Outsmarting the Encroaching World
Many different groups have their recommendations for what your essential gear should be. I find it helpful to see others ideas as I work to curate my own list. This one is from the Boy Scouts of America and obviously is not for the end of the world, but will cover the bases if your just out camping. I appreciate the simplicity of it over anything else.
Looking back to the Rule of Three, finding water is either the first or second thing to do in most survival situations. But if you’re alone in the great outdoors, how do you know where to find drinkable water? Answer: Look to the experts… follow the animals!
Here are 3 signs that you can read from animals to find fresh water:
Animal tracks normally lead in one of two directions: toward food/water or toward the animal’s home. Follow the tracks for long enough and you’re quite likely to run into a watering hole.
Flight paths are clues in the sky just like animal tracks in the dirt. Look up instead of down especially in the mornings and evenings to see where flocks of birds are headed. Although this may point you to a water source a little further away, it’s another highly-likely way to find a drink.
Insect swarms are also a good sign that you’re close to water. While some insects live in very dry environments, many more live near water. So those annoying gnats may be good news when you’re thirsty.
Make sure you do all you can to filter your new-found water, and enjoy!
A natural repellent of aphids and beetles, Marigolds are a great companion for your garden. But they are also an emergency food source! Marigolds can be eaten raw, boiled or added to soup. The stems and leaves work as a salad base and the flowers themselves are a rich antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
The last thing most people would want to eat, all species of Earthworms are in fact edible. They are extremely high in protein on a per pound basis, good sources of Iron and Calcium and rumor has it, they taste a little like bacon when cooked.
One of the most effective methods to keep your head on straight in a desperate situation, The STOP Survival Method goes like this:
Stop – Look around you, consider everything that’s going on and breath for enough time to let your thoughts to slow down and be clear. The goal here is to eliminate panic.
Think – Once you’ve gotten past the point of panic, check in with yourself. Think about how you feel, what you have on your person and what is in close proximity. This will help determine what your immediate options are.
Observe – Now expand you sphere to notice what’s going on around you. Take into account the people you’re with, what resources are present in your surroundings, and what is happening around you.
Plan – With all the information gathered in your head, begin to make a plan. Address the most important things first based on your situation and don’t forget to include the needs and capabilities of those you’re with.
Put your plan into action and do whatever is needed to survive.
Whenever tensions rise or you start to feel panicked or overwhelmed again, repeat the process to keep your mind in the right state. Your mind is the most important tool at your disposal and keeping it clear and focused is essential to survival.
There’s a long-time saying that was intended to help you know what to do when you come across different types of bears in the wild: If it’s brown, lie down; If it’s black, fight back; If it’s white… well, you’re in trouble. The only problem is that this is completely WRONG. Let’s dive into what you should really do when you’re adventuring through bear country…
Continue reading “Bear Encounters 101”
To recognize a venomous Coral snake from the more docile King snake:
Red touches Yellow, kills a fellow; Red touches Black, friend of Jack.
To avoid poisonous vines:
Leaves of three let them be; berries white, take flight!
When you run into a bear:
If it’s brown, lie down; If it’s black, fight back; If it’s white… well, you’re in trouble. (cute saying, but THIS IS ACTUALLY WRONG… see the Bear Encounters post to learn what you should really do!)
With a clear plastic bottle and some heavy duty aluminum foil, you can purify water from any natural source with solar radiation.
Put the water into a clear plastic water bottle and place it on top of the aluminum foil or another highly reflective surface. Leave the bottle in direct sunlight for at least 6 hours (2 days if it’s overcast) and the UV rays from the sun will drastically improve the quality of the water. Perfect for emergency water purification.
This method only works for clear water and doesn’t filter out solid contaminants so if needed, clarify water first.
A person can survive for:
3 minutes without oxygen
3 hours without shelter
3 days without water
3 weeks without food
“You gotta make it a priority to make your priorities a priority.” – Richie Norton
Some would say that survival is survival, but there is a distinct difference between staying alive alone in the wilderness and trying to save your skin in the middle of the city. And while people normally think about the former, urban survival is more relevant when it comes to prepping for an emergency because the truth is roughly 80% of Americans live in urban areas. So let’s talk about survival there…
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