John Lofty Wiseman - SAS urban survival handbook: how to protect yourself against terrorism, natural disasters, fires, home invasions, and everyday health and safety hazards

Copyright 1996, 2008, 2013, 2018 by John Lofty Wiseman

Published by arrangement with HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

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10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Tom Lau

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-2245-3

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-2246-0

Printed in China

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

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

Wilderness, sea, arctic, jungle, and desert survival have always been of great importance to many in the military and those who enjoy the extreme environments and conditions of the great outdoors. Urban survival, however, should be of great importance to all people regardless of whom they are or where they live and work.

With the rise and spread of terrorism and crime, the increase in natural disasters, diseases, toxins, and pollutants in the environment, there has never been a greater need for the SAS Urban Survival Handbook .

John Wiseman has done a brilliant job defining many of todays threats, how to identify them, how to prepare for them, and how to survive when confronted by them.

Urban survival is a somewhat broad, over-encompassing term meaning surviving in an urban environment when disaster or tragedy strikes, having a survival mindset and good situational awareness of your surroundings, and having an understanding of what disaster can strike and how to handle it when it does strike. Having this knowledge and a survival plan is often the key difference of surviving or not surviving a disaster, an attack, or a catastrophic event.

We are all prone to being confronted with any of the threats outlined in this handbook. In todays society, most people incorrectly believe that they are absolutely safe and secure in their work space and homes and think that that these disasters only happen to others. Unfortunately, they are very wrong and most likely unprepared when disaster does strike.

Thousands of people die each year and are affected by the many threats described in this handbook. Unfortunately, most often, there is no way to predict when and what disaster can strike. Most people do not even have a basic idea on how to better their chances of surviving threats such as terrorist or criminal attacks, natural disasters, building or home collapse, dealing with destroyed roads or bridges, ruptured water pipes, downed power lines, power grid outages, polluted water systems, or not having enough food or water.

The importance and steps required in developing a survival mindset are clearly outlined in this handbook. With a basic understanding of what can happen and preparing a simple survival plan, you and your family will be much better prepared in the event of a catastrophic event. Knowing what to expect is always an advantage, and planning and preparation are always wise.

The aim of the SAS Urban Survival Handbook is to make you aware of the dangers we all face in the urban environment, how to avoid unnecessary risks, and minimizing the damage caused by those dangers that cant be avoided.

Also discussed are the natural day-to-day dangers that can negatively impact your health and can cause death. These dangers include household chemicals, poisonous plants found in gardens or in potted plants, cockroaches, fleas, rats and other vermin that spread disease, pesticides, fungicides, air and water pollution, fires, accidents, overexposure to the sun, medical emergencies, and so on.