1 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,999 My name is Michel Blomgren and my passion is wilderness survival... 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:12,999 ...the art of keeping yourself alive under harsh circumstances. 3 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:24,999 This is the first episode in a series about survival and the outdoors in Sweden. 4 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:31,999 This episode takes you through five points that increases one's chances in the Wild. 5 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,999 To better illustrate these points, I'll take you through a typical survival situation... 6 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,999 ...lost in the woods in Autumn. 7 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,999 SURVIVAL with Michel Blomgren 8 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:36,999 As you probably understand, this guy is lost. 9 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:41,999 He was just out for a short hike but took the wrong path somewhere along the trail. 10 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,999 As he consider himself to know the area quite well, he tries to walk out... 11 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:51,999 ...but what he as of yet hasn't realized is that he's been walking around in circles. 12 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:57,999 He's not prepared and lacks map, compass cellphone, whistle or gear for sleeping out. 13 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,999 Is he going to wander about the woods until nightfall? 14 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:03,999 Is someone from civilization going to report him missing? 15 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,999 Are they going to look for him in the right area? 16 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:11,999 The answers to these questions can make a difference between life and death. 17 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,999 He still hasn't given up on the idea that he might get out before dark... 18 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:22,999 that's why he's trying to walk out. The darker it gets the more stress he feels. 19 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:29,999 Panic is an emotional reaction, an alarm, that mobilizes the organism to fight or flight. 20 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,999 To feel panic is nothing wrong, it's completely normal. 21 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:39,999 The reason for panic is fear, fear is like fire: It can warm you, but also burn you down. 22 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:43,999 Just like fire should be respected, so should also fear. 23 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,999 No one is fearless, everyone are fearful. 24 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,999 There are only 2 kinds of people: Those who can control fear and those who can not. 25 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:55,999 Thinking you are either one or the other is wrong! 26 00:03:56,000 --> 00:04:02,999 We are both kinds depending on the situation and how that situation affects our emotions. 27 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,999 (humility for the task) 28 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:08,999 The first rule when lost is not to get more lost. 29 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,999 When panic creeps up on you, imagine a STOP sign. 30 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:17,999 Point 1: STOP stands for Stop, Think, Orient, Plan 31 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:23,999 Stop, don't increase your physical activity that will only generate more stress. 32 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:26,999 Sit down, breath deeply do not hyperventilate! 33 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:31,999 If panic takes control over you rather than you over it, you're GAME OVER... 34 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,999 ...even if you're the greatest survival expert in the world! 35 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:38,999 If you've got a thermos with something hot, drink it, but slowly. 36 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:42,999 If you're exhausted and breathing heavily, do not eat, it's just going to make it worse... 37 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,999 ...just like walking and eating at the same time is exhausting. 38 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,999 Think through your situation and orient yourself. 39 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:55,999 What time is it? How many hours of daylight do I have? What gear do I have? Where am I? 40 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,999 How did I end up here? Can I get home before nightfall? 41 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,999 If I don't get out, what do I do then? 42 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,999 Is someone going to report me missing? In that case, when? 43 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:10,999 Is my last known position anywhere near where I reported I would be? 44 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:16,999 Make a time plan where it says: If I don't get home by X o'clock, I'm going to... 45 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:23,999 make an inventory, find or build a shelter, light a fire and collect a lot of firewood... 46 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:34,999 The most difficult decision you can make is decide to spend the night in nature. 47 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,999 It's much easier to push on thinking "I'll eventually get out." 48 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:43,999 Perhaps it's most important to realize that you have to make that decision... 49 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:49,999 ...then the mind can prepare for both alternatives, stay or go. 50 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,999 If you wander around for several hours without finding something you recognize... 51 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:58,999 ...then it's time to prepare for the inevitable, spending the night in nature. 52 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:03,999 The earlier you realize you won't get out, the more time you have to prepare. 53 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,999 Point 2: Do not give up! Survival is 80% in your head, only 20% physical. 54 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,999 Back to our lost friend, he has stopped and is starting to think. 55 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:15,999 Fractions of thoughts are rushing through his head - it is time to focus! 56 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:19,999 Let's take a look at his gear... 57 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:24,999 The most important gear is the one we're wearing, clothes. 58 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:30,999 Man's natural climate is 27 degrees C, right now it's -3 degrees Celsius. 59 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:36,999 This means we must maintain a difference of 30 degrees in order to stay warm. 60 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,999 Hypothermia is the main killer in the Wilderness on European latitudes... 61 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,999 ...both because of cold, but also because of rain/water. 62 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:48,999 Water can conduct heat away from the body up to 27 times faster than air. 63 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,999 For this reason it is extremely important to be able to build a shelter and make fire. 64 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,999 In the next episode I'm going to demonstrate gear in greater detail. 65 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:01,999 If protection against rain and cold is priority one, then water is priority two. 66 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,999 Dehydration is very common in outdoor activities. 67 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,999 Water is something we can not be without for more than a few days. 68 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,999 It is very unlikely that you will die of starvation in a typical survival situation. 69 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,999 Humans can survive over 40 days without food! 70 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:19,999 The gear that our lost friend has with him is minimal... 71 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,999 ...but if it's used correctly it will save his life during the coldest point of the night. 72 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:29,999 A poncho of the American type is not only rain gear, it's also a shelter. 73 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,999 It's big enough and has grommets in each corner. 74 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:38,999 The poncho is actually the only shelter I bring, even in normal outdoor activities. 75 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:42,999 Works great, gear with more than one use. 76 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,999 Extra dry clothing is very important. 77 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:52,999 Longjohns are underestimated. In cities you can see people with polar jackets... 78 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:58,999 ...but on their legs they have tight jeans or thin pants for tropical climate. 79 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:04,999 Longjohns of wool or fleece under a pair of wind-proof pants keep the blood warm... 80 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,999 ...all the way to the feet. 81 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:13,999 Water is priority 2 after we can keep warm. A thermos with something hot is nice in the cold. 82 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:18,999 We need to consume about 3 liters of water during a normal not very physical day, 83 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:21,999 according to most recommendations. 84 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:25,999 I conducted a 5 day exercise during the summer of 2005 with very little food. 85 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:29,999 I soon noticed that I was drinking too much, so I cut down to 1 liter per day. 86 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,999 That was enough for that specific situation. 87 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,999 I recommend to drink more, especially in Winter, when dehydration... 88 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:38,999 ...make hypothermia worse. 89 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,999 If you feel headache, drink lots of water. 90 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:46,999 Headache is one of the first signs of dehydration and then you're already 2-3 percent dehydrated. 91 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:51,999 The color of urine should be clear, not dark yellow - then you're dehydrated. 92 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:56,999 When drinking enough you can think clearly, very important when lost in the woods. 93 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:02,999 Never ration water, we don't have a water reserve like we do a fat reserve. 94 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,999 To neglect dehydration almost makes you get used to it. 95 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,999 It will end with passive behavior and eventually collapse. 96 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,999 Many streams below the mountain region in Sweden are contaminated with... 97 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:17,999 parasites, bacteria, etc. 98 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:22,999 It's important (as hygiene in general is) to clean water before drinking it. 99 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:28,999 All pathogens have an incubation period before symptoms of disease appear. 100 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,999 The time can vary from hours to months. 101 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:36,999 The most common pathogens, the protozoans and the bacteria... 102 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:43,999 have an incubation time around 2 days or more (Salmonella strikes within hours though). 103 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:49,999 In Sweden this, statistically, means you will get rescued before disease appear. 104 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:55,999 Despite this, water ought to be treated as the disease that may strike back in the World 105 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,999 ...may be very painful. 106 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:02,999 Bad diarrhea, bleeding intestine, vomiting, are some symptoms. 107 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:08,999 Boiling is, despite many modern solutions, the best way to make water safe to drink. 108 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:13,999 In order to boil water you need something to boil in, a metal mug isn't all that wrong... 109 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:18,999 ...but a cooking pot, like a coffee pot, is much better. 110 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:27,999 Food isn't bad, but we can survive many days without something to eat. 111 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:31,999 The hunger can be challenging after 8 hours since our last meal... 112 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,999 It can rumble a lot in the stomach. 113 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:40,999 Some time later it will decline and the hunger becomes much more bearable. 114 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,999 The will to eat can be strong even during the initial period, but can later transform... 115 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:50,999 into nausea. 1 of 20 vomit after 2-3 days without food. 116 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:57,999 When the energy, the carbohydrates, are low we can no longer work as fast as before. 117 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:02,999 It's very important not to work harder than the body can handle in order to... 118 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,999 ...prevent becoming dizzy or even faint. 119 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:10,999 Ration the body's energy reserve by walking and working slowly. 120 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:14,999 Survive longer - be cool. Work determined but slowly. 121 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:19,999 When you've established yourself in nature there's no reason to run around. 122 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:42,999 Point 3: 3 of something is a distress call. 3 blows in a whistle, 3 light signals, SOS, etc. 123 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:54,999 In order to protect ourselves against the weather we need to know about hypothermia. 124 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:59,999 Convection: typically responsible for 50% of our heat loss. 125 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:04,999 Convection means air around us and in between layers of clothing blows away... 126 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:10,999 by cold air and movement. Warm air is lighter than cool air and moves away from the body. 127 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:14,999 Radiation: typically responsible for 30% of our heat loss. 128 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:18,999 Heat (energy) is transfered to the colder environment, even through clothing. 129 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:23,999 Heat radiation can be felt from the Sun and from fire. 130 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:27,999 Respiration: typically responsible for 10% of our heat loss. 131 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:31,999 The cold air we breath is heated in the airways before reaching the lungs. 132 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,999 Evaporation: typically responsible for 5% of our heat loss. 133 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,999 Heat is transfered away from the body through the process of vaporization of liquid. 134 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,999 Sweat and wet clothing is the main reason for evaporation. 135 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:48,999 Conduction: typically responsible for 5% of our heat loss. 136 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:53,999 Heat energy is transfered from a warmer material by direct contact with a colder one. 137 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:57,999 Heat is always transfered from a warm place to a colder place. 138 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,999 To know what not to get in contact with is important. 139 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:07,999 Water can conduct heat away from your body up to 27 times faster than air. 140 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:12,999 Aluminium can conduct heat about 100 times faster than ice. 141 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:18,999 No good idea to use an aluminium blanket as sleeping mat, especially not in winter. 142 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:28,999 Point 4: 4 chores... Shelter, Fire, Water, Signal for help 143 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,999 To choose a good spot for camp is essential. 144 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:35,999 It should be close to water but preferably not right next to a lake. 145 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,999 Cold air sinks down over lakes at night. 146 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:43,999 Enough firewood nearby is essential. In Sweden a spruce forest is a good place. 147 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:49,999 Spruce can be used in shelter building, making of a "sleeping mat" and fire. 148 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:02,999 If you lack string, you'll find it under ground. Spruce roots are excellent... 149 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,999 as long as the ground isn't frozen. 150 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:12,999 During winter it's important to carry string with you - especially up north. 151 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:48,999 Necessity is the mother of all invention, it doesn't take long to find a string to use. 152 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:53,999 In short... you use what you got. 153 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:21,999 The poncho protects against wind & rain. It's time to protect against the cold ground. 154 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:26,999 Spruce bows can be used to make an excellent traditional bush bed. 155 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:31,999 Make sure the curve of the bow points upward to help raise you from the ground. 156 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:36,999 This will create an air layer between you and the ground, just like a sleeping mat. 157 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:40,999 The amount of bows is very important, it's good if the bed reach your knees. 158 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,999 The "spruce bow mattress" will sink a lot when sleeping. 159 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:48,999 Please observe: The Swedish "Right to Public Access" does not include taking... 160 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:52,999 spruce roots or spruce bows. Ask permission from the land owner. 161 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:57,999 When lost for real you should break all laws necessary to survive - it's your right. 162 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,999 You should be free as long as you can defend your actions. 163 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,999 An English expression says more than 1000 words... 164 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:09,999 Better be tried by twelve, than carried by six. 165 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:21,999 A good proverb in survival situations is: Proper preparation prevents poor performance 166 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:25,999 especially when it comes to fire. 167 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:28,999 I'm collecting stones to make a fireplace. 168 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:34,999 A stone fireplace protects against ground fire. The fire heats up the ground... 169 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:40,999 and ignite roots that smolder for days that can turn into a nasty forest fire. 170 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:46,999 A stone fireplace also make the fire burn more efficiently than on the (wet) ground. 171 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:50,999 This is the result. Most importantly, stones in the bottom. 172 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:55,999 The fireplace is placed no more than an arms length from the shelter in order to... 173 00:16:56,000 --> 00:17:01,999 be able to feed the fire from the shelter, but not too close to catch spit from the fire. 174 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:04,999 It's time to collect fire wood... 175 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:16,999 Not all wood will do. We'll need different sizes. Twigs light branches that light bigger wood. 176 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,999 First focus is the tinder which will light the first twigs. 177 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:27,999 Birch bark is an incredible material that will burn even after being submerged in water. 178 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:35,999 By scraping the surface into a fine material you can easily light it with a fire steel. 179 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:07,999 The dry twigs under most spruces is excellent kindling when dry. 180 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:17,999 Dry spruce twigs are excellent first fuel to the fire. 181 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,999 Birch twigs that have dried in the sun burn well even after rain. 182 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,999 The bark protects the twigs from getting wet. 183 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:30,999 Birch is excellent fire wood and can be used even if birch contains a lot of water. 184 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:35,999 Many people say you can't use birch unless it's -10 degrees C, but it does work. 185 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:14,999 If you can't find spruce twigs or birch bark, you can make feather sticks. 186 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:19,999 Split wood burns much better than wood that has not been split. 187 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:23,999 The wood is usually wet on the outside, but dry on the inside. 188 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:30,999 This can be done with any kind of wood and can even be lit with a fire steel. 189 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:35,999 You need to make several feather sticks and split wood small to get a good result. 190 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:51,999 Once the fire is burning it's time to boil a hot drink. 191 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:57,999 When water boils heavily it's safe to drink. Big bubbles, no troubles is a good rule. 192 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:02,999 A tea of pine, or in this case, spruce needles is an excellent forest tea. 193 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:06,999 To me, this drink symbolizes the sub- arctic forest. 194 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:11,999 Instead of collecting single needles, take whole twigs, preferably the tips. 195 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:15,999 The needles are rich in vitamin C during Autumn, Winter and Spring. 196 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:20,999 Two hands full of needles to 1/2 liter water will cover 1/3, or 20 mg... 197 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:25,999 of the Swedish recommended daily intake of vitamin C. 198 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:32,999 10mg is however enough to keep scurvy away, if you're going to be lost for months. 199 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:38,999 The needles also contain a small amount of sugar which has a refreshing effect... 200 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:43,999 especially when tired and hungry. It should boil for 20 minutes before served. 201 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:49,999 If you have a thermos, like our lost friend, it's a good idea to fill it with this tea... 202 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:54,999 excellent to drink when freezing in the middle of the night. 203 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:37,999 All is well that ends well. It doesn't always end well though. 204 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:41,999 Who lives and who doesn't sometimes make no sense what so ever. 205 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:45,999 Experienced outdoorsmen have perished after just one night lost in the wild, 206 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:50,999 despite decent weather, clothing, good gear and being physically unharmed. 207 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:55,999 While children under 6 years of age, even infants, have survived extreme ordeals. 208 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:59,999 The will to live can not be taught, trained, or learned by reading a book. 209 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,999 Each one of us must find our reason(s) to live. 210 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:06,999 Perhaps it's enough to realize that one want to live to survive? 211 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:11,999 The only thing one really need is the ability to adapt to the new conditions... 212 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:14,999 that a survival situation has to offer. 213 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:21,999 5, the last point, the gear I consider valuable in every outdoor activity. 214 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:27,999 Gear will only help the one who wants to survive. Give up and gear is useless. 215 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:32,999 1) A good knife is your best friend 216 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:38,999 2) 2 means to make fire, a primary and a secondary 217 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:45,999 3) A whistle is heard much further than the voice, and lasts much longer too 218 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:49,999 4) A compass to navigate straight through the forest 219 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:54,999 5) A first aid kit 220 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:07,999 I'm going to finish up by repeating my 5 points. 221 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:11,999 But first I want to thank you for watching! 222 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:17,999 1) STOP - Stop Think Orient Plan 223 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:21,999 2) Do not give up! 224 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:27,999 Few have died fighting on, many by giving up! -- Swedish Defense Survival Handbook 225 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:33,999 3) Three of something is an international distress signal 226 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,999 4) Four chores in a survival situation 227 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:38,999 Shelter 228 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:40,999 Fire 229 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:41,999 Water 230 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:44,999 Signal for help 231 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:47,999 5) Five things one should always carry in the woods... 232 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:49,999 Knife 233 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:53,999 Two ways to make fire 234 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:55,999 Whistle 235 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:57,999 Compass 236 00:25:58,000 --> 00:25:59,999 First aid kit 237 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:03,999 More episodes in this series can be found on www.bushcraft.se 238 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:10,999 Filming, editing and music by Michel Blomgren