Survival Handbook IN CAMBODIAN WILDERNESS
Kim Tech Lim
Survival Handbook
Survival Handbook In cambodian rainforests
Kim Tech Lim
Table of Contents ➔ Introduction_______________ 6 ➔ Making Emergency symbol_ 7 ➔ How to get food:___________ 12 ◆ Traps__________________ 13 ◆ Foraging plants and identifying plants _____ 20 ➔ How get safer water_______ 29 ➔ How to build shelter_______ 39 ➔ Navigating yourself, finding where's north______________ 44 ➔ How to start a fire__________ 49 ➔ Making improvised tool____ 60
Introduction: My name is Kim Tech Lim. I am a student at International School of Phnom Penh (ISPP). I am in grade 10, every student in grade 10 need to do a personal project created out of their own interest. For my project, I chose to do a survival handbook guide for others. I have a strong passion for living in the wild and creating things from what mother nature can give to us. Not too long ago, when I was deciding what project I should make, a news about a family of tourist lost in Cambodia jungle found 3 weeks after. This struck me the idea of making a survival handbook. The purpose of the handbook is to give knowledge of how to survive in the wild, and how to communicate that you are in need of help.
Making Emergency Symbols
Making Emergency Symbols
8
Why is making emergency symbols important? Emergency symbols is a very important thing to do first when you get lost. It will inform others that you needed help. The emergency symbol can be seen by ship, aircraft, passenger and more‌ Emergency symbols are universally used to inform other that you are in distress or in need of help. You should leave clues to where you are and that you are requesting for help from others.
Making Emergency Symbols
It is important to know that if you are lost in the wild, it is best you to stay at one place and communicating that to other, by a few methods listed below. Remember 3 of anything is a distress signal. Method 1: Using a whistle, Blow the whistle like the following: - 3 short blasts with a 1-minute pause Or - 3 short blasts, 3 long dashes and 3 short blasts with a 1-minute pause.
9
Material: â—?
Whistle Or Flashlight
Method 2: Using a flashlight, flash the light like the following sequence to signal that you are in distressed: - 3 short light 3 long dashes of light and 3 short light.
Making Emergency Symbols
If you are in a plain area, the following method will be effective for aerial searchers to spot you.
10
Material: ● ● ●
Rock Stick/Wood Parachute (optional)
Method 1: Using rocks, sticks and wood make S.O.S, letter V shape or X shape.
Method 2: If you are planning to leave your area make a big arrow, indicating which way you went. If you have a parachute, the bright colour will attract attention. Using the parachute make it into the S.O.S sign, V letter, X shape or even the big arrow.
Making Emergency Symbols 11
Method 3: Create 3 fire piles in the shape of triangle, or Create a big pile of wood that releases a lot of smoke this is a universal indication of distress.
Material: ● ● ●
Fire Wood Reflective material
Method 4: Using a reflective material, such as the bottom of a soda can, mirror, or aluminum sheets, flash the reflection of light to passing aircraft 3 times.
TIPS: 3 of anything is a distress signal or you might want to use the morse code which is 3 short 3 dash and 3 short
How to find food
How to find food: Trap Making
13
Trap Making Why is making traps useful? Traps making is really useful. It takes less energy than hunting and can give you a more potential source of food. Traps are used thousands of years around. In Cambodia, traps are usually made to catch fish as Cambodia is very gifted with natural water sources all over the country. A few simple and easy traps can be found below.
How to find food: Traps making
A very simple and easy way to catch fish is by using an improvised trap from a water bottle. Making plastic bottle fish trap. Step 1: Take a plastic bottle and cut in half of where the sticker is. A bamboo piece will also work for the bottom of the trap
14
Material: â—?
â—?
Plastic water bottle Knife or scissor
Step 2: Take the cutted half and turn the cutted top half face in. Next, place the trap in the water source (Lakes, rivers, pond) and make sure it doesn’t float away. Put stone inside to give it some weight and put bait for a better result.
How to find food: Traps making
On the more difficult but more effective side of trap for catching fishes is the Cambodian deep hole fishing. It has been used for many years ago and has proven to be effective.
15
Material: â—?
Digging tool
Deep Hole Fishing Step 1: Dig a hole with a wide of half a meter and 1 meter deep near a water source Step 2: Make a few funnels leading to the hole so that the fish can swim in. Make sure the funnel is slippery * The funnel doesn’t have to be deep, just around 5 centimeters deep.
How to find food: Traps making Step 3: Put a few sticks in the hole.
Step 4: Cover the traps with leaves.
Fishes will try to find their way into the holes because it’s colder in there.
16
How to find food: Traps making
There is a fish trap that is very simple and only needs a few materials. Step 1: Find a small pocket of water that contains fish inside Step 2: Take rocks, logs or wood to block the water pocket away from the main water so that the fish doesn't have anywhere to escape
17
Material: â—? â—?
Rock, log, wood Killing tool (optional)
Rocks to block
Step 3: Using a knife, spear or rock throw at the fish; Killing it.
TIPS: Expect the unexpected.
How to find food: Traps making
This is a trap used to catch fish, it’s an automatic fishing rod.
18
Material: ● ● ●
Fishing Line Hook Sticks
Making Automatic Fishing Rod. Step 1: Hammer a stick into the ground and tie a piece of wood making a #1. Step 2: Make another #1 stick same as before but this time don’t hammer it in.
Bait
Land
Water
Step 3: Using the nearby tree, make sure it’s flexible, tie a string on the tree, connecting 1 end to the second #1 stick you made and the hook on the other. All that is left to do is to throw the hook (with bait) into the water and connect the second #1 sticks to the one on the ground.
How to find food: Traps making
This next traps will requires some energy and skills, but it will give you big rewards. Can be used to catch land animals.
19
Material: ● ● ●
Digging tool Wood or bamboo Knife
Making Death Fall Trap Step 1: Take wood/bamboo and sharpen the end of the wood/bamboo. Step 2: Dig a hole with depth of 1 meter and as wide as Step 3: possible. Push the wood/bamboo into the Take 2 weak branches or 2 vines and place it hole sharpen end up. over the trap then find big leaves or * Remember the wider it is the more chance and make a pile of leaves covering the trap. bigger pray it will get.
Foraging Food
How to find food: Foraging Food
21
Foraging Food Why is foraging food useful? Foraging for wild food can be dangerous some-times, because many wild foods are toxic to humans. But foraging food can also be very useful due to the facts that we can conserve a lot of energy. In fact, sometimes fruits like nuts will give you a lot of proteins, fats and other nutrients that you need. There are many indications that you can identify if the plant contains toxic. So we should learn how to identify wild food, and know where to search for the food the safest chance.
How to find food: Foraging Food
22
Place to search for safer wild food When foraging for food it’s important that you know where to search for: -
-
Avoid stagnant/contaminated water. Plants that grow in this environment are most likely to contain toxic or bacteria and parasites from the contaminated water. Water sources that have a lot of green algae growing around should be avoided. Look for animals drinking the water source, usually, animals know best if the water is safe to drink, therefore the water can be considered non-contaminated. If you see a dead animal corpse, that environment should be avoided; cause of death could be contaminated water or predatory animal around.
How to find food: Foraging Food
23
What plants should be avoided Plants found in the wild mostly contain toxic, therefore knowing what plants to avoid is very important. - Plants that has white/yellow berries most likely to contain toxic and must be avoided - Plants with leaves in group threes are related to poison ivy and will cause death in a matter of second. - Plants that have thorns like cactus, turn their water into nondrinkable water so don’t consider them - Bitter tasting plants are supposed to be avoided. - Many types of mushroom are poisonous to human, but if you are 100% sure what type it is you can eat it. - Seeing animals eating leaves/plants doesn’t mean the plant is edible as many animals can handle toxic better than human can.
How to find food: Foraging Food
24
Identifying edible plant Refrain from eating shiny leaves plants. The process of identifying edible plants can be done like the following: 1. Separating the plants into separate parts (Roots, stems, leaves, flowers, buds and fruit), look for pests and insects, if there’s any of that animal consider other plants. If no pest/insect continue to next step 2. Crush the different parts of the plants and rub it into your skin. If there’s any negative reaction; swelling, redness, itching, burning. Then those plants are considered to contain toxic. If this step doesn’t apply go to next step. 3. Hold the plants against your lip. If you feel itching, burning, or tingling. Stop here.
How to find food: Foraging Food
25
4. Taste a small portion of the plant. Take a portion of the plants on your tongue, not to chew, but place it there for 15 minutes, if there’s any negative sign, spit it out and stop here. 5. When at this stage, you can now chew the plants slowly. For fifteen minutes, if no sight of negative impact is shown, swallow the plants. Not so fast, you still need to wait another 8 hours to see whether the plants have an effect on our internal organs. If you experience vomiting/nauseous make sure you drink plenty of fresh water.
TIPS: If you see snake, it’s better off running away from it.
How to find food: Foraging Food
26
Common edible plants in Cambodia Bamboo: Bamboo is really common in Cambodia, usually it can be found near water sources. To prepare bamboo take young bamboo stems, cut it from the base and split the husk with your knife/improvised tools. The soft, tender plant inside can be cooked in water like other vegetables.
.
How to find food: Foraging Food
27
Sugar Palm can be found all over Cambodia, those palm trees are said to indicate Cambodia’s land mass before. But those palm tree has fruits that contain sweet water and will restore your energy. The fruits need to be cut, afterward take the soft brown fruit inside, remove the shell and the white flesh inside can be consumed.
.
How to find food: Foraging Food
28
Coconuts: are also one of the most common plants found in Cambodia. Coconut is a good source of water and food. Coconut are not to be consume 5 days straight.
Lotus Plants: found all over Cambodia, in ponds and river, this plant is a life-saving plant. The stem, the fruit and the root of the plants can be devoured. Make sure to boil it before eating. The process of harvesting lotus plant can be dangerous. Avoid entering the water, because the plant can tangle your feets.
.
How to find water
How to find water
30
Safer Water What water is safe to drink? Water are found all over Cambodia, some are drinkable and some aren’t. Water in Cambodia can be found on mountains, plains, jungles, rainforests‌ Many plants also contain water. This is because Cambodia have a tropical weather, therefore rain happens very frequently here. But any water that touches the ground is contaminated. Contaminated water is really dangerous to human; it causes death from water microorganism or poison; which could be filtered out beforehand. So knowing how to filter/purify water is important.
.
How to find water
31
Knowing where to get water. First of all, when searching for water you need to know the basic of where can water be located. If you can, go to the highest point in your area and look for water sources, if the forest is too dense look for places with dark green leaves. Sign of wildlife is a good indication of water too. Take a close examination of your surrounding. Look for animal tracks, animal feces, bees, mosquitoes, ants, flies, and birds.
When you found a water source look around, if you see no plants around then the water might contain toxic. And be careful, predatory animal likes to camp near water shroud for potential food sources.
How to find water
32
Animal tracks: Follow animal tracks they are most likely to lead us to water. If the animal tracks is a predatory animal, following the tracks can be dangerous, for it can sometimes lead to the animal’s territory/preys and they can get really aggressive to protect their property.
This is a Mountian Lion’s tracks
Animal Feces: Finding/spotting animal feces can be easier than spotting animal tracks, so when you find animal feces look at the surrounding for animal tracks and follow the track.
TIPS: Don’t drink water that are not clean/filtered/purified.
How to find water
33
Mosquitoes: Spotting mosquitoes is a good sign of slow moving water or standing water nearby. Bees: Follow the bees, it will lead you to water or to its hive.
Flies: Flies is a better indication of nearby water, as far as 100 meters from a water source. Birds: Finding birds in group means there’s nearby water. Birds like to group up near a water source.
How to find water
34
How to filter/purify water To filter water, you will need a piece of clothing such as your shirt, or even your socks. Next, put the moisturized dirt inside your clothing and suck out the water. If the water you get is straight from a water source, you can make a simple straw water filter by: 1. Take a tube or straw 2. At the end of the tube put in dry grass 3. In the middle add charcoal 4. On top add dirt 5. Now cover the top of the tube with your cloth and put the straw/tube into the water and drink from it
How to find water
35
How to make water filter A better and cleaner way to filter water is actually making the water filter. To make a water filter you need to do the following: 1. 2.
3.
4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Get a plastic bottle and cut the bottom of the bottle. Remove the water bottle cap and puncture a hole in the middle of the cap, now screw it back. Turn the bottle upside down and add mosses or grass for that first layer or a piece of cloth if possible. In the second layer add dirt. In the third layer, add active charcoal. For the fourth layer, add sand and pack it down For the rest of the bottle add gravel On the top of your bottle add a piece of cloth or your shirt to cover the bottle, and that should be your water filter done.
How to find water
36
How to use a water filter Once you have made the water filter now to get the water to drink you need to: 1. Put a water container under the water filter bottle cap. 2. Pour water into the top of the filter where a piece of cloth is covering it. 3. Next, step to be extremely safe boil the water. There are several ways to boil water in the wild.
How to find water
37
Different ways to boil water 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Boil in plastic bottle: Make a tripod with 3 sticks. Take a piece of string and tie it to a plastic bottle fill with water with the cap on. Now hang it from the tripod Start a fire below it and make sure the fire won’t melt the bottle. Leave it for 1 - 2 minutes before removing it.
TIPS: Always boil your water if possible
How to find water
38
Boil using the stone boiling technique. 1. Make a fire 2. Put stone inside the fire pit 3. Dig a hole/Find a natural hole; a hollow tree trunk will work too. If you have a container like a coconut you can use it. 4. Fill it with water 5. Now place the stone that was in the fire in the water. 6. When the water starts to bubble your water is done. This technique is used so that the container doesn’t melt/burn, but at the same time boil the water.
Building Shelter
How to build shelter
40
Shelter Why do we needs to make shelter? Unlike when trying to navigate yourself, we need to make your shelter at low altitude. Whether you go on an adventure at sea, in the woods, or in a desert; a shelter is the most crucial thing you need to consider and build before night falls. A good shelter will define your well-being physically and mentally. When you have a full, peaceful rest, it will give you the energy to get to work the next day. Don’t be scared to design your own type of shelter.
TIPS: Get your shelter before sunset.
How to build shelter
41
Making survival shelter. There are two types of shelters you can build in a short time and require fewer resources, most of which can be found in the wilderness. Method 1 - Makeshift tent: 1. Find a good location, with Material: 2 trees 2. Tie the string between the ● Sheet or cover 2 trees ● Strings 3. Hang your sheet/cover ● Tent over the string anchors 4. Secure your sheet to the ground.
How to build shelter Method 2 - Lean-to shelter: This is a very easy way to make shelter in the wild. The required material can be found in the wild. 1. 2.
3. 4.
42
Material: ● ● ● ●
Logs Sticks Leaves A strong tree
Find a good sturdy tree on high ground Pile up some sticks to build a structure. Keep it low so it can keep you out of the wind. Pile up the leaves to form the roof to protect yourself from the sun and rain Make sure you keep enough space to crawl and sleep in
How to build shelter Method 3 - Coastal shelter: This shelter will protect you from high wind. When making this shelter always make sure that sea won’t Flood your shelter. 1.
2.
3.
43
Material: ● ● ●
Digging tool Draft wood Leaves
Find a good location with high point, and start digging a tunnel about the size of your body. Use wood to support the side of the sand tunnel and make an upside down V shape with the wood, and cover it with leaves. Make sure you have a opening to enter the shelter.
Navigating Yourself
Navigating yourself
45
Navigation Why do we need to navigate? You need to navigate yourself so that you get an idea of where you are and what’s on your terrain. It is very useful when finding plains, spotting water, finding civilization‌ Knowing which way is north, south, east, west might help you get out of where you are if you remember where you came from. Keep in mind, if you are lost in the wood, stay in one place is the best way to get help from other.
Navigating yourself
46
Navigating yourself. Remembering North, South, East, West. Never Eat Slimy Worm
You will need to observe your surrounding and look for mosses or spider web. - Mosses usually grow in the north, because of less sunlight
-
Spider webs usually appear on the south sides of trees
Navigating yourself
47
Using stick method: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Stick a straight stick into the ground, and mark the tip of the shadow Leave it for 1 - 2 hours. Mark the shadow again. Draw a straight line from the two dots, your first dot is the eat and your second one is the west.
TIPS: Sun rises in the east, set in the west.
Navigating yourself
48
Using the earth Material: Magnetic pole: ● Needle 1. Stroke the needle on the ● Magnet magnet a few times. ● Water 2. Find a pool of water and put a leaf or a bottle cap in the middle of the pool 3. On top of the leaf, place the needle on top. 4. The leaf should turn and the tip of the needle is north.
Using the north star: At night, it’s easier to navigate yourself, look up into the sky and the brightest star in the sky is the north star. If you walk following the north star. We are walking toward the north. But walking at night wouldn’t be advised.
How to make Fire
How to make fire
50
Making Fire Why is making fire crucial? Fire is the essence and key to surviving in the wild. Fire can be used to cook food, boil water and attract attention from searchers. Fire are used to chase away animals, including mosquitoes. So it’s important to know how to start a fire. Long ago, mankind can only get fire from natural occur such as lighting strike which can be rare. Now making fire can be as easy as striking a match, but what if you don’t have a match in your survival situation. This is where you need to know how to make a fire comes in.
How to make fire
51
Making Tinder Before learning how to make ember/start a fire, we first need to know how to make tinder. Tinder is essentially a dry, flammable material used to start a fire. Down below is a few ways to make tinder. -
Take dry grass and fluff it up, this will be your tinder. Find bird nest, bird nest make good tinder Fluff up coconut husks by pulling it makes a good flammable tinder. Trees bark or cattail fluff makes good tinder too.
How to make fire
52
Starting a fire Material: There’s many ways to start a fire. Hand drill technique is ● Coal commonly known but aren’t ● Water or Pee practical for beginner. ● Clear There are other way to start plastic a fire easier than the handdrill technique. Here’s a few method: Method 1 - Solar fire energy: 1. Get your tinder and kindling ready. 2. Take a piece of coal or dry bark and crush it into powder 3. Put the powder on a dry bark 4. Now fill your round edges clear plastic bag/bottle with water (Magnifying glass is best) 5. Place the plastic over the powder. 6. Once you have the ember, gently take the tinder and hold it on top, and blow gently.
How to make fire Method 2 - Bow drill technique: This method is not easy, but easier than handdrill technique:
1.
2.
53
Material: ● ● ●
Stick Wood String
Find a piece of wood and make a notch/hole in the wood and that will be your fireboard. From the same type of tree make the spindle, by carving it into a cylinder spindle. The spindle should have a pointy top and a dull at the back.
How to make fire
54
3. Find a long stick and tie a string on both side to work as a bow. 4. Now put the spindle in the notch and take the bow and twist the string around the spindle. 5. Start pushing the bow back and forth horizontally. 6. Once you have the ember, gently take the tinder and hold it on top, and blow gently.
How to make fire Method 3 - Bamboo fire saw: Bamboo fire saw is an Ancient way to start fire, and it is extremely easy.
55
Material: â—? â—?
Bamboo Knife
1. Pick 1 dead bamboo and start scraping out the coding of the bamboo. 2. Once most of the coding is removed, start increasing the pressure and you will see the bamboo shaving on the side of your knife. 3. Keeps doing till the piles get around the size of an egg.
How to make fire
56
4. Roll the bundle and split the piles into two. 5. Cut your bamboo into half and using your knife drill a holes into the bamboo. 6. Make a groove above the hole. And that is going to be your fireBoard.
7. Place your two the tinder bundle directly to either side of the hole you created. Hold them in place by using bamboo skins.
How to make fire
57
8. Take the other half of the bamboo and start rubbing the fireboard groove with the other half of the bamboo. 9. Increasing the pressure will help make the bamboo create faster ember. 10. Once ember is created it should fall straight into the fire tinder bundle that we created. 11. The bamboo is reusable so keep it for another time.
How to make fire Method 4 - Rubbing method: This method should be capable and can be used in Cambodia
58
Material: ● ●
Coconut husks Dry piece of softwood
1. Collect coconut husks or tinder. 2. Find a dry piece of softwood. And another stick from the same type of tree. 3. A sharp rock can be used to carve some wood into a long and narrow stick, cut the tip of stick so that it’s slanted at a 45o on both sides. 4. Use your flat rock to make a groove as a guide for the friction stick.
How to make fire
59
5. Take the stick and push it back and forth, keeping the 45o to the board. 6. When it start getting smoother start adding friction. 7. Charnwood Dust should be starting to pile up. 8. Take that charnwood dust and place it into a tinder and gently blow at it.
Improvise Tools
Making improvised tool
61
Improvise Tool Why improvise tool? Chances are when you are out in the wild, you wouldn’t have all the tools to you. You properly didn’t expect to get yourself into this situation where you need a tool in the wild and that you can’t get it anywhere else. That’s why improvise tool are so important and crucial in a survival situation.
TIPS: Keys to survival is improvisation.
Making improvised tool
62
Improvise digging tools You can easily make a digging tool/shovel, by just taking a stick and using it as a shovel. To improve that shovel, you can find yourself a bamboo and cut it in a 45o so that it will make digging easier and faster. Another method is to find a stick split the stick into half and adding a thin hardwood in the middle.
.
Making improvised tool
63
Improvise Fishing Hooks. You can make fishing hooks from a single thorn plant, many thorns plants, stick and bone to act as hooks, stick, and nails or even a safety pin in a shape of the hook. A piece of bone can also be carved into the shape of a hook.
Scavenge everything around you to use as your fishing line; could be a net, a string or make your own string.
Making improvised tool
64
Improvise Strings You can use strong vines/roots of trees as strings. The roots are really strong and can hold your body weight. You can also make strings from coconut too.
Making improvised tool
65
Coconut strings: Coconut strings: 1. Bust an old coconut open, notice the hairy fibers. a. If it is a brown coconut (mature one) then its very dry 2. Use your fingertips and pull off bits of that to get finest fibers possible 3. Get rid of hard fibers and only keep fine fluffy stuff 4. Grab a few fiber, give a little pinch and start twisting. Keep pulling and twisting 5. Twist the cord so you put tension on it to create a reverse twist that locks the 2 cords together by twisting in the same direction ( binds them so they can’t come undone) 6. Grab another cord then unravel them then break the fibers together and giving it a twist 7. This grafts it into one continuous piece
“Be Positive, Be Strong, and be Resourceful…” -Bear Grylls