2-2 BASIC SURVIVAL MEDICINE
DOOM SURVIVAL GUIDE
Animal Foods
Meat is more nourishing than plant food. In fact, it may even be more readily available in some
places. However, to get meat, you need to know the habits of, and how to capture, the various
wildlife.
To satisfy your immediate food needs, first seek the more abundant and more easily obtained
wildlife, such as insects, crustaceans, molluscs, fish, and reptiles. These can satisfy your
immediate hunger while you are preparing traps and snares for larger game.
2.1.3 PERSONAL HYGIENE
In any situation, cleanliness is an important factor in preventing infection and disease. It
becomes even more important in a survival situation. Poor hygiene can reduce your chances of
survival.
A daily shower or bath with hot water and soap is ideal, but you can stay clean without this
luxury. Use a cloth and soapy water to wash yourself. Pay special attention to the feet,
armpits, crotch, hands, and hair as these are prime areas for infestation and infection. If water
is scarce, take an "air" bath. Remove as much of your clothing as practical and expose your
body to the sun and air for at least 1 hour. Be careful not to sunburn.
If you don't have soap, use ashes or sand, or make soap from animal fat and wood ashes, if
your situation allows.
To make soap
Step 1 Extract grease from animal fat by cutting the fat into small pieces and cooking them
in a pot.
Step 2 Add enough water to the pot to keep the fat from sticking as it cooks.
Step 3 Cook the fat slowly, stirring frequently.
Step 4 After the fat is rendered, pour the grease into a container to harden.
Step 5 Place ashes in a container with a spout near the bottom.
Step 6 Pour water over the ashes and collect the liquid that drips out of the spout in a
separate container. This liquid is the potash or lye. Another way to get the lye is to
pour the slurry (the mixture of ashes and water) through a straining cloth.
Step 7 In a cooking pot, mix two parts grease to one part potash.
Step 8 Place this mixture over a fire and boil it until it thickens.
After the mixture the soap cools, you can use it in the semi-liquid state directly from the
pot. You can also pour it into a pan, allow it to harden, and cut it into bars for later use.
If rendered properly, the fat will not retain any smell of the cooked flesh it came from. To see
a more detailed treatment of soap making, see Cleaning Products (Page 9-22)
Keep Your Hands Clean
Germs on your hands can infect food and wounds. Wash your hands after handling any
material that is likely to carry germs, after going to the toilet, after caring for the sick, and
before handling any food, food utensils, or drinking water. Keep your fingernails closely
trimmed and clean, and keep your fingers out of your mouth.
Keep Your Hair Clean
Your hair can become a haven for bacteria or fleas, lice, and other parasites. Keeping your hair
clean, combed, and trimmed helps you avoid this danger.
Keep Your Clothing Clean
Keep your clothing and bedding as clean as possible to reduce the chance of skin infection as
well as to decrease the danger of parasitic infestation. Clean your outer clothing whenever it
becomes soiled. Wear clean underclothing and socks each day. If water is scarce, you can "air"
clean your clothing by shaking, airing, and sunning for 2 hours. If you are using a sleeping
