Important Survival Skills
When it comes to playing it safe in the wilderness, your best survival tool would have to be preparation.
In the long run, knowing the perfect way to track game, move silently, and forage for food may help you, but not so much as having the right supplies with you at all times.
Here are a few ways having the right kits with you can do wonders for improving your survival chances.
Food is a common issue when it comes to roughing it in the wilderness. Oftentimes inexperienced preppers either end up packing too much to too little. However, by investing in various canned, dehydrated, and freeze-dried meals, you can have plenty of food without taking up too much space. Remember to have a water source for re-hydrating your dehydrated foods. Another advantage to these meals is that they take minimal preparation and have a naturally lengthy shelf life, making them ideal for longer periods.
For shorter survival periods, foods such as jerky, dried fruit, trail mix, and granola are all good snacks to have. Be sure to have extra water with you at all times as well. Should you decide to forage for greens, berries, or mushrooms, be sure to consult a field guide before making any big decisions. Caution is one of the most important survival tool skills, after all, and it wouldn’t do to accidentally ingest anything poisonous.
Knowing how to use a survival tool first aid kit is also an important survival tool. Whether you’re subjected to short crisis a lengthy survival period, it’s essential that you have at least a basic kit on hand. After all, it only takes one slip up to result in a nasty burn, a sprained ankle, or a broken leg. Basic first aid kits often include bandages, disinfectant, antibiotics, and painkillers among other supplies. Larger kits may also have sewing needles, splints, rash creams, vitamin supplements, and other supplies. If you have any medication, be sure to bring a few extra day’s worth of dosages with you in case you need them.
Finally, it’s a good idea to bring a few precautionary devices with you that will be useful in the event that you get lost. The point of this survival tool isn’t just to help you reach civilization, but also to help others reach you in the event of an emergency. Some basic tools for this kit includes compasses, GPS navigators, flashlights, and emergency flares.
I would also suggest having a hand-held ham radio that would allow you to reach and alert authorities of an emergency.