Useful Survival Tips and Tricks

How to Evade a Tracking Dog

A dog’s sense of smell is thousands of times more sensitive than a human’s, allowing it to detect even the faintest scent trails. If you think you might be pursued by a tracking dog, consider these precautions:

1. Use strong-smelling substances. These can block a dog’s sense of smell and cause it to lose your trail, at least temporarily. Examples include pepper, tobacco, mothballs, heart medication (validol), ammonia, cologne, garlic, vanilla, dimexide (available at pharmacies), gasoline, and kerosene. Sprinkle a few drops or pinches of any of these where you are, and the dog will likely lose your scent. For extra security, rub some on the soles of your shoes.
2. Cross water barriers. If you encounter a stream or river, walk in the water for a few hundred yards against the current. This maneuver will likely throw the dog off your trail.
3. Use crowded public places. The abundance of different smells in places like bus stops, subways, public transport, or stores can confuse the dog and make it lose your scent.

Note: It’s much easier for a dog to pick up your trail if it can sniff a personal item (like gloves) that carries your scent. Don’t leave personal belongings behind.

How to Defend Yourself from an Attack Dog

When attacking, a dog usually goes for the most prominent part of the body. Extend your forearm; the dog will likely bite it. This is painful, but better than being bitten in the neck. The forearm has fewer major blood vessels, and they are deeper under the skin. If possible, wrap your forearm with a jacket or cloth beforehand.

Once the dog bites, do not pull away—this will only worsen the injury. The dog may shake its head; try to move with it. Then, act quickly: grab the dog by the base of its ear and twist sharply. This targets a pain point and will make even the most aggressive dog back off. Alternatively, jab your fingers into its eyes for a brief pause. Do not try to shake the dog off; instead, grab its head and twist sharply to break its neck, or choke it by pressing down with your body and squeezing its neck tightly.

Note: Kicking a dog in the stomach is usually ineffective—it can withstand such blows.

You can also use an ultrasonic dog repeller (a small, battery-powered device that emits high-frequency sounds dogs hate but humans can’t hear), pepper spray, or a spray bottle with 25% ammonia solution.

How to See in the Dark

Buy a night vision device from a hunting store. If that’s not an option, try this military trick: before going out in the dark, eat a spoonful of sugar and expose your eyes to red light for 30 seconds. This increases your night vision. You can get red light by covering a flashlight with a photographic red filter. The light should be dim and as close to the dark red spectrum as possible. Certain stimulants can also increase your eyes’ sensitivity to light.

How to Stay Awake for 48 Hours

Sometimes, you may need to stay awake for two days straight, covering long distances without feeling tired or hungry. Certain substances can help:

• Methamphetamine (known as “crystal” or “speed”) is the most powerful. It was used by German commandos in WWII. It can be taken orally.
• Ephedrine is another option, though harder to find. Ephedrine drops can be taken orally, or the ampoule injected. Repeat every 6–8 hours. “Jeff” is a stronger derivative, made from ephedrine, potassium permanganate, and acetic acid.
• Sidnocarb and baclofen are milder stimulants available by prescription.
• Caffeine tablets are available over the counter. Take two at a time, repeating every 6–8 hours.
• Echinacea or ginseng tincture can be taken in a 20 ml dose, undiluted.
• If nothing else is available, drink several cups of strong coffee or green tea.

How to Immobilize a Victim During a Kidnapping

• Soak a rag or glove with fluothane (a classic anesthetic) and hold it over the victim’s mouth and nose for 5–10 minutes. Don’t believe movies where people pass out in seconds—it takes longer.
• Inject a mixture of the neuroleptic thioridazine (Sonapax) and alcohol into a vein. This causes immediate weakness, low blood pressure, rapid pulse, and dilated pupils, resembling deep shock.
• Strike the back of the head with a rubber baton or a sock filled with sand. This will knock the person out for a few minutes and cause a concussion.
• Use a stun gun. A powerful 50 kV pulse to the head, neck, or chest for 5–7 seconds will cause unconsciousness for 10–20 minutes.
• Compress the carotid arteries with your hands or a leather belt.

Warning: Be careful not to suffocate the person or break their larynx or spine!

How to Make Someone Forget

Casually ask the person for the information you want, without drawing attention to it. Then, immediately tell a funny joke, focusing their attention on it. The stronger emotional stimulus will overwrite the weaker one, and the person usually won’t remember your original question.

“Telltales”

These are simple indicators to show if someone has entered your room or apartment while you were away. Use them to detect unauthorized entry:

• Place a broken matchstick or needle between the door and the frame. If someone enters, it will fall to the floor.
• Glue a hair or thin thread between the door and the frame using cognac, beer, or liqueur. It’s nearly invisible, but a magnifying glass will reveal if it’s been disturbed.
• Put a tiny drop of milk or onion juice on a lightbulb. If it darkens while you’re away, someone turned on the light.
• Sprinkle a few tobacco crumbs on your notebook. If they’re gone when you return, someone has read your notes.

Professionals are aware of these tricks.

How to Protect Against Eavesdropping

• If you suspect your home is bugged, use a special detector (though these can be expensive).
• Conversations in the bathroom with the water running are hard to overhear.
• If you think you’re being listened to, write your conversation on paper instead of speaking aloud.
• To detect a laser scanner, blow cigarette smoke toward the window; the laser beam will be visible in the smoke. To block it, simply close the curtains.
• In public places, watch for people trying to sit or stand close to you.
• To prevent lip-reading, cover your mouth with your hand while speaking.

How to Change Your Voice

• Wrap the phone’s microphone in a handkerchief to make your voice less recognizable.
• Hold a matchstick between your teeth while speaking.
• Record your message on a tape, then play it back into the phone at a slower or faster speed.
• Hold a jar’s neck to the microphone.
• Put several pieces of chewing gum in your mouth, roll them into a ball, and keep it under your tongue while talking.
• Pinch your nose with a clothespin.
• For a high-tech solution, use a microphone, computer, speakers, and voice-changing software like AV Voice Changer (official site).

However, law enforcement agencies have advanced voice analyzers and can often determine your natural voice timbre and rhythm from a recording.

How to Lose a Car Chase

If you’re being chased at night, mount a powerful camera flash on your car’s rear window, hidden from plain sight, and connect the control button to your dashboard. Speed up and head for a dangerous stretch of road, then trigger the flash. The pursuers, staring at your car, will be blinded and may lose control. This device can also be mounted on a motorcycle, disguised as a rear light.