10 survival tips you must to know!

10 survival tips you must to know

If you are going hiking and the path that you are about to take is not familiar for you, the first thing you need to do is to gather as much information as you can about the place. You will need to do an internet research and read hiking diaries and travel forums. In case you have a friend who has ever visited the destination, ask for their input. Make sure that you have a map to take along with you. On top of doing all this preparation, here is a survival guide to help you when lost in the wild.

1. Remain calm even as you signal your location

There are experts who suggest that the most important tool at your disposal is not food, water or even map, it is the mind. In case you panic, you will end up confused and in internal turmoil. Such a condition can end up messing you big as you try to get back into civilization.  When you realize that you are lost, contact someone and let them know through GPS messenger or phone that you are lost.

2. Water filtration and catchment system

Our bodies consist of water in 60% and this is why we need to keep on replenishing it. This means that when you get lost in the wild, one of the most important survival tips is to ensure that you do not run out of the water. If you will be planning to stay for more than 3 days, there are chances of running out of water and food. Therefore, make sure that you understand the source of water as well as the flora and fauna of the region. One idea that you can use is to find a plastic bag that you can use for water filtration. A rag can also be helpful in collecting morning dew.

3. Sourcing for food

Survival food is key when lost in the forest.  You do not have to hunt for the big game. There are high chances that you will waste a lot of energy trying to kill them. A good idea would be to find the edible plants and the small critters such as lizards, snakes, frogs, and fish. However, you will need to be careful so as not to eat plants that may end up killing you. Some of the recommended plants include dandelions, lambsquarter, and cattail.

4. Mark your point zero

Many people underestimate the importance of staying in one place. This is crucial as it increases the chances of you getting found. Mark this using tree branches or rock. You can scout the area before returning back to your initial sport.

5. Build a shelter at night

If it is approaching night time, you will need to think of building a shelter to protect you from the harsh weather. Find a rock or a tree that you can use as the base of your shelter.  Gather leaves that will help to ensure that your shelter is waterproof and windproof.

6. Handling animal ambush

You may have heard about a shark or bear attack. No matter the species you face in the world, make sure that you stand your ground as running will only serve to trigger the chase mentality of the animal. This is on top of the fact that you can’t outrun most of the animals in the wild.

7. Make use of natural medicines

In their raw form, crab apples contain healing properties. They have astringents that are usually rubbed across lacerations and cuts leading to the faster healing of wounds. Pine resins can also act as a good antiseptic. You can apply them to wounds or use them to clean your mouth. Various papers on Free Online Plagiarism Checker With Percentage by EduZaurus have proven this.

8. Heat and fire

Fire is important as it is a great way of keeping you warm and even send a signal of your location. If you don’t have a matchbox, you can rub two sticks together to create fire. Lighting a fire is among the crucial outdoor survival skills.

9. Navigation method

According to the boy scouts, when you realize you are lost,  one of the first survival skills is to determine where north is. To have a basic understanding of the direction, bear in mind that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. However, after finding north, you will only half win the battle. In case you already have a general underrating of the area, move towards the nearest road.

10. Common hand signals

You will want to understand the basic signals that you can use to alert a plane or helicopter that may be passing nearby. Take note that waving is considered a sign not to land. Instead, you should form a “Y” with your arms. Make use of signaling tools such as a flashlight, flare or mirror. For instance, you can reflect the light onto the helicopter using a mirror. With these survival techniques in the forest, it is possible to stay safe.