7 Skills We Should All Know (of Course You Should Learn More)

#1: How to Purify Water

There are three main methods of making water safe to drink:

• boiling (water will need to be at a full, rolling boil for at least 5 minutes)
• chemical purifiers (1 to 2 drops or tablets of iodine, chlorine, potassium permanganate, or halazone per quart of water)
• store-bought charcoal or ceramic filters

When looking for a place to gather fresh water, look out for a few context clues. Make sure there are no dead animals nearby, that the plants surrounding the water look healthy, and avoid collecting stagnant water.

#2: How to Start a Fire without Matches

And how will you boil water, let alone cook food, stay warm, and keep predatory animals away? With a fire, of course! Matches and fuel-fed lighters will make the job easy, but those man-made conveniences won't be around forever. "Matches will run out—you have to have some way of starting a fire without them," says Brent Sr. (there are several ways. Look up some of them)

#3: How to Treat an Allergic Reaction

If you or someone in your party is allergic to bees, wasps, or certain foods, you're going to need to know how to stop the severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. Symptoms of this life-threatening reaction include, itching and swelling, which leads to swallowing and breathing difficulties, increased heart rate, sudden weakness, and shock, among others.

Unfortunately, there's only one treatment for anaphylaxis, according to WebMD: epinephrine by injection. So stock up on a few EpiPens for your emergency medical kit.

#4: How to Suture or Treat a Wound

When you're out in the elements without access to a hospital or antibiotics, a dirty wound could mean certain death. If you have a big cut on your leg, you're going to need to know how to treat a wound to prevent infection.

#5: Basic Bartering Techniques & Top Barter Items

In a crisis of epic proportions, you will not be able to run to your local Wal-Mart for the things you need. The solution, says Brent Sr., is bartering. To successfully negotiate a good trade, you'll need to know what items are highly valuable:

• gold and silver (including pre-1965 dimes and half-dollars)
• addictive goods (coffee, alcohol, cigarettes)
• freeze-dried foods (they're good for 35 years and weigh very little)
• longterm storage food, such as wheat (unground wheat will last a lifetime)
• gasoline, diesel fuel, and kerosene
• medical supplies
• guns and ammo

#6: How to Hot-wire and Repair Vehicles

"If you have to get somewhere further away fast, you need to have a knowledge of automobiles," says Brent Sr.

The most basic technique for starting a car without the key, is to stick a flathead screwdriver in the ignition, and turn it as you would a key.

#7: How to Read a Map and Use a Compass

Most people ask Siri or the Garmin lady how to get where they want to go. But in an off-the-grid scenario, electronics won't work for long, and you'll need to be able to find your way with a standard map and compass.



There are many more skills you should learn to be “fully” prepared but these are definitely some you should consider.