Lesson 1: Preparing Yourself: Before You Plan Your Trip
Survival Basics: Will You Outlive Your Outdoor Adventure?
When you head out for the outdoors, towards the backcountry, and into the wilderness, it’s important to remember this take-off from Murphy's law: "What can go wrong, can kill you."
Cell phones could be out of range in the deep woods, so that takes care of 911; Mother Nature could suddenly change her mind, and give you that 5% chance of rain in the form of a nasty storm. What if some wild animal having a bad day just happens to cross your path, and vent by chasing you deep into the rain forest, along the edge of a cliff, or out in the desert, leaving you spending the weekend under the stars? Are you ready for these eventualities when you leave the comforts of home for that ultimate backpacking adventure? Here's a survival checklist – see if you’re sure to come home alive!
Expect the Unexpected
The best way to be prepared is to expect the unexpected. The most common cause of death in the wilderness is unpreparedness. Death from snakebite, hypothermia, a fall, or an avalanche, is most often attributed to the lack of preparation for what might happen in the wild. Always expect that something unexpected can and will happen.
Improve your chances of coping with unexpected circumstances by carrying a map and compass, checking the weather forecast, getting acquainted with the terrain and native flora and fauna, and packing adequate and reliable gear. A good way of emphasizing the point: people don’t die from snakebites -- they die from not expecting the presence of poisonous snakes.
Brush up on your first aid skills – no one expects to get hurt, but strange things can happen in the wild. Experts advise that no one should dare hike in the forest or go on a camping trip without the basic knowledge of how to treat insect bites, dress open wounds, and handle fractures, allergies and shock. Be sure you have a first aid kit, and fresh knowledge of first aid techniques (don't forget CPR!), before you head out for an outdoor expedition.
Bring Essential Gear
Never leave for the outdoors without the three backpacking essentials: a knife, a lighter, and a large trash bag. A basic Swiss knife will suffice; a plastic cigarette lighter will be more convenient than matches; and yes, a sturdy garbage bag, which will not necessarily be just for your trash. Gary Kibbee, a Navy SEALs veteran says, “You can use [a trash bag] as a bivy sack for an unplanned bivouac. You can use it as a rain jacket when you’re caught in a storm. You can use it as an insulating layer by putting it on, then stuffing it with leaves or grass. It also works well for carrying water.”
Carry other important items in your backpack: full water bottles, map, compass, high-energy food, rain gear, extra warm clothes, whistle, mirror, first aid kit, flashlight, and water treatment pills.
Stay Fit
In an outdoor survival situation, the physically fit have the best chance of coming out alive. Nature and the environment can be very harsh, so experts recommend that mountaineers, hikers, and campers honestly assess their physical fitness before engaging in hazardous and potentially fatal activities.
While outdoors, stay fit by avoiding aggravating situations like dehydration and hypothermia. Maintain proper pacing -- never move so fast that you sweat profusely. Move at a moderate pace and take a five- to ten-minute break every hour. Resist the temptation to rest longer because lactic acid build-up in the muscles will make it harder to get going.
Never pass up water. Next to oxygen, water is the most essential requirement for survival. Fill up your stomach and your water bottles at every opportunity. In a survival situation, water is more important than food. Cases have been reported where people survived a month without food, but when hiking in moderate weather, without water, one can die in just three days. In hot weather, a person will die from dehydration within 36 hours. The minimum amount of water one must drink in a day’s hike outdoors is one gallon -- more in hot areas. If you are reasonably fit and not injured or ill, and have water, even with no food, you can cover five to eight miles a day for a week.
Avoid getting into a potentially fatal hypothermic situation. Hypothermia, the cooling down of the body’s core temperature to below normal, can happen in cold, windy weather as well as in prolonged exposure to wetness. The initial symptoms are uncontrollable shivering, stuttering, stumbling, sleepiness, and incoherence. At the first sign of impending hypothermia, replace wet with warm and dry clothing. Drink warm, sweet drinks and maintain body warmth by seeking shelter, huddling, and building a fire.
Don’t Panic
Know how to find your way even without a compass. On a clear night, the Big Dipper's North Star will give you your bearing. During a sunny day, a makeshift sundial can tell you which way you're going. Shove a stick into the ground and mark the tip of its shadow. After an hour, mark the tip of the new shadow. If you draw an arrow from the first mark to the second mark, that arrow points to the east.
Use your common sense. In a survival situation, common sense is more important than physical toughness and high-tech equipment. Brian Horner, a former US Air Force survival instructor says, “The ability to use common sense – staying calm and collected – is paramount. However, they aren’t the same. Staying calm is holding your fear in check. Being collected is accurately assessing what the real hazards are.” In other words, stop, stay calm, and size it up.
Summary
Here’s the survival checklist once again:
- Do your homework – know what to expect, and expect the unexpected.
- Brush up on first aid skills.
- Bring all the essential backpacking items.
- Be sure you’re physically fit to embark on an outdoor adventure.
- Avoid potentially dehydrating or hypothermic situations.
- Know how to find your way.
- Use common sense, and don’t panic.
