Basic Survival Camp Rules

WATER WARNING:
Since most of the common diseases in a survival situation are water-born, pollution of drinking water MUST BE rigorously AVOIDED.
SO MAKE SURE YOU BOIL IT FOR 10 MINUTES.
JUST MOISTENING YOUR LIPS WITH 1 DROP OF IMPURE WATER WILL AT THE LEAST SO SICKEN YOU TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN'T TRAVEL!

ORGANISING THE CAMP:
In many survival situations there will already be someone in a position of responsibility who will head the organization of the camp and lead the development of survival plans.

If no established command structure exists among a group of survivors, an organized committee should be established and individuals nominated & elected with particular responsibilities perhaps on a rational basis if it is a large group.

Experience MUST BE pooled & immediate steps taken to discover what skills individuals can contribute.

A rosta is ESSENTIAL for such daily chores as collecting firewood & water, foraging, cooking, latrine digging and maintenance tasks, and for hunting and trapping.
In a group of survivors there may be all kinds of people of different ages and experience. People will have varied skills and enjoy doing different tasks.
Everyone who is fit and able should take their turn at the unpleasant tasks, unless their skills are so much in demand that it would be a waste of their abilities.
But individual should do what they are good at, and be encouraged to develop skills for which they show an aptitude.

Not only should everyone do their fair share but keeping busy eliminates boredom and keeps up morale. Anyone who is sick or injured gets the lightest jobs and is best employed around camp until they have recovered

In a group there should ALWAYS be someone in camp. If you have sufficient numbers do NOT venture from the camp in less than pairs.

Except in a really hot climate, where the day will be largely spent sheltering from the sun and early mornings & evenings are the times for activity, daytime is likely to be fully occupied.
A gathering around the camp fire will help establish a pattern and provide a sense of discipline and normality.
It will give an opportunity to debrief on the day's events, to plan for tomorrow and to discuss new strategies.

Music is always a great morale booster. If no instruments available, simple ones such as percussion or pan-pipes can be easily improvised, and everyone can sing after a fashion.
Sing-songs, dancing, charades, quizzes and story-telling and even praying all have their place and you may have talents that can create more elabourate entertainment.

For private recreation any books will be invaluable particularly this one and you can make pieces for board games such as draughts and chess, using stones for counters or carving simple playing pieces.

Even the lone survivor requires discipline and order. A regular routine will help morale and exactly the same care MUST BE taken to ensure that the camp is kept in good order.
At first there may be so much to do that the individual is too tired to think of recreation, but boredom is even more DANGEROUS for a person on its own an objective should be set each day whether practical or for amusement.

CAMP HYGIENE:
Keeping healthy is an important factor in any situation, so strict hygiene should be practiced, not only personally but in the planning and running of a camp.

Rubbish and latrines MUST BE kept away from the camp to reduce the threat from flies.
Since most of the common diseases in a survival situation are water-born, pollution of drinking water MUST BE RIGOROUSLY AVOIDED.

Food scraps and other rubbish should be burned in the fire if possible.

CAMP LAYOUT:
Select sites for all camp activities so that they do not interfere with each other or pollute the living and cooking areas.

If you are camped by a river or stream, fix specific sections for activities & keep to them.
Latrines should be dug downhill of the camp and away from the water supply so that there is NO possible risk of seepage polluting either.

ACTIVITY AREAS:
Establish a water point from which drinking water will be collected and ensure that No one wash, cleans pots, scrubs clothes or otherwise uses the stream upstream of this point.
Downstream choose a wash point for personal ablutions and clothes washing and farther downstream of that select a place to be used for cleaning cooking utensils.
REMEMBER: NEVER URINATE OR DEFECATE IN OR NEAR YOUR WATER SUPPLY.

LATRINES AND RUBBISH DISPOSAL:
Latrines and rubbish disposal should be well away from the camp and preferably downwind.

But not so far away that is inconvenient and people are tempted to go elsewhere. If necessary cut a track to it to make access easier.

It is important that proper latrines be established, even for the lone survivor. With a group separate latrines for the sexes may make a mixed group feel more comfortable and as much privacy as possible should be provided.

Rubbish, after checking that it really has no USEFUL value, should be burned, and what cannot be burned should be buried.

Even if you have it, do not use disinfectant in a latrine. Lime or disinfectant would kill the USEFUL bacteria that break down and then it will start smelling! After defecating cover the shit with earth. Add small amounts of water that will promote the bacteria.

Make a latrine cover to keep out flies and REMEMBER ALWAYS to replace it, or flies that have walked all over shit may walk all over your food, & start a cycle of infection.

If, after a time, a latrine starts to smell, dig a new one. Fill in the old latrine. Build a new seat and burn old timbers & covers.

DEEP TRENCH LATRINE:
Dig a trench about 1.25m (4ft) deep and 45cm (18in) wide. Build up the sides with logs or rocks and earth to make a comfortable sitting height, sealing the gaps between them.
Lay logs across to leave only a hole for use or (several if you are a large group and making a communal latrine).

Empty wood ash on the logs to make a seal. It will also deter flies. Make a lid of smaller wood to cover the opening (A) or use a large flat rock or a large leaf weighted down with stones.

ALWAYS REMEMBER to replace it.

URINAL:
Dig a pit about 60cm (2ft) deep. Three-quarters fill it with a large stone and then top up with earth, with a cone made from bark set into it as a funnel. Site it close enough to the camp to ensure that people bother to use it.

INCINERATOR:
If there is too much waste for the camp fire to burn, make a separate fire in the latrine area. If a large can is available use it as an incinerator. Bury any unburned refuse in a garbage pit.

CAMP DISCIPLINE:
Do not prepare game in camp: bleed, gut and skin on the trap line.
This attracts game to the traps where you want them, not into your camp. Keep food covered and off the ground. If kept in trees MAKE SURE it is proof from tree-dwelling animals.

Replace lids on water bottles and containers IMMEDIATELY after using them. Stow spare clothing and equipment in your shelter. Do not leave it lying where it can get wet or burned.

Have a place for everything & keep things tidy. A tree for mess tins & cooking utensils-hook them on twigs and branches, a place for mugs and spoons & keep everything off the ground. Fix a box as cupboard on a tree trunk.

NEVER LEAVE THE FIRE UNATTENDED