Basic wilderness survival skills are something that everyone should know. In some countries parents teach their children at an early age or survival skills might even be, in those countries, what they call everyday life. This planet can
be cruel. Climates are sometimes harsh and the summer/winter exchange can be harsh as well. Why not invest a little time and money into yourself to be prepared, ya know, just in case?
Stuff happens
Things happen, all the time, to the unsuspecting and even to the prepared. Wouldn’t you want to be prepared for when things go wrong? These bad situation are not pleasant nor are they fun but by being prepared for them you can make the best of a bad situation. Sometimes you can even prevent these situations from ever coming to fruition. Having a positive attitude in any given situation may be hard but is always a plus because it keeps your thoughts level and mind thinking clearly. Positive reinforcement is always a good thing.
Wilderness survival skills scenarios
From getting caught in a really bad snowstorm while traveling cross-country during the holidays to just camping in the mountains and getting extremely lost in the back country, being prepared can mean the difference between life and death. Most of us have fun and exciting outdoors activities we like to do and there is always the potential for disaster that goes along with these things. What if you broke a bone? Or got bitten by a snake? Getting lost is no fun and panic almost always sets in a few minutes after the realization. Getting caught in the cold without the proper clothing is a miserable experience and it is hard to do anything when your almost frozen.
Despite these things, there are always ways to be ready.
Some basic wilderness survival skills to know
If you were never in the Boy Scouts of America or took any survival courses or even were involved in a Wilderness Program then you might want to invest in the knowledge of how to build a shelter. It can provide protection from the elements when done right and even camouflage you from hungry animals. If you’re ever caught in a situation where you need it, this skill will come in very handy and you will be glad you learned it.
Keeping yourself dry and warm in a stormy situation could save your life. Hypothermia is when your body temperature experiences a dangerous or rapid drop and can be deadly if not handled carefully and properly. Usually it happens with a prolonged exposure to cold but can also happen with extreme physical exertion. Having a 72-hour kit can help with staying warm if it has an emergency blanket in it. Carrying an extra pair of socks is a good idea as well.
Building a fire to keep warm or cook can be needed for survival and is suggested that everyone learn that skill. If you do not have a 72-hour kit with matches or flint and steel, then learning how to start a fire in the wilderness is very important.
Being lost in the wild is a scary situation and can be very disorienting as well. Knowing your surroundings and being able to tell what is East or West Etc… will be useful in determining which direction you should go to find civilization or even the chance that you might come across a road or highway that you can follow back into the nearest town. A map and compass is the old school way of being able to find direction and probably the most reliable. Blue coolers Puts together a really good 72-hour bug out pack that has everything you will need in a survival situation.
Learning and practicing your skills
Finding resources to learn some of these skills is easy and not too time consuming. Something as simple as watching a video to familiarize yourself with the idea or a tutorial on a specific subject can help you educate yourself. There are books on survival and wilderness environments that are extremely useful in these situations.
Getting out into the wild in a familiar area and camping or spending the day hiking and practicing some of these survival activities can strengthen your confidence and make you more skillful in the area of outdoors survival. Even your backyard can be an educational environment. Having these skills and knowing that you can do them is reassuring and can potentially reduce panic if you are ever caught in a situation where these skills are needed.
Conclusion
Whether you believe it or not a vast majority of people will get caught unsuspecting and end up in a situation where some sort of survival might be needed. There is still so much of this planet that is unexplored. There are also situations that don’t involve being lost in the woods that require survival skills. If you really want to be prepared and have these skills then you should invest a little time into yourself and learn this valuable knowledge.
