SURVIVAL SUM UP

BEING PPREPARED MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE!

Regardless of your style of outdoor adventure, one thing is for sure:  if you are out there enough, you will one day encounter some type of mishap.  Being prepared for mishaps is what may make the difference between being rescued or not.

Always have a plan, always share that plan with someone.

There is no substitute for knowing that someone will be looking for you and that they know where to look for you.  It will give you the piece of mind that is needed when you are lost.  Don’t be too egotistical to admit to yourself that you are lost and stop, sit down and wait for help.  Trying to figure your own way out sometimes keeps you lost!

First aid kits are a must.  Knowing CPR is critical, keep your status current.  Techniques change.  It’s not about the ABCs of saving a life anymore, in fact it is all backwards.   See for yourself, attend a course.

Dress appropriately for the weather and be prepared for changing weather conditions.  Rain jackets are a must and double as shelter during survival situations.  A survival blanket is small and compact.  You can buy a cheap one, personally I value my life too much for that.  If you are venturing into cold locations, splurge on the deluxe model!

Always have enough food and water for your trip, as well as contingencies.  A water filter or purification tabs are critical.  Remember in a survival situation, having something also keep your mind at ease.  Imagine a cup of hot cocoa on a cold night or a cup of coffee in the morning after hardly any sleep.  After a couple days, water with some electrolytes added in or B12 would taste amazing and really be a boost!  They are small things that can be packed that will make a huge difference.  For me, it’s the diet Snapple Peach Tea that will make me feel at home!

Have a survival kit packed, it doesn’t take much stuff to make a big difference.  Simple things like fishing hook, fishing line, wire saw, duct tape, fire starters, super glue, snare wire, mouse trap, multi-tool, and please don’t forget the signal mirror and whistle.  These are the things that will not only help you pass the day staying busy, but might snag you some food while you wait.

Practice getting lost! Practice surviving! 

Practice so that if it ever does happen than you are prepared!  The mind is a mysterious machine…the more you work it, the more it will work for you.  Have it ready when you need it.  Don’t be panicked and afraid.  Be calm and prepared.  Take the necessary steps knowing help will be on its way:

1.  Blow your whistle periodically in case search and rescue is in the area.
2.  Have a fire going and two more ready to light so aircraft can spot you easily.
3.  Be near water if you can, as well as an open area.  Make yourself large and visible.
4.  Have shelter created near your fire, just in case you have to hunker down for the night…or two.  Keep enough wood near your fire to keep it going all night.  When you think you have enough, get three times that amount.  You don’t want to have to find wood after dark and you don’t want to be without that fire when it gets cold.
5. Stay calm and keep a positive outlook.  You are a survivor!

This post is the final in a series on survival.  Survival, 3 Minutes without Air, 3 Hours without Shelter, 3 Days without Water and 3 Weeks without Food.  Please be sure to read them all, to know what you need to do, then read more books, research more blogs and articles on survival.  Knowledge is power – have all the you can when you need it!

Regularly take kids out adventuring with you?  Teach them too!  Teach them to carry their own pack and to know what is in it and how to use it.  Here is another great article to help you teach kids some great tips on survival.

Please leave us feedback and comments if you enjoyed this series.  Always let us know what you would like to learn more about.  Flatwooders is committed to sharing experiences to make the outdoors more enjoyable for all!