FOR ANY CLIMATE, IN ANY SITUATION Newly updated to reflect the latest in survival knowledge and technology, the internationally bestselling SAS Survival Handbook is the definitive resource for all campers, hikers, and outdoor adventurers. From basic campcraft and navigation to fear management and strategies for coping with any type of disaster, this complete course includes: BEING PREPARED: Understanding basic survival needs and preparing essentials, such as a pocket survival kit. MAKI NG CAMP: Finding the best location, constructing the appropriate shelter, organizing camp, and creating tools. FOOD: What to eat, what to avoid, where to find it, and how to prepare it. FIRST AID: Ac omprehensive course in emergency/wilderness medicine, including how to maximize survival in any climate or when injured. DISASTER SU RVIVAL: How to react in the face of increasingly frequent natural disasters and hostile situations-and how to survive at home if all services and supplies are cut off. JOHN lOfTY' WISEMAN served in the British Special Air Service (SAS) for twenty-six years. The SAS Survival Handbook is based on the training techniques of this world-famous elite fighting force. r HOW fEATURIHG , Visit WWI'I'. ..... t~ Of' rlc~el.tOm for elClusNe Inlorm Ition 0n you rlmlltl Hilpartolllnli uI h ors. " CASE STUDIES ~ SPORTS & RECREATION/Camping ~ AHD SURVIVAL = i. SCENARIOS .I ISBN 978-0-06-173319-2 ,~~l~lm~mJIJ~ll~ 1~~'lillillill • •••.•.•. • COLLINS • An Imp"nr of HarperCclliosPublishl.'rs $19.99 : www.harpercollins.com SAS SURVIVAL HANDBOOK JOHN 'LORY' WISEMAN Sj\S SlJ j\l. I~\'I\' lij\N I) 11(' (, I( REVISED EDITION FOR ANY CLIMATE. IN ANY SITUATION _ . \• ••.•.•... . -.C.. O-LL..I- -NS.- ..-- This new edition published in 2009 by Collins, an imprint of HarpcrColilns Publishers 10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022 Produee(1 by E55cntial Works www.essentialworks.ro.uk First published by Harvill 1986 Text Cl John Wiseman 1986, 2003, 2006. 2009 Illustrations 0 HarperCollins 1986, 2003. 2006, 2009 John Wiseman asserts the moral right to be identir.cd as the autllor of this work. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced. stored in a retrieval sYSlem. or transmitted. in any form or by any means. electronic. mechanical. photocopying, recording or olherwise, without Ihe prior permission of the publisher and copyright owners. For information. addre55 HMperCollins Publishers. 10 Easl 53((1 Street. New York. NY 10022. HarperCollins books may be purchased for educational, business, or sales promotional use. For information, please write: Spedal Markets Deparlment. HarperCollins Publishers, 10 East 53rd StreN. New York. NY 10022. CREDITS/ACKNOWlEDGEM ENTS The colour illustrations were painted by Norman Arion. Other illustrations were drawn by Steve Cross, Chris Lyon. Andrew Mawson and Tony Spalding. New design on the 2003 edition by Paul Collins. The editors would also like \0 thank Howard Loxton and Christopher McLehose. IS8N 978-0-06-173319-2 10111213/10987654 Printed and bound by Printing Express. Hong Kong For my father I C. H. WISEMAN who showed me the value of life and whose dedication to helping others I try to follow WARNING The survival techniques described in this publication are for use in dire circumstances where the safety of the individuals is at risk. Accordingly the publishers cannot accept any responsibility for any prosecutions or proceedings brought or instituted against any person or body as a result of the use or misuse of any techniques described or any loss, injury or damage caused thereby. In practising and perfecting these survival techniques the rights of landowners and all relevant laws protecting certain species of animals and plants and controlling the use of firearms and other weapons must be regarded as paramount. I: () IfTE IfTS INTRODUCTION 8 Q 1. ESSENTIALS 12 ~ 2. STRATEGY 50 ~ a 3. CLIMATE TERRAIN 62 ® 4. FOOD 108 " 5. CAMP CRAFT 244 6. READING THE SIGNS 348 ~ 7. ON THE MOVE 372 () 8. HEALTH 392 e 9. SURVIVAL AT SEA 480 ~ 10. RESCUE 504 0 11. DISASTERS 528 POSTSCRIPT 572 INDEX 573 INTRODUCTION In an increosingly uncertain world, the focus of this new edition is to prepare you for any survival situation you may encounter, Within these pages I look to ideotify every danger imaginoble and show you how to deal with it. The advice given here will prepare you both physically and mentally. and make you aware of all the hazards you may foce. Being fully prepared will give you the confidence to survive ogainst the odds - ond allow you to adopt when t/lings go wrong. For 26 years, 05 a professional soldier, { had the privilege of serving with the Special Air Service (SAS). This elite unit of the British Army is trained to carry out arduous operations in 0/1 parts of tile world, often isolated ond far from conventional forces. Working in small groups, often in enemy territory, SAS soldiers have to become their own doctor, dentist, navigator and cook. Frequently, the operational situation makes resupply impossible and they have to live off the land. They have to handle every kind of situation and problem, whether man-mode or on oct of nature, and get bock to safety, and must develop skills which enable them to survive anywhere. After serving throughout the world, I become the survival instructor to the SAS and it was my responsibility to ensure that each and every member of the Regiment could apply these skills in the field. Tested in training and operations, they form the basis of this new edition. The need for survival training has never been greater. Cheaper air travel has opened up the world, and there is virtually no place left on the face of the planet that we cannot and have not visited. This, added to factors such as increased leisure time, wealth, and the knowledge provided by television programmes, means that we are becoming more adventurous and informed about the world around us. But we must also toke into account the fact that over the lost 12 years the world has become a more unstable place. The Berlin wall come down in 1999, followed by the Gulf War, Bosnia, Kosovo and Sierra Leone. These events, however. were overshadowed by the catastrophic and tragic events of 11th September 2001, the resultant 'war on terror' and, of course, the wars in Iraq and AfglJOl1istan. These global conflicts have affected everyone and one things is for sure - our lives will never be the same again. 8 INTRODUCTION The instinct to survive will never change, neither will the human body's amazing ability to endure. Yet we should 0150 bear in mind til at, as we become more civilized, survival skills are being forgotten. It is doubly important, therefore, to practise our survival skills, and be prepared for anything. Survival training is tile best insurance policy you can take out in on unstable world. If we are all grounded in tile basic techniques of survival, and know what to do in an emergency, the world immediately becomes a safer place. You could be isolated anywhere in the world - from the arctic ice to a desert, from tropical rainforest to the open ocean, and the problems of survival are the some for both soldier and civilian. The difference lies in the circumstances; soldiers may need to hide their presence, whereas civilians will wont to attract attention to effect their rescue. In areas of instability, where the risk of kidnap is high it may be best to remain inconspicuous. Each environment calls for special survival techniques. Mountains, jungles, open plains and swamps con seem hazardous to the survivor, but each offers some form of support and call be exploited for food, fuel, water and shelter - if you know how. The effect of climate is crucial. Intense cold and searing heat clwllenge the survivor in different ways. You must know how to cope with both. You 0150 need a sense of how your body works and how it will react in different environments and situations. Assess yourself before you travel: for instance, test your basic survival skiffs by sleeping outside, making sure that you can light a fire, and even going without sleep or food for a period of time. This will show you how you react in a limited simulated scenario. Survival depends upon applying basic principles and adopting them to the circumstances. These basic principles form on essential pyramid of learning for the survivor. Knowledge Will to live 9