# Survival Solutions — Rescue Compact all-skills emergency reference. Use the full dedicated pages for details. The 24 linked survival guides contain five core competencies each (120 subjects total). ## Default Priority Order Immediate danger overrides the list Call local emergency services when available. Active bleeding, breathing problems, fire, flooding, severe weather, carbon monoxide, traffic hazards, unstable terrain, severe heat/cold illness, or an evacuation order can change the order immediately. ## 1. Emergency First Aid Core subjects: Scene assessment and emergency call · Adult CPR and AED · Severe bleeding control · Burn care · Fractures, shock, and monitoring Immediate injuries, absent/abnormal breathing, severe bleeding, burns, fractures, and shock take precedence when present. Open the full guide → ## 2. Emergency Evacuation & Hazard Escape Core subjects: Evacuation decision and alerts · Go-bag and communication plan · Route planning and movement · Flood escape · Wildfire and outdoor escape Leave active danger early and safely when authorities order evacuation or conditions are immediately unsafe. Open the full guide → ## 3. Emergency Shelter Building Core subjects: Safe site selection · Ground insulation and moisture control · Tarp and bivvy shelter geometry · Knots, guylines, and anchors · Natural shelters and weather management Reduce exposure to cold, rain, heat, wind, and unsafe terrain with the fastest reliable shelter available. Open the full guide → ## 4. Emergency Water Purification Core subjects: Choose the safest source · Settle and pre-filter cloudy water · Boil correctly · Filter or disinfect when boiling is unavailable · Store treated water without re-contamination Secure safe water and reduce dehydration and waterborne disease risk. Open the full guide → ## 5. Heat & Cold Exposure Core subjects: Hypothermia recognition and warming · Frostbite protection and rewarming · Heat exhaustion response · Heat stroke emergency cooling · Exposure prevention and pacing Recognize and respond to hypothermia, frostbite, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke before they become fatal. Open the full guide → ## 6. Severe Weather & Lightning Safety Core subjects: Read forecasts, watches, and warnings · Lightning shelter and 30-minute rule · Tornado sheltering · Destructive wind and hail protection · Outdoor last-resort risk reduction Recognize dangerous storms early, reach proper shelter, and reduce lightning, tornado, and destructive-wind exposure. Open the full guide → ## 7. Emergency Signaling & Rescue Core subjects: Emergency call and location report · Stay-or-move decision · Audible and visual signaling · Phone and battery management · Rescue contact and handoff Make your position easy to find and shorten the time you remain exposed to other hazards. Open the full guide → ## 8. Navigation Without GPS Core subjects: Stop, orient, and establish a known point · Read and orient a paper map · Take and follow a compass bearing · Use terrain association and checkpoints · Lost-route recovery and backtracking Avoid becoming further lost and regain known routes using map, compass, landmarks, and disciplined decision-making. Open the full guide → ## 9. Emergency Fire Starting Core subjects: Go/no-go fire decision · Tinder, kindling, and fuel preparation · Ignition methods · Fire lays and wet-weather technique · Extinguishing and fire-site safety Provide warmth, safe cooking/boiling support, light, and signaling where fire is legal and controllable. Open the full guide → ## 10. Blackout & Carbon Monoxide Safety Core subjects: Outage triage and communications · Generator and carbon-monoxide safety · Electrical and fire safety · Temperature and medical-device planning · Food, water, lighting, and recovery Handle power loss without creating carbon-monoxide, fire, electrical, medication, or temperature hazards. Open the full guide → ## 11. Vehicle Breakdown & Roadside Survival Core subjects: Stabilize the vehicle and occupants · Call for help with exact location · Decide whether to stay or leave · Winter and low-visibility stranding · Safe repair limits and remote-trip preparation Reduce secondary-crash risk, signal for help, and stay safer when a vehicle becomes disabled or stranded. Open the full guide → ## 12. Emergency Sanitation & Hygiene Core subjects: Hand hygiene and a simple wash station · Human waste containment · Food and surface hygiene · Diarrhea and dehydration response · Wound hygiene and a compact sanitation kit Prevent diarrheal illness, wound contamination, and hygiene-related disease during longer disruptions. Open the full guide → ## 13. Emergency Rations & Food Management Core subjects: Build a three-day food module · Rotate and protect the food reserve · Ration effort and meal timing · Power-outage food safety · Flood/fire contamination and no-cook planning Preserve energy and maintain food safety once immediate threats, exposure, and water are under control. Open the full guide → ## 14. Wildlife Encounters & Animal Safety Core subjects: Distance and encounter prevention · Food, scent, and camp control · Bear, cougar, and moose response · Bear spray and deterrent readiness · Bites, scratches, and rabies exposure Avoid preventable wildlife conflicts, protect camp and food, and respond appropriately after bites or scratches. Open the full guide → ## Five earlier practical solutions Extended survival reading: targeted prevention, response and safe recovery. - Power-Outage Survival: First 72 Hours — Create a reliable blackout setup before the lights go out, then protect food, communications and essential medical needs. - Sunburn, UV Protection & Outdoor Skin First Aid — Prevent damaging UV exposure and respond safely when sunburn happens away from home. - Practical Fishing for Food: Knots, Catch & Safety — Low-complexity fishing skills, safe fish handling and realistic food decisions for outdoor survival. - Flood Survival, Early Evacuation & Home Safety — Stay out of moving water, move toward safe high ground, and avoid the hidden hazards of flooded property. - Emergency Communications Without Reliable Power — Use low-bandwidth alerts, printed plans, backup power and precise location information when networks fail. Open the credited survival video library → ## Five additional essential survival topics Use the linked guides for full procedures, relevant safety limits, printable copies and source verification. ### Food Preservation and Safe Storage Immediate action: Preserving food does not make unsafe food safe. Keep perishable foods at 4°C / 40°F or colder, use research-tested preservation methods, and discard suspect food without tasting it. - Make a safe pantry and rotation plan - Protect refrigerated and frozen foods - Dry foods and package them correctly - Use safe canning and preservation methods - Inspect food and prevent contamination Read complete procedure → ### Wild Food and Safe Foraging Immediate action: Only eat a wild plant when its exact species, edible part, season, location, and safe preparation are confirmed by a qualified local identification source. Never rely on a photograph, AI app, color test, or taste test. - Choose safe places and know the rules - Recognize examples of common edible plants - Know high-risk lookalikes and toxic plants - Gather, prepare, and store foraged food - Decide when not to forage Read complete procedure → ### Off-Grid Communication Methods Immediate action: Call the local emergency number when service is available. Send concise location-and-condition messages; maintain an offline contact plan and at least one independent information channel such as a battery radio. - Establish a family contact protocol - Send low-bandwidth phone messages - Use broadcast and two-way radio safely - Understand satellite emergency devices - Signal rescuers without electronics Read complete procedure → ### Wildfire Smoke and Air Quality Safety Immediate action: If officials order evacuation or fire threatens your route, leave early by a safe route. Otherwise reduce smoke exposure indoors, filter indoor air and move to cleaner shelter if the building becomes unsafe or unlivable. - Track official smoke and fire warnings - Create a cleaner indoor-air room - Use suitable respirators and plan travel - Protect people with greater health risks - Return and clean up after smoke safely Read complete procedure → ### Disaster Planning and Resource Management Immediate action: Protect life first: evacuate immediate danger, obtain safe shelter and water, secure required medical support, and use a written plan so limited resources are not wasted on lower-priority tasks. - Assess threats and choose a safe response - Build a household supply and water inventory - Plan for people, pets, medicines and documents - Budget supplies and check conditions daily - Rehearse decisions and recover safely Read complete procedure →