Outdoor Survival Guide

Surviving in the woods isn't as hard as you think, as long as you keep your head about you.

Before you go

• Be ready. Tell people where you are going and how long you will be there before you leave.
• Bring a survival kit with you.

In an outdoor survival emergency

The ultimate concerns in a wilderness survival situation are: warmth, shelter, water and food; in that order. They are placed in that order for an unpleasant, but equally simple, reason — it is the order in which the lack of each can kill you.

Lack of warmth can lead to hypothermia, which can kill in minutes; lack of shelter leads to lack of warmth; and you can live longer without food than you can without water. Beyond these rather grim considerations are a few other things which should be remembered:

1. DO NOT panic — Freaking out can lead to making Very Bad Choices. Sit down. Relax. Hug a tree, if that's what it takes. All is not lost — humans are resourceful critters and many people have survived despite impossible odds. Think of your home, family, and loved ones. Calmly take stock of your resources. (Even things like the stuffing in your car seat can save your life by helping to insulate your clothes, if needed).
2. Deal with immediate first aid issues.
3. Find a phone (maybe) — Your next priority is to use a phone if you know for sure where one is. If you have no idea where one is, STAY PUT (see #5).
4. Keep warm — The most important priority in surviving outdoors is keeping warm. Thirst and hunger may kill you over the course of several days, but hypothermia can kill you in minutes. Furthermore, a low body temperature can really mess with your judgment, and that's one of the worst things that can happen in a survival situation.
5. If you are lost and have no idea where to go, stay where you are! The farther you move without knowing where you're going, the harder it will be for searchers to find you. If you must leave the area, leave a note about your plans or at least leave a sign indicating the direction you are traveling (like an arrow carved in the bark of a tree at eye level). If you don't know which way to go, walk downhill until you find water and then follow the water.
6. Your next order of priorities is shelter, water, signals, and food. (note that fire, when possible, is good for both keeping warm and signaling)

Contents

• Survival Kit
• Shelter
• Water
  • Water in the desert
• Fire
• Signals
• Food
• Preparedness
• Emergency Situations
• First Aid

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