The field manuals. Free to read.
U.S. Army field manuals and official U.S. government guidance from agencies such as CDC and FEMA, filed by the job you need them for. Public domain, free to read here and to download. It is the kind of reference the Survival Codex is built to carry, offline and readable in full sunlight.
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FIRST AID
Army Techniques Publication for Casualty Response, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, and First Aid
Source: U.S. ArmyArmy first aid guide on how to stop massive bleeding, open an airway, treat burns, fractures, bites, and heat and cold injuries, and prepare a casualty for evacuation. Written for soldiers and medics, but useful to any first aid student.
CDCAbout Heat and Your Health
Source: CDCHow to stay safe on hot days: ways to keep cool, drink enough fluids, spot the symptoms of overheating, and plan for medicines. Covers who is at higher risk, including older adults, children, pregnant women and outdoor workers.
CDCPreventing Hypothermia
Source: CDCHow to recognize hypothermia and what to do when someone is dangerously cold: warning signs in adults and babies, who is most at risk, how to warm a person safely, and when to start CPR.
FM 4-25.11First Aid
Source: U.S. Army · copy from archive.orgThe Army's first aid manual, in the order it is performed: open the airway, stop the bleeding, check for shock, then everything else. Fractures, heat and cold injuries, bites and stings, and moving a casualty.
WATER
Drinking Water Advisories
Source: CDCWhat a boil-water, do-not-drink and do-not-use advisory each mean, and what to do under each.
CDCCreating and Storing an Emergency Water Supply
Source: CDCHow much water to store per person per day, what to store it in, and how long it keeps.
CDCChoosing a Water Filter
Source: CDCFilter types by pore size, and which germs each type actually stops.
CDCHow Water Treatment Works
Source: CDCCoagulation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection: the process behind every safe tap.
CDCTreating Water in the Backcountry
Source: CDCHow to make water safe to drink when hiking, camping, or traveling: boiling, filtering, disinfecting, and UV light. Also covers burying human waste and handwashing. For anyone using untreated water.
National Weather ServiceBefore You Go in the Water
Source: NOAA / National Weather ServiceHow to survive a rip current at a surf beach: what rip currents are, why you should not swim against them, and how to escape by swimming along the shore. For beachgoers and swimmers.
National Weather ServiceCold Water Hazards and Safety
Source: NOAA / National Weather ServiceWhat cold water shock and hypothermia do to the body, how to prepare before boating or swimming, what to do if you fall in, and how to treat someone pulled from cold water. For boaters, paddlers and beachgoers.
National Weather ServiceHow to Avoid Getting Caught in a Rip Current
Source: NOAA / National Weather ServiceHow to avoid rip currents at the beach: check the beach forecast, talk to the lifeguard, swim only where lifeguards are on duty, and know that rip currents often form on calm, sunny days.
FOOD
Eat Safe Food after a Power Outage
Source: CDCOne-page CDC infographic on how to keep food safe during a power outage and when to throw it out. Covers fridge and freezer times, cooler use, and refreezing thawed food.
CDCKeep Food Safe After a Disaster or Emergency
Source: CDCHow to tell what food to keep or throw out after a power outage or flood, and how to clean and sanitize dishes, surfaces, and canned goods. For anyone dealing with food safety after a disaster.
AIB 539Complete Guide to Home Canning
Source: USDA · copy from archive.orgHow to can food at home safely, with tested steps for jars, lids, canners and processing times. For anyone canning fruits, tomatoes, vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, pickles, jams or jellies, with altitude adjustments and botulism safety rules.
SURVIVAL
Are You Ready? An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness
Source: FEMAHow to get ready for disasters at home: know your risks, make a family plan, gather supplies, and recover afterward. Covers protective actions for hazards from earthquakes and floods to power outages and active shooters.
National Park ServiceHike Smart
Source: National Park ServiceHow to plan a safe day hike or backcountry trip in a national park: know your limits, leave a trip plan, pack the 10 essentials, and avoid hazards like water, tides, ticks and wildlife.
National Park ServiceOutdoor Emergency Plan
Source: National Park ServiceWhat to do if you get lost or injured while hiking or visiting a park: how to prevent it, call 911, signal for help, and stay safe until rescue. Includes the 10 Essentials list, for hikers and groups.
U.S. Forest ServiceKnow Before You Go
Source: U.S. Forest ServiceForest Service trip-planning page for national forests and grasslands. It points visitors to safety tips on getting lost, weather, water, ticks, fire smoke and wildlife such as bears, snakes and mountain lions.
NAVIGATION
HAZARDS
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics
Source: CDCHow to recognize carbon monoxide poisoning and prevent it at home, with tips on CO detectors, furnaces, generators, grills, chimneys and cars. For anyone heating or running power during an outage.
CDCHomeowner's and Renter's Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters
Source: CDCHow to clean up mold after a flood or other disaster, including protective gear, drying your home, when to hire a professional, and how to know cleanup is done. For homeowners and renters.
CDCDecontamination for Yourself and Others
Source: CDCOne-page CDC infographic on how to remove radioactive dust from yourself, family and pets after a radiation emergency: take off outer clothing, wash, and put on clean clothes.
CDCWhat to Do in a Chemical Emergency
Source: CDCWhat to do in a chemical emergency: get away from the release, get the chemical off your body, and get help. Covers indoor and outdoor releases, evacuating or sheltering in place, and when to call Poison Control.
FEMA V-1011Be Prepared for a Tsunami
Source: FEMAA one-page FEMA hazard info sheet on what to do before, during and after a tsunami: warning signs, how to evacuate to high ground, and what to avoid afterward. For anyone who lives in or visits a coastal area.
National Weather ServiceFlood Safety Tips and Resources
Source: NOAA / National Weather ServiceHow to stay safe before, during, and after a flood, including what to do if you hit a flooded road while driving. Covers flood types, alerts and warnings, and survivor stories from the National Weather Service.
National Weather ServiceTsunami Safety
Source: NOAA / National Weather ServiceWhat to do before, during and after a tsunami to protect yourself and your family. A National Weather Service safety page for people living in or visiting coastal areas.
Ready.govEarthquakes
Source: FEMAWhat to do during the shaking, and what the hours after it demand.
Ready.govFloods
Source: FEMAWhat to do before, during and after a flood, and why you never walk or drive through flood water.
Ready.govChemicals and Hazardous Materials Incidents
Source: FEMAWhat to do before, during and after a chemical or hazardous materials release: when to evacuate, how to shelter in place, and how to decontaminate yourself. Written for households and anyone near a chemical spill.
Ready.govNuclear Detonation Safety: Food, Drinking Water and Medicine
Source: FEMAOne-page flyer on which food, drinking water and medicine are safe to use after a nuclear detonation, and how to clean containers and surfaces. For anyone sheltering indoors during a nuclear emergency.
Ready.govRadiation Emergencies
Source: FEMAWhat to do in a radiation or nuclear emergency: get inside, stay inside, stay tuned. Covers preparing a kit and plan, sheltering from fallout, removing contaminated clothing, and food safety afterward.
Ready.govTsunamis
Source: FEMAWhat to do before, during and after a tsunami: warning signs, how to evacuate to high ground, what to do in a boat or in the water, and how to stay safe afterward. For families in coastal areas.
Ready.govWildfires
Source: FEMAPreparing a home, evacuating in time, and protecting yourself from smoke.
WEATHER
Hurricane Safety Tips and Resources
Source: NOAA / National Weather ServiceWhat to know about hurricane season and the main hazards of a tropical storm: storm surge, inland flooding, wind, tornadoes, and rip currents. For anyone living on or visiting a hurricane-prone coast.
NOAA PA 201752Lightning Safety for You and Your Family
Source: NOAA / National Weather ServiceA short National Weather Service brochure on what to do when thunder is heard: where to take shelter, how long to wait before going back outside, and how to help someone struck by lightning. For families and outdoor activity leaders.
National Weather ServiceLightning Safety Tips and Resources
Source: NOAA / National Weather ServiceNational Weather Service lightning safety hub: how to stay safe in a thunderstorm, how people get struck, and toolkits, videos and brochures for families, teachers and outdoor workers, including Deaf and hard of hearing resources.
National Weather ServiceTornado Safety
Source: NOAA / National Weather ServiceWhat to do before, during and after a tornado, from the National Weather Service. For anyone who wants to know how to stay safe when a tornado, high wind or hail threatens.
OSHA FS-3863Lightning Safety When Working Outdoors
Source: OSHAWhat outdoor workers and employers should do about lightning: when to stop work, where to shelter, what to avoid if caught outside, and how to write a lightning plan. Joint OSHA and NOAA guidance.
Ready.govExtreme Heat
Source: FEMARecognizing heat illness and the cooling measures that reverse it.
Ready.govWinter Weather
Source: FEMACold injury, safe heating, and being cut off by snow and ice.
SANITATION
Personal Hygiene During an Emergency
Source: CDCStaying clean enough to stay well when there is no running water.
FM 21-10Field Hygiene and Sanitation
Source: U.S. Army · copy from archive.orgHow groups living rough stop disease before it starts: safe water, food handling, latrines and waste, and the insects, ticks and rodents that carry illness.
PREPAREDNESS
Your Disaster Checklist: Be Prepared: Protect Your Personal Finances
Source: Consumer Financial Protection BureauA fill-in checklist and worksheet for gathering account numbers, personal records, and financial documents before a disaster, plus scam warnings for afterward. For anyone who wants to protect their finances in an emergency.
FEMA P-1096Safeguard Critical Documents and Valuables
Source: FEMAA FEMA checklist of the IDs, financial, legal and medical records, contacts and keepsakes to gather before a disaster, plus how to store paper and electronic copies safely. For households getting ready for evacuation or recovery.
FEMA P-1097Document and Insure Your Property
Source: FEMAHow to inventory your home or business, understand homeowners, renters and business insurance, choose a settlement type, and file a claim after a disaster. For owners and renters who want coverage before disaster hits.
FEMA V-1005Be Prepared for a Financial Emergency
Source: FEMAA short FEMA flyer on how to get your money ready for a disaster or sudden expense. It covers emergency savings, insurance, records, and where to find help before, during, and after an emergency.
Ready.govBuild a Kit
Source: FEMAThe baseline emergency supply list from the US national preparedness program.
Ready.govFinancial Preparedness
Source: FEMAHow to get your money, insurance and records ready before a disaster: what cash and documents to keep, why to switch to electronic benefits, and how to spot scams. For households and workplaces.
Where these come from. Every document here is a work of the United States federal government (U.S. Army, CDC, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, FEMA, National Park Service, NOAA / National Weather Service, OSHA, USDA, U.S. Forest Service), which is in the public domain in the United States (17 U.S.C. §105). A military manual goes on this shelf only if it is marked approved for public release, or predates that marking system and carries no restriction of any kind; manuals marked for restricted distribution are left out. We reproduce the text without changing its substance and credit the agency on every page. Every document is also available free of charge from the agency that published it, or, where the agency no longer hosts it, from the public archive we took it from (filed under Other sources), and every page links to that copy.
No endorsement. Our use of these materials, including any links to U.S. Government websites, does not imply endorsement by those agencies or by the U.S. Government of Survival Codex, its products or its services.
Read with the date in mind. Some of these manuals are decades old and parts of their advice have since changed. Where we know of a change that matters, the document's page says so. None of this replaces training or professional medical care.
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