The Essentials of a Survival Situation

I will state some of the essentials if for instance you get lost on a remote hike.

• Water - Many people die every day just because they don't have water. And sometimes, they are in villages. In a wilderness situation, you have to find a readily source of nice water, and fast. A healthy adult can only survive without water for 3 days!
  There are many types of water purification methods out there. These include:
• Boiling
• Adding water purification tablets
• And many more.
• Fire - The United States has nearly 700 causalities due to hypothermia. So after finding water build a fire! There are many ways to start a fire. You can use matches and flint and steel in a survival situation. You can use a lighter in an urban area. A fire can be built in the jungle, desert, Arctic, and temperate forests. The benefits of a fire are:
• Staying warm (Even in the desert build a fire for the night because it is cold)
• They scare bears, wolves and others
• It can purify water
• A Survival Pack - Being prepared is so important. Survival Kits help you to always be prepared. They can cost from $10.00 to $300.00. They include fishing gear, food, water, rope, first aid, and cups and many others. A survival kit can even be cheaper than buying individual items. In the event you are in a remote area and you lose control you might need a survival kit because there is no one there to help you.
• Food - Nutrition and food is essential right after water and fire. It will probably be in a survival kit, but it is essential that you have a fishing kit. Utensils are very nice as they keep your hands from touching the food. Many of the more expensive kits on Best Glides website have plates and/or utensils. It is important to have a bottle of hand sanitizer in your survival kit because it keeps you from catching diseases.
• Shelter - After you get your fire, water, and food you will either want to set up your emergency tent or if you don't have any man-made shelter start either building of finding a shelter. Types of natural shelters are:
• Safe overhangs
• Under steady logs that you can put a "roof" on.
• Caves

You can make your own by finding a big log and putting small sticks, bark, and big leaves to make the rain drip off and the wind will go around. Just making any shelter will cut down the heat your body would lose considerably.

Getting out is usually very tricky. Signaling and just walking sometimes work. The main thing, before you go on a hike, review the area, tell someone where you are and when you should be back, and if you will be gone for a while on a very remote area, consider a satellite phone.

-Phillip Stephens