Charcoal

Once you have made you first fire, you will begin to collect the carbonized wood remains that we call charcoal. It has many uses, and should not be idly discarded by anyone in a survival situation.  The most important use for charcoal is for filtering water. Although all water found in the wild should be boiled, filtering is also a good idea to remove debris and bacteria. After the burning process, charcoal becomes porous, and can catch very small particles in those pores. Even modern water filtration systems use charcoal, but a primitive charcoal and sand filter can be fashioned from basic materials. First, find a receptacle; it can be natural or man-made. Make sure that you have a small opening at the bottom, and a large opening at the top. This receptacle should be tall and this if possible. Fill the receptacle with alternating layers of sand and charcoal, a few inches think, and as many layers as you can. Pour your water in the top, and let it percolate down through the layers. It is even better if you can filter the water first through some fabric, like a shirt. Once you have collected the filtered water, you should boil it if you can for the best and safest results. Even if you have no ability to boil the filtered water, it will still be much safer than it was before filtering. Charcoal can also be consumed in small amounts as a digestive aid. It will absorb any bacteria that you have consumed and help to prevent or cure diarrhea. Charcoal can also be used as a writing utensil for leaving message for search crews about your condition or direction of travel. On paper, it will work just like a pencil.


-Richard