With all the modern conveniences that we are enjoying right now, does anybody still know how to live without gadgets, gear, and special equipment? Sure, having all those things brought about by modern technology has allowed us to live life effortlessly, but what if disaster strikes?
There could be a horrendous storm that could knock the power down and leave you without electricity for days or even weeks. Or worse, you may get lost in the wilderness. When traveling, always have a portable camping folding chair, it’s easy to carry, and will come in handy.
In such situations, you need to survive without depending on anything or anyone but yourself. For this reason, it would be great for you to learn some survival skills, which include:
Contents
Identify Water Sources
Water is very important. If you have been watching reality survival shows, you will notice that water is the first thing that the contenders look for. Experts say that human beings can survive up to 21 days without food, but not water. At an average temperature outdoors, you can go without water for up to 100 hours, but that can be shortened if the weather is too hot.
So when you are in the wilderness, what are the possible water sources? Running water and groundwater, which you can find in ravines, valleys, and low points, are the number one sources.
Purify Water
When drinking water from lakes, rivers, or streams, it is important that you purify it first before drinking it. This way, you will be able to kill the bacteria that may be present in the water. Otherwise, you can suffer from diarrhea and other health conditions caused by drinking dirty water.
Catch Food
For a survival situation that stretches into days or weeks, you need to look for food. You are lucky if you are in a spot where there are edible plants, vegetables, or fruits. You can also sharpen a long and sturdy stick and make it a weapon to hunt for animals or fish. Another method is “trapping”, which, as the term suggests, is the art of luring small animals into a trap.
Prepare and Cook Food
Be it fish or animals, it is essential that you know how to prepare and cook them as well. Fish can be eaten raw, but it would be a lot better if you grill them as this will help kill parasites that may be present in them. This will also help you avoid diseases.
Start a Fire
The ability to create or start a fire without using a lighter or matches is another important survival skills that you should learn. In fact, this is the second most important next to finding water. With fire, you can illuminate your surroundings, warm you up, and cook your food. Starting a fire from scratch is not an easy thing though. It requires skills and proper techniques, too. You can make use of a bow drill, improvised magnifying glass, as well as flint and steel. Start small and be creative. Most importantly, be patient.
Build a Temporary Shelter
If you are unable to get back to civilization in a day or two, you need to build a temporary shelter. This is crucial since you need to have some kind of protection against external elements as well as wild animals. The two most common types are the so-called “lean-to” and “round lodge”. The first one is quite simple because you simply have to lean the building materials against a structure like a tree, huge rock, or wall. The second one, on the other hand, requires you to lean several branches against each other. It’s a bit harder to make but it’s more reliable than the first type.
In a survival situation, it is essential that you know how to read and navigate a compass as well. As long as you have a basic understanding of the device, you are good to go. In case you don’t have the instrument, though, you’d have to rely on the “world” that surrounds you. If you can go to the nearest hill or climb a small tree, that will allow you to see where you are or where you need to go. You can also use the sun as a guide as well as the flow of water.
Tie a Knot
Knowing how to tie a knot is a skill that is useful not only during a survival situation but also when doing everyday chores or even when engaging in leisure activities. In fact, it’s something that you do when you tie your shoelace, tie a package, and other everyday things. Now, if you are in the wild, you can use this skill to build a shelter, create a trap, construct a weapon, etc.
Dress Wound
If you are in an emergency situation, and you get injured, you should know how to treat yourself, too. It’s good if you have a first aid kit handy. But what if there is none? The first thing that you should do is to wash the wound with water. As much as possible, boil the water first and allow it to cool. You can also look for some medicinal plants that have anti-inflammatory properties to help treat your wounds.
Send Survival Signals
This skill allows you to attract attention and seek help. One great way is to create a fire. If you are trying to signal an aircraft, you need a triangle with three fires. You can also whistle if you want to tell somebody that you need help, but you have to blow three blasts.
You’ll never know when disasters or mishaps would strike, so it would be a good idea to learn some survival skills. More so if you are heading to the wilderness for camping or hunting.