As a former United States Air Force survival instructor with over 20 years of survival experience, Ross McFadyen is the person to answer any question about surviving in the desert, arctic regions, tropical rain forests, open sea and any place in between. Missions have taken Ross to wilderness terrain under all seasonal and climatic conditions. He is a trained EMT and scuba certified. Ross continues to teach survival skills occasionally at the Global Principles Survival School in Panama City, Fla. He was recently featured as a survival expert for Discovery Channel';s show Science of Survival: Shark Survivor.
Ask Ross your survival questions now.
Q: A main concern I have of survival situations is how to find food and water. I know several methods for capturing or finding water such as solar stills, transpiration from plants, looking for vegetated areas, etc., (although I don't know how effective they are!), and the general steps to testing plants for edibility. But how do you find enough food and water to keep going in a strange environment where you don't know the terrain or the plants?
Matthew Walker
A: How would you have gotten into a "strange environment" without knowing it? If you know where you are going, I'd strongly suggest that you do a little research before you go. Learn about the terrain, flora, fauna, indigenous people and their customs, for starters. If you end up in a survival situation, at least you'll have a basis to draw from. Water is the same all over the world. Depending on where you are, you may need to procure it from unknown sources and possibly use things like vegetation or transpiration bags. Transpiration bags are an excellent method for obtaining water. A transpiration bag is nothing more than a big plastic bag placed around the limb of a tree or bush. The best time to do this is in the morning. The bag is then tied around the base of the limb to minimize the loss of water from the bag. Then let the sun do its thing! Collect the water just before dusk and start drinking. Of course, the amount of water to be had will vary depending on the plant and the environment, but this method far surpasses vegetation bags, solar stills, cactus flesh, etc., in yield, ease of assembly and, in most cases, taste. I once collected enough water to fill a two-quart canteen from a transpiration bag. Once your water needs are fulfilled, the search for food can begin. Plants are a great start — they are easy to catch! There are some plants that you may recognize, like cattails. They are found worldwide. If you know the edibility test, then use it. Just be sure that you also know poison characteristics to rule out possible deadly plants before you begin. Then there are insects — found worldwide — as well as birds, snakes, frogs, fish ... you get the picture? I guess the best advice I can give to you is to take some survival courses so that you can increase your survivability in strange environments and also your self-confidence!
Read survival expert Ross McFadyen's responses to your questions below. Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask him more survival questions now.
Q: I watch Survival Friday. I go camping and hiking, and I realize how important shoes are to the experience. My question is, how do you pick a pair of shoes for a given environment? I realize temperature and water protection should be part of the criteria, but what about other things to consider, like grip, support, etc.? I noticed in the desert Bear had Merrells, but in the rain forest he had what looked to be standard-issue jungle combat boots. What capabilities should one be most attuned to when picking a pair of shoes for an excursion?
Thank you for your time,
Jason
A: It seems to me, Jason, that you already have your "foot in the door" when it comes to footwear. Many people don't put as much thought as you already have into this critical area. There are numerous, quality choices available, so spend some time investigating features that will best fit your needs. Once I determine what climate and terrain I'm going to, I decide footwear choice based on functionality for the challenges I expect. For instance, I wouldn't choose waterproof boots going into the jungle. I know I'm going to get wet and waterproof boots will become water buckets. Therefore, I choose something that will dry out relatively quickly. Military-issue-type jungle boots are an excellent choice because they not only dry rapidly, but they are very durable as well.
This is one item that you get what you pay for. If you buy some cheap footgear, that's generally what you'll end up with — cheap footgear. So once you've determined where you're going, and the type of footgear you'll need, my best advice on this subject is to purchase the best you can find and afford. Also, go somewhere and physically try them on to ensure compatibility. Almost nothing will end your excursion faster than footgear that doesn't fit properly or is uncomfortable. On the same note, don't buy your footgear the day before you leave and expect to break them in while on the trail. I once did just that even though I knew better. I planned on hiking a portion of the Appalachian Trail with a friend. I bought some very comfortable hiking boots just days before we left. My thought process was that since they were so comfortable, like sneakers in fact, they really wouldn't need to be broken in. Wrong! Before the first day was over I had a quarter-sized blister on each heel and blisters on my toes as well. If I had purchased them a month in advance, I would have been able to break them in properly and would have avoided the trail crises. Remember, your feet support your entire body, so take good care when it comes to footgear that supports them.
Read survival expert Ross McFadyen's responses to your questions below. Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask him more survival questions now.
Q: I have looked all over the Internet in search of a "natural," deep in the woods remedy of plants or trees that may repel mosquitoes and have come up with nothing more than "products" and things like catnip, lemon oil, DEET, peppermint oil, etc. Basically, things you would never find deep in the woods of North America or Canada that could remedy this problem having no access to all of the store-bought products. My question is, do you have a true and tested list of "real" plants/bark/roots/tree produce that could be exploited in a situation where you were caught out in the North American or Canadian woods and needed a quick mosquito repellent?
I was told once in the military to take pine needles and mash them into a gummy juice and smear that on yourself as a natural repellent ... is this true? If so, are there any more natural remedies that would be found in the bush similar to this? Thanks a lot, a big fan of the show.
- ChessMassacre
A: It's been my experience that nothing works as well as DEET. I've tried several plants that supposedly had repellent effects, including some that you mentioned, but not with much success. There were a few times that I seemed to have some success, especially with sage leaves crushed and rubbed on my skin and clothes. But ultimately the relief was short-lived. Having been in the field several days, however, it did improve my social standing. That was the long answer. The short answer is no, I don't know of any reliable natural remedies. There was another survival instructor I knew very well that ate mounds of garlic before and during every trip to the field. The only things that did get near him were mosquitoes. The thought has crossed my mind that maybe that was his intention ...
Q: Could you give advice on the best way/places to train and gain experience in a wilderness survival situation? I'm looking for instructors/schools that teach wilderness survival, but so far, the ones I find are too far from home or too expensive to afford (I live in Houston, Texas). I currently attend the University of Houston, but they don't offer any courses/programs that deal with wilderness survival, etc. I'd greatly appreciate it if you could give your advice/opinion on the best course of action.
Much thanks,
Dushaun
A: Experience is life's best teacher! Take a look at this Web site — www.equipped.com/srvschol.htm. Due diligence will help you find the school that best fits your needs. Do you want training in just basic survival or something more advanced? What topics would you like to learn — there are many. Some schools will offer one- or two-day courses; some for as low as $150 per day. Save the necessary funds and do it! Believe me, you'll find what you want and get what you pay for. You might also want to whet your appetite by ordering some of the DVDs offered on many of the individual sites. These DVDs offer information by topic and are normally very informative. However, try as you may, you will never gain the education you seek by watching a DVD. I remember learning to start a fire using a bow and drill. I watched someone else do it and couldn't wait to try it myself. I gathered everything the other guy had. I went to work tying the string to the bow, making a socket for the drill/spindle to rest in, etc. I tried and tried to no avail. I even set off a few smoke alarms in the barracks, but no fire! I was physically exhausted and mentally perplexed when I finally gave up. Kind of like the MythBusters episode where they tried and tried and failed to do it. Then I found someone with experience that could work with and teach me until I got it. Without his guidance and hands-on expertise I wouldn't have gained the proper experience to succeed.
Read survival expert Ross McFadyen's responses to your questions below. Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask him more survival questions now.
Q: Hi, my question is, if you don't have water, should you still eat? I have been told that it takes water to digest food and turn it into energy, and that you can actually get sick from eating without having water. Is this true?
Thanks.
Randall
A: Experience is life's best teacher! Take a look at this Web site — www.equipped.com/srvschol.htm. Due diligence will help you find the school that best fits your needs. Do you want training in just basic survival or something more advanced? What topics would you like to learn — there are many. Some schools will offer one- or two-day courses; some for as low as $150 per day. Save the necessary funds and do it! Believe me, you'll find what you want and get what you pay for. You might also want to whet your appetite by ordering some of the DVDs offered on many of the individual sites. These DVDs offer information by topic and are normally very informative. However, try as you may, you will never gain the education you seek by watching a DVD. I remember learning to start a fire using a bow and drill. I watched someone else do it and couldn't wait to try it myself. I gathered everything the other guy had. I went to work tying the string to the bow, making a socket for the drill/spindle to rest in, etc. I tried and tried to no avail. I even set off a few smoke alarms in the barracks, but no fire! I was physically exhausted and mentally perplexed when I finally gave up. Kind of like the MythBusters episode where they tried and tried and failed to do it. Then I found someone with experience that could work with and teach me until I got it. Without his guidance and hands-on expertise I wouldn't have gained the proper experience to succeed.
Q: My friend and I are both firefighters/paramedics, and this question was brought up after watching several of the newer horror movies at our station. We have seen several recent movies where people get a leg caught in a large steel animal trap; we work in a area where transport time to a local hospital is about four minutes. We know what to do in that situation — or else we would need to be fired! However, I have been in Kenya (and some other places) where the field is all you have. Would the trap be best left in place, to prevent compartment and/or crush syndrome? And to prevent hypovolemic shock? I'm sure trap size would be a determining factor, so let's say it would be big enough to fracture a tibia/fibula, but unable to amputate.
Thank you very much for your reply!!
Brian P.
Tampa, Florida
A: Your best advice should come from a doctor. However, in a survival situation where that option is not available, here's what I would do:
1) Check the ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation).
2) Treat for shock (face is red raise the head, face is pale raise the tail).
3) Apply a tourniquet or constriction band above the wound and remove the trap. Using a constriction band versus a tourniquet will depend on the situation — i.e., extent of damage to the limb, elapsed time of injury, time to competent medical help, etc. A constriction band is just like a tourniquet only it isn't wound as tightly, thus allowing a small amount of blood flow, which may keep the limb alive and may prevent later amputation. It's important to remember to keep the band itself about 2 inches wide; anything smaller will cause more damage. A belt isn't a bad option. The band always goes above or below a joint — never on a joint. Also keep in mind that a constriction band can be dangerous due to blood clots. Allowing the blood to flow could dislodge a blood clot, which could be a killer — literally.
4) Immobilize the limb in a position of function and transport the person to safety.
Read survival expert Ross McFadyen's responses to your questions below. Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask him more survival questions now.
Q: Can you tell me who is the manufacturer of the machete Mike used on the Amazon story?
Thank you,
"Tango"
A: I'm not sure of the manufacturer of that particular knife, but I can tell you that it is a type of Bolo, Gurkha or Khukuri knife. Google it and you'll find them aplenty. My personal favorite is a Bolo made in the Philippines from an old car leaf spring and water buffalo horn as the handle. I've had mine for nearly 20 years, and it has withstood extreme use (and abuse) in every environmental condition without ever failing me. After that length of time and incredible dependability, you really develop a relationship with your knife as Mike displayed in Science of Survival — Escape From the Amazon.
Q: What is a "reliable tender"?
- "B_Hurt"
A: Around my house a "reliable tender" is a lot of elbow grease or my wife's personal favorite — U.S. dollars. If however you're referring to the art of fire craft, then you'll need "reliable tinder." First, tinder is any type of material that can be ignited easily with a minimum amount of heat — even a spark. It must be aerated well and dry. It should burn for a couple of minutes on its own, and you must have an adequate amount (which is another topic altogether).
There is a multitude of reliable tinders that can be gathered from nearly any environment. But an excellent tinder that most people have access to in their own home is cotton balls with petroleum jelly. Just take a handful of cotton balls and a scoop of petroleum jelly and mash them together. Work the jelly in until the cotton balls are somewhat saturated with it. Then store them in a small container, like a 35-mm film canister, for future use. Since the film canister doesn't take up much room, you can carry it in your pocket or put it in your grab bag. Besides being very portable, they're great because even if you get them wet, they are still useable as tinder. To use them, just take a couple out and pull at the fibers until they're separated and hair-like. Then ignite them.
Enjoy!
Read survival expert Ross McFadyen's responses to your questions below. Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask him more survival questions now.
Q: Can the human body produce something internally that helps them survive? Sometimes we hear stories where men or women perform amazing feats like carrying unbelievable weights and such. Is there a survival mechanism in the body that occurs in deadly situations that helps a person survive?
- "Arda Durmaz"
A: YES! It's called "the will to survive." It has been defined as "the desire to live despite seemingly insurmountable mental or physical obstacles." The key word there is "seemingly." Your outlook may not be the same as the next guy. While we all have a will to survive, it comes in varying degree from person to person. Training and the tools you have are important, but they are not always the deciding factor. That said, being properly prepared will have an impact on you mentally that will carry over to your will to survive. Even so, under life-threatening circumstances, one person will choose to die while the next guy will make different choices to live. A couple of stories come to mind.
The first is of a man who was stranded in the Arizona desert for eight days without food or water. He traveled more than 150 miles during searing temperatures, losing 25 percent of his body weight due to water loss (usually a 10-percent loss is fatal).His blood became so thick that his multiple lacerations didn't bleed until after he was rescued and given large quantities of fluids. Obviously his only thoughts were of surviving. This hasn't been substantiated, but I heard that he was going through a divorce and didn't want his wife to get everything!
The second story is of a Canadian bush pilot who had engine troubles and made a deadstick landing onto a frozen lake. He did a great job and came to a stop in the middle of the lake. He left the aircraft and checked it for damage. After surveying the area, he noticed a wooded shoreline about 200 yards away where food and shelter could be provided. About halfway there, he changed his mind and went back to the plane. He climbed into the cockpit, smoked a cigar, took out his pistol and blew his brains out. Less than 24 hours later, a rescue team found him. No one will ever know why he just gave up, or why some people will go on by eating their belt or drinking broth from their boots. But it all comes down to one's will to survive!
Here are some things to remember that you can use to strengthen your chances of survival:
1) Don't panic — "flying off the handle" can be a death sentence.
2) If possible, relax and think through your situation rationally.
3) Develop a plan and take action. Doing nothing does just that — nothing.
4) Having a positive mental attitude is critical. Keeping your hope and faith alive depends on your PMA.
5) Prayer or meditation and thoughts of your family can also be very helpful.
Keep in mind that, no matter what, you can and will survive.