|
-Reader Submitted Article
Plastic Poncho - A survival multi-tool!
That's right, I said plastic poncho. One of the most important
items I carry in my survival kits is a disposable plastic poncho.
This poncho can serve a variety of survival purposes. The first
being its intended purpose, shelter from precipitation (rain, snow
etc…) Keeping dry can be of the utmost importance in many survival
situations. If you get wet, hypothermia can set in very rapidly
even if the weather is comfortable. A disposable poncho is a great
lightweight way to provide shelter from the storm.
Disposable ponchos can also be used for covers for gear. I have
used mine for pack covers. Keeping a pack full of food, clothing,
matches, and medical supplies is imperative. I have wrapped fanny
packs in my poncho before. The poncho is very adaptive to the needs
of a single survivalist. They can also cover wound dressings, such
as splints or arm bandages. They can be cut to make waterproof foot
wraps for when in snow with regular shoes. Ponchos can cover almost
any piece of personal gear you carry.
When in need of stationary shelter, a poncho can provide waterproof
roofing for any lean-to, A-frame, or any other constructed shelter.
They can also be used for cover over and under a sleeping bag to
repel moisture. Even though they aren't as reflective as foil blankets,
they can provide shelter from the wind. I have used one as a handy
ground cloth under sleeping beds made of vegetation. By far the
best use I have seen for a poncho in a shelter is spread underneath
vegetation covering or roofing on a manmade shelter.
Poncho - desert thirst quencher! That's right, you can employ
a poncho to accumulate, acquire, carry, and sterilize water for
drinking. In all survival situations, arid climates especially,
water is the most imperative resource to survival. An adult can
require a gallon a day or more, and few have lived beyond 3 days
without water, in harsh climates. A poncho can be a lifesaver. Ponchos
can be turned into bags for carrying water, when water is available.
Chances are you will need to create water out of thin air. This
is where a plastic poncho becomes a hardcore survival tool.
A solar-still, deriving water from the air and earth is rather
simple in concept. Soil, plants, even flesh contain water, even
if the amount is hard to see. Water can be obtained in most areas.
The method I am going to describe is called a solar-still. First
you need to have plastic sheet, wow, good thing I have this poncho!
First you need to dig a cone shaped hole, some say 20 -18 inches
deep and 3 feet across, but it depends on how large your plastic
is and how easy the digging is. You do not want to over exert yourself
when water is at a premium. The hole needs to be in direct sunlight
the whole day. Next, place a container at the bottom of the hole.
Surround the container and sides of hole with the freshest green
Vegetation you can find, even desert plants contain water. If they
are alive they contain water. You may need to shred or crush the
vegetation to break the wax like covering on leaves or stems to
allow the water to escape. If you have a length of tube you should
place it in the container (this allows for drinking, without dismantling
the still). Now cover the hole with the plastic sheet or poncho.
Make sure that the sheet used has no holes in it where it covers
the hole. Make sure that the plastic hangs down in the middle, directly
over the container. Seal the edges of the plastic with soil and
stones. Now place a stone heavy enough to depress the plastic to
just above the container and take up the slack. Make sure the stone
brings the plastic to a point, not sharp enough to penetrate the
plastic but enough to allow water to drip off.
There you go! You now have a solar still. What you have effectively
created is a greenhouse that condenses water on the under side of
the plastic, that then drips into the container. A still can yield
up to 2 pints a day with good vegetation and sunlight. Maintain
a still with fresh vegetation on a regular basis. This method can
also be used to get fresh water from salty or brackish water, and
even urine or polluted water in extreme cases. Just place the water
in another container in the hole and let it evaporate leaving contaminates
behind.
The plastic poncho is an indispensable part of my survival kit.
They are small, light, and can save your life. I strongly recommend
having at least two per person. Make the poncho a priority on your
list!
-Randel P.
[Webmaster Note: for more information about a solar still and other
water
procurement techniques, Chapter 6 of the US army field manual,
FM-21-76 is provided.]
|
Customer
Service - All orders are shipped within 2-3 business days. Your
UPS tracking number will be emailed to you once your order ships so
you can track your order on its way to you. Shipping is calculated
based on shipping location and weight. Please provide a physical address
and not a PO Box since UPS can not deliver to a PO Box.