Having to be in a situation where your survival skills have to kick in, isn’t a scenario that one would be elated about. But life does happen and you may find yourself in situations where a premeditated plan plus a few survival tips will offer that ray of hope
A planned out adventurous hiking day can turn out to be disastrous leaving you stranded and even physically hurt. While such scenarios offer a thrilling adrenaline rush in action movies with actors coming up with genius ways to navigate through, it can cause immense panic.
To prepare for any eventualities there are must-have camping items that you should bring along. A weapon can also come in handy, you can opt to make a spear if buying a gun online or perusing through the camping rifles isn’t your thing.
While we acknowledge that first aid skills and signaling are some of the basic skills to acquire, we’ll share other awesome survival tips and skills that you need to possess when things go haywire.
What Are The Top 5 Outdoor Survival Tips?
The thrill and bond offered through outdoor activities are hard to pass up but having a premeditated plan in case things go awry sets you off on the path of preparedness. Here are necessary survival tips to note before venturing out.
1.Possessing The Right Attitude
If you set an easy-to-follow-through plan that informs you of the appropriate measures to take in case you find yourself in a difficult situation. It’s highly probable you’ll master the strength to calm yourself down and proceed with a positive attitude knowing very well what you need to do.
But in case you’re caught up in a situation with zero plan whatsoever, then you’ll need to calm down and assess your situation objectively by asking a few questions. What resources do I have? Among those resources which ones are able to offer the critical requirement, shelter, water, and warmth?
Having taken into account what’s necessary, while I may not ask you to act devoid of your feelings, recognizing that they’re just that, feelings and not facts will enable you to get the courage and the determination to proceed.
2.Building A Shelter
The shelter is vital for survival, unlike camping where you’re all psyched up and armed with your tent, in a survival situation you’ll need to build a shelter that insulates you from the cold or keep you cool in a warm temperature.
Since you’d be the source of warmth, build a shelter that limits heat loss, one that will accommodate you lying down. Use fallen trees and strong branches to build the shelter framework, add sticks on the sides, and ensure all the gaps are filled, insulate with leaves, barks, and pine needles.
In a warm climate, dig a few inches to uncover cool ground and then erect a makeshift shelter creating a shade. Cover the sides with any available fabric then rest under the shade lying on the cool soil.
3.Making A Fire
You’ll need to kindle a fire given its vast purpose aside from warmth. Prior to getting entangled in a situation, consider having waterproof matches or a lighter at your disposal at all times. You can also store your matches in waterproof containers.
To ignite a fire your car battery will do, once unplugged from the vehicle, you can either use wires or steel wool to connect the positive and negative terminal, producing sparks large enough to light tinder. The steel wool can ignite as well. For smaller batteries, opt for 9-volt batteries.
Once you create a fire, start placing small branches and leaves, gradually stacking larger woods for long-burning fuel.
4.Sourcing For Water
You don’t need to be in a dicey situation to understand water’s value in society. In a rainy situation collect and store water. In a snowy scenario, the best option is to melt it first either through a campfire or stove. This process can be accelerated by reducing the ice into tiny pieces.
You can either hang it in direct sunlight or use your body heat in case there is no sun. Emulating the skills adapted by the Khoisan in the Kalahari to source water using plant indicators like willow, cattails, or cottonwood. Dig a hole til moisture levels and wait for it to fill up. You can as well, locate water in indentations or rock outcropping.
Alternatively, you can use a plastic bag by tying it around a leafy branch and once the leaves sweat, water will be collected. You can also dig two feet wide hole, one foot deep, place a container then cover it with a plastic sheet, water will condense and drip into the container.
Additionally, you can use a piece of cloth to soak up dew and squeeze it into a container. You can fetch over one gallon of water in an hour.
5.Tying Knots
As an outdoor person, tying a knot is one of the skills you should possess. The Double half hitch and Bowline are particularly a must-know for every outdoor enthusiast. The latter is mostly used when attaching something to the rope through a loop.
While the double half hitch is perfect for attaching the end of the rope around an object, especially, in building a shelter.
Takeaway
Your chances of survival depend on how diligently implement the top 5 survival tips, remember you should signal for help, in case you need assistance maneuvering through the terrain.
Author Bio
After doing her BA from ASU, Marcie Young held various jobs in different industries. She is now passionate about growing her blog where she writes about various topics related to gun safety, firearms ownership, and self-defense. She is a strong advocate of the 2nd amendment after a horrible experience she has had on the streets.