Survival Guide
Critical techniques for staying alive while waiting for rescue teams.
🌊 1. Flood Water Safety
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DO NOT enter moving water. Just 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock an adult off their feet. 12 inches can sweep away a car.
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Seek the highest ground immediately. Do not wait. Move to hillsides, sturdy roofs, or thick trees if trapped.
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Avoid downed power lines. Flood water conducts electricity perfectly. Stay at least 30 feet away from any fallen poles.
🚁 2. Signaling Helicopters
Rescue helicopters (Nepal Army) are looking for specific visual contrasts against the mud and jungle.
During the Day
- • Wave brightly colored clothing (red, yellow, orange).
- • Lay out large contrasting tarps in a clear area.
- • Create an "X" shape using rocks, wood, or tarps.
- • Use a mirror or phone screen to reflect sunlight at aircraft.
At Night
- • Use your phone flashlight in an SOS pattern (3 short, 3 long, 3 short).
- • Keep 3 separate fires burning in a triangle shape (Universal Distress Signal).
- • Conserve phone battery; only use the light when you hear rotors.
🔥 3. Starting a Fire in Wet Conditions
Staying warm is critical to prevent hypothermia after being wet.
- Find dry tinder: Strip the wet bark off dead branches to get to the dry wood inside. Look under thick rocks or logs for dry leaves.
- Use everyday items: Hand sanitizer, chapstick, petroleum jelly, and specific plastics burn extremely well and can ignite damp wood.
- Build a platform: Do not build your fire directly on wet ground. Lay down a bed of stones or thick branches first.
- Create dense smoke (For Signaling): Once the fire is stable, throw green leaves, wet moss, or damp pine needles on top. This creates thick white smoke visible for miles.
🩹 4. Basic First Aid
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Clean all wounds: Flood water carries severe bacteria. Wash any cuts immediately with bottled water or boiled water if possible. Never use flood water.
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Stop bleeding: Apply firm, direct pressure to the wound using the cleanest cloth available. Elevate the injured area above the heart if possible.
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Conserve drinking water: Ration safe water. If you must drink from a stream, boil it for a full minute, or use iodine tablets if you have them.
