www.www.worldexecutivesdigest.com | Survival for the Skilled? 7 Essential Survival Skills Everyone Should Master | When you’re in a situation of life and death, you need the right skills to pull through. Here are essential survival skills everyone should learn and master.
Over the last decade, the world’s become less peaceful, with the situation deteriorating in 92 countries. Even if you live in a relatively safe place, there are always going to be dangers lurking in some corners. Plus, catastrophes may happen, which can knock out technology.
Should such a situation arise, many people wouldn’t know what to do. We’ve become such as techno-centric civilization that it can be crippling when we don’t have it.
To help you be prepared for anything, here are 7 essential survival skills everyone should master.
- Purifying Water
You can go for several weeks without eating any food, but when it comes to water, you’ll only last about 3 days without it. For this reason, you need to learn how to not only find water, but also purify it.
If there are no visible water sources, get creative. Collect the water that comes from snow, rain, or even dew. You can also wring out water from vines or cacti.
Should you find a water source, boiling the water is the easiest way to purify it. If you aren’t able to start a fire, then at least get rid of the sediment by filtering the water into a container through a cloth.
- Finding Food
If you’re into fitness, then you might be used to taking protein powder to bulk up. But unfortunately, what you’ll find in nature will be just enough to sustain you, so you need to think smart for food.
You can always get your protein from hunting, but you probably won’t have much at your disposal to craft a weapon and/or trap. Instead, you should look to the abundant plants around you for food.
For example, cattails, conifers, and oak trees all have edible parts. You can eat every part of a cattail, the bark of conifers, and acorns from oak trees (after boiling).
These won’t taste very good, but they’ll definitely keep you alive.
- Knowing How to Ration
If you’re in a situation where you’re surviving on the bare minimum, then you’ll need to be good at rationing your supplies. This can be anything from food and water to weapons and their ammunition.
Without a good rationing system in place, you may find yourself quickly running out of food and supplies. It may be tempting to eat an extra candy bar you have in your pocket, but you have to be good at planning for the future in case something disastrous happens (such as a bear eating up half your food during the night).
- Starting a Fire
A fire has multiple uses; not only can you boil water and cook food, but you can also use it for warmth and as a signal. So it’s vital you learn how to start a fire.
The easiest way to do so is with sticks and friction; make sure the sticks are dry. You’ll need some extra material to keep the fire going, such as sticks and twigs. Once you get the fire started, blow on it gently to feed it, and also shield the pile to prevent a gust of wind from blowing it out.
- Building a Shelter
Knowing how to create fire is a great start, but it won’t be enough to protect you from the elements. This is especially true if you’re somewhere cold; hypothermia will set in before you know it.
You’ll have to assess your situation and determine which materials are best for building your shelter. The easiest one is building a lean-to from large branches you find. You can use smaller, more flexible vines to lash these pieces of wood together.
Not only do you need to know how to build a shelter, but also where. Ideally, you should pick an area that’s on high ground and protected from the wind so your shelter doesn’t blow away in the middle of the night. High ground will also give you a better chance against flash floods.
- Navigating Unknown Territory
Nowadays, smartphones have apps that simulate a compass. But what happens when your phone runs out of batteries?
Hopefully, you’ll have a physical compass with you. Reading a physical compass is just as easy as reading one on your phone. You’ll want to pick one direction and stick with it; true north is what people usually use.
If you don’t have a compass, there are still ways to navigate so you don’t get lost. In the daytime, take note of where the sun is, where it rises from and sets. Where it rises is east, and where it sets is west.
In the nighttime, you can use the stars for navigation. This may be a little harder, but it’s still doable. Find the brightest star in the sky that’s part of the Big Dipper and then use follow that.
- Defending Yourself
It’s a good idea to take a self-defense class as soon as possible. Not only can this help you out of sticky situations now, but it can also deter unsavory characters in a survivalist situation.
These classes are also a good idea because you’ll probably keep yourself fit and in shape. The better your physical condition is, the better you’ll be able to handle anything that’s demanding on your body.
Learn These Essential Survival Skills
The world may be a dangerous place, but with these essential survival skills, you’ll be better equipped to handle anything that comes your way.
While the apocalypse probably won’t happen within your lifetime, it’s still better to be prepared should any disasters happen. In any case, these skills will make you a better camper at least!
Need some tips on eating healthier? Then take a look at this helpful article now.
