Outdoor survival skills include knowing how to find and treat water, build shelter and create fire for warmth. They include the ability to stay calm in a life or death situation and to see it with a creative mind.
The first priority is always protection, then rescue, water and food. You need to be familiar with basic wilderness survival techniques and the survival gear from Uppercut Tactical.
Water
Finding, storing, and using water is an essential skill for outdoor survival. You’ll quickly become dehydrated, which is fatal in extreme heat or if your body temperature drops too much due to exercise.
Ideally, you’ll know ahead of time where your water sources are in the wilderness. You can then plan accordingly to ensure you don’t run short. But if you are lost or stranded and need water, it is your first priority. It can make a difference in your chances of survival until you are found or can get out of the wilderness by yourself.
As the old adage goes, “Water is life.” You can survive only a few days without it in the wilderness. This is particularly true if you are exposed to extremely hot or cold temperatures, which can cause intense dehydration symptoms and thirst.
In an emergency situation you should immediately start drinking water. This is easier said than accomplished, especially in the wild, where many water supplies are contaminated with animal feces, bacteria, and other pollutants. You should always filter or boil your water before consuming it, even in the case of natural bodies of water like lakes and streams. Boiling for 3 minutes will kill most bacteria, including Cryptosporidium and Giardia, which can otherwise make you very ill.
Then you’ll want to conserve your water by eating only foods that don’t require a lot of water to prepare or cook, and by wearing layers to reduce the amount of sweat you produce, which can also lead to dehydration. You should also avoid overexerting yourself under the sun. This can increase your fluid losses through perspiration.
Shelter
You need a survival shelter if you are lost in the forest. It will protect you from the elements. Shelters offer protection from sun, wind and rain. They also provide a microclimate where you can sleep and rest in comfort. Shelters help to keep you warm and can hide you from predators or other creatures that might be hunting you.
You should always look for natural shelters long before you need them. If you need to build a house, do it as quickly as possible. This will save you energy. Avoid areas that may flood or become a hazard in the event of heavy rain, such as depressions and draws, and the bottoms valleys. Also avoid arroyos and dry river beds, which will turn into rushing rivers during heavy rains.
The best wilderness shelters are made of debris. They will not get soaked. Debris shelters are easy to build and require little energy, but they must be well ventilated. This is particularly important if your survival shelter includes a fire. Proper ventilation will prevent the fumes from building up inside your shelter and reducing its thermal efficiency.
Tarp shelters can also be a good option for wilderness survival. These shelters can easily be constructed, giving you time to complete other survival tasks. They are usually hung from two trees or other supports. They can be used as shelters in the jungle to protect you from creepy crawly insects and animals.
The A-frame design is a quick and effective tarp shelter that offers good coverage from rain or wind. You can add a tarp shelter hammock to the A-frame design to make it easier to lay down in your tarp shelter without having to touch the ground.
Fire
While many outdoors survivalists will argue that there are three key components for wilderness survival: water, food, and shelter, the ability to create fire is also an important tool. Access to fire is essential for cooking food, sterilizing drinking water, and staying warm. You should be able to build and maintain fires before you go into the wilderness.
In addition to warmth, fire can provide light and a sense of safety in the wilderness. A fire can signal your presence to wildlife and help deter predators. It can be used as a distress signal – three fires burning in a triangle pattern is recognized.
When camping, you should always bring at least two ways to start a fire, preferably more than that. Ferrocerium, or fire steel rods are excellent for starting fires in wilderness conditions. These rods are made of a special alloy that produces a shower of sparks when struck with a hard object such as the back of a knife blade. You can use a lighter but be careful!
You need to gather fuel and tinder before you can build a campfire. Fuel wood can be collected from the ground or cut with a small hatchet or fixed blade survival knife. Tinder should be made of thin branches, such as grasses, small twigs or dried leaves, that can easily catch fire and sustain it. You can also add a bit of larger kindling to give your fire more power.
After collecting a pile of fuel and tinder, create a fire pit. If it is raining, a firepit will be easier to construct and control than a wet pile of materials. Once the tinder is dry, create a small mound in the middle of the pit. Then, lay down a layer of thin and whispy kindling around the mound to make a “teepee” shape.
Check the direction of the wind before you start your fire. Windblown fires are dangerous and can cause serious injury or death. The wind direction should also be considered when positioning your survival shelter. A shelter that is well-positioned will protect you from wind and reduce the risk of your survival fire being blown away.
Food
We are so used to grabbing a quick snack from the fridge or driving through the drive-through, that the thought of having to find food to survive is terrifying. However, finding food is one of the most important outdoor survival skills you can learn and practice before it becomes necessary. To have extra funds for the rainy days, you might want to consider playing some fun and interactive sports betting games via https://k-oddsportal.com/.
A campfire is crucial for meeting many of the basic survival needs including a safe environment, warmth and energy. A fire can be used to boil water, rendering it safe to drink. You can also use it to cook food which is a good source of energy and nutrition. A fire can also be used to deter wild animals and give a sense security and safety.
It is important to have a plan and be prepared for anything. If you are going hiking, horseback riding or fishing, let someone know your destination and your planned return time so they can alert authorities if you do not return in a timely manner. Consider packing a small bag with the Ten Essentials, a headlamp, and a compass.
Be prepared to purify your drinking water in an emergency. Depending on your situation, you may have to filter, use iodine or boil water to make sure it’s clean. You can also pack high-energy foods like granola and trail mix to give you an instant energy boost.