SAS Urban Survival Handbook How to Protect Yourself Against Terrorism, Natural Disasters, Fires, Home Invasions, and Everyday Health and Safety Hazards John 'Lofty' Wiseman Copyright © 2008 by John “Lofty” Wiseman. All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 555 Eighth Avenue, Suite 903, New York, NY 10018. www.skyhorsepublishing.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Wiseman, John, 1940 – The SAS urban survival handbook : how to protect yourself from domestic accidents, muggings, burglary, and attack / John “Lofty” Wiseman. p. cm. 9781602392168 1. Survival skills. I. Title. GF86.W57 2008 613.6—dc22 2007046887 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America. WARNING 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. All relevant local laws protecting certain species of animals and plants and controlling the use of firearms and other weapons must be regarded as paramount. For my mother EDIE who brought me up through difficult times with love and affection, and gave me a sense of responsibility to my fellow man Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Page Dedication FOREWORD 1 - Essentials 2 - Safety first 3 - DIY/craft hazards 4 - Poisons 5 - Fire! 6 - Security 7 - Work & play 8 - In transit 9 - Self-defence 10 - Terrorism 11 - Disasters 12 - Health ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FOREWORD My first book, The SAS Survival Handbook, deals with survival in the wild away from all resources, so you may be surprised to see me turning my attention to the problems and dangers of the urban environment. Unemployment and the high cost of accommodation contribute to serious social problems—the number of homeless sleeping rough in London, New York and other major cities is powerful evidence of the stresses that exist. For the newcomer, in particular, the going can be tough and frightening. It really is a jungle out there. Everyone is exposed to an enormous number of risks and dangers, which they have to try to cope with on top of all their own personal, health and financial stresses. These range from ordinary domestic accidents to burglary, muggings and even the terrorist threat. In 27 years as a soldier I was always glad to return home, where I could relax in the ‘safe’ domestic environment. How wrong I was! I once returned after four months in a fierce war without a scratch. I’d only been in the house for two minutes when I stood up in the kitchen and cut my head badly on a cupboard door. That started me thinking. Every year there are thousands of fatal accidents in the home—more than on the roads, and many more than in the great outdoors. The home has all the ingredients for disaster under one roof—fire, electricity, water, gas, sharp knives, power tools, heights, poisons and chemicals. In the wild you rarely have two dangerous things to contend with at the some time. At home you also have people from every age group. I have watched my seven children growing up and have seen the dangers they were exposed to—not just in and around the house, but at school and on the streets. Safety is largely a matter of common sense and following basic rules. This is easiest when you’re not under pressure. If you’re in unfamiliar surroundings and under threat, your judgement is likely to be clouded. If you’re late for work or school, you may forget to lock the house and take a short cut through a dangerous area. You must recognize when you’re taking chances and learn to make decisions quickly. The pace of urban life is sometimes too fast to keep up with. The world is what we have made it—if we want to enjoy all of its pleasures, we must be aware of the dangers. I didn’t write this book to scare anyone. I want to show you how to avoid these dangers. The same awareness and readiness that are required when surviving in the wild really are necessary in the city, too. That’s why this book is called The Urban Survival Handbook. I would like to thank Christopher MacLehose of Harvill for first encouraging me to write this book, and Tony Spalding for helping me to shape it. Also thanks to all the people who helped me gather information and my mates with whom I learned my own basic skills. Most of all, thanks to my family—concern for whom first awakened me to the dangers of the urban jungle. John “Lofty” Wiseman 1 Essentials We are constantly reminded that the world is a dangerous place—pollution, food processing, violence and natural disasters are all beyond our direct control. City life adds further stresses, which may become too much to bear. BE A SURVIVOR Natural enemies • Pollution • Radiation • Processed Foods BODY MATTERS Vitamin overdose • Exercise • Chemical risks • Substance abuse STRESS Dealing with stress • Working out your problems • Relaxation • Counselling • Fear • Violence in the city • Catastrophes CITY SURVIVAL KIT BE A SURVIVOR! Every man, woman and child has to face a multitude of dangers in their lives. The added pressures of urban life can often make those problems seem impossible to deal with. It’s VITAL to understand the dangers at home, at work, on the streets (at least) and to get to grips with as many as possible. Take control! The safer you make your day-to-day existence, the better able you will be (and the more time and energy you will have) to deal with major crises. How can you expect to deal with a serious health, emotional or financial set-back, if you’re totally preoccupied with surviving the dangers of your own home? Your strategy must be to avoid unnecessary risks in the urban environment and minimize the damage caused by those you can’t avoid. You must develop an attitude to urban life that will help you cope with all