In this video, Stay Alive! author John McCann shows simple things you can grab along the way that will help you survive in the woods. Have you heard about “Nature’s Charmin”?

McCann’s survival handbook Stay Alive! explains, in simple, understandable terms (and with excellent photos), basic skills and simple items that can make a bad situation a whole lot better. In the chapter on Fire & Light, for example, he shows more than a half dozen common, natural materials that can be found and used as tinder. The images he includes help you to recognize the source of the material, and then to understand which part is useful and how to use it effectively.

Throughout the book, McCann also shares great tips from his years of training and experience. This little gem is from the Fire & Light chapter:
“I have been carrying a small pencil sharpener in my fire kit for years. It is my tinder maker. It works really well on small sticks found laying around. It is even effective when wood is wet, as you can scrape off the wet outside, then make plenty of shavings from the nice dry wood inside.”
If you’ve been looking for a useful survival handbook, pick up a copy of Stay Alive! from the Gun Digest Store today. And, for great ideas about what you need in a survival bag or emergency kit, be sure to check out John McCann’s perennial best-seller, Build the Perfect Survival Kit. Remember to use promo code INSIDEGDB to get free standard U.S. shipping on your order. (Promo code fine print: Items which ship directly from the manufacturer do not qualify for free shipping.)
Finally, remember to check the Inside Gun Digest Books blog often for great articles and news about gun books and gun writers, and to get in on our popular book giveaways.