Baking soda doesn't burn. Heating it releases carbon dioxide which doesn't burn either. That's why baking soda is sprinkled on grease and oil fires to put them out.
—Don Herbert (aka Mr. Wizard)

Fresh from Chronicle Books, it's The Worse-Case Scenario Survival Handbook. Here's the one guide we all need for those sticky situations that make your hair stand on end. Or at least that's what it seems like when we're at the movies. From breaking down a door to jumping rooftops like in the Matrix, this is one set of Boy Scout tips that won't disappoint. See for yourself.

1. Hang onto the reins, but do not pull them back hard to stop the camel. (Yanking on the reins can tear the camel's nose or break the reins.)
2. If the camel has sturdy reins and a head halter, pull the reins to one side to make the camel run in a circle.
3. Hold on until the camel stops. (Whether the camel is running in circles or straight, it will not run very far. Simply hang on until the camel slows and sits down.)

This is serious stuff. So the next time you need to jump from a building into a dumpster, survive a riptide or remove a leech, you'll know the proper technique for any situation (respectively: land flat on your back, swim parallel to shore and detach the anterior and posterior sucker from the skin). Just thought you'd like to know.

Reserve your afternoon jaunt (or run) for the next time you're visiting the House of Saud.

Discover another miracle guide to life's quirky challenges, Hints from Heloise.