Wilderness Survival Tips - Understanding the Rule of 3's

In emergency situations, one of the biggest problems is to focus on what matters most. That's why in the field of emergency medicine, we use acronyms and steps like the "ABC's" to help us control panic and remember what we should do first, then second, etc...

I was an EMT and WEMT and I taught First Responders for years. It was always interesting to see how people reacted in emergency situations. And over the years, I grew to really love acronyms because of how they helped people focus when the chips were down.

Well survival is no different, we still need to control panic and prioritise our efforts. This is where the "Rule of 3's" comes in.

The Rule of 3's simply stated is you have:

• 3 minutes without AIR

• 3 hours without SHELTER

• 3 days without WATER

• 3 weeks without FOOD

So what does all this mean? It tells us where our priorities should be in a survival situation.

First, we should focus on all life threatening conditions making sure we'll still be breathing in the near future. Next, we should worry about shelter because more people die of exposure than any other incident in the outdoors. Next is water. And then finally food, which is last, not first. You would be surprised at how long a human can go without food (we're a little spoiled in modern society in the area of food).

Search and rescue statistics show most people are rescued within 72 hours, so if you handle the first 2 priorities, you're most likely going to make it.

If things do go longer, you know what's next - water. And finally, last but not least, food. The "Rule of 3's" (just like the "ABC's") is a tool to help you control panic and remember in any survival situation what your steps are and what matters most.

We've all had a few emergencies in our lives. Find out all you can about survival by visiting the wilderness survival skills blog for step-by-step photos of different survival skills. Plus, visit to discover the most important thing you should know about personal survival

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregory_Rouse

Download Aids To Survival

Aids To Survival is a Western Australia Police publication. The Bushcraft and Survival Training Unit was introduced to provide members of the Western Australia Police Service withthe necessary knowledge and skills to carry out their duties in outback Western Australia and to enable them to co-ordinate or participate in emergency operations and advise on Outback safety.

Download link : http://www.box.net/shared/x5qis69rdg

How To Sharpen A Knife For Bushcraft

How to make your Knife as sharp as possible by using the Japanese Water Stone.

Survival Kits And Priorities By Rick Shrack

Over the years, I've seen all kinds of survival kits, read all kinds of articles about them, and tested many components on my own. Seems many of these guys use their kits occasionally, if for no more reason than to rotate the items or food out for freshness' sake. But most will only relate their story of when they had to use a kit, or something they had carried with them that saved their lives. Usually, though, I must admit that some writers do give some thought to their kits, but some do not consider various climates, many sizes of people, or the knowledge levels of the user. One author had a three-part kit that would have been too much for any child or a frail person.

What Kind of Kit Do I Need?

First of all, what do you want your survival kit to do? Be an augment to your backpack? Save you from stupidity? Rescue you from Armageddon? Seriously, think about it. If you're going to want something for bugging out when everything goes to the dogs (a NICE way to put it), your kit should be the size of a backpack. If you want something to be an accessory to your backpack, try some of the fanny packs or tourist-sized front or side belt packs. A normal day pack would carry a large survival kit.

Surviving In The Wilderness - The 8 Essentials

The most important technique for surviving in the wilderness is the will to survive. You need the correct attitude or you will have a very tough time surviving.

A lot of your survival skills can be learned from being in the wilderness. From going to seminars, shows, to learning the skills passed down from your parents or grandparents. Here I will detail some of the bare essentials that are needed in a survival situation. Having a survival kit is a necessity, but the contents of that kit will depend on your situation.

1. Your first priority is shelter. In wet or changeable weather conditions most people cannot survive for more than a few hours. Your shelter must protect you from the elements and be comfortable enough for resting and sleeping.

2. Another skill to learn is how to make a fire. Practice this skill under different conditions: wet and dry. A fire will not only keep you dry but you can use it to cook food, purify water or even sterilize bandages.

3. Water is an essential. A human can last many weeks without food, but only a few days without water. Dehydration can occur if water is not found. Rest, keep cool, stay in the shade, seek shelter are some things we can do to prevent water loss. Keep water on hand, don't wait until you are out.Remember a lot of foods contain water.

4. Finding food in the wilderness is very important, but not an essential. We can live several weeks without it, but its important to keep up our energy and our mental and emotional state.

5. Signaling for help should be learned before you have to use it. If you don't have a two way radio, cell phone or a whistle, you will need to use visual signs. Depending on what you have for material, you can either use fire and smoke, a mirror, flares, flashlight or strobe light.

6. Finding your direction without a compass. Nature gives us different ways to determine what direction to go including the moon, sun, stars, wind, trees, and even plants. With your knowledge of the terrain and these methods you can get a true direction to travel in.

7. Wilderness first aid is one of the basic principles to learn. You need to know how to apply them even under a stressful situation. Although there are along of injuries I could list, learning the basic principles with help you apply them to almost any situation.

8. Basic knowledge of how to predict weather. This will help you to take appropriate action before the worst comes. This will also keep you out of trouble and your safety is at risk.

Your survival skills will help you survive in a disaster or wilderness survival situation. Many people don't have the skill or knowledge to survive in the wilderness. That's why many people will survive in groups, even if its a small group. My advice is to learn all the survival skills you can. Learn from people who have been there, or can tutor you.

Source: Tom is passionate about the outdoors and all it has to offer. If you want to know more about the type of Survival Knives out there, please visit: http://www.mysurvivalknife.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Meyer

How Could You Use Wilderness Survival During An Urban Disaster?

Many people who go off into the woods for hiking, camping, and backpacking trips learn a variety of wilderness survival skills. These are very important if you get lost in the woods. They help you become more comfortable so that you can last until you are found again. Realistically, this rarely happens to anyone. It's more likely that you are in a local disaster in your city that will make you need to rely upon these skills if it is severe enough. These could be caused by wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and other weather related events. Luckily, your wilderness survival skills should help you in this type of urban disaster.

Knowing where you can get water can be an important skill as well. Hopefully you already have a few days water on hand just in case anything happens. But if the disaster were to last more than a week, you will need to know where to find water. There are many skills like using plastic bags over plants or a simple solar sill that will let you get water even in your backyard that you can then purify and drink.

Be sure that you have some basic skills in first aid as well. If there is something major going on in your area where people have been hurt, you won't be able to see a doctor for basic injuries. At the very least focus on pain control and avoiding infections. First aid can only do so much but it can prevent further problems when done correctly.

One of the more important skills that you should be able to do is build fire. This can be important during a city disaster because it's useful for warmth and for purifying water. It's also a backup plan for cooking. If you don't know how to properly build a fire, you may want to learn this skill.

Source: Hoby B. is an advocate for helping consumers find deals online and make informed purchasing decisions like finding the best information on great products like Pem America Bedding and great info on Cheap Photo Prints as well.

FREE Family Outdoor Adventure Day - Saturday 24th April 2010

A fun outdoor adventure day out for the family! Come along and try sailing, canoeing, kayaking, climbing, caving, bushcraft and bell boating. Activities are bookable in person on the day.

Participants must be 9 years or over and under 18's need parental consent. Consent forms will be available on the day or can be downloaded from their website.

For more information on this event and a full schedule of activities, clubs and courses available please visit http://www.hymb.com or call 01992 628 403.

Adventure Day Flyer: http://www.hymb.com/openday.pdf

A Bushcrafter's Guide To Getting A Good Source Of Potable Water

If you love doing the extreme or by chance is trapped in a forest, you must know how to survive, among them is knowing how to avoid dehydration. The simple answer to this is by obtaining safe water to drink.

An average person may survive for 3 to 5 days without fluid intake. This of course depends on the climate and the how much energy they exert to survive.

A lot of those who do not survive in the wild are reported to have died of dehydration. It is very difficult if you do not know where to look for, how to get, or how to clean water so you can drink.

Fluid Loss 

Bushcraft survival primarily depends on food intake, fluid intake, and fluid conservation. If you can't find water to drink most likely you cannot find food to eat. We come down to the third essential point which is fluid conservation.

You must remember that the more fluid you expend means the more fluid you must drink. Here are some methods how our body loses fluid:

• Perspiring - Perspiration is a natural ways to cool our body. If you are trying to survive in an environment with temperatures rising to around 35 degrees Celsius, you may lose around 2 liters of water even if you sit down under the shade of a big tree. Try to minimize your activity to conserve your body fluids. Energy should be spent on getting help or basic survival needs.
• Urinating- It is normal to urinate but if you are trying to survive in the wild, it will help if you can hold it longer to prevent fluid loss. Worst comes to worst, you can apply urine to the skin to help the body cool down. Never drink it though if you do not know how to distill it.
• Vomiting and Crying- Both of these are natural tendencies but may also lead to fluid loss if you cannot control. Try to stay calm and avoid vomiting or crying since these will not help you at all to conserve body fluids.

Methods of Getting Water

Now that you know how to conserve body fluids, you must know how to look for and get some water to drink.

Remember if you only have a liter of water from your bushcraft kit; try to take only a few sips in between long intervals.

Here are some methods to establish good water supply while surviving in the wild:

• Creek beds- you can soak a piece of cloth in the damp sand or mud and wring out the water. You can also try to cut the roots of trees that you can find in the creek bed to source water.
• Rocky formation- the natural terrain may have water pooled in a rocky formation or sipping through its cracks.
• Salt Lakes- if it rains, the top 3 mm of the lake will be fresh water. You can siphon this using grass straw so you can have something to drink.
• Animal Trails- think of animal instinct. Animals will be moving from one source of water to another to survive. Use their trails so you can also find water supply.
• Tree Roots- Before the heat of the day, roots of trees hold water. You can cut them in short lengths and drain them of the fluid.
• Dew- the collection from trees may be tedious but survival is survival

Whatever you do in the wild, make sure that you are drinking clean water. Bad water will cause internal infection and may not help in your aim to survive. Try to boil the water if you can. Remember that clear water is not always clean water.


Source: SpringFields army surplus store can cater for all your bush craft and camping equipment needs

Get busy With Bushcraft This Half Term

The Forestry Commission has planned some fun bushcraft events to keep children amused this half term on its estate in West Devon.

On Tuesday 16 February children can head to Cookworthy Forest, near Holsworthy where our Ranger will teach them some basic bushcraft and survival skills in the Celtic roundhouse. There will be sessions on fire lighting and shelter building and there will be toasted marshmallows to finish with.  Similar events will then be held at Eggesford Forest near Crediton on Thursday 18 February.

There will two sessions on both days.  The first, aimed at children between four and eight will run from 10am until 12 noon.  The later sessions, which will start at 1.30pm and finish at 3.30pm are for children aged between eight and 12.  The cost is £6 per child and accompanying adults go free.  Booking is essential by calling 01392 834233.

A Bushcrafter's Guide To Getting A Good Source Of Potable Water

If you love doing the extreme or by chance is trapped in a forest, you must know how to survive, among them is knowing how to avoid dehydration. The simple answer to this is by obtaining safe water to drink.

An average person may survive for 3 to 5 days without fluid intake. This of course depends on the climate and the how much energy they exert to survive.

A lot of those who do not survive in the wild are reported to have died of dehydration. It is very difficult if you do not know where to look for, how to get, or how to clean water so you can drink.
Fluid Loss

Bushcraft survival primarily depends on food intake, fluid intake, and fluid conservation. If you can't find water to drink most likely you cannot find food to eat. We come down to the third essential point which is fluid conservation.

You must remember that the more fluid you expend means the more fluid you must drink. Here are some methods how our body loses fluid:

• Perspiring - Perspiration is a natural ways to cool our body. If you are trying to survive in an environment with temperatures rising to around 35 degrees Celsius, you may lose around 2 liters of water even if you sit down under the shade of a big tree. Try to minimize your activity to conserve your body fluids. Energy should be spent on getting help or basic survival needs.

• Urinating- It is normal to urinate but if you are trying to survive in the wild, it will help if you can hold it longer to prevent fluid loss. Worst comes to worst, you can apply urine to the skin to help the body cool down. Never drink it though if you do not know how to distill it.

• Vomiting and Crying- Both of these are natural tendencies but may also lead to fluid loss if you cannot control. Try to stay calm and avoid vomiting or crying since these will not help you at all to conserve body fluids.

Methods of Getting Water

Now that you know how to conserve body fluids, you must know how to look for and get some water to drink. Remember if you only have a liter of water from your bushcraft kit; try to take only a few sips in between long intervals.

Here are some methods to establish good water supply while surviving in the wild:

• Creek beds- you can soak a piece of cloth in the damp sand or mud and wring out the water. You can also try to cut the roots of trees that you can find in the creek bed to source water.

• Rocky formation- the natural terrain may have water pooled in a rocky formation or sipping through its cracks.

• Salt Lakes- if it rains, the top 3 mm of the lake will be fresh water. You can siphon this using grass straw so you can have something to drink.

• Animal Trails- think of animal instinct. Animals will be moving from one source of water to another to survive. Use their trails so you can also find water supply.

• Tree Roots- Before the heat of the day, roots of trees hold water. You can cut them in short lengths and drain them of the fluid.

• Dew- the collection from trees may be tedious but survival is survival

Whatever you do in the wild, make sure that you are drinking clean water. Bad water will cause internal infection and may not help in your aim to survive. Try to boil the water if you can. Remember that clear water is not always clean water.

SpringFields army surplus store can cater for all your bush craft and camping equipment needs
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Benedict_Yossarian

Wilderness Survival - Would You Survive?

A free 'How To' guide to wilderness survival. Would you survive the elements, know how to attract attention or find water?

Click Here for Free Wilderness Survival PDF

Survival Skills May Make the Difference Between Life and Death

Before venturing into the wilderness get prepared for the unexpected.

Get avalanche certified and carry an avalanche shovel, beacon and probe if you are a winter backcountry enthusiast!

Take a first aid course since accidents do occur

Always carry a survival kit

For the general nature enthusiast, basic survival skills are included here to initiate an understanding of what needs to occur in a wilderness emergency. Keep in mind that YOU MUST REMAIN CALM when implementing these survival skills. A clear head will allow you to implement and plan for survival and rescue.

1. FIRE. It can provide warmth, keep predators away, purify water, cook food and signal rescuers. The best source for a fire is: a flint metal match with a wooden handle and a scraper; for tinder use cotton balls soaked in petroleum and stored in waterproof containers. Sort your firewood in a tepee form and place your emergency blanket behind you to reflect the heat.
   
   
2. SHELTER - a commercial trash bag with a hole cut out for your head is useful in protecting you from the elements. Always keep the closest layer to your body dry to insulate you from the elements. If you are stranded, find a quick natural shelter and wrap yourself in an emergency blanket.
   
   
3. SIGNALING with a whistle and a mirror. A whistle can carry further than a yell and a mirror can reflect up to 20 miles. A triangle of fires is a distress signal. Create smoke during the day to show distress. Spell out S.O.S. with organic materials.
   
   
4. FOOD/WATER. A person can survive up to three days without water and without food up to three weeks, although don’t plan for this. Always pack extra food bars high in carbs. Drink water in the cool of the evening. Collect water from rain in your emergency blanket. Never drink your urine. Boil water minimally for 10 minutes, if you can. Seek water out at all times.
   
   
5. FIRST AID KIT. Always carry a basic one.
   

NOTE: as an essential survival skill, see understanding a topographical map

Survival Skills Hot Tips

Survival Skill #1: Backcountry thunderstorm

Get out of your tent. It is safer to be crouched down on your sleeping pad then in your tent which can expose you to electrical ground currents. Also keep yourself distanced from other members in the group.

Survival Skill #2: Grizzly Bear Attack

No pepper spray? If a grizzly bear is attacking do not RUN. Immediately lay down on the ground face down, spread eagle and protect your neck and heart.

Survival Skill #3 Mountain Lion Attack

If the mountain lion has not attacked look tall and yell. DO NOT RUN. If it attacks, fight for your life using pepper spray, knife or anything you can find to gouge its eyes. Never hike alone.

Survival Skill #4 Caught in an avalanche?

Try to keep an arm above the snow level to show visibility. If not possible, keep your hands near your mouth to create an air pocket. Spit outside of your mouth to tell which direction you are facing.

Survival Skill #5 Lost

Stay put. Despite popular beliefs do not follow streams. They usually lead to waterfalls, not civilization.

Survival skills combined with survival gear can ensure a safe enjoyable wilderness experience.

About the Author:

http://www.gearup4nature.com

http://www.gearup4nature.com/survivalskills.php

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Survival Skills May Make the Difference Between Life and Death