Survival Basics 02 - Putting a finer point on some of the "why" questions
I'm not going to rewrite the many things you'll find in the books and material I mention here, because I'm not an instructor, and because this material already exists elsewhere. But, here are a few general tips to point you in the right direction. See the sources on my Links page.
What specifically does "surviving" mean?
Experts will know this, of course, but mainly, we're trying to do these things:
- Remain alive, and if not already injured, stay that way.
- Be prepared to deliver some kind of distress signal, to whoever might see it.
- Regulate your body temperature
- Stay hydrated.
- Find some food.
- Repeat as required, treating it as a long-term situation.
Most of us know, in a general sort of way, that we need to protect our bodies from heat and cold. But in normal society, most of us eat and drink enough during the day that hydration and nutrition aren't especially "in our face". Most of us think, rather optimistically, that we can live off the land, that aircraft can spot us on the ground, or that ships can spot us on the beach. These things actually deserve some more thought, if you're going hiking, camping, hunting, or find yourself in a real survival scenario.
Overall Safety
If you twist your ankle at home or work, it's inconvenient. If you do the same thing when you're alone in the bush, you might die. So, simply be more careful. Look where you're walking, and know what's dangerous in that area, so you can stay clear. Slow and steady…
It's sometimes wise to just STOP. (Stop. Think, Observe, and Plan) before proceeding. Did you tell anyone where you were going? Is that where you are? If not, did you leave some kind of "sign", for them to track and find you? How long should you continue, before deciding to settle in further, and actually create a sustainable "camp" or at least a shelter? All the survival information I've seen and heard reiterates that your attitude is what will save you or kill you. Try hard to avoid thoughts of futility, and focus on a goal. What CAN you do?
Temperature
This is probably the most important thing to consider, because if you're hypothermic (too cold) or hyperthermic (too hot) you may not be able to do anything else.
I happened to be living in Washington, D.C. in January of 1982, when Flight 90, a Florida Air 737, crashed into the 14th Street Bridge, then plunged into the icy Potomac River, and will always remember that tragedy, for several reasons. Two friends of mine and I were having a pizza, just a few blocks away, when the first reports came in. We jumped in the car, and drove to the area. thinking we might be able to help. The area was already blockaded by Police and Emergency vehicles, and we couldn't get in.
Flight 90 was carrying 79 passengers, who had mostly relaxed, and expected that their next stop would be sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida. You can imagine some of the people sitting there in shorts and Hawaiian shirts. But, the plane was not de-iced well enough, and couldn't gain lift after takeoff, and thus, hit the 14th Street Bridge. Despite the best efforts of all the emergency personnel, only five survived. Aside from crash injuries, the rest died from hypothermia, while help was only 50 feet away. One of the most tragic parts of the rescue was filmed, and showed people simply giving up and sinking beneath the ice. Even those who were rescued were in a complete state of shock and hypothermia.
You may not think about your body's core temperature much, in normal daily life. The first night you spend outdoors in even a moderately-cold temperature, with wet clothing, you'll think about it a LOT. If you don't, you might die that very night. Cody Lundin's book, "98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive!" helped me better understood the mechanics of how to control it. Cody provides all kinds of very specific information on how our bodies use water and food, which I found invaluable. Since then, I've devoured many other survival-related books and videos, and they all preach the benefits of this knowledge. I urge you to read some of these books, to fully understand how your activities, you clothing, your hydration level, nutrition level, and the climate all contribute to your core temperature's stability.
Hydration
It's a well-known factoid that you can go three weeks without food, but only three days without water. While generally true, there's a LOT more to it than that. How much water is enough? All the sources you'll find on this site agree that most people don't drink enough water, even in their normal daily lives. When you're under mild stress while hiking and camping, or heavy stress while surviving, lots of other factors add up to increase your need for water. It's important to know, for example, that digesting food uses up your body's water supply, so generally, gather water before you eat very much. Lack of water causes muscle cramps, headaches, confusion, and other bad things that can slow you down or kill you, in the wild.
Shelter and Signaling
Your primary shelter is the clothes you're wearing. If they're not doing enough, and you don't have camping gear with you, then it's certainly handy to know how to make a reasonable shelter. The type of shelter you can build will largely depend on where you are. You might make a platform shelter in the tropics, or a "spider shelter" in the midwest, or an snow shelter in Alaska. They're all simple (but not "easy") once you've seen how to do it, but it's worth some study. Dave Canterbury, of the Pathfinder's School, has a huge number of FREE videos that cover shelters and other great information.
The same goes for your signaling ability. One of the best methods is a simple, pocket-sized signal mirror. These can be seen for many miles in good conditions, and can be seen FAR further than "a shiny knife" or "the bottom of a pop can". This inexpensive piece of gear might save you when your signaling fire goes unnoticed.
Nutrition
Depending on what you do, you might just burn a couple thousand calories per DAY. If you're walking in snowy mountainous terrain, you might burn 1000 calories per HOUR. Even with much knowledge of nutrition, you can see the huge difference, and so a little research is in order. One thing you should know, about both food and water… That is, it's not how you FEEL about it that's important. Your body might be desperate for water, while you don't feel thirsty, and your body might be desperate for calories, and yet you don't feel hungry. That's why we study a little. Provide what your body needs, regardless of how you feel. It could save your life.
If you've seen video of any of the widely-known survivalists, you know that some of these people will eat anything that works, to stay alive. That's not just for show. In a real survival scenario, you may have to lower your usual standards considerably, and eat things you hadn't thought about before. Of course, this has to be powered with knowledge. There are plants and creatures that can kill you too, so knowing the difference is obviously important. Read some books, at least those that pertain to what's in your immediate area.
If you're in the intentional "camping" mode, and are carrying your food, then try to pack high-calorie, low-bulk and low-weight foods that can last for a period LONGER than your planned trip. Again, location is important. If you're in the jungle, then you have to carry non-perishable foods, while if you're in a winter scenario, you can carry things like butter, bacon, etc., because it will freeze.
SAFETY: If you're in "predator country" (bear country, for example) be SURE and keep your camp clean, and store your food and anything aromatic far away from your camp… Many experts recommend a minimum of 200 feet away. Otherwise, you're inviting theft by small animals, and some real danger from some of the larger ones.
Hygiene
It's important to keep your equipment and yourself clean, for a variety of reasons. You don't want food smells or other man-made "aromatics" attracting animals. It's also important to take special care with human waste. It should ALWAYS be buried, should be downstream of your water source, and should be far from your camp. (It can draw unwanted animals.)
BONUS!
One thing leads to another…
If you study these things from a cultural and historical point of view, you'll learn a lot about other cultures, aside from the skills themselves. Lots of fascinating stories. You'll also learn about the planet and it's ecology, in a way that can be educational and rewarding. The younger you are when you learn these things, the better.