Survival skills

Last updated

Astronauts participating in tropical survival training at an Air Force Base near the Panama Canal, 1963. From left to right are an unidentified trainer, Neil Armstrong, John H. Glenn Jr., L. Gordon Cooper, and Pete Conrad. Survival training is important for astronauts, as a launch abort or misguided reentry could potentially land them in a remote wilderness area. Astronaut survival training - GPN-2006-000028.jpg
Astronauts participating in tropical survival training at an Air Force Base near the Panama Canal, 1963. From left to right are an unidentified trainer, Neil Armstrong, John H. Glenn Jr., L. Gordon Cooper, and Pete Conrad. Survival training is important for astronauts, as a launch abort or misguided reentry could potentially land them in a remote wilderness area.

Survival skills are techniques used to sustain life in any type of natural environment or built environment. These techniques are meant to provide basic necessities for human life, including water, food, and shelter. Survival skills also support proper knowledge and interactions with animals and plants to promote the sustaining of life over time.

Contents

Survival skills are basic ideas and abilities that ancient people invented and passed down for thousands of years. [1] Today, survival skills are often associated with surviving in a disaster situation. [2]

Outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, fishing, and hunting all require basic wilderness survival skills, especially to handle emergencies. Individuals who practice survival skills as a type of outdoor recreation or hobby may describe themselves as survivalists. Survival skills are often used by people living off-grid lifestyles such as homesteaders. Bushcraft and primitive living are most often self-implemented but require many of the same skills. There are also many instances of survival skills being used to avoid attention from legitimate authorities or self-serving busybodies such as fugitives (from oppression or justice), irregular migrants,draft dodgers and draft evaders, poachers, escaped prisoners, serial killers, organized criminals and terrorists, by hiding in wilderness areas. [3] [4] Additionally, both park rangers and conservation officers are taught survival skills to help them find missing persons, and in case they become stranded while investigating wilderness crimes. [5] [6] The United States Armed Forces has a training program called SERE, in which military personnel, Department of Defense civilians, intelligence personnel, and private military contractors are taught survival skills and techniques for evading capture and escaping from captivity if they need to survive and hideout in wilderness areas while avoiding capture by enemy combatants.

First aid

A first aid kit containing equipment that can treat common injuries and illness. First aid 19.jpg
A first aid kit containing equipment that can treat common injuries and illness.

First aid (wilderness first aid in particular) can help a person survive and function with injuries and illnesses that would otherwise kill or compromise them. Common and dangerous injuries include:

The person may need to apply the contents of a first aid kit or, if possessing the required knowledge, naturally occurring medicinal plants, immobilize injured limbs, or even transport incapacitated comrades.

Shelter

Photo release by the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation dipicting a shelter built from tarp and sticks. Pictured are displaced people from the Sri Lankan Civil War. Shelter from tarp and sticks.jpg
Photo release by the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation dipicting a shelter built from tarp and sticks. Pictured are displaced people from the Sri Lankan Civil War.

Many people who are forced into survival situations often have an elevated risk of danger because of direct exposure to the elements. Many people in survival situations die of hypothermia or hyperthermia, or animal attacks. An effective shelter can range from a natural shelter, such as a cave, overhanging rock outcrop, or a fallen-down tree, to an intermediate form of man-made shelter such as a debris hut, tree pit shelter, or snow cave, to a completely man-made structure such as a tarp, tent, or a longhouse. It is noted that some common properties between these structures are:

Fire

Fire is a tool that helps meet many survival needs. A campfire can be used to boil water, rendering it safe to drink, and to cook food. Fire also creates a sense of safety and protection, which can provide an overlooked psychological boost. [7] When temperatures are low, fire can postpone or prevent the risk of hypothermia. In a wilderness survival situation, fire can provide a sense of home in addition to being an essential energy source. [8] Fire may deter wild animals from interfering with an individual, though some wild animals may also be attracted to the light and heat of a fire.

There are numerous methods for starting a fire in a survival situation. Fires are either started with the case of the solar spark lighter, or through a spark, as in the case of a flint striker. Fires will often be extinguished if either there is excessive wind, or if the fuel or environment is too wet. Lighting a fire without a lighter or matches, e.g. by using natural flint and metal with tinder, is a frequent subject of both books on survival and in survival courses, because it allows an individual to start a fire with few materials in the event of a disaster. There is an emphasis placed on practicing fire-making skills before venturing into the wilderness. [8] Producing fire under adverse conditions has been made much easier by the introduction of tools such as the magnesium striker, solar spark lighter, and the fire piston.

Water

Hydration pack manufactured by Camelbak. Hydration pack.jpg
Hydration pack manufactured by Camelbak.

A human being can survive an average of three to five days without water. Since the human body is composed of an average of 60% water, it should be no surprise that water is higher on the list than food. [9] [10] The need for water dictates that unnecessary water loss by perspiration should be avoided in survival situations. Perspiration and the need for water increase with exercise. [11] Although human water intake varies greatly depending on factors like age and gender, the average human should drink about 13 cups or 3 liters per day. [12] [13] Many people in survival situations perish due to dehydration, and/or the debilitating effects of water-borne pathogens from untreated water. [14] [15]

A typical person will lose a minimum of two to four liters of water per day under ordinary conditions, and more in hot, dry, or cold weather. Four to six liters of water or other liquids are generally required each day in the wilderness to avoid dehydration and to keep the body functioning properly. [16] The U.S. Army survival manual does not recommend drinking water only when thirsty, as this leads to inadequate hydration. Instead, water should be consumed at regular intervals. [17] [18] Other groups recommend rationing water through "water discipline." [19]

A lack of water causes dehydration, which may result in lethargy, headaches, dizziness, confusion, and eventually death. Even mild dehydration reduces endurance and impairs concentration, which is dangerous in a survival situation where clear thinking is essential. Dark yellow or brown urine is a diagnostic indicator of dehydration. To avoid dehydration, a high priority is typically assigned to locating a supply of drinking water and making provisions to render that water as safe as possible.

Recent thinking is that boiling or commercial filters are significantly safer than the use of chemicals, with the exception of chlorine dioxide. [20] [21] [22]

Food

Culinary root tubers, fruit, edible mushrooms, edible nuts, edible beans, edible cereals or edible leaves, edible cacti, ants and algae can be gathered and, if needed, prepared (mostly by boiling). With the exception of leaves, these foods are relatively high in calories, providing some energy to the body. Plants are some of the easiest food sources to find in the jungle, forest, or desert because they are stationary and can thus be obtained without exerting much effort. [23] Animal trapping, hunting, and fishing allow a survivalist to acquire high-calorie meat but require certain skills and equipment (such as bows, snares, and nets).

Focusing on survival until rescued, the Boy Scouts of America especially discourages foraging for wild foods on the grounds that the knowledge and skills needed to make a safe decision are unlikely to be possessed by those finding themselves in a wilderness survival situation.

Celestial navigation: using the Southern Cross to navigate South without a compass. Pole01-eng.svg
Celestial navigation: using the Southern Cross to navigate South without a compass.

When going on a hike or trip in an unfamiliar location, search and rescue advises to notify a trusted contact of your destination, your planned return time, and then notify them when returning. [24] In the event you do not return in the specified time frame, (e.g. 12 hours of the scheduled return time), your contact can contact the police for search and rescue.

Survival situations can often be resolved by finding a way to safety, or a more suitable location to wait for rescue. Types of navigation include:

Mental preparedness

Mental clarity and preparedness are critical to survival. The will to live in a life-and-death situation often separates those that live and those that do not. Even well-trained survival experts may be mentally affected in disaster situations. It is critical to be calm and focused during a disaster.

To the extent that stress results from testing human limits, the benefits of learning to function under stress and determining those limits may outweigh the downside of stress. [25] There are certain strategies and mental tools that can help people cope better in a survival situation, including focusing on manageable tasks, having a Plan B available, and recognizing denial. [26]

Urban survival

Earthquake

Governments such as the United States [27] and New Zealand [28] advise that in an earthquake, one should "Drop, Cover, and Hold."

New Zealand Civil Defense explains it this way: [29]

The United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) [27] adds that in the event of a building collapse, it is advised that you:

Important survival items

Civilian pilots attending a Survival course at RAF Kinloss learn how to construct shelter from the elements, using materials available in the woodland on the north-east edge of the aerodrome. Building for survival - geograph.org.uk - 396684.jpg
Civilian pilots attending a Survival course at RAF Kinloss learn how to construct shelter from the elements, using materials available in the woodland on the north-east edge of the aerodrome.

Survivalists often carry a "survival kit." The contents of these kits vary considerably, but generally consist of items that are necessary or useful in potential survival situations, depending on the anticipated needs and location. For wilderness survival, these kits often contain items like a knife, water vessel, fire-starting equipment, first aid equipment, tools to obtain food (such as snare wire, fish hooks, or firearms), a light source, navigational aids, and signaling or communications devices. Multi-purpose tools are often chosen because they serve multiple purposes, allowing the user to reduce weight and save space.

Preconstructed survival kits may be purchased from various retailers, or individual components may be bought and assembled into a kit.

Controversial survival skills

Some survival books promote the "Universal Edibility Test." [30] Allegedly, it is possible to distinguish edible foods from toxic ones by exposing your skin and mouth to progressively greater amounts of the food in question, with waiting periods and checks for symptoms between these exposures. [31] However, many experts reject this method[ weasel words ], stating that even a small amount of some "potential foods" can cause physical discomfort, illness, or even death. [32]

Many mainstream survival experts have recommended the act of drinking urine in times of dehydration and malnutrition. [33] However, the U.S. Army Survival Field Manual (FM 21–76) instructs that this technique is a myth and should never be used. [34] There are several reasons to avoid drinking urine, including the high salt content of urine, potential contaminants, and the risk of bacterial exposure, despite urine often being touted as "sterile." [35]

Many classic western movies, classic survival books, and even some school textbooks suggest that using your mouth to suck the venom out of a venomous snake bite is an appropriate treatment. However, venom that has entered the bloodstream cannot be sucked out, and it may be dangerous for a rescuer to attempt to do so. Similarly, some survivalists promote the belief that when bitten by a venomous snake, drinking your urine provides natural anti-venom. Effective snakebite treatment involves pressure bandages and prompt medical treatment, and may require antivenom. [36]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dehydration</span> Deficit of total body water

In physiology, dehydration is a lack of total body water, with an accompanying disruption of metabolic processes. It occurs when free water loss exceeds free water intake, usually due to exercise, disease, or high environmental temperature. Mild dehydration can also be caused by immersion diuresis, which may increase risk of decompression sickness in divers.

Survivalism is a social movement of individuals or groups who proactively prepare for emergencies, such as natural disasters, and other disasters causing disruption to social order caused by political or economic crises. Preparations may anticipate short-term scenarios or long-term, on scales ranging from personal adversity, to local disruption of services, to international or global catastrophe. There is no bright line dividing general emergency preparedness from prepping in the form of survivalism, but a qualitative distinction is often recognized whereby preppers/survivalists prepare especially extensively because they have higher estimations of the risk of catastrophes happening. Nonetheless, prepping can be as limited as preparing for a personal emergency, or it can be as extensive as a personal identity or collective identity with a devoted lifestyle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camping</span> Outdoor recreational activity

Camping is a form of outdoor recreation or outdoor education involving overnight stays with a basic temporary shelter such as a tent. Camping can also include a recreational vehicle, sheltered cabins, a permanent tent, a shelter such as a bivy or tarp, or no shelter at all. Typically, participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors, in pursuit of activities providing them enjoyment or in a form of educational experience. Spending the night away from home distinguishes camping from day-tripping, picnicking, and other outdoor activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backpacking (hiking)</span> Outdoor recreation of carrying gear on ones back, while hiking for more than a day

Backpacking is the outdoor recreation of carrying gear on one's back while hiking for more than a day. It is often an extended journey and may involve camping outdoors. In North America, tenting is common, where simple shelters and mountain huts, widely found in Europe, are rare. In New Zealand, hiking is called tramping, and tents are used alongside a nationwide network of huts. Hill walking is equivalent in Britain, though backpackers make use of a variety of accommodation, in addition to camping. Backpackers use simple huts in South Africa. Trekking and bushwalking are other words used to describe such multi-day trips.

Urophagia is the consumption of urine. Urine was used in several ancient cultures for various health, healing, and cosmetic purposes; urine drinking is still practiced today. In extreme cases, people may drink urine if no other fluids are available, although numerous credible sources advise against using it. Urine may also be consumed as a sexual activity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Survival kit</span> Emergency equipment

A survival kit is a package of basic tools and supplies prepared as an aid to survival in an emergency. Civil and military aircraft, lifeboats, and spacecraft are equipped with survival kits.

<i>Survivorman</i> Canadian wilderness survival television program

Survivorman is a Canadian-produced television program, broadcast in Canada on the Outdoor Life Network (OLN), and internationally on Discovery Channel and Science Channel. The title refers to the host of the show, Canadian filmmaker and survival expert Les Stroud, who uses survival skills and knowledge to survive alone for up to ten days, in remote locales where he brings with him little or no food, water, or equipment. Each location was scouted and planned extensively by Stroud and his team who consulted with survival specialists and natives of each area. The fact that Stroud films the episodes himself and endures the challenges of the wilderness, while dealing with the concomitant mental, emotional and physical stresses, is a major focus of the show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bushcraft</span> Wilderness survival skills

Bushcraft is the use and practice of skills, thereby acquiring and developing knowledge and understanding, in order to survive and thrive in a natural environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ten Essentials</span> Survival items recommended by hiking and Scouting organizations

The Ten Essentials are survival items that hiking and Scouting organizations recommend for safe travel in the backcountry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hazards of outdoor recreation</span>

Outdoor recreation, such as hiking, camping, canoeing, cycling, or skiing, entails risks, even if participants do not recklessly place themselves in harm's way. In some circumstances, such as being in remote locations or in extreme weather conditions, even a minor accident may create a dangerous situation that requires survival skills. However, with correct precautions, even fairly adventurous outdoor recreation can be enjoyable and safe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mini survival kit</span> Small kit containing essential survival tools

A mini survival kit contains essential outdoor survival tools and supplies. It is intended to be carried on one's person at all times, be appropriate to all environments, and be a comprehensive kit without being too large. Mini survival kits are intended to provide the basic needs of a survival situation, self-rescue, assistance or a return to normalcy in optimum situations.

<i>Nuclear War Survival Skills</i> 1979 book by Cresson Kearny

Nuclear War Survival Skills or NWSS, by Cresson Kearny, is a civil defense manual. It contains information gleaned from research performed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory during the Cold War, as well as from Kearny's extensive jungle living and international travels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultralight backpacking</span> Style of hiking

Ultralight backpacking is a style of lightweight backpacking that emphasizes carrying the lightest and least amount of gear. While no technical standards exist, some hikers consider "ultralight" to mean an initial base weight of less than 4.5 kg (9.9 lb). Base weight is the weight of a fully loaded backpack at the start of a trip, excluding worn weight and consumables such as food, water, and fuel. Base weight can be lowered by reducing the weight of individual items of gear, or by choosing not to carry that gear. Ultralight backpacking is most popular among thru-hikers.

Hiking equipment is the equipment taken on outdoor walking trips. The duration, distance, planned activities, and environment impacts equipment selection. For example, a short day hike across flat farmland versus trekking in the Himalayas would call for different types of equipment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Retreat (survivalism)</span> Place of refuge for those in the survivalist subculture or movement

In the survivalist subculture or movement, a retreat is a place of refuge. Sometimes their retreats are called a bug-out location (BOL), a bunker, a bolt hole or a hidesite. Survivalist retreats are intended to be self-sufficient and easily defended. Generally, they are located in sparsely populated outback rural areas.

Bradford Angier was an American wilderness survivalist and proponent of back-to-earth living. He authored more than 35 books on how to survive in the wild and how to live minimalisticly off the land.

Portrayals of survivalism, and survivalist themes and elements such as survival retreats have been fictionalised in print, film, and electronic media. This genre was especially influenced by the advent of nuclear weapons, and the potential for societal collapse in light of a Cold War nuclear conflagration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camping food</span> Food designed for camping and backpacking

Camping food is food brought on or designed for camping, hiking, and backpacking trips. The term also encompasses ingredients that can be used to make said foods. The primary differences relate to campers' and backpackers' special needs for foods that have appropriate cooking time, perishability, weight, and nutritional content. To address these needs, camping food is often made up of freeze-dried, dehydrated, pre-cooked, pre-prepared, or otherwise preserved foods that can last extended periods.

<i>Survive This</i> Canadian reality television show

Survive This is a Canadian reality television show in which eight teenagers with limited survival skills training are taken into a forest and confronted with a number of survival challenges to test their skills and perseverance. The series aired on YTV in Canada and Cartoon Network in the United States. The show is hosted by Les Stroud, who narrates each episode, provides the teens with survival challenges, and assesses their performance. The show premiered on April 7, 2009, in Canada and on June 17, 2009, in the United States. Cartoon Network ceased to air Survive This after August 19, 2009, and screened the final three episodes only on the network's website.

<i>The SAS Survival Handbook</i> Book by John Wiseman

The SAS Survival Handbook is a survival guide by British author and soldier, John Wiseman, first published by Williams Collins in 1986. Second, revised edition came out in 2009. A digital app for smartphones based on the book is also available. The book spans over 11 sections, and an introduction and postscript, detailing how to survive in dangerous surroundings.

References

  1. ↑ "Wilderness Survival Skills". www.wilderness-survival.co.uk. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  2. ↑ "12 Outdoor Survival Skills Every Guy Should Master". Men's Fitness. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  3. ↑ "B.C. Wilderness has hidden many fugitives". 13 April 2008.
  4. ↑ "Camping Safety and Hiking Safety FAQ".
  5. ↑ Park Ranger Skills [ dead link ]
  6. ↑ "Week 17: Trained to save lives".
  7. ↑ The Handbook Of The SAS And Elite Forces. How The Professionals Fight And Win. Edited by Jon E. Lewis. p.417-Tactics And Techniques, Survival. Robinson Publishing Ltd 1997. ISBN 1-85487-675-9
  8. 1 2 Fears, J. Wayne (14 February 2011). The Pocket Outdoor Survival Guide: The Ultimate Guide for Short-Term Survival. Simon and Schuster. ISBN   978-1-62636-680-0.
  9. ↑ "The Water in You: Water and the Human Body". www.usgs.gov. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "Body Water Percentage | Healthcare-Online". www.healthcare-online.org. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  11. ↑ HowStuffWorks by Charles W. Bryant
  12. ↑ "How Much Water Should You Drink a Day?". Cleveland Clinic. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  13. ↑ J Appel, Lawrence; H Baker, David; Baror, Oded; L Minaker, Kenneth; Morris Jr, R Curtis; M Resnick, Lawrence; N Sawka, Michael; L Volpe, Stella; H Weinberger, Myron; K Whelton, Paul (11 February 2004). "Report Sets Dietary Intake Levels for Water, Salt, and Potassium To Maintain Health and Reduce Chronic Disease Risk". www.nationalacademies.org. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  14. ↑ "Dehydration: Why It Is So Dangerous - Diarrhoea, Diarrhea, Rehydration". rehydrate.org. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  15. ↑ "Drinking-water". www.who.int. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  16. ↑ Water Balance; a Key to Cold Weather Survival by Bruce Zawalsky, Chief Instructor, BWI
  17. ↑ "Army Survival Manual; Chapter 13 – Page 2". Aircav.com. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  18. ↑ "U.S. Army Survival Manual FM 21-76, also known as FM 3-05.70 May 2002 Issue; drinking water". Survivalebooks.com. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  19. ↑ "Water Discipline" at Survival Topics
  20. ↑ "US EPA". Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  21. ↑ "Wilderness Medical Society". Wemjournal.org. Retrieved 21 October 2011.[ dead link ]
  22. ↑ "Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources". Dnr.wi.gov. 11 March 2008. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  23. ↑ "Master The Great Outdoors". SurvivalGrounds.com. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  24. ↑ Police, Victoria. "Victoria Police - Search and Rescue Squad". www.police.vic.gov.au.
  25. ↑ Krieger, Leif (3 April 2011). "How to Survive Any Situation". How to Survive Any Situation. Silvercrown Mountain Outdoor School.
  26. ↑ Leach, John (1994). Survival Psychology. NYU Press.
  27. 1 2 "Earthquakes | Ready.gov".
  28. ↑ "Home » National Emergency Management Agency".
  29. ↑ "Drop, Cover and Hold Pāheke, Hīpoki me Pupuri". GetReady.Govt.nz. Get Ready NZ. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  30. ↑ US Army Survival Manual FM21-76 1998 Dorset press 9th printing ISBN   1-56619-022-3
  31. ↑ Meals, Greenbelly. "The Universal Edibility Test". Greenbelly Meals. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  32. ↑ "The Universal Edibility Test". Backpacker. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  33. ↑ Gordon, Naomi (14 August 2020). "All the wildest things Bear Grylls has done - from drinking pee to sleeping inside a camel". Radio Times. Hubert Burda. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  34. ↑ FM 21-76 US ARMY SURVIVAL MANUAL (PDF). United States Department of Defense. 1 October 1970. p. 210. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  35. ↑ "True or False: It's Safe to Drink Your Urine | Winchester Hospital". www.winchesterhospital.org. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  36. ↑ Lawson, Malcolm (2013). "Top 10 Survival Myths Busted". SCS. DNM International. p. 1. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.

Further reading

Media
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.