Survival Signals

are space blankets/survival blankets an effective means of blocking infra red signal, thinking of using it as a tactic in paintball as a smart arse friend got some ex military sights which i feel is a bit of a cheat!

It should work to an extent. Infrared radiation is pretty much just heat. Curved mirrors are used to reflect infrared sunlight to power solar cookers, and radiate the heat from a bar heater. It is the shiny reflective nature of the aluminium space blanket that would do the job. BUT once the blanket has absorbed some of your body heat it will just show up in your friend's sights as normal... If you put it on top of some well-insulating clothes it would work better.
Mind you, Arnie beat the Predator's IR vision by coating himself in mud! Good luck

2007-01-08 08:58:25 by dogstarhaze

Caleb looks at a few ways to attract attention in a survival situation.

Where can I find Waterproof, strike anywhere matches?

Where can I find Waterproof, battery-less flashlights?

Where can I find free topographic maps?

Is there a product called 'smoke signals' ? Where can I get them?

Thanks in advance. I am putting together a Survival Kit.

Aluminum foil is fairly generically useful. You're most likely to use it as an improvised container / pot, as it can contain water and handles heat quite nicely. It's also a large mirror, whether you're bouncing radio or light, when rescuers are looking for you, mirrors are very good thing. By the way, a foil tag on a branch isn't such a bad way of marking a trail, especially if you take the time to twist it on securely, and leave a nice large tag, which your flashlight can spot at night.

Battery-less flashlights can easily be found by googling "shake flashlight", as you charge them by shaking. They are a great choice for the flashlight you put in the car, next to your bed, and by the fuse box. The light is generally not as bright as a maglight, but not having to buy or swap batteries makes them much more affordable to keep around. http://www.survivalsolutions.com/store/p age8.html For a survival kit on a budget, these are wonderful: http://www.amazon.com/Illuminator-Powere d-focused-flashlight-charger/dp/B000HF2R VI/ref=pd_sbs_sg_3/102-0845529-2108940
For topographic maps, stop by the local library, and bring a few nickels for the photocopier. If you're looking for maps of the best places to hike locally, I'd also post on freecycle, and check with your local hiking groups for old, unused maps. Don't forget detailed local road maps in your emergency kit, it can be worthwhile to mark at least one flood route, and at least two back routes you could use in case of natural disaster.
- By the way, topographic maps are most useful when you're trying to navigate an area with few roads. If you're planning to really use it, paying a few bucks to have your map all in one piece can make things much less confusing.

I've found orange Smoke Signals made by a few companies, including Orion and Wessex. You can buy them here: http://www.landfallnav.com/-ssohs.html
Military surplus stores and good camping stores can be great places to visit when you're stocking a survival kit. If you arrive during times when they're not busy (probably weekdays) the clerk may have very good advice, especially in the smaller stores, many clerks are experienced campers. EMS http://www.ems.com is my current favorite, but many suplus stores are run by smart old veterans, who have great advice. They'll have all the little essentials like matches and waterproof containers for them.

One last piece of advice: a small all in one like this, which just sits in your pocket, can be invaluable. They're also allowed onto airplanes with you, and when the matches aren't allowed, the magnifying glass is a good emergency replacement.
http://www.amazon.com/AdventurePlus-Hi-I ntensity-Flashlight-Thermometer-Compartm ent/dp/B000FYZQMI