Fact Checked
Surviving in the outdoors can be really tough. But there are actually five essential skills that you need to know to survive in the wild:
- Don’t panic. If you are in a life-or-death situation, it is just normal to get scared or panicked. However, it is important to channel these emotions into action. Mental preparedness is essential to survival. You should stay calm and use your common sense.
- Drink water. Water is vital to life. Drinking water is far more important than shelter, fire, medical attention or food. You could survive in four or five days with just clean water. Since plants require water, signs of vegetation usually indicate nearby water. Conserve water in your body. Do not expend too much energy building shelter or starting fire expends too much water, as sweating can lose precious water. Make sure you drink potable water. Adding a water filter in your emergency kit is key to survival. While waiting for help or finding your way out, dehydration can be your greatest challenge.
- Stay warm or cool. If you are in a cold or wet environment, stay warm and dry as much as possible. Contrastingly, if you are in a hot environment, try to stay cool. Instead of wandering about, looking for a way out, plan on staying on a safe, conducive place where you can be rescued. Choose a comfortable place where you can stay while waiting for help, such as under a tree, a cave, or thick vegetation.
Survival Skills You Should Know - Make a fire/heat source. If you have fire starters in your emergency kit or if you can start a fire without expending too much energy, do so. Fires are vital in survival. Aside from providing warmth, fires can be used to cook food, dry clothes, signal for help, and provide security. Usually, outdoor emergency supplies will contain supplies to make a fire. Before you head outdoors, make sure that you have these supplies.
- Conserve food. When you are in a survival situation, food is actually not an immediate concern. Although it is true that our brains will signal us we’re hungry, food is usually overrated in comparison to other basic necessities to stay alive. Do not eat ‘seemingly edible food items’ unless you know it’s safe to consume. Better if you prepare with emergency food supplies. Conserve your food stocks. You have to stay nourished so that you can endure tough survival situations.
These five skills can help you survive in life-or-death situations while in the wild. If you love the outdoors, make sure you know these skills.