Finding yourself lost, injured or stranded in the wilderness is terrifying and real; stay calm, assess the situation carefully and make wise decisions to avoid becoming one of its statistics.
An individual needs water for survival; finding a source must therefore be one of your highest priorities. Learn how to purify muddy water sources as well as alternative strategies for accessing clean drinking water sources.
1. Map and Compass
Knowledge of how to use a map and compass in survival situations can be one of the best preparation strategies you can undertake. It is an age-old, simple yet reliable tool that could save your life should disaster strike.
Learn to align your compass accurately to the terrain using triangulation. Simply locate three landmarks you can also observe directly on your map and align the direction of travel arrow on your compass accordingly.
2. Water
Clean water is vital in any survival situation; without it, an individual may only survive up to three days.
Water is essential in order to circulate blood, process food and regulate body temperature as well as maintaining cleanliness in our lives. Furthermore, its use helps ensure our hygiene.
Store drinking water in food-grade plastic containers that have been thoroughly sanitized to avoid contaminants like fuel or chemicals that could dehydrate you quickly. Drinking such water could prove fatal.
3. Shelter
Building shelter is the cornerstone of survival preparations. Shelter provides protection from elements as well as predators and scavenger animals that might try to harm you in an emergency situation.
Use leaves and branches to build an insulated shelter to avoid water loss and conserve body heat to stay warm during extreme temperatures.
This survival guide is filled with useful hacks to equip you for any outdoor adventure, from storing food to starting fires in the wilderness.
4. Food
Food should always be the top priority in any survival situation, providing energy, vitamins, and minerals as fuel for the body. Clean water supplies are necessary for drinking and cooking needs; having access to clean supplies of clean water is crucial.
Be sure to have food on hand that won’t spoil or require refrigeration, such as canned goods, dry food, MREs and emergency ration bars. Also include foods that can be prepared quickly without too much equipment such as dry beans and rice.
5. First Aid
First aid refers to providing emergency aid until professional medical treatment arrives.
First aid’s primary aim is to prevent an emergency situation from worsening; this is accomplished by assessing a victim’s condition and meeting all their needs.
Accidents and injuries can strike at any time, making preparation essential. That is why taking a first aid course is such an invaluable experience.
6. Tools
Wilderness survival tools such as topographic maps and compasses are indispensable tools for finding your way home if you become disoriented in the wilderness. Lightweight yet efficient, they could save your life!
Medical supplies can be an invaluable asset. In addition to band-aids, consider stockpiling splints, ace bandages, alcohol prep pads, and any other multipurpose items in your kit.
7. Shelter from the Sun
Submersion in direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day can quickly lead to heat exhaustion in survival situations, especially if exertion and/or wetness is present. Direct sunlight exposure during these conditions is especially hazardous if you are undertaking physical exertion or becoming overheated from exertion or exposure.
Empaths and sensitive people need healthy coping strategies to manage sensory and intuitive overload while still fully enjoying their gifts of depth, creativity, intuition and appreciation for nature. She offers online and in-person workshops for those wanting to increase resilience in their lives.
8. Shelter from the Wind
Shelter can protect you in times of survival from weather, insects and animals while insuring against cold temperatures and hiding you from rescuers.
Construct a shelter that is elevated off of the ground to prevent conduction (heat loss through contact with the ground) and reduce radiation loss.
Choose a dry spot, making sure it does not lie at the base of a valley or ravine where cold air collects at night.
9. Signaling
Signaling rescuers is of vital importance and should include both visual and audial signals. Visual signals should stand out and be easily seen, while audio may include blowing a whistle or firing gun shots; when signaling, always follow the threes rule – whether through hand signals or the number of shots fired.
Dr. Orloff provides empaths and other sensitive people with strategies designed to help them cope in our highly stimulating world while staying true to their intuitive gifts, depth of feelings, creativity, and wisdom.
