Trivial Skills That Could Save Your Life
In our daily lives, many of the skills we learn and use seem mundane and unassuming, but in a survival situation, they can become invaluable. This article highlights some of these seemingly trivial skills and how they can potentially save your life or aid in an adventure.
Effective Fire Starting with Dryer Lint
Impromptu Fire Starting Material: Dryer lint, a common household waste product, can be repurposed into a lifesaving tool. Simply collect lint from dryer filters and store it in toilet paper tubes. Once filled, place these tubes in a zip lock bag for easy storage. In a survival situation, you can ignite one of these lint-filled tubes to create a blue flame from the synthetic fibers, making it an excellent 'tinder' to start a fire and protect against hypothermia.
Additional Supplies: Always carry waterproof matches as another form of fire starting material. If your dryer lint is made from natural fibers, your lint screen will not be flammable, so keep this in mind.
Improving Accuracy: A Valuable Survival Tool
Throwing Accuracy: Whether you're throwing sticks, rocks, or pieces of concrete, accuracy can be a life-saving skill. This technique isn't just useful for dislodging objects from trees; it can also be a psychological deterrent in dangerous situations, potentially causing an aggressor to retreat if they are hit.
Navigational Skills: Knowing Your Cardinal Directions
Orienteering: Learning to find the cardinal directions using the sun is a crucial skill. As you hike, knowing which direction you're heading can help you avoid getting lost. If you do wander off the trail, knowing the cardinal directions allows you to communicate your location to others using your cell phone or Satellite locator. Additionally, creating a safe campfire for warmth, drying off, or signaling others can be critical, especially when managing the fire to prevent it from spreading uncontrollably.
The Speed of Sound and Its Survival Applications
Pellet Guns and Sound: When using a pellet gun for survival purposes, such as taking small game, it's important to keep the pellet speed below the speed of sound. This prevents the loud "cracking" noise that occurs when the pellet breaks the sound barrier. This noise can attract unwanted attention, potentially putting you in a more dangerous situation.
Enhanced Accuracy: To effectively manage the sound and increase your chances of success, you can refine your shooting skills. With practice, a break barrel .22 caliber pellet rifle, which has a muzzle velocity of 1000 feet per second, can become a highly accurate tool. Knowing the muzzle velocity of a .22 long rifle bullet, which is approximately 1200 feet per second, can further enhance your understanding and accuracy with your weapon.
In conclusion, these seemingly trivial skills can be crucial in life-threatening situations. Whether it's making fire with dryer lint, improving your throwing accuracy, learning orienteering skills, or managing the sound of your pellet gun, these skills can enhance your survival capabilities and even offer new adventures. Always be prepared and keep learning these essential skills.