Tuesday, May 18, 2010

This tool can save your life

When the Optimists returned from the first trip to Alaska I received a gift,  a magnesium fire starting tool. Now I do realise that fire can be a lifesaver in a cold climate, and if you can`t start your fire or your cooker you are in for a really miserable time, which in extreme circumstances could be fatal.
Assume the worst, you`ve capsized and lost all your equipment save for your Magnesium fire starting tool, which you had hanging on a chain round your neck and your handy camping knife which you keep strapped to your leg. Now all you need to do is get to dry land, gather some kindling and small twigs etc for a fire.
Scrape the magnesium side to gather the small fillings, turn the tool around and strike the sparking insert with your knife, aiming the sparks down to the magnesium scrapings. With a bit of luck you will soon have a blazing fire to keep you warm, cook your food and send smoke signals to your rescue team who may be out looking for you.
This tool can save your life.
My advice is to try out all your lifesaving devices before you actually need them for real, and practice using them so that when the time comes you know what to do and don`t have to waste time reading the instructions.

3 comments:

avital said...

Aaahhhammm...

Unknown said...

OOps, thanks Avital, oh yes folks, it was Avital who gave me the firestarter as a gift when she came back from Alaska

avital said...

Hope you will not need it... but- keep on practice....