadow from the stick will start to shrink throughout the day close to noon and then begin to extend once again later in the afternoon. At some point in the afternoon the tip of the sticks shadow will intersect the arch you drew earlier. Mark this spot in the afternoon arch as your East heading. Now connect both marks and you will have your line of direction pointing from East to West. You can then draw your North and South lines perpendicular to the East and West line markings. It is also helpful to make a semi-permanent structure to depict your directions afterward if you are not departing right away so that a flash rain, snow, high winds, or any other of the elements do not disturb your findings.

Method B – This method is much quicker but is not quite as accurate. The setup is identical as Method A but only requires that you make two marks within approximately 15 minutes of each other. This method is best used before 10 A.M. and after 2 P.M.. Begin by making one mark where the tip of the sticks shadow meets the ground, this marking will represent your West heading. Then wait approximately 15 minutes and make another mark where the sticks shadow meets the ground, this marking will represent your East heading. Now connect the two marks for your East and West line of direction. You can then draw your North and South lines perpendicular to the East and West markings. Again, it is also helpful to make a semi-permanent structure to depict your directions afterward if you are not departing right away so that a flash rain, snow, high winds, or any other of the elements disturb your findings.