Survival gear is a huge topic of conversation for many. Some look at it as necessary equipment for fun and frolic. Others see survival gear as absolute essentials for a disaster such as an earthquake, fire, or flood. Before putting together a kit, it is essential to know the purpose of the equipment being gathered. Also imperative to note is that no 2 survival kits will contain the same gear when personally gathered. It is most definitely an individual choice what is selected to prepare for survival in any given situation.
Custom survival gear kits for a specific purpose and travel will probably provide coverage for most needs. Although putting together something generic of your own is better than not being prepared at all.
These supposed essentials can be broken down into four basic categories:
- water, hydration
- shelter, insulation
- fire, illumination
- food
Survival Knowledge
Once your prepared kit is assembled, it is important that all the tools within the survival gear are used properly. Practice is important and gives peace of mind and assuredness, if or when a need for use arises. One must make sure that the equipment is in good working order. Batteries may need replacing. Knives may need sharpening. All essential items must be checked and processed regularly to make sure all is in working order when needed. In other words, do not wait till a disaster arises before you break open that survival kit!
As essential as the kit itself is; the understanding of how to survive without any equipment present is priceless! This could be the difference between surviving or not. Your skills and knowledge supersede any and all equipment out there. Improvising may be your only hope when trying to survive.
What Skills Are Necessary For Survival?
Some of the experts list 8 things as essential that everyone should know. They also say practice makes perfect, so hone these skills and you will be prepared for most things out and about! Hopefully, you will never really need them, but let your inner boy/girl scout out!”Always be prepared”!
Water Finding & Making it Drinkable
Water is the most primary need we have to survive. People can go days without food. Temporary shelters can protect you in a variety of situations, but survival is dependent on water. People could die in hours, even minutes if hot enough. Some sort of purified, drinking water is essential for you to survive. Within your survival gear, you hopefully supplied yourself with a purification filter or system and a container with which to hold your water! But what happens if you have fallen off a cliff or are stranded in a snowstorm? What then?
Think of the 3 G’s: Gravity, Greenery, Ground when looking for water. If caught in a rugged, hilly terrain remember water always flows downhill. Move downward while listening for running water. You can often find streams and creeks where hills meet. Seeing animals can also lead you to water as they need it too. As a last resort look for damp soil and dig for some groundwater (Groundwater can contain lots of yucky things, parasites, germs, and bacteria to name a few, but if all else fails, it is life-sustaining liquid; definitely better than no H2O at all) because your life depends on it!
Stagnant water, however, is not something to drink straight away. If found, that would be better boiled or purified in some manner. Even water that looks crisp and in a flowing stream could contain those yucky things. So if at all possible, make the time and effort to purify the water. Always better to be safe than contracting a parasite or infectious disease.
Are you Able to Start and Maintain a Fire?
Being able to build a fire is essential while helping in so many areas when surviving outdoors or even camping or hunting. It not only can provide warmth, but wards off predators, cauterize a wound, boil your water, and cook your food. You may think it is no big deal because you packed matches, or have a lighter. What if it is pouring down rain, or the wind is gusting and blowing?
One rule of thumb when starting a fire in the outdoors; the drier the better!! Do not try to collect live tree branches or leaves and grass still growing. This will only frustrate you, possibly make smoke, and waste time. Look for dry grasses, old fallen leaves, twigs, and dead branches from the ground. Always start small as it is much easier to combust small fibers and twigs. Once the smaller kindling is ablaze and has started burning, add larger timber to be consumed. Mainly be patient, it may take a little time to get that first spark.
Shelters can be Created From Many Materials
A lot of us love the great outdoors, but if you get lost, the adventure can become a bit more frightening. If the journey is going to be overnight some type of shelter would be advisable. This would not only give you safe haven from critters, but also provide great protection against rain, snow, or even fog. The materials you have to work with will solely depend on your surroundings.
In any case, you should look for high and dry ground. Don’t ever pitch a tent, or build a structure on damp soil or near water (definitely do not want a flood to wash you and your campsite away!). In addition, look for footprints or animal droppings, and then go to higher ground if possible. You may want to relax and eat, but not in the path of animals that may be hunting you for their meal. It is also an excellent idea to build a base first to get your shelter off the ground. This will keep you safe from bugs, dirt, and minor flooding.
If you are equipped with a tent, have at it!! If not so lucky, a lean-to can be created with a stationary wall as the base and leaning other materials against it to form another type of wall. Or a teepee-like structure can be made that will give more room inside the structure. Just remember not to start that fire too close to your newly created home. You really would not want it to catch on fire while you snooze.
Survival Gear With or Without A Compass?
So for the sake of argument, maybe you have gone to your favorite hiking trail and you have lost the path. Having a compass certainly would be helpful to get you back on track (maybe that is a must-have in your backpack when hiking). If truly lost, curling up in a ball and crying will not get you home! High ground is always an option to get a better lay-of-the-land. Being elevated could tell you where a better path lies, and also where not to go. Climb a hill or even a small tree to get a better vantage point. Most of us remember that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. which will help with navigation without a compass. Also, look for a river or stream and follow it. Usually at the end is civilization.
Food For Survival
We have probably all heard of those survivalist shows where they forage for food. Know exactly what to eat and what not to eat. They catch fish with spears and kill other wildlife with other self-fashioned weapons. Unfortunately, most of us are not Bear Grylls! But we also know that he has made us aware that normal people can do this. It is always better to have the equipment, but if not, improvisation is necessary to forge some kind of spear. Because we know you need protein, not just plants and berries if you are going to be in the wilderness for days. The spear can catch fish, small animals and help cook your meal over the fire. Just be aware that while you are hunting for food, larger predators could be hunting for you!
Cooking on an Open Fire
So if all goes well and you manage to make that spear and catch something, you cannot eat it raw. If you think about it, all kinds of parasites, germs, and bacteria are on or in that furry or scaly meal. Make your fire and start cooking. Even if you normally eat your steak’s bloody rare….don’t go there. Kill everything possible and cook it completely and thoroughly. And only eat the meat and none of the innards. Those can carry disease and would not be worth the risk. Remember these are wild animals you are savoring. They did not grow up on a farm. Or have the luxury of being grain-fed. Burnt is actually better than getting sick. It may be a little chewy and less flavorful, but don’t risk it.
Whether you are on a camping, sporting trip, or just lost; make sure to dispose of your leftovers! The best thing to do is bury the bones, guts, and skin. If you are unable to do so, make sure the remains are far away from where you are sleeping. It is pretty obvious why. Although most scavengers will most likely not be sizable, you would not want to attract a bear or mountain lion. That would not be a good way to end your adventure.
Wound Care
Being injured in a survival situation or an emergency is probably the worst thing that can happen. It is important to stay calm and ascertain what is the type of injury. Hopefully, you have your survival gear, and in it is a first-aid kit. Do not panic if no kit is present. Common sense prevails and you do the best you can! If you or someone you are with suffers a cut or break, here are some guidelines to follow:
- Make sure to close a gash. This may seem obvious, but it is of primary importance. This is where common sense kicks in, clean 1st then seal it shut. Alcohol works great to clean the wound and covering it with a clean bandaid or bandage will work. If none are present and the wound is large and continues to bleed, you can cauterize it with a burning stick or medal blade to singe the skin together and closed.
- Bandages should be sterile or as clean as possible. We know dirt and bacteria in a gash can cause additional unwanted problems. Also do not follow TV shows that show how a tourniquet was applied when they were lost in the woods and it saved the mans leg! NO,NO,NO,NO!!!! The absolute opposite could occur!! NEVER use a Tourniquet This could result in the limb being lost because of the tight binding!! Change the bandage as often as possible.
- Brace a break with a straight stick or tree branch. You want to secure it in a way that does not make it worse. Unless you are in the medical profession, do not try to reset a broken bone as you could compound the fracture. Wrap the tree branch to the limb with paracord if you have your survival gear. Otherwise use rope or cloth.
Knot Tying
Myself being an avid boater and a member of the Power Squadron, I am pretty comfortable tying many different knots. It has helped me with sports gear, boating, fishing, and camping. Many opportunities do occur to use sturdy knots in our everyday lives ( like repairing the equipment bag of soccer balls, or tying the chicken legs together once you’ve stuffed it!). Knots are not just for tying shoes or wrapping packages. In an emergency situation, they also come in handy. So here is a lesson, or refresher on the 8 most popular knots!
Survival Gear For Pleasure and Every day Use
Some of us just need to escape from our real-world environment to survive everyday life with a camping, fishing, or hunting trip. Surviving on the football field is what our founders, 2 brothers in the NFL do best. But they have created an incredible online “Bugout” store for fellow survivalists. They are also very generous in the causes they support (such as helping to stop human trafficking by supporting the Underground Railroad!), and donate cool fabulous prizes to their fans and online customers.
Now one of the most fun survival techniques happens in the evening after you have pitched your tents, set up camp, and created your firepit. Get that fresh catch of the day cookin! Sit down, reach into your cooler and pull out that fabulous white wine you have been saving for just this occasion. Relax, settle back and enjoy a glass or 2 while you breathe in the aromas of your 4 f’s, fire, fish, fresh air, and fine wine!! Hmmmm!