A Beginner's Guide to Outdoor Survival Skills

When you venture into the great outdoors, knowing a thing or two about survival skills can be a game-changer. Imagine being lost in the wilderness or facing unexpected challenges - wouldn't you want to know what to do? In this beginner's guide, I'll take you through the basics of outdoor survival, helping you build confidence and stay safe when you're out exploring nature's wonders.

Understanding Survival Priorities

The first item on our list is understanding survival priorities. In a survival scenario, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. The "Rule of Threes" simplifies things:

• you can survive roughly three minutes without air

• three hours without shelter in extreme conditions

• three days without water

• three weeks without food

Understanding these priorities can help you make critical decisions when faced with adversity. It's all about knowing what needs your immediate attention and what can wait. One of the best ways to evaluate your situation and take action is to use the acronym S.T.O.P:

• Stop - your best asset is your mind. Once immediate priorities (such as critical first aid and safety if needed) are taken care of, take a break, drink some water, breathe a little and try to relax. Then...

• Think - what is the next move? What type of situation are you in? Take your time and assess. Then you can...

• Observe - what do your surroundings look like? What resources are available to you? How can you use them? Take inventory and ...

• Plan - what are you going to do and how you are going to do it. See how you can improvise with what is around you in nature and how you can effectively use the tools you already have.

Building a Survival Kit

Your survival kit is your lifeline in the wild. A well equipped kit gives you a head start on any survival situation and makes life easier. Below are the essential items every survival kit should contain. These include:

• tools for starting a fire to keep warm and cook food

• a reliable knife

• a way to create shelter

• and a method for purifying water

Each one of these items are essential for maintaining the Rules of Three mentioned above and will allow you to have a basic survival kit. It is always a good idea to add other items to the kit, but these are the bare minimum. Make sure to follow the_rugged_essentials on Instagram to stay up to date on all of my gear recommendations and additional tips for survival.

Starting a Fire

Fire is not just for warmth; it's a source of light, a way to cook food, and a signal for help. Being able to start a fire in the wilderness is crucial for many reasons, including:

• Warmth: Fire provides heat, which is crucial for maintaining core body temperature in cold environments. Hypothermia can set in quickly in harsh conditions, and a fire can be a lifesaver in such situations.

• Cooking: Fire allows you to cook food and purify water. Eating cooked food is not only more palatable but also safer as it kills potential pathogens. Boiling water over a fire can make it safe to drink, reducing the risk of waterborne illnesses.

• Protection: Fire can serve as a deterrent to wild animals, providing a degree of safety from potential predators.

• Signal for Rescue: A well-constructed fire can be a visible signal for rescue teams, especially at night. The smoke and flames can draw attention and guide search and rescue efforts to your location.

• Psychological Comfort: Fire can have a calming and psychologically reassuring effect. Being able to build a fire can boost morale and reduce stress in a survival situation.

If you want to be better able to start a fire or need the tools to be able to practice, take a look at my previous blog post: Ignite Your Wilderness Adventure: 5 Remarkable Ways to Start a Fire

Basic First Aid

Basic first aid skills can mean the difference between a minor injury and a severe medical issue. Knowledge of how to treat cuts, burns, and insect bites can prevent complications and aid in recovery. Injuries can happen at any point - carrying a first aid kit and knowing how to use it can be a literal lifesaver.

• Cuts - treating minor cuts and scrapes usually only require cleaning and disinfecting which can be done with soap and water. You can wrap lightly with with sterilized dressing or a bandage.

• Burns - try to cool the area as best you can. Cool (not cold), running water works best but a cool, wet compress/gel pack works too. Don't break any blisters that form (no need to create an open injury and risk infection) and apply lotion to moisturize the skin. before wrapping in a bandage.

• Insect bites - if stung by a bee, remove the stinger (without squeezing) by using a flat edge to try to scrape it out. Then use an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling. Other insect bites can mostly be treated by rinsing the area, using a cold compress, and trying not to scratch the area.

Navigation

Being able to navigate and find your way in the wilderness is essential to avoid getting lost. This includes using tools like a map and compass, understanding natural landmarks, and having a sense of direction. Navigational skills ensure you can return to safety or reach your intended destination. Here are two basic navigational techniques that could be useful in a pinch:

• The shadow and stick method - useful during the day and uses the sun. Find a stick roughly 2 feet (1 meter) long. Stick it into flat ground and mark the tip of the shadow that is created, this is a rough West direction. Wait 15 minutes and mark the tip of the shadow again, this will be roughly East. Drawing a line between the two will give you West-East and the other two directions are easy to figure out from there.

• Using constellations to find North: Ursa Major (7 stars in a ladle-like shape) and Cassiopeia (5 stars in a 'W' shape) are on opposite sides of Polaris (the North star) and rotate counter-clockwise around it. The two stars in the 'handle' of Ursa Major point to Polaris and the middle point of the 'W' point in Cassiopeia points to Polaris.

Staying Calm and Positive

Survival isn't just about physical skills; it's also about mental resilience. As I previously mentioned, your mind is your greatest asset and the best way to make the best use of it is to stay calm and to stay positive. Your mindset influences your decisions and ultimately your survival. Some tips to keep your head in the game:

• Stay focused on immediate tasks - it's easy to become overwhelmed in a survival situation, so concentrate on the most immediate tasks at hand, such as finding or building shelter, securing water, and ensuring your safety. Prioritize these tasks based on the "Rule of Threes" and remember to use the S.T.O.P. acronym.

• Positive self-talk and visualization - use positive self-talk to boost your morale and remind yourself of your capabilities and past successes. Visualize a positive outcome, whether it's being rescued or successfully navigating the situation in order to stay focussed and resilient.

• Control your breathing - deep and steady breathing can help reduce anxiety and promote a sense of calm. Practice controlled breathing techniques, such as the 4-7-8 method (inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds). This can help regulate your heart rate and keep panic at bay.

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To sum it up, this beginner's guide equips you with the fundamentals of outdoor survival. These skills are not just for the extreme adventurer but for anyone who enjoys nature. By practicing and mastering these techniques, you'll not only enhance your outdoor experiences but also gain a newfound sense of confidence when you venture into the wild. Remember, knowledge is your greatest survival tool, and with it, you can embrace the beauty and challenges of the great outdoors.

Make sure to follow me on Instagram (link above) and keep up to date on all of my gear recommendations and new blog posts!