DON’T MISS: WHY KEEP YOUR FIREARMS CLEAN

AVOID BEING
FOLLOWED THROUGH
THE WILDERNESS

IN THIS ISSUE: JUNE 2018

VITAL POINTS TO HOW TO MAKE A

TARGET IN A FIGHT SMOKELESS FIRE

KNOW THE TIPS TO SURVIVE

RISKS BEFORE A VOLCANIC
YOU BUG OUT ERUPTION

THE RIGHT WAY WHEN DID YOU

TO USE A LAST TEST YOUR
TOURNIQUET SHTF PLAN?

and more…
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JUNE 2018

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Contents
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AVOID BEING FOLLOWED THROUGH THE WILDERNESS

FEATURED This is a worst-case scenario. You've bugged out, as a major crisis took down the city you call
home. You're on the way to your bug out location, but you can't shake the feeling you're…

WHEN DID YOU LAST TEST YOUR SHTF PLAN?

page 4 In a recent session with our students, we asked a simple question that was rather eye-opening.
"When did you last test your SHTF plan?”…

WHY KEEP YOUR FIREARMS CLEAN

page 5 It's no secret that I hate cleaning our house. Scrubbing bathrooms and washing dishes isn't for
me. But I'll spend hours in my garage fiddling with my guns. Because it's both relaxing and…

HOW TO MAKE A SMOKELESS CAMPFIRE

page 6 I have a love-hate relationship with fire. There's nothing better than sitting by a campfire when
you're out in the wild, the light from the flames is a nice comfort, and a grilled steak…

VITAL POINTS TO TARGET IN A FIGHT

page 8 If you're in a street fight you're already in big trouble. Your opponent will have no qualms about
fighting dirty, and there's a big possibility you're going to get seriously injured before the fight…

KNOW THE RISKS BEFORE YOU BUG OUT

page 9 Bugging out is a last resort. You're leaving the comfort of your home, along with all of your
supplies, and heading to another location. You hope it's exactly as you prepared it, but you…

TIPS TO SURVIVE A VOLCANIC ERUPTION

page 10 Ever since I was a kid I've loved volcanoes. We made models that "erupted" in science class and
learnt all about the science behind predicting eruptions. But when you start imagining…

THE RIGHT WAY TO USE A TOURNIQUET

page 11 Imagine this scenario. You're in the middle of the woods and there's an accident. A bad one.
Perhaps you startled a bear and one of your group has been mauled before you could scare it…

STOPPING THE MOSQUITOES WHEN YOU’RE CAMPING

page 13 There's nothing I love more than summer. It's the perfect weather to get out and explore new
campsites, hike trails that I've been over my whole life, and escape the chaos of the city…

1
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JUNE 2018
AVOID BEING FOLLOWED THROUGH THE WILDERNESS
This is a worst-case scenario. You've
bugged out, as a major crisis took down
the city you call home. You're on the
way to your bug out location, but you
can't shake the feeling you're not alone.
And with the rule of law already out
the window, it becomes a desperate
situation.
You have no idea what those behind
you are planning, but it can't be good.
Best case, they take your supplies and
leave you be. Worst case, well, let's just
say it's not going to end well. Because
in a disaster, the biggest risk you face is
other people.
To truly escape and evade those
following you, there's a few things you
need to learn.
HUNKER DOWN AND HIDE
When you're concealed and in cover,
you're protected from enemy fire
because they cannot see you. The first
step is to identify any areas you can use
to hide, so you're not in a direct line of
sight. This can throw them off the trail
and give you the chance to wait until
dark, so you can slip out undetected.
Trouble is, you need to make it safely to
nightfall, so this may not be the best
idea if they're close behind, or they've
got tracking dogs to sniff you out.
You'll need to make this call depending All of your gear should be wrapped and
on the situation you're in. Otherwise, muffled so there's no buckles rattling or
you need to run. unnecessary noise.
MAKE NO MARKS This also goes for where you're walking.
Crashing through branches not only
As soon as you start running through leaves a path, but it creates a
the wild, you've become your biggest disturbance that'll send birds flying and
weakness. Any branches you break, make a whole lot of racket. Tread
dislodge, or clear will create a path carefully and remember to slow down. I
that's a tell-tale sign to anyone tracking. don't know about you, but I make a lot
more noise when I rush.
Look carefully at any trail marks you
may be leaving behind, and either cover So, take a breath, and slow it down.
them up, or be more careful. This is
especially important if you're crossing
different types of terrain, like stepping
out of a stream and leaving a big old
muddy footprint on the bank. Or
leaving a flattened path of grass behind
you as you push through a field. Look
for ways you can avoid leaving any “Without
marks, or carry a small springy sapling
and brush away any footprints you
make. Oh, and don't drop any trash.
using these
Cigarette butts and food wrappers are
like a trail of breadcrumbs that can lead techniques
your pursuers right to you.
you will
BE AS SILENT AS POSSIBLE
When you're in the wild you need to
struggle to
take care of the noises you're making.
Grunts and groans are obviously improve…”
human sounds, and anything metallic
clanging will carry a long distance in the
stillness of nature.
2
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JUNE 2018

cont.

CONCEAL YOUR SMELLS

If you're on the run there's not much

you can do about your sweat, which is a
very obvious human scent, but you can
avoid a couple of others. Cigarettes are
a dead giveaway, as well as your
campfire. The smoke carries through
the trees and can be detected from
quite a distance. The same goes with
cooking. I understand you have to eat,
but anything you cook will draw the
attention of anyone else in the area.
Oh, and if you need to go, make sure
to dig a small pit and conceal it well.
Human scat is an obvious marker those
following you will be looking for.

DON’T TURN ON THE LIGHT

There's a certain comfort that comes

with having a flashlight, but in a pitch-
black forest the beam from your torch
is a beacon that will draw anyone
watching right to you. Get red lenses
for your torches and keep the light only
for emergencies. I understand that you
may need it to move around
successfully at night, but just remember
to keep the light pointed down and
under your jacket as much as possible.
You don't want your flashlight to be
your undoing.

CHANGE UP YOUR ESCAPE

When you're bring hunted you need to

do everything you can to throw your
followers off the trail. Switch up your
pace to increase the distance between
you and those behind and look for
anything you can use to throw them off
the path. Change direction frequently
even if you're got a destination in mind
and be willing to use tricks to get every
advantage you can. Make an obvious
trail in the wrong direction then double
back a few hundred meters before
leaving your trail permanently in
another direction. This can buy you
time as your followers try to pick up
your new trail.

SET AN AMBUSH

There's one hard and fast way to ensure
the person following you doesn't catch
up, and that's to set an ambush. Look
for any areas where you may be able to
double back, or to take a vantage point
to take a shot at your would-be
followers. This does present a risk
though, if you fail to execute the
ambush properly, they will know you're
onto them (it probably won't work a
second time).
Plus they may step up their chase to get
to you before you get a second chance.
Finally, remember to practice. Without
using these techniques you will struggle
to improve, as you probably won't even
realize the mistakes you're making. In
our survival group we practice this
every now and then, with a "chase" to
see if we could actually get away from a
group that's following.
It's also a great workout and allows
those in my team to implement
everything we've learnt.
The first couple of times it was an easy
win, but it's much more difficult these
days for us to catch up to the person
we're chasing. And that's a good thing
in a crisis.

3
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JUNE 2018
WHEN DID YOU
LAST TEST YOUR
SHTF PLAN?
In a recent session with our students,
we asked a simple question that was
rather eye-opening.
"When did you last test your SHTF
plan?"
For many, they had never tried to put
any of their survival gear, training or
supplies into action. With stockpiles of
food, bug-out bags fully loaded, and
months and months' worth of supplies,
more than half of the students had
never even done a dry run.
I was shocked, but it hits a real pain
point with survival. We spend so much
time planning and prepping, but where
many survivalists lack is the practical
aspect. We've never gone a week
without power or running water. We've
never tried to last a month without
going to a supermarket.
And that's a problem. Because once the
SHTF these simple luxuries are going
to be gone.
Today, I want you to make a
commitment. A commitment that will
push you to test if your survival plans
are actually any good. Don't worry if it
doesn't go well, the key here is to learn,
and to improve. Because many things
you won't actually notice until there's a
real problem.
Like, if the food you've got stored is
still edible. (Or if you can even stomach
eating it).
Or if you've forgotten simple aspects
of your planning. Like having a
properly insulated home. Or connecting
your hot water service to your solar
panels so you're not suffering with
freezing water if there's a grid-down
scenario during winter.
Where I live the most common threat is
storms. We get hurricanes, which lead
to flooding, trees down, and there's
often a few days a year where our
power supply gets cut off. In my plan,
these are the situations I've prepared
for first, with larger SHTF events like a
terrorist attack or a complete grid-down
scenario being far less likely. But it's still
in there.
And we do tests for these situations
every three or so months. Here's how.
How to test your survival plans
STEP ONE. GRID DOWN
The simplest test we do is a grid down
scenario. It's relatively straightforward,
on a random day, turn the power off at
the breaker, and the water off at the
mains. Your goal is to see how long
your family can last with the supplies
and gear you have.
On our first test we made it two days
before we ran out of water. We used far
more than the "gallon a day per
person" rule that the books all say, and
it was rather eye-opening. We've since
made a few modifications to our home,
which includes a rain water tank, and
more underground storage for water so
this hasn't ever been an issue again.
You may also find that your solar
panels aren't generating enough energy,
or that you need a backup generator
with more gas than you initially
imagined to keep your freezer cold.
This is the kind of real-world
experience you will never get from a
book or a website. You need to live this.
STEP TWO. WINTER GRID
DOWN
It's all well and good to turn everything
off during spring or summer, but if
you think you've got a handle on your
survival planning, try the same test in
the middle of winter.
What you'll learn here is how well your
house will hold up to the winter cold.
For us, it was painfully obvious we
needed to improve the insulation in our
home, and we burned through far more
firewood than I thought possible in just
a few days. Because you can never
know when a crisis will hit, it's critical
you've tested your survival plans during
winter.
STEP THREE. NO MORE SHOPS
This was a fun test that we did earlier
this year. I prided myself on the food I
had stockpiled, and with this test I
wanted to see how long we could last
without buying groceries.
Spoiler. It wasn't as long as I thought.
We made it to seven weeks before the
"good" food had been burned through,
and we made the call to go do a big
shop. I could have sworn I had six
months of food supplies, but I made a
few realizations here.
4
First, we eat far more than I thought.
You'd be surprised just how fast a
family of four, along with our two
dogs, goes through food. You need to
buy more food. But not only that,
there's certain luxuries that you just
suffer without. I love my morning
coffee, and after we ran out of beans
and even the instant mix, I realized just
how quickly this goes. Oh, and wine.
Without the internet, we spent our
evenings playing games and our cellar
ran dry, rather too quickly.
STEP FOUR. STAGE A BREAK IN
The final step to testing your survival
plans is to have someone break in. In
our sur vival g roup we do this
occasionally to help "penetration test"
our teams homes. You may be surprised
just how easy it is for someone to gain
access to your home, especially when
they know you and your schedules.
We found that even with a remote
security system, the failure points were
on us. Leaving a window unlocked, or
not properly checking around your car
when driving in and out of the garage.
It was shocking, but we were able to
fortify our home by clearing back some
shrubs and trees, and installing more
sensors and cameras to give us a 360
degree view of our home at all times.
Conducting these tests is the smartest
way you can test your survival plans. It
may seem like overkill, but the more
you can prepare now, the better you
and your family will fare when the
SHTF. You'll quickly learn what pieces
of gear are useless, and which supplies
you need to stock. What parts of your
plan simply don't work, and ways you
can better prepare. And that's why
testing your survival plan is a good idea.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JUNE 2018
WHY KEEP YOUR FIREARMS CLEAN
It's no secret that I hate cleaning our
house. Scrubbing bathrooms and
washing dishes isn't for me. But I'll
spend hours in my garage fiddling with
my guns. Because it's both relaxing and
satisfying at the same time. And like
every other piece of survival gear you
own, you need to keep your firearms
well-maintained if you want to rely on
it in a disaster.
THE RISKS OF A DIRTY GUN
I've seen my share of neglected
weapons, and there's a number of risks
with a dirty gun. First and foremost are
malfunctions. You cannot rely on a
dirty gun. The mechanisms inside are
complex, and as gunpowder residue
builds up this causes many problems.
Even if your gun looks clean on the
outside. Plus, keeping your guns clean
will increase their shelf life, and you'll
also learn your way around the weapon,
so you know how it works, and can fix
it should there ever be a problem.
WHEN SHOULD I CLEAN MY
GUNS?
Of course, it won't do any harm if you
do clean it after each session on the
range, but for most of us we pick a
happy medium and give our guns a
clean after shooting 200 to 300 rounds,
or every six months if you've got your
guns in storage.
HOW TO CLEAN MY GUNS?
I've created the perfect space for
cleaning my guns, on my bench in the
garage. I've got plenty of space to
spread out, and there's windows either
side so I'm not stuck breathing the
fumes the entire time.
It's a good practice to unload and move
any ammunition to a separate place
before you start disassembling any
firearms, and you've got a clean area to
work. Then you're going to need
cleaning gear. I cut strips from old t-
shirts, and you'll also want to raid the
bathroom for an old toothbrush, some
q-tips and your gun cleaning kit. Most
kits give you the brushes you need,
which will include patches, a bore/
chamber brush, punch rods, and also
grab a little cleaning solvent and some
lubricant. Oh, and I also found that a
barrel cleaning rope is good to ensure
it's as clean as possible.
From here, it's just a matter of sitting
back and getting to work.
Take out your owner's manual and
disassemble the weapon. If you don't
have it handy, there's walkthroughs on
YouTube, or you could try downloading
the instructions from their website. My
advice is to follow the manufacturers
guide. It will tell you exactly where to
apply the oil. This is important.
5
Follow the instructions to the letter, as
too much oil can attract dirt and dust,
and stop your firearm working properly.
I want to say this again because it's an
important point. Do not over-oil your
firearms. Your gun will work just fine
with a light oil, exactly where the
owner's manual tells you to do it.
Then it comes to cleaning. Use some
patches to apply the solvent and keep
wiping until the black carbon residue
no longer wipes off. It should be
relatively easy for most areas, but you
will need to use a little brushing to get
into the chamber and where the bullets
load. A wire brush here can get rid of
any stubborn build-ups, and don't
forget to clean your magazines too. Just
remember these do not require any oil.
When you're cleaning the barrel, the
trick is to push through in the direction
the bullets travel. Especially if you're
using a wire brush, it'll reduce the
chances you do any damage to the very
end of the barrel, though this isn't
really a problem if you're using a barrel
cleaning rope. Having the right tools to
clean your guns is important, as it
makes the job a whole lot easier. After
using a little cleaning agent, use a barrel
brush to break free any residue, then
pass through patch after patch until it
comes out clean.
THE FINAL STEPS OF THE
CLEANING PROCESS
Once you've cleaned every piece of
your gun, you need to put it back
together. Follow the steps in your
owner's manual and run through a few
drills to check you've done it correctly.
Cycling through a practice fire, and
ensure everything works, and I have a
couple of dummy rounds I use to
ensure the magazines are feeding
correctly in my semi-automatic. The last
step is to use a little bit of oil to wipe
down your gun, but only a few drops.
You don't want to overdo it and have it
slippery when you're trying to shoot.
For me, cleaning my guns is almost
therapeutic. I can see any problem areas
that are developing from normal wear
and tear, and I also know exactly how
each works. Replacing parts and
cleaning jams is no longer an issue. I
can fix almost anything with the right
spare parts, and I know my guns will be
in good working order, no matter what.
Will yours?
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JUNE 2018
HOW TO MAKE A SMOKELESS CAMPFIRE
I have a love-hate relationship with fire.
There's nothing better than sitting by a
campfire when you're out in the wild,
the light from the flames is a nice
comfort, and a grilled steak is the
perfect dinner after a day hiking.
But for reasons unknown to me, the
smoke from the flames always seems to
follow me. It's like a curse.
Wherever I go I get trapped in a smoky
haze, with stinging eyes and the smell
that lingers for days on my clothes.
This also presents a danger for survival.
If you build a smoky campfire this is
like a beacon. White fluffy smoke can
be seen for miles and is a dead giveaway
there are people in the area.
If there's anyone out there will ill-
intent, a full plume of smoke from your
fire could be the magnet that draws
them right to you.
The good news is that making a
smokeless campfire isn't rocket science.
You just need to get a few things right,
and you can enjoy the warmth from the
flames without choking on the smoke
or giving away your position to anyone
who is looking. And that’s critical if
you’re wanting to stay safe, healthy and
keep all your stuff once the SHTF.
UNDERSTANDING HOW FIRE Get your tinder bundle ready and spark
WORKS a flame. One of my favorite new fire-
starters is the Tesla Lighter, it's an
Burning wood in a fire is a combustion electric lighter that creates a spark, but
reaction. You're using the heat from the
flames to turn wood back into light and I've also always got my Ferro-Rod
warmth. Endless lighter on my keychain.
Starting a friction fire is just too time
Smoke is a byproduct. consuming, and burns too many
calories.
And the less efficient your fire is, the
more smoke is generated. Smoke is Once you've got a flame, slowly start to
created when there isn't enough oxygen add tiny twigs. The key here is balance,
to burn the wood you've placed into the and to pay attention to what the fire is
flames. doing.
Of course, when you're using firewood
there's also carbon and other organic
compounds being burnt, and these will
always smoke a little, but you can
greatly reduce this by creating an
efficient fire.
“White
Oh, and never stick wet wood into a
fire. It will smoke and smolder like
crazy, as the water and dampness
fluffy
counteract the ability of the wood to
burn. But you knew that, right? smoke can
STARTING AN EFFICIENT FIRE be seen for
The trick here is to remember that
oxygen is key. If you want to build a
miles…”
fire that doesn't smoke, you need:
1 Dry wood.
2 Patience.
6
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JUNE 2018

cont.

Add too much wood too fast, and the

fire will not have enough oxygen and
can smother.

Too little wood and you run the risk of

it burning out.

Be patient, and let the fire grow as it

needs. Keep adding wood until you're
putting on pieces about as big as your
finger. As these burn, cook what you
need. Just don't let it get too big.

These pieces of wood, so long as they

are dry, will give you more than enough
heat to boil water, or to cook your
dinner without creating a whole lot of
smoke.

And as soon as you're done you can

snuff out the fire with a couple of
handfuls of dirt.

CREATING A DAKOTA FIRE

HOLE

If you need a fire for more than just a

few minutes, but still want to remain
stealthy, you need to create a Dakota
Fire Hole.

It works best in ground that's not too

muddy, that's firm enough to dig in. I
always carry a small tactical shovel with
me when I hike, and it's the perfect tool
for this fire.

Dig two holes about a foot wide, and a

foot deep.

One is for the fire, the other is to act as

an air duct to feed the flames. They
should be positioned about a foot
apart, and then use your arm to dig a
connecting tunnel between the two.

The idea here is that the ground around

the fire will conceal any light from the
flames, while the tunnel and air duct
provide a way for the fire to draw
oxygen into the base of the fire. It's
kind of like a furnace.

Then simply start your fire as you

would any other.
The heat from the flames is what makes
this work, and you'll be surprised at just
how hot this type of fire will burn.
Plus, I feel like this is one of the most
efficient fires you can make, it requires
less wood than a traditional campfire
for it to stay burning throughout the
night.
It's also a great trick to use if you're
trying to get a fire started in the wind
or rain, as it adds a little more
protection to the flames. Just make sure
you completely fill in both holes once
you're done. Always leave no trace
when you're in the wild.
Learning to make a smokeless campfire
is a key survival skill.
Aside from being annoyed at the
smoke, if you're able to cook food and
purify water, without giving your
position away, you're in a much better
position to survive. Because you won't
be fighting off the people who want to
take what you have.
They won't even know you’re there.

7
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JUNE 2018

VITAL POINTS TO
TARGET IN A FIGHT

If you're in a street fight you're already in big trouble. Your opponent will have no qualms about fighting dirty, and there's a big
possibility you're going to get seriously injured before the fight is over. There's only one way around this. End the fight as fast as
possible. But if you want to be an effective fighter, you need to target specific areas on your opponent. Specific places that cause an
exponential amount of pain from even just a moderate strike. These are known as vital points, and if you want to win a fight, here's
where you need to be attacking.

The temple. This is the flat section on either side of your opponent's head, about an inch back from their eyes. It's also the
thinnest part of the skull. Land a blow here and you'll knock them out, do it hard enough and you'll give them concussion, perhaps
even severing the artery that runs underneath that will result in a coma, followed by death.

The eyes. Gouging or jabbing into your opponent's eyes will cause them to water, blurring their vision so that you can get an
opportunity to land a stronger follow up strike. Do it hard enough and you can cause temporary blindness, and if you're using a
weapon stabbing through the eyes can easily penetrate the skull behind the eyes to hit the brain and cause death.

The nose. As one of the most easily broken bones in the body, a strike on the nose will cause your opponent's eyes to water along
with a huge amount of pain. You can strike with an open hand "chopping" attack or use a palm heel strike to push up from
underneath. This is a surprisingly effective attack, and it also protects your fist from any damage. There's a surprising amount of
bones in the head and if you land a punch wrong you can break and fracture your knuckles.

The chin. The key to striking the chin or the jaw is to cause whiplash, so the force from the hit rattles the brain around in their
head and knocks them out. An uppercut is a great way to target the chin or strike it from the side with a strong hook. Just make
sure they don’t see it coming. If your opponent tenses up their neck and shoulders they can nullify much of your strike.

The neck. You've got two targets here. A powerful punch to the throat can crush the windpipe making it impossible to breathe
and cause a severe amount of pain. If you strike the side of the neck you want to aim for the area just below where the jawbone
connects to the skull. Hit here and you'll cause unconsciousness, it's one of the best places you can aim for to take down an
opponent.

The kidneys. If you're hitting the body you want to be targeting the kidneys. They sit on either side of the spine, just above the
buttocks. A powerful blow here can cause shock, but it's much better to stab them if you happen to have a knife or a strike pen.
You'll cause your opponent to go into instant shock, and if you cut deep enough the internal bleeding will take them out quickly.

The groin. This is much more effective against a male opponent, but it is also a sensitive spot for a female attacker. If you land
even a moderate strike here you can cause a crippling amount of pain to gain the upper hand in a fight. Hit hard and you can knock
your opponent out, I recommend using a knee strike or a kick to target the groin.

The knees. As one of the major supporting joints of the body, it takes a relatively small amount of effort to do significant damage
to the knee. You just need to attack it from the side. You can dislocate it with a sweeping kick or use your weight to bend it in the
"wrong" range of motion. Take out your opponent's knee, and they will not be able to stand or continue fighting.

But targeting these areas is just the start. You need the right self-defensive items if you want to gain the upper hand in a fight, as
there's only so much damage your fists, elbows and knees can do. My advice is to always carry pepper spray. If you're in a fight it
can momentarily blind your opponent and give you the chance to land a more fight-winning strike.

I'd also recommend having something to hit with. Like a tactical flashlight or a strike pen. The amount of force you can deliver
with a weapon designed to inflict pain far exceeds what you can do with your fists. Grip the strike pen in your fist like a hammer
and use it to smash and stab at your opponent. You'll be surprised at just how effective it can be.

When it comes to winning a fight, my only advice is to not hold anything back. You have no idea how far your opponent will push
it, and in a street fight all that matters is your own survival. Of course, only ever target these vital areas if your life is in danger, but
it's important you know them just in case. Your life may very well depend on it.

8
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JUNE 2018
KNOW THE RISKS BEFORE YOU BUG OUT
Bugging out is a last resort. You're
leaving the comfort of your home,
along with all of your supplies, and
heading to another location. You hope
it's exactly as you prepared it, but you
really never know. Plus, you've got to
actually get there. Many survivalists
fantasize about the "end of days" and
how they'll live a much simpler life in
the aftermath of a crisis, but there are
many risks when bugging out.
YOU RUN OUT OF WATER
Once the utilities fail, running water
will no longer be available at the turn
of a tap. Of course, you've got plenty
stockpiled in your basement, but if
you're bugging out this needs to be a
consideration in your plans. Does your
bug out location have more than one
water source? Is there enough natural
sources on your bug out route for you
to replenish your supplies on the way?
Oh, and you're probably going to want
water filters and purification tablets too.
The last thing you want is to be
knocked off your feet because you
drank contaminated water.
YOU GET STUCK EN ROUTE
If you've put any thought into your bug
out plans you'll surely have more than
one way to get to your but out location.
But the real risk is that all of these
routes are no longer passable.
In a large disaster floods could
completely cut an area off, or simply
the amount of people fleeing the crisis
c l o g s t h e r o a d s a n d m a ke s i t
impassable. Even if your car is running,
if the highways are blocked there will
be no getting through.
YOU FORGOT THE WEATHER
Hypothermia is one of the biggest risks
when you're bugging out, and it's
impor tant you've g ot the right
protective gear and clothing to keep
yourself and your family as warm and
dry as possible. Especially at night. If
you get wet and lack the ability to warm
up again, you're in big trouble.
YOU CAN’T DEFEND YOUR
FAMILY
One of the biggest risks you face are
other people. People who are desperate
and have long run out of their own
food and water. They won't hesitate to
take everything you have in order to
keep their families alive a little longer.
Which means you need to be prepared
to fight violence with violence. Of
course, avoiding other people entirely is
the smartest move, but it's important
you've got pepper spray and firearms to
defend yourself. It may seem like
overkill but trust me. You will be glad
you have them once the SHTF. Because
the police won't be around to help.
9
YOU LOSE YOUR FAMILY
When the SHTF you can't expect
things like your cell phone to keep
working. Phone systems will be
overwhelmed if they even work at all,
and if you happen to get separated it's
going to be almost impossible to
reconnect. My advice is to bring your
family into your planning and have
redundancies just in case. For my
family, we've got a bug out location
setup, but if this becomes inaccessible
or unusable there's a member of my
family we'll go to next. Everyone in my
survival group knows this, so if we do
happen to get separated, we at least
know where to look.
YOU DON’T KNOW FIRST AID
Getting injured when you're bugging
out is a major thing. Not only can it
reduce your mobility to basically zero, it
can prove fatal if you've not got a plan
B. It's important you know how to treat
a wide range of different injuries, and
you've got a well-stocked first aid kit in
your preps. Take a course at your local
fire station or community center. This
also includes getting sick, especially as
sanitation levels drop. Simple things like
antibiotics will be worth their weight in
gold once you can no longer buy them
from the dr ugstore, so prepare
accordingly.
YOU’RE NOT FIT ENOUGH TO
BUG OUT
This one requires a little introspection,
as it's important you understand what
you can and can't do with your body. If
you're in an office job and have never
hiked in your life, it's not reasonable to
expect you'll be fine on a 75-mile hike
to your bug out location. Take the time
now to get in shape, and you're also
getting enough sleep when you do
decide to bug out. This is one step I
believe many survivalists fail to
properly prepare, and they're in for a
rude awakening when the SHTF.
Bugging out is a risky choice, as the
odds are definitely stacked against your
survival in a crisis.
If you want to have any hope of
making it through unscathed, you need
to understand the risks, have a plan of
attack to overcome each one, and
ensure you've got the supplies, training
and experience to survive. You can't
simply hope for the best. You need a
plan of attack and you need to fight to
stay alive. That's how you overcome the
risks of bugging out.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JUNE 2018
TIPS TO SURVIVE
A VOLCANIC
ERUPTION
Ever since I was a kid I've loved
volcanoes. We made models that
"erupted" in science class and learnt all
about the science behind predicting
er uptions. But when you star t
imagining the deadly force a volcano
produces, it' rather terrifying. When a
volcano erupts it's a force of nature,
destroying anything nearby and
shooting tons of ash into the sky. Not
to mention the lava flows that will
simply consume anything in its path
and the acid rain that follows.
Following the Kilauea eruption in
Hawaii, I wanted to put together a
shortlist of tips to help our readers
prepare and survive a volcanic eruption.
KNOW YOUR RISKS
The first step is to determine if there's
any risk of volcanic activity in your
area. The good news is that volcanoes
are highly documented, and you should
be able to quickly determine whether or
not it's a risk you need to prepare for.
If you do happen to live near a volcano,
my advice is to plan accordingly, and be
ready for anything.
If not, it's always a good idea to
understand the risks, as the world is in a
constant state of change and you never
know where you may be travelling to
when a volcano erupts.
“it’s the
simple
things that
are the
most
difficult…”
BE READY AND ALERT
Scientists are usually able to predict
upcoming eruptions, so make it a habit
to regularly check and pay attention to
the news in your local area. If an
evacuation is needed, follow the
recommendations of the Civil Defense
Emergency team, and keep your radio
on for any further updates. This is your
best course of action, as they will be
able to direct you to any safe areas to
ride out the crisis. Again. Don't try to
tough it out in your home. Listen to
what the authorities are saying and
follow their instructions. They've run
the numbers and they know what to
expect when the volcano erupts. Listen
to them and you'll be fine. The worst
thing you can do is to want to defend
your home when you've been told to
evacuate. That's a recipe for disaster.
STAY IN YOUR HOME
One of the safest places you can ride
out the crisis is in your home. Unless
you're directly in the line of the volcano
that is. Use the information you have to
make the call. Your home provides
shelter to protect you from the ash and
any falling debris, and also the supplies
you've stockpiled are going to last far
longer than what's in your bug out kit.
Only evacuate if that's what the
authorities recommend, or you've no
other choice. The only caveat to
remember is the ash. Mixed with rain it
gets heavy fast, and it can cause big
problems if your home isn't able to
deal with a lot of weight on the roof.
Pay attention to what's happening
around you, and you may need to take
action to stop your roof collapsing
under the weight.
P R E PA R E A S U RV I VA L
STOCKPILE
In the aftermath of a crisis it's the
simple things that are the most difficult
to get. Food, water and shelter are
going to top the list of important
supplies, so ensure you've got at least a
week's worth of food and drinking
water. Then consider power use, how
you're planning on staying warm (or
cool), and everything you're going to
need to keep your family healthy and
happy should a crisis hit. I've slowly
build my survival stockpile to almost 9
months' worth of supplies, even with
the grid down and the water off.
The time to start preparing your
stockpile is now, before these basic
necessities become impossible to buy.
10
PACK YOUR BUG OUT BAG
In addition to everything you should
already have in your bug out kit, there's
a few additions I'd recommend if
you're in an area with volcanic activity.
When a volcano erupts it can release
toxic gases into the atmosphere, so
ensure you've got both protective
goggles for your eyes, and a mask that
will allow you to breathe. Pack these for
your kids too, and ensure you actually
know how to use them. Oh, and ensure
you've got full protective rain gear, as
acid rain often follows a volcanic
eruption, and you don't want that on
your skin.
GET TO HIGHER GROUND
When a volcano erupts and you're in
the disaster zone, you're in trouble.
Follow your evacuation routes and start
making your way to higher ground.
This is a safeguard against any lava
flows that may be coming, and will
make it easier for any emergency
services personnel to find and rescue
you. It's also important to know what
the volcano is doing, so check the news
and know where the hazards are.
DON’T GO SIGHTSEEING
It's seems like common sense, but one
of the biggest risks you can take after a
volcanic eruption is to get curious. You
need to be avoiding the lava flows, not
going to see what it all looks like. If
there's an aftershock and you're too
close it's not going to end well, and you
also may not realize your escape route
is slowly being blocked by another lava
flow. Once you're surrounded, you are
not going to escape.
Despite our ability to track and predict
volcanic eruptions, if you're not
prepared you could quickly find
yourself in big trouble. If you're in an
area where volcanoes present a risk,
follow these tips to keep your family
safe, alive and happy through the crisis.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JUNE 2018

THE RIGHT WAY TO USE A TOURNIQUET

Imagine this scenario. You're in the
middle of the woods and there's an
accident. A bad one. Perhaps you
startled a bear and one of your group
has been mauled before you could scare
it off. Or there's an altercation with
another group. Or that one guy (in
every survival group) has managed to
shoot himself in the leg.
If a patient is bleeding from a major
wound, it's not going to take long for a
healthy adult to bleed out.
In just a few minutes their body will
begin to shut down as they go into
shock, as they no longer have enough
blood within their body to keep their
circulatory system going.
Time to actually treat the wound and
try to stop the bleeding. Or to find a
way to get the patient to a hospital
before they loose too much blood. It's a
lifesaver if you're facing a major
incident. But not all medical kits
include one. Which is a mistake,
because every survival kit needs a
tourniquet.

When you are miles from civilization, Without fast action on your part, the
what you do next could save their life. patient will die.

It goes without saying that knowing a

little first aid will definitely come in
handy in a disaster.
And there's countless posts talking
about what to pack. And yes, I highly
recommend you include a medical kit in
your bug out planning, and you take a
course on first aid and survival
techniques. Actually, practicing these
yourself is invaluable. But there may
come a time when you don't have your
gear. Or the wound is so critical that
the band-aids you've got will not stop
the bleeding.
And that's where the tourniquet comes
in. It's a tried and true method of first “a correctly
aid that's as simple as it is effective.
applied
HOW DOES A TOURNIQUET
ACTUALLY WORK? tourniquet
A tourniquet is a piece of medical
equipment that pulls tight around a can slow
limb and cuts off the circulation. If
someone's arm or leg has been severed the flow of
and they are bleeding heavily, a
correctly applied tourniquet can slow
the flow of blood. This is a good thing
blood…”
because it buys you time.

11
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JUNE 2018

HOW TO APPLY A TOURNIQUET

The first step is to get your patient to lie down, so you can work. You should already be applying
pressure to the wound, as this is one of the most effective ways to slow the loss of blood, but in some
cases, this won't be enough. A tourniquet needs to be used when there is catastrophic bleeding, such as a
severed limb, or a very deep cut that's spurting arterial blood. And you need to act quickly.
Check the wound, however if there are any foreign objects in there, leave them. They may be helping to
stem the flow of blood, and their removal could cause more problems.
Cut away any clothing so you can apply the tourniquet to their bare skin, this makes it more effective as it
won't slip on their clothes. You should be targeting an area about 2 inches above the wound, but don't do
it over a joint. If you need to move the tourniquet a little higher, do it. You'll cause more problems
winding a tourniquet tight over a joint.
Wrap the tourniquet around the limb a couple of times and tie it, then insert the scissors (or whatever
you have) into the wrappings. You're creating a windlass that you will use to twist the bandage and pull it
far tighter than you can do with your hands. Spin it until the flow of blood slows (it probably won't fully
stop, but you will notice once it's working), and use another bandage to tie it place. Oh, this step is going
to be extremely painful for the patient, if you've got painkillers make sure to hand these out too.
If it's not quite working, try a different spot, or reapply the tourniquet. Sometimes, if it's an extreme
case, you will need to add a second tourniquet above the first.
Once the bleeding slows you will need to get the patient to a medical facility. You've got about 2 hours
before the loss of circulation in their limb starts to cause tissue damage, along with nerve damage from
the lack of blood supply. So, pay attention to the time. The doctor you see will also want to know how
long the tourniquet has been on for. Using a tourniquet is a technique that's essentially a last resort. It
should only be used when you have no other option, because it's both painful for the patient and if it's
on there too long they may lose their limb. Though this may be necessary to save their life, ensure you
only ever use a tourniquet as a last resort.

WHAT ELSE CAN I USE AS A
TOURNIQUET?
To improvise a tourniquet, you need to
understand how it works. It's a strong
piece of material that can be pulled
tight around an arm or a leg, tight
enough that the pressure can be used to
stop the blood flow.
In a typical first aid kit a triangular
bandage is your best option, and you
can use a pair of scissors as the
windlass to wind it tight.
Just remember, as you fold the bandage,
keep it at least an inch and a half wide,
to prevent any damage to the healthy
tissue.
Despite what you see in the movies
leather belts aren't really a good option
as they are too sturdy to work properly,
so look for any kind of material, like
the shoulder strap on your bag, a cut-
off section of your pants, or even the
sleeve from a shirt.

12
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JUNE 2018
STOPPING THE MOSQUITOES WHEN YOU’RE CAMPING
There's nothing I love more than
summer. It's the perfect weather to get
out and explore new campsites, hike
trails that I've been over my whole life,
and escape the chaos of the city. Life in
the mountains is awesome. Until the
mosquitos come out. There's nothing
worse than the buzzing in your ear or
waking up covered in itchy bites. Unless
of course you want to start worrying
about the diseases they carry. Let's face
it. Mosquitoes suck.
But there's a few things you can do to
ensure your campsite isn't overrun with
these pint-sized vampires.
And in today's post I'm going to share
how I stop the mosquitoes when I'm in
the wild. On nearly every trip I follow
these recommendations, and I couldn't
tell you the last time I was bugged by
mosquitoes while I camped. They
simply work.
WEAR THE RIGHT CLOTHES
The less exposed skin you have, the
better the chances the mosquitoes will
leave you alone.
If I'm trekking in the summer, I wear a
pair of lightweight pants, and a thin,
long-sleeved shirt. Covering up also
cuts down on sunburn, and gives you
an added layer of protection from any
plants or other bugs that are out there.
Just be sure to pick light colored DON’T USE PERFUMED SOAP
fabrics. Mosquitoes thrive in the shade OR DEODERANT
and are naturally attracted to dark
colors. Plus, you can spray your clothes Any time you're going in the wild, you
with insect repellant and it forms a want to smell as natural as possible.
second layer of protection.
And all of the floral shampoo, hand
WEAR THE RIGHT INSECT soaps, and everything else we use in
REPELLANT everyday life will only attract the bugs
to you. But that's not to say you
The next step is to start the chemical shouldn't shower.
warfare. Look for one that has at least
50 percent diethyltoluamide (also In fact, mosquitoes will be naturally
known as DEET). The higher the drawn to your body odor so staying
percentage the longer it lasts, and clean is a must.
follow the directions on the bottle once
you need to reapply.
Usually it's every few hours.
The only advice I have here is to ensure
you don't spray into your eyes or any “Remember
open wounds, and wash any clothing
that you've sprayed with bug spray as
soon as you're home. I prefer non-
the impact
aerosol sprays, and whilst I've tried a
few different variants of "natural" you’re
repellants, in my experience the only
ones that truly work have DEET in going to
them.
The only time I won't use it is if I'm
have on all
going to an area with a fragile
ecosystem, like exploring a set of caves insects…”
to see the glow worms. Remember the
impact you're going to have on all
insects, not just mosquitoes.
13
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JUNE 2018
cont.
What you want to do is use unscented
soaps and deodorant.
It'll also help you see more wildlife on
your hike, as most animals will shy away
from anything that smells noticeably
human or unusual to the area. And that
includes your fruity shampoo.
FIND THE RIGHT CAMPSITE
Mosquitoes thrive in wet, damp
conditions, so your job now is to find a
campsite that's not next to any standing
water. Even the difference of a few
hundred yards can significantly reduce
the amount of bugs in an area.
I'd also scout out any creeks or lakes
before setting up camp to see just how
bad the mosquitoes are.
Of course, you don't always get a
choice when choosing a campsite, so
your second-best option is to find a
spot that's got a breeze (it'll help keep
the mosquitoes away), and has a lot of
sun. Failing that, you're going to want
to follow everything else on this list to
avoid a plague of mosquitoes.
PREPARE YOUR TENT FOR
BUGS
If you're camping with anything but a
double-walled tent, you're going to have
a bad time. The inner body is perfect
for keeping the mosquitoes at bay, and I
usually give it a fresh coating of bug
spray when we're setting it up. Under
the rain fly this creates the perfect
barrier, as the sun, rain and wind don't
really get a chance to wash the repellant
away.
START A FIRE AND BURN SAGE
Now there's nothing better than sitting
around and enjoying a campfire once
the evening settles in, but the smoke
alone won't always keep the mosquitoes
at bay. That's where burning sage
comes in handy. Keep an eye out during
your hike for any local version of the
plant, there's plenty of Black Sage
where we usually stay, and I make a
point to always grab a few handfuls.
Once we're back at camp for the
evening I throw a little in the fire when
I notice the mosquitoes are bad, and
the smell from this, combined with the
smoke is a rather effective deterrent.
Plus, it smells great.
14
LIGHT A CITRONELLA TORCH
These aren't always practical if you're
on a long hike, but if you have the
space in your truck definitely throw in a
couple of tiki torches. They will stay lit
all night, create a little ambience around
your campsite, and the smell the
citronella gives off will certainly keep
the mosquitoes at bay. There's also
smaller candlestick versions you can
buy if you're wanting to pack light. I
bought a box of all-in-one candles that
are each about the size of my palm, and
I usually bring one or two of these
along when we hike. Each candle burns
about 8 hours, so even in the most
mosquito infested regions of North
America, that's two nights of good
sleep.
Finally, I just want to say that while
mosquitoes may drive you crazy, they're
also part of the great outdoors.
It can be annoying dealing with them
when you're camping but follow these
tips and you'll greatly cut down the
amount you're bitten, so you can get on
with what's important. Spending time
with your family out in the wild.