A Review of Cody Lundin's Book on Survival
98.6 Degrees – The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive
Cody Lundin is the founder and director of the Aboriginal Living Skills School in Arizona, USA. Most outdoorsmen and women will never voluntarily live in the primitive conditions that Lundin has experienced. However, the advice in his book, 98.6 The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive!, could make the difference between life and death when an unexpected scenario arises during a hunting, fishing, or hiking trip. The book can be divided into three basic content sections: information about what the human body needs for survival, means of increasing chances for rescue, and creating and using a reliable survival kit.
Survival Depends on Understanding the Body’s Needs
Although Lundin’s brash style may be off-putting to sensitive readers, his information is thorough and clearly communicated. He describes in detail the dangers of perishing from hypothermia, (allowing the body to become too cold), hyperthermia, (allowing the body to become overheated), or dehydration. He emphasizes the use of clothing to provide shelter from elements, and to warm or cool the body. Lundin also explains the relationship between work, sweat, and body temperature.
Water is the Ultimate Survival Requirement
Lundin repeatedly emphasizes the body’s need for water. Without adequate water, a person stranded in the wilderness will become exhausted and confused. In addition, many survival skills manuals and courses recommend constructing a solar still. Lundin’s research has proven that the work involved in such a project causes the body to use up more water than can be obtained from the still in a 72 hour survival period. Instead, he recommends preparedness, advising outdoors enthusiasts to carry plenty of drinking water with them, even when they are only planning to be gone a few hours. His survival kit includes tincture of iodine for disinfecting contaminated water from found sources.
Leave Rescue Information and Carry Signaling Devices
In spite of his super-survivor mystique, Lundin does not advise people to venture into parks and wilderness areas as lone, self-sufficient adventurers. He recommends that complete information about the planned expedition, including a map marked with the intended route, names of all persons in the party, and departure and return times, be left with two responsible people. In addition, Lundin suggests a pea-less whistle and signaling mirror be carried on the trail, pointing out that cell-phones can experience dead batteries or areas without service.
Create a Kit for 72-Hour Survival
Lundin emphasizes that most rescues occur within 72 hours. Therefore, a survival kit should contain light, portable, multi-use elements that can be utilized in short-term, emergency scenarios. He describes such a kit in detail, fully explaining each component. From collapsible water containers, to a reliable knife, to fire-making supplies, to first-aid necessities, nothing is forgotten. For readers who lack the time or inclination to read the whole book, Lundin has added a quick, bullet-point appendix that gives complete information on creating a custom survival kit.
Preparation and Attitude Are the Best Insurance for Survival
No one expects a simple hunting, fishing, or hiking trip to turn into a life-threatening experience, but it happens far more often than one might think. Too many tragedies have occurred when outdoorsmen and women are lost or injured in the field. Equipping oneself with a survival kit and maintaining calm, positive thinking, which Lundin dubs “a party on attitude,” are vital for survival. Following the advice in this book can keep adventurers alive in the wilderness for that crucial 72 hours until help arrives. As Lundin says, “If you breathe and have a pulse, you NEED this book.”
Cody Lundin, 98.6 The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive!, Gibbs Smith, Salt Lake City, 2003, ISBN 10: 1-58685-2-2234-5 ISBN 13: 978-1-58685-284-4
The Cover of Cody Lundin's Survival Manual
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