Wilderness survival takes both knowledge and solid outdoor gear. So by having the right equipment and knowing how to use it, you can survive almost any outdoor setting.
Survival Essential: Water
In order to stay hydrated, a good survival pack includes iodine tablets. Though water treated with iodine tablets does not taste as fresh as you might otherwise like, the tablets purify the water to allow you to stay hydrated without subjecting you to harmful bacteria. Or, if you also have a container with you, using matches to start a fire can help you boil water, which can serve the same cleansing purpose as iodine tablets.
Survival Essential: Fire
In order to stay dry and warm in the wilderness, survival gear should include waterproof matches and a knife. Waterproof matches will allow you to start a fire even if it has been raining outside. In addition, the knife will give you the ability to cut twigs and small tree limbs with which to fuel your fire. Further, it can help you to shave wet bark off the surface of the wood in order to ensure you have dry kindling.
What Survival Gear Should I Take with Me When Camping?
Survival Essential: Navigation and First Aid
There are two other pieces of gear that should be in any pack: a compass and a first aid kit. The first rule of survival is to stay in one place in case someone is looking for you, but if you have to move, you want to make sure you’re going in the right direction. Having a compass and knowing how to use it can help you move towards your desired location, such as the parking lot from where you started your outdoor adventure. A first aid kit is also an essential tool as infection, an animal bite, or allergic reaction can be devastating in the wild without medicinal capabilities.
Extra Items
If there is still room for gear in your survival pack, there are a few more items that can come in handy. For starters, a poncho can keep you dry and a reflective emergency blanket can keep you warm. A hand-held radio can also be useful as long as the batteries work and you are in range of a signal. Last, a flashlight is an asset you shouldn’t be without if you have to operate at night.
General Survival Tips
Even with all the right equipment, most survival gear is not intended to keep you alive or safe indefinitely. Further, remember to always check and refill your survival pack before you venture into the wilderness. Dire outdoor situations are much easier to handle when you have full containers of iodine tablets and matches.
Perhaps most important, always tell someone at home where you are going and when you expect to return. Your gear can keep you alive for a time, but in the face of major injury or other danger, someone will most likely need to come find you.
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