SAS Urban Survival Handbook

SAS Urban Survival Handbook

How to Protect Yourself Against Terrorism, Natural Disasters, Fires, Home Invasions, and Everyday Health and Safety Hazards

John 'Lofty' Wiseman

Copyright © 2008 by John “Lofty” Wiseman.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 555 Eighth Avenue, Suite 903, New York, NY 10018.

www.skyhorsepublishing.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wiseman, John, 1940 –

The SAS urban survival handbook : how to protect yourself from domestic accidents, muggings, burglary, and attack / John “Lofty” Wiseman.

p. cm.

9781602392168

1. Survival skills. I. Title.

GF86.W57 2008
613.6—dc22

2007046887

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed in the United States of America.

WARNING

The publishers cannot accept any responsibility for any prosecutions or proceedings brought or instituted against any person or body as a result of the use or misuse of any techniques described or any loss, injury or damage caused thereby. All relevant local laws protecting certain species of animals and plants and controlling the use of firearms and other weapons must be regarded as paramount.

For my mother
EDIE
who brought me up through
difficult times with love and
affection, and gave me a
sense of responsibility to
my fellow man

Table of Contents

Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
FOREWORD

1
-
Essentials

2
-
Safety first

3
-
DIY/craft hazards

4
-
Poisons

5
-
Fire!

6
-
Security

7
-
Work & play

8
-
In transit

9
-
Self-defence

10
-
Terrorism

11
-
Disasters

12
-
Health
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

FOREWORD

My first book, The SAS Survival Handbook, deals with survival in the wild away from all resources, so you may be surprised to see me turning my attention to the problems and dangers of the urban environment.

Unemployment and the high cost of accommodation contribute to serious social problems—the number of homeless sleeping rough in London, New York and other major cities is powerful evidence of the stresses that exist. For the newcomer, in particular, the going can be tough and frightening. It really is a jungle out there.

Everyone is exposed to an enormous number of risks and dangers, which they have to try to cope with on top of all their own personal, health and financial stresses. These range from ordinary domestic accidents to burglary, muggings and even the terrorist threat.

In 27 years as a soldier I was always glad to return home, where I could relax in the ‘safe’ domestic environment. How wrong I was! I once returned after four months in a fierce war without a scratch. I’d only been in the house for two minutes when I stood up in the kitchen and cut my head badly on a cupboard door. That started me thinking. Every year there are thousands of fatal accidents in the home—more than on the roads, and many more than in the great outdoors.

The home has all the ingredients for disaster under one roof—fire, electricity, water, gas, sharp knives, power tools, heights, poisons and chemicals. In the wild you rarely have two dangerous things to contend with at the some time. At home you also have people from every age group. I have watched my seven children growing up and have seen the dangers they were exposed to—not just in and around the house, but at school and on the streets.

Safety is largely a matter of common sense and following basic rules. This is easiest when you’re not under pressure. If you’re in unfamiliar surroundings and under threat, your judgement is likely to be clouded. If you’re late for work or school, you may forget to lock the house and take a short cut through a dangerous area. You must recognize when you’re taking chances and learn to make decisions quickly.

The pace of urban life is sometimes too fast to keep up with. The world is what we have made it—if we want to enjoy all of its pleasures, we must be aware of the dangers. I didn’t write this book to scare anyone. I want to show you how to avoid these dangers. The same awareness and readiness that are required when surviving in the wild really are necessary in the city, too. That’s why this book is called The Urban Survival Handbook.

I would like to thank Christopher MacLehose of Harvill for first encouraging me to write this book, and Tony Spalding for helping me to shape it. Also thanks to all the people who helped me gather information and my mates with whom I learned my own basic skills. Most of all, thanks to my family—concern for whom first awakened me to the dangers of the urban jungle.

John “Lofty” Wiseman

Essentials

We are constantly reminded that the world is a dangerous place—pollution, food processing, violence and natural disasters are all beyond our direct control. City life adds further stresses, which may become too much to bear.

BE A SURVIVOR
Natural enemies • Pollution • Radiation • Processed Foods

BODY MATTERS
Vitamin overdose • Exercise • Chemical risks • Substance abuse

STRESS
Dealing with stress • Working out your problems • Relaxation • Counselling • Fear • Violence in the city • Catastrophes

CITY SURVIVAL KIT

BE A SURVIVOR!

Every man, woman and child has to face a multitude of dangers in their lives. The added pressures of urban life can often make those problems seem impossible to deal with. It’s VITAL to understand the dangers at home, at work, on the streets (at least) and to get to grips with as many as possible. Take control! The safer you make your day-to-day existence, the better able you will be (and the more time and energy you will have) to deal with major crises. How can you expect to deal with a serious health, emotional or financial set-back, if you’re totally preoccupied with surviving the dangers of your own home?

Your strategy must be to avoid unnecessary risks in the urban environment and minimize the damage caused by those you can’t avoid. You must develop an attitude to urban life that will help you cope with all kinds of situations.

Safety and security

The first place to make safe and secure MUST be your home. Make sure that the structure of the building is safe and keep it that way. Prepare it to withstand both the pressures of natural forces and the added hazards of modern cities. Older houses, in particular, may be affected by damp, insect infestation, rot, settlement and subsidence. All fixtures and fittings should be carefully checked to ensure that they do not invite accident—and immediate action taken if they do.

Everything must be made secure against intruders—primarily because YOU might be at risk. People have been attacked and even held hostage in their own homes. If you decide to put things right yourself, make sure you really CAN do the job. In the end, it may not be worth the aggravation. Unskilled DIY is the cause of an enormous number of injuries—bodged jobs can lead to more stress and further accidents.

The workplace needs to be as safe and secure as the home. It may include machinery, chemical hazards or processes that are highly dangerous. Many jobs are made difficult enough by heavy competition and stress. At home, you may be able to sort things out yourself, but it’s more complicated to deal with dangers at work and in public places.

Leisure activities, too, bring their own risks. The element of danger may give a ‘thrill’ which is an essential part of some hobbies and sports—but a severe injury could be disastrous.

Travel, for business or for pleasure, brings new risks to be assessed and prepared for. There have always been the problems of adapting to a change of diet and climate, and having to cope with a society whose language and social rules you do not understand. These are made worse by jet lag, the strain of airport high-security procedures and the fear of terrorism. Wherever you are, there is a possibility of danger from natural phenomena and from human violence—you could get caught up in an earthquake or be mugged.