SURVIVAL

by David Nuttle

Due to my development work in hazardous areas of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, I had five survival courses in early years. My first survival instruction was by a friend, Chi, in S. Vietnam. I was helping Chi resettle Catholic Viet refugees who were evicted from N. Vietnam by the communist government. American volunteers were becoming targets of the communist Viet Cong. Chi decided I needed more than the very limited survival training I had and instructed me in jungle survival as well as jungle warfare actions I might encounter. These where subjects Chi knew very well as he learned directing the jungle warfare actions against Japanese occupation forces during World War II. I know that Chi saved my life more than once by what he taught me.

In Vietnam, I also learned from two advisors to my Village Defense Project: Richard Noone a Brit, and Ted Sarong an Aussie, with both having extensive survival & jungle warfare skills. After my above survival instruction, I had survival courses on deserts, mountains, swamps, oceans, and extreme weather conditions. I even attended the U. S. Army's Jungle Warfare School, in Panama. Some Somali friends gave me advanced instructions in desert survival in a Kenyan desert. I had some Khampa tribal students, from Tibet, who coached me in high mountain survival. After having witnesses seven NGO volunteers killed because they lacked survival skills, I wrote and published "The Universal Survival Handbook" and started training other NGO volunteers about to begin work in hazardous areas overseas.

The fundamental needs for survival under most conditions, based on my experience, are:

a) Know the conditions you may encounter, and be prepared for hot, cold, wet, or dry.

b) Pack basic needs; e. g. water, food, energy snacks, medical kit, fire starter, ground pad, tube tent, lantern, signal flares, flashlight, rope, knife, axe, and camping stove w/ fuel.

c) Don't forget your medicines, compass, toilet paper, "Tough Skin" for blisters, & walking stick as well as map.

d) Taking a firearm depends on expected threats, and it needs to meet the threat(s).

e) Select and take what may be needed to deal with expected wildlife threats; e. g. a good bear repellant, white rag for the end of your walking stick (to attacks snake strikes), etc.

f) Prepare to deal with insect issues such a taking a daily B-12 vitamin to stop most bites.

g) Take a good survival manual to help find needed survival solutions.

h) If cell phone use is possible for planned locations, take a power recharge unit.

i) When in need of a lifesaving solution, ask the Holy Spirit to provide the answer.

j) Plan your route & activities and provide a trusted friend to act as your backup.

k) Know in detail every possible threat in areas where you expect to be.

I know my survival guides work since they have saved my life several times. Other users also confirm my survival guides have saved their lives!!