Let's face it, in an age where it seems everything is digital, virtual, and delivered to our door, the basic survival skills our grandparents knew have, by many, been forgotten. Let's dive into some hands on Basic Life Skills That Everyone Should Know!
We will cover some pretty obvious skills that surprisingly, many of our young people (less than 30 years of age) are not familiar with. I have seen first hand on my former job, college aged young men who did not know how to use a broom, use a drill, or even the concept of needing to put fuel in a company car to be able to drive it! We live in a very digital, and virtual age that the youth are so consumed by, that the basic common sense that my generation (Gen X) grew up with, is non existent for the most part.
One common idea you will see through this blog, is to ask for help. Not in the time of emergency, but before the emergency hits so you will be prepared to offer help when needed. Ask a neighbor, friend or family member who has knowledge in the area you need help with to assist you in learning more about it. This will not only help you learn, but it can also help build relationships with family members, or make a new friend! We are not going to cover detailed instructions for each skill, however, I will point you in the right direction to learn them!
So, let's dive in.
We will cover different topics that fall under the following skill sets:
- Basic Life Skills
- Basic Home Ec Skills
- Basic Survival Skills
I will admit, there are some skills I am including that I need to work on as well, so I am not calling anyone out!
Basic Life Skills:
In this section, we will cover the following:
- Basic Tools
- Basic Auto Care
- Basic Transportation
- Basic Arithmetic
Ok, so some of those might sound a little too basic, but bear with me here.
Having a basic knowledge of how some tools work, can save you money and headaches when the need arises to use them!
Basic Tools:
Go out, gather some scrap boards, nails and a hammer. Practice driving a nail into a couple of boards. This one skill alone could help construct a shelter in an emergency!
Now really, that won't do it, so, if you have a grandparent, or neighbor who is handy with tools, ask them if they could show you how they work. Everything from a hammer, a screwdriver, a drill, or a saw. Knowing how these tools work, and knowing how to use them effectively are two vastly different things. Even knowing how to use a chainsaw could be a potentially life saving skill to provide fire wood for warmth when needed. You will find that is isn't as difficult or as boring as you thought, they will enjoy teaching someone who wants to learn, and you never know what kind of a friendship will come out of it! Win - win!
Basic Auto Care:
If you have a car, you need to know how to take care of it, in the event that the mechanic shops are not available. As a woman, it is so easy for me to take my vehicle to a mechanic shop, tell them what is happening, and let them fix it, however, there are times that costs WAY more money than doing some simple maintenance myself. Do you know how to check the oil, water, brake fluid or transmission fluid in your vehicle? Would you be able to change your oil? Do you know how to change your tire in the event of a flat tire and your roadside assistance isn't available?
Thankfully, I have a husband who has taught not only myself, but also our children (boy and a girl) how to take care of our vehicles. When my daughter would have a flat tire at her work, she got out and changed it herself! My son now does some mechanic work for others who need help. When my husband is working on a vehicle here at home, I am out there watching, learning and helping so I know what to do if I had to do it on my own. Yes, I can be obnoxious with my questions about "how?" and "why?", but he is really good about answering them!
If you do not have a family member, friend or neighbor who is handy with car care, try calling a local mechanic. I don't mean the kind that works in a big fancy shop that is busy all the time, I am talking about the mechanic that is willing to show you how to do some basic car maintenance and he isn't worried about losing a sale to you. Many people call them a "shade tree mechanic" because they tend to work under a shade tree or out of their garage. Offer to buy lunch in exchange for a morning class of showing you how to check your fluids, filters and how to change a tire!
If nothing else, you can look up videos on YouTube to show you some basic how-to information! However, it is good to know them so you don't have to look it up on YouTube in an emergency! I linked a video below that covers many of the basics that every car owner should know! I have also linked a program with monthly DIY projects for your vehicle.
Basic Transportation:
Ok, so what if you have a car, but you are not able to drive it for whatever reason, what will do for transportation? Walking is always an option, however, in towns and areas with paved roads, there is another option. Ride a bicycle! Ok, now be honest, when was the last time you rode a bicycle? I think for me it was about 15 years ago! Yikes! (gravel roads aren't easy to ride a bike on for me)
There is an old saying that says something about never forgetting how to ride a bike. Well, if you rode a bicycle when you were a kid, then it will eventually come back to you as an adult, but it may take some practice! So, dust off that bike and take it around the block a few times. You will get some low impact exercise and be brushing up on a life skill!
Another alternative to an automobile that is related to a bicycle is a motorcycle. These are a low fuel cost means of transportation, and something worthy to look into.
Another transportation skill to have is, knowing how to drive a standard transmission vehicle. I admit it, I have tried to learn several years ago, and I was never able to get the car fully into 1st gear! Both of my kids know how to drive a standard, and my husband drives one for a living, yet, I am lacking in that area. Perhaps one day, I will get the hang of it, after all, what if the only type of transportation available after an emergency hits is one that happens to be a standard transmission?
Basic Arithmetic:
Ok, I know, I can hear the "really?" from here. However, when was the last time you worked out a long division, or multiplication problem without the use of a calculator? I am old school and even when I taught Accounting for 13 years, I told my students not to depend on a calculator for all of their solutions, because even a calculator can be wrong! Just ask my Business Math teacher, I almost failed a semester due to a faulty calculator!
This might sound like a funny joke when it comes to basic skills, however, can you convert a fraction to a decimal, do you know how to convert those numbers into reality? A little story of when I was working at a fast food restaurant years ago. I had a gentleman ask for the largest burger we had. So, I recommended the 1/3 pound burger. He questioned why I didn't give him the 1/4 pound burger instead, after all, 4 was larger than 3, so it must be a bigger burger. I asked him, which is more money, 25 cents (1/4 of a dollar) or .33 cents (1/3 of a dollar), he still didn't understand. So, I really had to draw a pie chart on a napkin to show him how 1/3 is larger than 1/4! I was 16 and the customer was probably in his 30's. The concept of fractions was still fresh in my mind, due to me still being in school. However, if he never used that skill in his real life, then it makes sense that he would have forgotten some of the basics. He was a very intelligent looking man, he just had not practiced using fractions that much. He walked away with a puzzled look, I am sure he was still processing what happened, and possibly slightly embarrassed.
So, if you had to build a shelter, would you know how to figure how much material you would need if you knew the dimensions? Would you know how to read a tape measure to accurately measure the materials? These are some of the skills that remembering how to work some basic math formulas and how to work fractions would be made much easier.
If you don't want to ask another adult for help, see what kind of math your kids are learning in school! Learn fractions with them, learn how to figure the area of a square with them and you won't just be learning or refreshing your basic math skills, you might just learn something new about your kids too!
If you don't have kids, there are plenty of websites that offer tutorials for learning fractions. Below is one of them.
https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/fraction-math-how-to-do-fractions-for-beginners/
Knowing how to read a tape measure is a valuable skill
You don't have to be a math wiz, just refresh your memory on the basics!
Basic Home Ec Skills:
In this section we will be covering the following:
- Cooking Basics
- Sewing Basics
Just a quick glimpse into some basic skills that anyone can learn!
Cooking Basics:
In a day and age where almost everything can be tossed in a microwave and cooked, many basic cooking skills have been lost. I know young ladies who have gotten married, and did not know how to boil water! I am not joking! So, knowing some basic cooking knowledge would be very helpful in a situation when a microwave is not available!
Years ago, microwaves, instant pots, and air fryers were not available, so the basic cookstove, or even campfire was used for all the meal prepping needs. We aren't going to go too deep here, but we will cover just a few things.
Boiling water: Boiling water can be use for cooking pasta, eggs, beans, or making coffee. Fill a pot of water and place on the stove, turn the burner on medium high heat and wait for the water to boil. It will look like air bubbles floating to the top from the bottom of the pan.
Hard Boiled Eggs: boil for 5 minutes, let sit in hot water for another 5 minutes, then put in a bowl of water with ice cubes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then peel.
Pasta: bring a pot of water to boil, boil in water until pasta is just tender to the bite (al dente), then drain hot water off using a colander and add pasta sauce of your choice.
Beans: rinse beans and allow to soak in cold water overnight (this softens the skins) then boil on low, stirring occasionally until the beans are tender. Times will vary depending on what beans you are cooking. Season and enjoy!
Coffee: If you cannot run to your favorite barista, and your coffee pot isn't working, you can make coffee using a French press, or even in a medium sauce pan. Bring water to a boil and pour over coffee. If using a French press, press the plunger down to push the grounds to the bottom, then pour your coffee. If using a medium sauce pan, allow the grounds to steep for a few minutes, then using a metal spoon, skim the grounds off the top and pour your coffee. If possible use a filter of some sort, there will be some coffee grounds left in the brew!
Meat: When cooking meat, always make sure to cook any wild game meat thoroughly, and especially any kind of poultry to help avoid any food born illness. Meat can be roasted in the oven, fried in a pan, or even skewered on a cleaned stick and roasted over an open fire.
There are many tutorials on how to cook over a campfire, however, if you know how to cook in a kitchen, then it is pretty easy to convert to campfire cooking.
Below is a great video in a series that covers some basic cooking essentials to get you started!
Professional chef instructor Frank Proto shares his top tips for beginners, helping you to elevate the basic skills you'll need to find your footing in the kitchen.
Spend some time with a grandparent or parent and learn some of the cooking basics from them!
Sewing Basics:
I believe we have all been there, out in public when a button that is vital to keeping things together comes loose! Knowing how to simply sew a button back on can make a difference in whether or not an item of clothing is usable or not! I made sure my son knew how to sew a button back on. In fact the last year or so he was living at home, he sewed his own buttons on!
I made or altered most of my kid's clothing while they were growing up. My daughter now sews alterations for other people, and it gives her a bit of extra income, as well as she can purchase a wider variety of clothing, knowing how to make alterations to it herself!
There are many levels of sewing knowledge, you don't have to bee a seamstress to know the basics of sewing. Just knowing how to thread a needle, knot the end of the thread and how to do a finish knot to be able to tie it off after sewing can mean a world of good! You will be able to repair a tear in shirt, replace a button on some trousers, or even sew two canvas' together for a shelter!
The website alison.com offers a free course that teaches the basics of sewing.
Knowing simple sewing techniques can be a money saver as well!
Basic Survival Skills:
You don't have to be a master at bushcraft to have good survival skills, in this section we will cover:
- Maps
- Fires
- Swimming
- Basic First Aid
- Self Defense
Maps:
In this day and age, there are not very many people who seem to know how to actually read a map! With phones having GPS and telling us how to get to where we want to go, the way of the paper map has been deserted by the last generation.
In the case of an emergency, your phone may not be able to access the GPS for your location, and a paper map may be the only source you have to guide your way.
It is important to know a few things when you are reading a map.
You need to know which way is North, both on the map, and where you stand. Without this one basic piece of information, the map becomes useless right in your hands. You can find North by either using a compass, or knowing your directions. By knowing where the sun comes up, or sets, you can find a basic grasp of where North is. If you are facing the sunrise, go to your left. If you are facing a sunset, go to your right. There are many other ways to find where North is, these are just a few.
Here is a great website for basic map reading:
https://www.wikihow.com/Read-a-Map
Don't let a map make you feel lost!
Learn basic map skills and you will never get lost!
Fires:
You don't have to be a pro at making fires with two sticks and a piece of string, however, knowing how to use a fire bow is a great skill. Just knowing the basics of fire building can make or break a cold night stranded in the middle of nowhere or during a family camping trip.
There are a variety of fire starting methods, and numerous things that can be used to keep a fire going. You just need to know how to implement them!
I actually wrote a blog about How to Build a Fire Without Matches, there is a lot of information there than can be applied even if you have a lighter or matches on you!
Swimming is a skill that can be learned at any age!
Swimming:
Swimming can definitely be a life saving skill! Whether an emergency happens while you are on a boat and you need to swim to shore, or you are needing to swim across a body of water to get to a safer spot, or your little one falls into the family pool, swimming is a life skill that is a MUST!
If you do not already know how to swim, I suggest looking to your local Parks and Recreation to see if there are swimming classes offered near where you live. I grew up next to a lake, and then lived close to the ocean, and I did not know how to swim until I was able to learn in a pool as an adult! I had several instances growing up of almost drowning, however, I never learned how to swim until I was in my late 20's! I am not a very strong swimmer, however, I was able to swim to the shore from a boat when needed.
Often times, after school is out for summer break, swim instructors begin holding swim classes in their own private pools for those who want private lessons. This would be a great environment for one-on-one learning regardless of your age.
Basic First Aid:
There are some basics in first aid that I feel are important for everyone to know. Often some of these skills can be learned in a class setting offered by your local fire department or local Red Cross!
Personally, I received CPR training when I was 10. My family had foster children and we were all required to be CPR certified. My husband used to be an instructor when he was on our local volunteer fire department, and both of our children were certified at a young age. I have had to use my training once, when my daughter was about a year old, she got choked on some food. The training I had received years earlier kicked in and I knew what to do! I hate to imagine what would have happened had I not been trained to respond the way I had. Both my husband and my son have had to use their CPR training, as my husband used to be a First Responder, and my son currently is one with our local volunteer fire department.
Besides CPR training, basic bandaging for sprains and wounds, as well as how to splint a potential broken bone are other first aid skills everyone should know.
The Red Cross has online training that is very affordable that covers a variety of first aid courses.
Wound dressing is a vital first aid skill.
CPR training with a dummy can save a life for real!
Self Defense:
Learning how to defend yourself when someone becomes hostile can not only save yourself, it can potentially save others who are with you as well! Ideally, we should strive to avoid any conflict that would require us to use any type of self defense, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared when that ideal situation falls through.
There are several different ways to learn self defense. There are self defense classes that are directed at women, so they can protect themselves from violent crimes. Even karate or other martial arts classes would help any person learn some basic self defense skills. Basic self defense techniques can be learned at any age. I know a lady in her 80's who still takes karate class, it not only teaches self defense, it also keeps her limber!
Just learning how to take a punch, and how to properly deliver a return punch without breaking your hand would be a big help! Several cities have fitness clubs that have punching bags, these can be used for practicing a self defense punch. You might even find others who are wanting to learn, and have a sparring partner to practice with and learn new techniques.
There are also tools such as pepper spray and mace that can easily be carried on your keychain that act as deterrents for attackers, whistles that emit a very high frequency that discourages attackers and even flash lights that strobe to disorient the attacker's vision. Self defense does not always mean you have to get into a physical altercation.
The hope is that none of us ever have to seriously defend ourselves, or our family, the reality is, there is a higher chance of it happening every day.
Another skill that I will include with self defense is how to handle a gun safely. Always follow the laws in your area regarding gun ownership and observe all the safety measures for your specific firearm and remember it is only to be used as a last resort.
To brush up on gun safety and to learn about basic gun ownership and usage, look into the basic firearms classes offered at firing ranges. You can contact your local firearms dealership if you do not have a firing range to inquire about such classes in your area. Some individuals are licensed with the state to be able to offer such training to others on a one-on-one basis. Local newspapers will often have ads running for such training, with the instructor's contact information included. Do not attempt to use a firearm without being trained on how to do so, that is how accidental shootings happen.
The sad reality is, the world is changing, and the need to defend ourselves seems to be growing. The key is to use any method of self defense for only that, SELF DEFENSE. We should never take delight in harming another person, however, if that person is determined to harm us, or our loved ones, we MUST fight back.
Basic self defense can be learned at any age, and can help prevent yourself from becoming a victim!
Learn how to safely handle a gun at a local firing range.
What I hope you take away from reading this blog, is to not be afraid to ask someone to help you learn something new. We are never too old to learn something new. Over the last year, after losing my job, I have reached out to different sources to learn new skills. I wanted to learn how to preserve food better for my family and to be able to make the summer harvest last all year, so I reached out to someone who taught those skills online. Not only am I now able to preserve food, I can use that preserved food all winter, gift it to friends and family, and allow it to help reduce our grocery bill! I have expanded my knowledge of survival techniques by watching professional survivalists teach their lessons, and then practicing them myself. I have taken training courses on website design and advertising that I use for creating my website and blog posts. I try to share topics to educate others on survival, food preservation and life skills I have learned and value. There is a wealth of additional information available to someone who is desiring to learn. Sometimes we just need to open our eyes and see what it is we need to learn!
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