FAQ

Answers to common questions about Survipedia, how to use it, and what to expect from the content.

What is Survipedia?

Survipedia is a practical preparedness knowledge base focused on resilience, self-reliance, and community capability.

Is this for beginners or advanced users?

Both. Pages are written to be beginner-friendly first, with additional depth for experienced readers.

Is the content professional advice?

No. Content is educational and should be validated in your own context. For medical, legal, structural, or electrical decisions, consult licensed professionals.

How should I use the guides versus the foundations?

  • Guides are step-by-step pathways for getting results quickly.
  • Foundations are deep reference sections (Water, Food, Shelter, and more) for long-term mastery.

A common approach is to start with one guide, then drill into foundation pages as your plan matures.

How often is content updated?

Content is updated continuously in batches.

How much food should I store for emergencies?

Start with a 72-hour supply, then build to 2 weeks, then 3 months. The planning number is 2,000 calories per adult per day. A family of four needs roughly 720,000 calories for a 90-day supply — about 440 lbs (200 kg) of mixed staples (rice, beans, oats, pasta). See Emergency food storage for the full calorie table and container guidance.

Why does fire starting fail even when I have a lighter or ferro rod?

The ignition source is rarely the problem. Most failed fires trace back to the tinder bundle: material that is damp, packed too tightly, or has too little fine material at the center. Build a proper three-layer bundle before touching any ignition source to it. See Fire starting techniques for species selection, bundle construction, and method-specific procedures.

What do I do if a tooth gets knocked out?

Handle the tooth by the crown (the white top) and never touch the root. Rinse it gently in cold milk for 10 seconds — do not scrub or use tap water. Reinsert it into the socket within 30 minutes if you can, bite on gauze to hold it, and get to a dentist immediately. If reimplantation is not possible yet, store it in cold milk until you reach care. See Dental emergencies for the full reimplantation procedure and storage medium table.

What should I do if I fall into cold water unexpectedly?

Do not panic and do not try to remove clothing. Your first job is to keep your airway above the surface and let the gasping reflex pass — it lasts about 60 seconds. Then either get out of the water or adopt the HELP position (arms crossed over chest, knees drawn up) to slow heat loss. You have roughly 10 minutes of useful swimming ability before cold incapacitation sets in. See Survival swimming and cold water safety for the full 1-10-1 framework.

How much water should I store for an emergency?

FEMA recommends at least 1 gallon (3.8 liters) per person per day as the minimum, with a goal of two weeks of supply. For a household of four, that means 56 gallons (212 liters) at minimum. If anyone in your household has elevated needs — young children, illness, pregnancy, or physical labor in heat — plan for 2 gallons (7.6 liters) per person per day instead. See Emergency water storage for container options, fill procedures, and a household size calculator.

How large should a rainwater cistern be?

Multiply your daily non-potable water demand by the number of days in your longest typical dry period. For a household using 50 gallons per day (189 L/day) with a 45-day dry season, the minimum is 2,250 gallons (8,517 L) — then add 20% headroom for sediment and evaporation losses. In the Desert Southwest, dry periods of 240+ days mean cisterns alone cannot replace other water sources. See Cistern systems for permanent rainwater storage for the full sizing procedure and climate-zone yield tables.

Is it safe to run a generator in the garage with the door open?

No. Carbon monoxide from a generator builds up faster than it dissipates, even with the garage door open. Run generators at least 20 feet (6 m) from all doors, windows, and vents, with the exhaust pointed away from the house. See Generators for safe setup requirements and CO detector placement.

What is the difference between a portable power station and a battery bank?

A portable power station is a self-contained unit with a built-in battery, inverter, charge controller, and output ports — plug it in and use it. A battery bank is a raw energy storage component that requires a separate inverter and charge controller to be useful. Power stations are simpler and faster to deploy; battery banks cost less per kilowatt-hour and integrate more flexibly into solar or generator systems. See Portable power stations and Batteries for the full comparison.

Can I contribute?

Yes. Community contributions are welcome.

Do I need special tools to start?

No. Start with inventory, planning, and low-cost skill building. Most areas can be improved incrementally with simple tools and routines.

How do I avoid overwhelm?

Use a simple loop:

  1. Pick one priority (water, food, shelter, or medical).
  2. Build a 30-day baseline plan.
  3. Run one small drill each week.
  4. Review and adjust monthly.

Is this content region-specific?

Some principles are universal, but details vary by climate, law, infrastructure, and local risk. Adapt recommendations to your location.

Who owns responsibility for outcomes?

You do. Survipedia helps you learn and plan, but all implementation decisions and risks remain your responsibility.