II 
“MEN AGAINST THE SEA” 
Survival at sea depends on three things, knowledge, equip- 
ment, and drill. With luck you may get along without one or 
the other of these, but the going will he tougher and the chances 
of telling your grandchildren about it not so good. The time to 
know all about emergency equipment — where it is and how to use 
it — is before you have to abandon ship, not after. Think as 
well as act while you go through “Abandon Ship” drill. Should 
the real thing come your chances will be 100 percent better ! 
ABANDONING SHIP 
The most important factor in survival at sea is being pre- 
pared when the order to abandon ship comes, or if all communi- 
cations have been broken down, when your judgment tells you 
you must leave. To be prepared, first, always have a sheath 
knife on a lanyard in your belt, a police whistle around your 
neck, and a light pair of leather gloves in your hip pocket. 
Second, have a small knapsack or kit bag, with shoulder straps, 
prepared so that you can take it to your battle station. This 
should contain a filled canteen, a flashlight with a transparent 
rubber sheath tied over it (you can buy such a rubber sheath in 
a drug store in the States), a blanket, sweater, sbirt, and socks 
fthe latter also in a waterproof wrapper), first-aid packet, and 
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