Survival skills

Survival skills also support proper knowledge and interactions with animals and plants to promote the sustaining of life over time.

[2] Outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, fishing, and hunting all require basic wilderness survival skills, especially to handle emergencies.

Common and dangerous injuries include: The person may need to apply the contents of a first aid kit or, if possessing the required knowledge, naturally occurring medicinal plants, immobilize injured limbs, or even transport incapacitated comrades.

[8][9] Many people in survival situations perish due to dehydration, and/or the debilitating effects of water-borne pathogens from untreated water.

[10][11] A typical person will lose a minimum of two to four liters of water per day under ordinary conditions, and more in hot, dry, or cold weather.

Four to six liters of water or other liquids are generally required each day in the wilderness to avoid dehydration and to keep the body functioning properly.

Even mild dehydration reduces endurance and impairs concentration, which is dangerous in a survival situation where clear thinking is essential.

Plants are some of the easiest food sources to find in the jungle, forest, or desert because they are stationary and can thus be obtained without exerting much effort.

[19] Animal trapping, hunting, and fishing allow a survivalist to acquire high-calorie meat but require certain skills and equipment (such as bows, snares, and nets).

[21] There are certain strategies and mental tools that can help people cope better in a survival situation, including focusing on manageable tasks, having a Plan B available, and recognizing denial.

New Zealand Civil Defense explains it this way:[25] The United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)[23] adds that in the event of a building collapse, it is advised that you: Survivalists often carry a "survival kit."

The contents of these kits vary considerably, but generally consist of items that are necessary or useful in potential survival situations, depending on the anticipated needs and location.

Multi-purpose tools are often chosen because they serve multiple purposes, allowing the user to reduce weight and save space.

[27] However, many experts reject this method[weasel words], stating that even a small amount of some "potential foods" can cause physical discomfort, illness, or even death.

Similarly, some survivalists promote the belief that when bitten by a venomous snake, drinking your urine provides natural anti-venom.

Astronauts participating in tropical survival training at an Air Force Base near the Panama Canal , 1963. From left to right are an unidentified trainer, Neil Armstrong , John H. Glenn Jr. , L. Gordon Cooper , and Pete Conrad . Survival training is important for astronauts, as a launch abort or misguided reentry could potentially land them in a remote wilderness area.
A first aid kit
A first aid kit containing equipment that can treat common injuries and illness.
Photo release by the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation depicting a shelter built from tarp and sticks. Pictured are displaced people from the Sri Lankan Civil War .
Hydration pack manufactured by Camelbak .
Celestial navigation: using the Southern Cross to navigate South without a compass.
Civilian pilots attending a Survival course at RAF Kinloss learn how to construct shelter from the elements, using materials available in the woodland on the north-east edge of the aerodrome.