5 Basic Survival Techniques to Help You in the Outdoors

One of the most important elements for survival lays between your ears, IT IS YOUR BRAIN. Do not panic, use your intelligence, and apply the basics of survival before not having the choice any longer.

1- Fire

The fire can purify water, cook food, make you seen by rescuers, provide heat, light, and comfort, help keep predators at a distance, and can become your sole companion.

Equipment

Each person who ventures into nature must have a minimum of two systems to start a fire. The first in his pockets and the second in his bag. Lighters, Matches, fire steel, systems are not lacking.

Advice

• A small fire provides more heat than a large fire.

• Anticipate and pick up the wood you need for a night and double this amount, experience shows that you will need it.

• Safeguard fuel by making a “star-shaped fire”, where only the ends of large logs are in contact with the fire, push the log to the center when necessary.

• Make a reflector with a survival blanket on the rear wall of your shelter to reflect the heat of your fire on your back, sit between the fire and the rear reflector.

2- Shelter

The shelter is the resource by which you protect your body against the aggression of the climate: heat, cold, wind, rain, or snow. Everything that can decrease or increase your body temperature may become your enemy.

Equipment

Clothing is your first line of protection, it is imperative to have the right clothing for the corresponding environment. Always have a hat. Get a tent, a tarp, or a tarpaulin and a survival blanket. A few meters of Paracord will also be very useful.

Advice

• Try to keep the layer closest to your body dry.

• Several layers that trap the air are warmer than single thick clothing.

• Do not spend the energy building a shelter if nature offers one.

• Build a gable shaped shelter with your tarp if you do not find your campsite.

• Anticipate, it is risky to wait until you need to make one in an emergency.

• Use a survival blanket to keep away moisture from the soil or to isolate your shelter. In order to focus your body heat, wrap yourself in a sitting position or squatting.

3- Gear

When we talk about a hiking backpack, an EDC (EveryDay Carry) or a BOB (Bug Out bag), your equipment must be thought in advance, tested, and approved. Simple and effective equipment to ensure optimal survival.

Equipment

A bag, clothing, appropriate shoes, a knife, tools. A cooking set, a stove, a bottle, a cup. Flashlight, a water filter, a compass and/or a handheld GPS, a map, a down jacket, a sleeping pad, a book, music. List your needs according to your environment.

Advice

It is never too late to start your Bug Out bag except when the day arrives. Preparation is one of the pillars of survival.

• Opt for reliable material, simple and resistant.

• Test your hardware before you will need it in an emergency situation.

• Learn how to get by with the minimum, become a do-it-yourselfer, and be creative.

• Test the recycling and the DIY, work with simple and natural materials.

• Do not take risks and stay in the framework of your skills.

• Observe before acting and use what surrounds you, a branch will be a good tent pole, moss, or leaves a comfortable mattress.

4- Vital resources

Food and water are essential to your survival. You must ration your sweat but not your consumption of water. You can live up to three days without water. A little more without eating but your life depends on it.

Equipment

Water is vital and essential, do not forget. Have a water filter system and a way for chemical treatment. Field ration, BP-5 compact food, lyophilized bag, the choice is diverse, think to test before you find yourself in need. Do not forget your system for cooking.

Advice

• In case of emergency, try to drink only in the coolness of the evening.

• Do not eat the plants that you do not know.

• Never drink urine.

• You must always anticipate the fact that you will need a supplement of food and water when you plan your trip.

• Carry energy bars and candy in your pockets, just in case.

• If possible, boil any water for 10 minutes before drinking it (add one minute for every 300m above the sea level).

• If you do not have a filter or chemical treatment, filter the water through your tissue to remove the large particles.

• Never wait to be out of water to look for it.

• Never eat wild berries without being certain of the non-toxicity.

• You can collect rainwater with a survival blanket laid in a trench.

5- First Aid

First aid is not only the basic medical needs, it is also your ability to stay alive. Do not panic, stay calm, and do what you have to do to take care of you.

Equipment

First aid care kit, personal medications, do not overlook this aspect of survival and choose material adapted to your needs. Learn the basic gestures and how your equipment work.

Advice

Sit down, take your time, think, observe, and plan. It is the smartest thing you can do when you realize that you are lost or in a situation of distress. The most important element is to make every effort to ensure that your brain works in a rational way, that is the basis of the rescuing. Analyze your needs before each trip, create a medical kit, a small personal kit that you keep with you all the time.

• Most survival situations do not require more than band-aids for small cuts, ointment for bruises, or compression bandages for contusions and your personal medicines.

• Prevent hypothermia by isolating yourself in a survival blanket.

• Implement a system for rescue to find you easily.

• The psychological aspect is important, take a picture of your family with your gear to remind you of the reasons to remain calm and to survive.

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