Survival Tips

From FM21-76 (U.S. Department of the Army Field Manual, Survival, Evasion, and Escape, 1969)

• Small fires are easier to build and control than large fires. A series of small fires built in a circle around you in cold weather gives more heat than one big fire.

• Never speak to a stranger if it can be avoided. As a last resort, pretend to be deaf and dumb or even half-witted. This device has often been successful. To discourage conversation in public conveyance, pretend to read or sleep.

• The milky sap of the unripe papaya fruit is a good meat tenderizer if rubbed into the meat. Avoid getting this juice into the eyes -- it will cause intense pain and temporary or even permanent blindness.