Survival Reference Library
Maritime & Water Safety
Seamanship, boat handling, water survival, and coastal emergency response from Coast Guard and naval publications.
Topics in Maritime & Water Safety
Seamanship & Navigation
Chart reading, dead reckoning, coastal piloting, celestial fixes, and marine rules of the road.
Small Boat Handling & Safety
Canoe, kayak, and small powercraft handling, capsize recovery, PFD use, and inland waterway safety.
Survival at Sea
Life raft deployment and use, sea water avoidance, signaling from sea, and open ocean survival.
Flood & Inland Water Safety
Swift water rescue, flood driving hazards, PFD requirements, and post-flood water contamination.
Search & Rescue at Sea
EPIRB and PLB use, distress signals, Coast Guard coordination, and maritime SAR procedures.
Diving & Underwater Safety
Decompression illness recognition and treatment, underwater navigation, cave diving risks, and diver rescue.
About This Collection
All manuals in this section are public domain. Sources include U.S. military field manuals, FEMA emergency guides, USDA publications, Coast Guard handbooks, and pre-1928 historical texts. Formatted for easy online reading — no download or sign-up required.