We have all seen them, primarily in urban areas – sleeping on grates, hanging out in public parks, panhandling

Those annoying homeless, however, can teach us powerful lessons in survival.

If You Fight, You Get Hurt

Anyone who has ever studied martial arts will tell you that it isn’t about fighting or even self defense. Martial arts teaches you not to fight.
The best way to win a fight is to not get into one in the first place.

Blend In

When you are noticed, you could become a target for predators like thieves. When you are noticed, you might be kicked out of your location. When you are noticed, hostile people might come at you…

Keep this in mind when you are fleeing in a survival situation. For example: The grid goes out.

You have a generator and turn it on. Now your home is the only one on the block with lights glowing out of the window.

Clothing

Clothing has many uses, like as rope, bandages, napkins, shelter, collecting water… Choose your clothing wisely! Everything must have a purpose.

Dress in layers so you can easily adjust to changes in weather. A big bulky winter jacket isn’t going to help you, especially once you start sweating and then freeze from being wet. You will be better off with multiple light jackets that you can add/remove as necessary. They will dry faster too.

Staying Warm

In wilderness survival situations, you can make one of these survival shelters to help you stay warm. You can also use homeless tricks like:

• Putting cardboard under you to create a layer of insulation between you and the cold ground
• Get a mylar blanket. Put it between two blankets and it will help the blankets hold in much more heat. Wrap the blankets around you.
• Fingers and toes will get frostbitten quickly! Buy some handwarmers from camping store.

Or pour boiling water into water bottles (wrap the water bottle in a towel because it will leak!) and use these to warm your hands.

Staying Clean

One cool hygiene trick used by homeless people is wet wipes. Just rub yourself down with a wet wipe and you are as good as new! The ones with lotion on them will take off dirt really well. You can also make your own wet wipes. Get a bottle and mix the following together:

• 2 tbs baby oil
• 2 tbs body lotion
• 2 tbs shampoo
• 1 cup water

Put a bit of this mixture on a napkin and use the napkin to clean yourself. It will take off all the grime and smell!

And another hygiene tip: use sunscreen. If you get burned, the burn can quickly turn into a sore and get infected.

Stay Where You Know

Why don’t some homeless people ever venture into subway tunnels, whereas other homeless people stay solely in the tunnels? It is because of the advice stay where you know. If you don’t know what is lurking somewhere, avoid it! It is much safer to stick to familiar terrain.

This is particularly good advice for all of those preppers who plan on bugging out into the wilderness somewhere when SHTF. I am all for bugging out in the wilderness – but only if you’ve taken time to scout out the terrain first. Otherwise, you are probably much better off hunkering down in the familiar location of your home and neighborhood.

Always Be Ready to Leave

You never know what to expect in survival situations. You have to be ready to flee at a moment’s notice. So, even if you’ve found the best bug out location and set up camp, don’t get too attached. Your disaster plan should always include a contingency in case you’ve got to go. And fast!

Being homeless presents a constant challenge, even to the most resourceful.

Those challenges, however, help fine-tune and instinctive impulse to survive, no matter what the circumstances and that can be a hugely valuable asset in a survival scenario.

To learn other lessons you can learn from the homeless, check out Primal Survival!