FM 21-76 US ARMY SURVIVAL MANUAL

FM 21-76US ARMY SURVIVAL MANUALFM 21-76US ARMY SURVIVAL MANUALPage 1 of 277

FM 21-76US ARMY SURVIVAL MANUALTABLE OF CONTENTSFM 21-76 US ARMY SURVIVAL MANUAL.1TABLE OF CONTENTS.2CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION.5SURVIVAL ACTIONS.5PATTERN FOR SURVIVAL.8CHAPTER 2 - PSYCHOLOGY OF SURVIVAL.9A LOOK AT STRESS.9NATURAL REACTIONS.12PREPARING YOURSELF.14CHAPTER 3 - SURVIVAL PLANNING AND SURVIVAL KITS.16IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING.16SURVIVAL KITS.16CHAPTER 4 - BASIC SURVIVAL MEDICINE.19REQUIREMENTS FOR MAINTENANCE OF HEALTH.19MEDICAL EMERGENCIES.25LIFESAVING STEPS.25BONE AND JOINT INJURY.32BITES AND STINGS.35WOUNDS.39ENVIRONMENTAL INJURIES.43HERBAL MEDICINES.46CHAPTER 5 - SHELTERS.47SHELTER SITE SELECTION.47TYPES OF SHELTERS.48CHAPTER 6 - WATER PROCUREMENT.66WATER SOURCES.66STILL CONSTRUCTION.73WATER PURIFICATION.76WATER FILTRATION DEVICES.77CHAPTER 7 - FIRECRAFT.78BASIC FIRE PRINCIPLES.78SITE SELECTION AND PREPARATION.78FIRE MATERIAL SELECTION.82HOW TO BUILD A FIRE.83HOW TO LIGHT A FIRE.84CHAPTER 8 - FOOD PROCUREMENT.88ANIMALS FOR FOOD.88TRAPS AND SNARES.94KILLING DEVICES.104FISHING DEVICES.105PREPARATION OF FISH AND GAME FORCOOKING AND STORAGE.112CHAPTER 9 - SURVIVAL USE OF PLANTS.118EDIBILITY OF PLANTS.118PLANTS FOR MEDICINE.128CHAPTER 10 - POISONOUS PLANTS.132HOW PLANTS POISON.132ALL ABOUT PLANTS.133RULES FOR AVOIDING POISONOUS PLANTS.133Page 2 of 277

FM 21-76US ARMY SURVIVAL MANUALCONTACT DERMATITIS.134INGESTION POISONING.134CHAPTER 11 - DANGEROUS ANIMALS.136INSECTS AND ARACHNIDS.136LEECHES.138BATS.138POISONOUS SNAKES.139DANGEROUS LIZARDS.141DANGERS IN RIVERS.142DANGERS IN BAYS AND ESTUARIES.142SALTWATER DANGERS.143CHAPTER 12 - FIELD-EXPEDIENT WEAPONS, TOOLS,AND EQUIPMENT.146CLUBS.146EDGED WEAPONS.148OTHER EXPEDIENT WEAPONS.151LASHING AND CORDAGE.153RUCKSACK CONSTRUCTION.154CLOTHING AND INSULATION.155COOKING AND EATING UTENSILS.156CHAPTER 13 - DESERT SURVIVAL.158TERRAIN.158ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS.159NEED FOR WATER.163HEAT CASUALTIES.165PRECAUTIONS.165DESERT HAZARDS.166CHAPTER 14 - TROPICAL SURVIVAL.167TROPICAL WEATHER.167JUNGLE TYPES.168TRAVEL THROUGH JUNGLE AREAS.171IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATIONS.172WATER PROCUREMENT.172FOOD.173POISONOUS PLANTS.175CHAPTER 15 - COLD WEATHER SURVIVAL.176COLD REGIONS AND LOCATIONS.176WINDCHILL.177BASIC PRINCIPLES OF COLDWEATHER SURVIVAL.178HYGIENE.179MEDICAL ASPECTS.179COLD RAVEL.192WEATHER SIGNS.193CHAPTER 16 - SEA SURVIVAL.195THE OPEN SEA.195SEASHORES.220CHAPTER 17 - EXPEDIENT WATER CROSSINGS.223Page 3 of 277

FM 21-76US ARMY SURVIVAL MANUALRIVERS AND STREAMS.223RAPIDS.224RAFTS.226FLOTATION DEVICES.231OTHER WATER OBSTACLES.232VEGETATION OBSTACLES.232CHAPTER 18 - FIELD-EXPEDIENT DIRECTION FINDING.234USING THE SUN AND SHADOWS.234USING THE MOON.236USING THE STARS.237MAKING IMPROVISED COMPASSES.238OTHER MEANS OF DETERMINING DIRECTION.238CHAPTER 19 - SIGNALING TECHNIQUES.240APPLICATION.240MEANS FOR SIGNALING.240CODES AND SIGNALS.246AIRCRAFT VECTORING PROCEDURES.249CHAPTER 20 - SURVIVAL MOVEMENT IN HOSTILE AREAS.251PHASES OF PLANNING.251EXECUTION.253RETURN TO FRIENDLY CONTROL.256CHAPTER 21 - CAMOUFLAGE.259PERSONAL CAMOUFLAGE.259METHODS OF STALKING.261CHAPTER 22 - CONTACT WITH PEOPLE.263CONTACT WITH LOCAL PEOPLE.263THE SURVIVOR'S BEHAVIOR.264CHANGES TO POLITICAL ALLEGIANCE.264CHAPTER 23 - SURVIVAL IN MAN-MADE HAZARDS.265THE NUCLEAR ENVIRONMENT.265BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTS.275CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENTS.278Page 4 of 277

FM 21-76US ARMY SURVIVAL MANUALCHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTIONThis manual is based entirely on the keyword SURVIVAL. The letters in thisword can help guide you in your actions in any survival situation. Wheneverfaced with a survival situation, remember the word SURVIVAL.SURVIVAL ACTIONSThe following paragraphs expand on the meaning of each letter of the word survival. Studyand remember what each letter signifies because you may some day have to make it workfor you.S -Size Up the SituationIf you are in a combat situation, find a place where you can conceal yourself from theenemy. Remember, security takes priority. Use your senses of hearing, smell, and sight toget a feel for the battlefield. What is the enemy doing? Advancing? Holding in place?Retreating? You will have to consider what is developing on the battlefield when you makeyour survival plan.Size Up Your SurroundingsDetermine the pattern of the area. Get a feel for what is going on around you. Everyenvironment, whether forest, jungle, or desert, has a rhythm or pattern. This rhythm orpattern includes animal and bird noises and movements and insect sounds. It may alsoinclude enemy traffic and civilian movements.Size Up Your Physical ConditionThe pressure of the battle you were in or the trauma of being in a survival situation mayhave caused you to overlook wounds you received. Check your wounds and give yourselffirst aid. Take care to prevent further bodily harm. For instance, in any climate, drink plentyof water to prevent dehydration. If you are in a cold or wet climate, put on additionalclothing to prevent hypothermia.Size Up Your EquipmentPerhaps in the heat of battle, you lost or damaged some of your equipment. Check to seewhat equipment you have and what condition it is in.Now that you have sized up your situation, surroundings, physical condition, andequipment, you are ready to make your survival plan. In doing so, keep in mind your basicphysical needs--water, food, and shelter.U -Use All Your Senses, Undue Haste Makes WasteYou may make a wrong move when you react quickly without thinking or planning. Thatmove may result in your capture or death. Don't move just for the sake of taking action.Page 5 of 277

FM 21-76US ARMY SURVIVAL MANUALConsider all aspects of your situation (size up your situation) before you make a decisionand a move. If you act in haste, you may forget or lose some of your equipment. In yourhaste you may also become disoriented so that you don't know which way to go. Plan yourmoves. Be ready to move out quickly without endangering yourself if the enemy is nearyou. Use all your senses to evaluate the situation. Note sounds and smells. Be sensitive totemperature changes. Be observant.R -Remember Where You AreSpot your location on your map and relate it to the surrounding terrain. This is a basicprinciple that you must always follow. If there are other persons with you, make sure theyalso know their location. Always know who in your group, vehicle, or aircraft has a map andcompass. If that person is killed, you will have to get the map and compass from him. Payclose attention to where you are and to where you are going. Do not rely on others in thegroup to keep track of the route. Constantly orient yourself. Always try to determine, as aminimum, how your location relates to- The location of enemy units and controlled areas. The location of friendly units and controlled areas. The location of local water sources (especially important in the desert). Areas that will provide good cover and concealment.This information will allow you to make intelligent decisions when you are in a survival andevasion situation.V -Vanquish Fear and PanicThe greatest enemies in a combat survival and evasion situation are fear and panic. Ifuncontrolled, they can destroy your ability to make an intelligent decision. They may causeyou to react to your feelings and imagination rather than to your situation. They can drainyour energy and thereby cause other negative emotions. Previous survival and evasiontraining and self-confidence will enable you to vanquish fear and panic.I -ImproviseIn the United States, we have items available for all our needs. Many of these items arecheap to replace when damaged. Our

Practice basic survival skills during all training programs and exercises. Survival training reduces fear of the unknown and gives you self-confidence. It teaches you to live by your wits. Page 7 of 277. FM 21-76 US ARMY SURVIVAL MANUAL PATTERN FOR SURVIVAL Develop a survival pattern that lets you beat the enemies of survival. .