So, what are Urban Survival Skills?
Having expertise in tools, methods, and abilities essential to prosper and endure in an urban setting is what urban survival constitutes.
It pertains to the capacity to sustain oneself or one’s family when faced with difficult circumstances in an urban environment, such as:
- terrorism attacks
- home invasions
- natural calamities
- or grid-down situations
Knowing how to survive and stay safe is crucial regardless of whether the disasters are man-made or occur naturally.
While gaining knowledge on how to survive in rural areas may be a priority for some, being equipped with urban survival skills for you and your family could greatly enhance the possibility of surviving in a SHTF situation.
Avoid presuming that everything is okay.
When events such as an earthquake, tornado, or attack take place, urban areas tend to become disorderly.
In the midst of panic, there will be attempts by all to flee and the situation will become more chaotic.
What are Some of the Essential Urban Survival Skills to Learn in 2022?
Acquiring urban survival skills is possible by undergoing expert training, reading literature, or utilizing online resources.
In the present time, obtaining knowledge and significant data through the internet has become effortless.
Therefore, there might be no justification for your lack of knowledge on urban survival skills.
1. Find a Safe Shelter.
The foremost priority when calamity hits is finding a secure refuge before considering anything else.
Having a roof over your head will allow you to plan your next moves.
Some of the vital safe places you should look out for include:
- Abandoned buildings or homes
- Hospital or schools
- Garages and abandoned vehicles
- Stores or malls
- Police stations
Be aware and vigilant.
2. Blend In
Surviving in a chaotic town during a disaster involves maintaining a low profile as one of the fundamental strategies.
Ensure that you blend in with the crowd and do not draw attention to yourself.
Avoid wearing clothing that sets you apart from others in appearance.
If you are wearing a noticeable uniform, alter your attire to blend in with the surrounding individuals.
In addition, if you are carrying any weapons, ensure they are hidden.
It is recommended to steer clear of crowded events and refrain from participating in group activities.
If the power goes out, avoid turning on the lights once you are inside a shelter.
Once more, devise a plan to keep the odor from escaping the house if you must prepare a meal.
Being able to adjust to different circumstances in the city is crucial for ensuring your safety.
3. Water Collecting and Purifying Skills
In the event of a disaster in urban areas, water scarcity can become a critical issue.
It might become challenging to locate potable water due to potential water shortages.
Knowing how to gather and cleanse contaminated water can make life easier to handle.
4. Fix it Skills
The occurrence of disasters in urban areas presents difficulties in obtaining necessary services for repairing household items.
Having the ability to fix things will be useful when dealing with a crisis.
Having the ability to fix your own possessions requires proficiency in certain essential repair techniques such as:
- water filtration systems
- vehicles
- generators
- flashlights
- and survival equipment.
5. First Aid
Because of the vast number of individuals attempting to protect themselves, urban catastrophes are characterized by disorderly crowds in a state of panic.
Injuries may occur to you, or a member of your family may sustain them.
Having proficiency in administering initial medical care would make it effortless to rescue yourself and your loved ones.
Alternatively, make sure to have a first aid kit with you at all times, whether it be in your vehicle or during your travels.
On occasion, it may be possible to save a life without requiring the use of a first aid kit.
Knowing these skills can assist you in dealing with certain health crises.
6. Waste Management
Sanitation becomes a major concern when there is inadequate access to water.
The water supply systems are typically the first to be impacted when disasters occur in urban areas.
Being proficient in waste management would be beneficial.
To ensure your safety and that of your family, it is advisable to keep the trash and human waste at a distance of more than 100 yards.
7. Foraging and Scavenging for Food
When disasters strike in urban areas, you may experience a severe shortage of food and water.
It is important for you to be aware of the food choices available to you.
You may get abandoned apartments, offices, malls, or liquor stores; however, it will be challenging to find any abandoned food.
Discover the indigenous plants growing in the city that are safe for consumption and can sustain you during your search for nourishment.
8. Self-Defense
In the event of a crisis in the city, it’s possible that criminals could seize the opportunity to attempt to steal from you.
As a result, it may be necessary for you to possess the fundamental abilities to protect yourself in such circumstances.
Acquire the knowledge of utilizing a firearm, blade, or any other equipment to protect yourself.
If that cannot be done, we strongly suggest considering a tactical flashlight.
How to Filter Water in the Wild
Presented below are some of the most effective techniques for purifying water in emergency situations.
Boiling
Assuming you possess the appropriate supplies and fuel, boiling is an effective method of purifying water in nature. The majority of people are familiar with how to boil water in the wilderness, and it is also one of the most trustworthy techniques. While it cannot eliminate chemical impurities from water, boiling for ten to twenty minutes can eliminate the majority of waterborne parasites. If you bring the water to a rolling boil, it should be maintained for a minimum of one minute.
However, it’s best to boil only clear water. Boiling muddy and dirty water won’t clear out the deposits which can still make you sick. In that case, you need to filter the water after boiling. You can use a campfire or a stove to boil water in any fireproof container.
Boiling water is not sufficient to remove chemical pollutants, but it remains useful in purifying water when in the wilderness or during urban survival situations. It is essential to ensure that all individuals with whom you plan to evacuate comprehend this crucial information.
Sedimentation
Sedimentation is the answer to making dirty water clean easily. This natural method of water purification is often overlooked despite its effectiveness.
When you find yourself in nature and the sole water source is cloudy, this approach is an obvious choice that can be seamlessly integrated with chemical or UV water purification methods.
After leaving water in a container for a while, the denser particles will settle to the bottom. The clear water above can be collected and then undergo an additional purification process such as UV treatment.
It is remarkable that many products meant for survival come equipped with tubes that purify water. For instance, certain survival shovels can be employed to unearth groundwater, let the sediment settle, and subsequently make use of the integrated filtration system to clear away impurities.
Distillation
Obtaining filtered water can also be achieved through distillation, which involves heating the water and converting it into steam, and then condensing the steam back into water.
Although there are certain organic compounds that distillation cannot eliminate, it effectively removes most of the larger particles and harmful microorganisms. Essentially, this technique emulates the hydrologic cycle, which is the natural process by which the earth purifies water through evaporation and precipitation.
In a survival scenario where you are confined to your home, a water distillation kit for countertops can come in handy. This kit consists of a heating element and a boiling chamber, with the steam produced being driven up a steel tube that functions as a condenser.
The utilization of a powerful fan aids in the acceleration of water condensation and temperature reduction. Subsequently, the reservoir serves as the receptacle for the purified water.
Let us discover the method of distillation for purifying water while in the wilderness.
Distilling Water in the Wild
To achieve this, a sizable receptacle, a more petite receptacle, a synthetic bag, and a few elastic cords are required. The following are the instructions.
- Firstly, you can pour impure or even salt water in a large container.
- Then place the small container inside it. Cover the top of the large container with a plastic bag, and tie it with the cord. Make sure that the low point of the plastic is over the small container.
- You can heat the container or leave it under the sun. The water will evaporate and condense on the underside of the plastic. Then, the drinkable water will slowly drip into the smaller container.
Although solar distillation is effective in purifying water, it is not a viable solution for treating a significant volume of water due to its slow process. On average, distillation requires 4 to 6 hours to produce a gallon of water.
Filters or purification pumps
Broadly speaking, there exist two fundamental categories of water filters- those that operate via a pump mechanism and those that rely on dripping or suction.
Pumps are employed in pump-action filters to push water through the filter cartridge, whereas drip/suction filters rely on gravitational drip action.
Carrying a personal water filter in the form of a straw is highly efficient in water filtration. These innovative and lightweight survival straws can effectively eliminate parasites, microplastics, and debris from polluted water sources. You only need to take off the cap, dip it into the contaminated water like a regular straw, and enjoy clean drinking water.
A great advantage of these filters is that they can be utilized to ensure survival in any type of environment, whether it be a wilderness setting or an urban one. As a matter of fact, numerous individuals have engineered their own mobile water filtration apparatuses that can be easily transported with their emergency evacuation vehicles.
Filtering Water in the Wild
When in the wilderness, one can filter natural water by layering pebbles, sand, and crushed charcoal, which not only eliminates different impurities but also enhances the flavor of water.
In order to organize these materials in a layered fashion, a container is necessary. An effective option is a two-liter soda or water bottle. Alternatively, natural materials such as bamboo or a hollow log may be utilized. To secure the top layers, a wad of grass can be inserted into the opening.
Although a filter may not be able to protect against all types of pathogens, you may not become ill right away. In the meantime, it’s vital to remain hydrated and well-nourished to survive. A survival fishing rod is an excellent tool for procuring food in the wilderness.
It is important to note that although natural materials such as sand and charcoal can purify water by removing impurities, they alone are insufficient for ensuring safe drinking water. A filter cartridge composed of materials like ceramic and silver is required for this purpose. The ceramic portion of the filter removes the larger impurities, while the silver element eliminates harmful microorganisms like bacteria and protozoa.
Purification tablet or drops
Emergency water purification can be easily achieved through chemical treatment, which remains one of the most efficient methods available. Should you lack knowledge on alternative approaches for filtering water, including appropriate items in your bug-out bag, this would be the ideal option.
Iodine, chlorine, and potassium permanganate are frequently utilized chemicals in these materials. They have a chemical aftertaste on the water, yet highly effective in eradicating parasites.
While using these chemicals, certain tasks need to be performed. Such tasks include measuring the water volume accurately for the ideal amount of chemicals to be used, ensuring even mixing of the tablets or drops in water, and allowing the water to settle for roughly 20 to 30 minutes to enable the chemicals to fully function.
The issue is that…
It is important to note that these tablets have an expiration date and should be checked before use. Individuals with thyroid disorders and pregnant women should avoid taking iodine tablets. Additionally, excessive use of chlorine can be toxic and result in organ damage or other illnesses.
Additionally, certain parasites such as cryptosporidium possess a sturdy external covering that can withstand chemical agents. Therefore, to ensure completely safe drinking water, the ideal approach is to utilize a high-quality filter in conjunction with chemical treatment.
UV Light Devices
The question of how to purify water can be easily addressed with these user-friendly and small devices. Specifically, these devices use ultraviolet light of a certain wavelength to eliminate the DNA of tiny organisms such as viruses and bacteria, instantly rendering them inactive.
One great aspect is that certain gadgets don’t require a separate power supply such as a battery. If you possess a solar generator, it won’t be necessary for this purpose. In addition, hand-cranking can be utilized to activate the UV lamp. Nevertheless, the system may not function to its full capacity if there are significant suspended particles in the water since microorganisms can take shelter within these particles.
Additionally, do you know what?
UV radiation originates primarily from the sun, and clear plastic water bottles left in the sun for five to six hours can be naturally disinfected. However, the process is not immediate and its effectiveness is dependent on the strength of the sun’s rays.
Solar water disinfection, also known as SODIS, is an effective process for water treatment. However, it can only be utilized when there is adequate sunshine, and it cannot be performed with glass water containers.
Overall, UV radiation serves as a cost-efficient and powerful means of naturally purifying water. However, if the water contains a substantial amount of suspended particles, filtration must take place prior to UV treatment. In addition, UV radiation cannot purify water contaminated with chemicals.
