What are Your Survival Options?

Posted by | Posted on 1:31 AM

By Steve Thibeault

If you are unlucky enough to find yourself stranded in the outback, alone and even lost, rule number one is to remember the survival training that you researched prior to your trip. Hopefully, you did this? Anyone who sets out on an expedition is certainly on a quest for adventure, but they would be foolhardy to ignore basic requirements and not to worry in advance about their safety. Survival options are plenty, but you need to have your wits about you.

Never be tempted to set out on a solo adventure into the wilderness without adequate preparation and resources. We're lucky enough to live in a world where we have many beautiful places to discover and we are able to trek off and get away from it all rather easily. Don't put others at risk through ill preparation and do whatever you can to increase your survival options.

If something goes wrong and you find yourself stranded for any number of reasons, remember that you need several things to survive. The most important is shelter, the second is water, the third is a source of heat and the fourth is food. These are your four main survival options and must be considered in this order.

When you find yourself stranded, don't be tempted to focus all your attention on an escape route of some kind. You must allocate your energy to finding adequate shelter. Remember that hypothermia is a big enemy and you will need protection from the elements as a priority. Even though this may take place during the summer months, understand that if you get wet through rainstorms this will cause your body temperature to decrease just as if you were out at night in the cold.

You will be able to operate much better in daylight, so to be able to make it through the night you must be able to make adequate shelter. This does not have to be very well constructed as it can be made out of simple leaves and branches. The objective is to get out from the elements and away from the wind and rain, enabling you to rest and rejuvenate.

If at all possible, try and find a source of running water. The chances are that this will be relatively pure and you will be able to avoid becoming dehydrated, which is one of your main enemies. Increase the survival options by finding water, after you have built an adequate shelter.

Whenever you travel into the unknown, you should always carry a survival kit with you. This is essential and in the event that you become stranded will enable you to start a fire using the materials contained within.

We have the built-in ability to look after ourselves and this will come to the fore even if you have not had time to look at a comprehensive list of survival options before you head out. Remember that you will get through this and the important thing is not to panic. You need to be able to survive a night out doors firstl and this is your priority. You will then be refreshed and ready to find a way back to civilization at dawn.

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