To battle emergencies, mastering survival skills and carrying the best survival gear is necessary. As the well-known adage says, prevention is better than cure. It is always better to embark on a journey armed with suitable survival items and skills for Emergency Outdoors Survival.
Being aware of the techniques needed to survive the critical moments in an alien environment enables you to emerge from danger. Even if you get stranded in remote areas, do not lose hope.
Among all types of dangers, natural calamities strike unannounced. Remembering the survival tips and using your survival skills on time will save you from many dangerous situations. Always remember to keep your mind calm and not panic.
This article will help you understand how to react to adverse situations and face challenges.
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1. Steps For Emergency Outodoors Survival
The dense green foliage of the forest is as beautiful as it is dangerous. You may find many dangers in the forest such as dangerous animals, toxic fruits, poisonous insects, snakes, and inhospitable weather.
The same goes for mountainous areas and wetlands that are also fraught with dangers. The following headings will discuss the measures to be taken to survive the emergencies.
1.1 Proper Preparations
Preparedness is necessary to handle the dangers in an alien environment.
- Research carefully on your destination. Being aware of the terrain, topography, weather, and other relevant details will save you from many hardships.
A proper study of the map will help you to get acquainted with the new location.
- Always carry an emergency kit along with you. Attach the survival kit with your outfit so that you can use it in times of need. Make sure that your kit includes medicines, food, water, and band-aids.
- Ensure that the survival gear you are carrying is suitable for the terrain you are going to.
Being aware of using the right equipment in the apt situation is necessary.
1.2 Proper Dressing
The material of the suitable outfit varies greatly depending on where you are going.
However, it is better to wear cloth made of polyester, wool, or spandex when you are going to a colder area. Cotton outfits are more suited to hot weather and the desert.
The reason is that cotton absorbs the body’s sweat and turns wet. If it doesn’t dry in time, there are chances of catching cold and hypothermia.
1.2.1 Always dress in layers
Make sure that the first layer is of wool, polyester, or any other synthetic material. It helps to transfer the sweat to the outer layers and prevents hypothermia.
The second layer can be of a thick material to protect you from the cold environment. Polyester or wool is preferable.
For the third and outermost layer, you can wear either a waterproof jacket or a sweater.
Cover your hands with gloves so that you can perform any activity in places with low temperatures.
Wear socks to keep yourself warm.
1.3 Carrying the Survival Items
Carry all the survival items such as portable water filters, portable lighters, food, multi-purpose tools, first-aid kit, torches, and so on. Make sure that you have got the best survival gear.
To ensure that you are heading in the right direction, carry a map and compass.
To dial the emergency helpline numbers in times of need, always carry a cellphone.
1.4 How to Act in an Emergency Situation?
- The mantra for surviving emergencies is to stay calm and avoid panicking. Think tactically and calmly about which survival item you can use to solve the problem.
- Build a proper shelter and take a rest. It protects you from all the odd elements such as rain, snow, heat, cold, storm, animals, and so on.
- Starting a fire is beneficial to prevent the condition of hypothermia. To stay active and energetic, intake nutritious foods and energy drinks.
- If you get lost and lose connection with the other members of your group, stay at that spot only. It will help other members of your team to trace you.
You can transmit signals for help by starting a fire or blowing whistles three times or in any other way that you may deem fit.
2. What are the 7 Priorities for Survival?
The seven priorities for survival include the following:
2.1 S.T.O.P.
The acronym stands for S: Stop, Sit or Stay. T: Think. O: Observe. P: Plan.
Keeping the mind calm and stopping on the way to reflect on the plans is essential. Taking rest at regular intervals.
Panicking worsens an already serious situation. Always take tactical decisions with a rational mind.
Assess the situation correctly and make proper plans to find a solution to your problem.
According to Randy Gerke, a survival coach and author of Outdoor Survival Guide, make a basic framework and add details as require. Do it fast, and keep in mind the available resources.
2.2 First Aid
To treat the injuries, knowing the techniques of administering first aid is essential. Keeping any cut or wound untreated may attract bacteria and fungi and may lead to infection.
Minor wounds, if kept untreated, may become fatal, or you may have to amputate the affected body part altogether. In more serious conditions, the infection spreads to the entire body and may lead to instant death.
To avoid the injury from turning fatal, tend to it as soon as possible.
According to Greg Davenport, a former USAF Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Specialist, and one of the best survival experts in the world (also the author of Wilderness Survival), do an ABCD evaluation for life-threatening injuries and treat them first. Check:
A = Airways
B = Breathing
C = Circulation and C-spine
D = Deadly bleeding
2.3 Search for Shelter
A shelter protects you from all sorts of odd elements of an unknown land. There are various types of shelter, such as fallen trees, small rock caves, and tarp shelter.
You can use various natural materials such as trees, leaves, branches, wood, and grasses to make a shelter.
Various survival items such as survival hatchet and many other similar tools are available to ease the shelter-building process.
2.4 Starting a Fire
To stay warm, cook meals, and threatening the wild animals away, starting a fire is essential.
You can also use fire to transmit signals for help. Carry portable lighters to ease the process of starting a fire.
You can also use noodles and chips to start a fire by burning them with a matchstick. These are rich sources of fat and thus acts as fuel to the fire.
2.5 Transmitting Signals for Help
During times of crisis, you may use fire as a means of transmitting a signal. Mirrors or any other reflective devices may serve as signals for help.
If you spot any distant airplane, car, people, or boat, keep on flashing light at these targets until you get noticed.
Besides, three blows on a whistle, three shouts, or three shots from the gun are the universal signals for help. Usually, a distress call is defined as three of any type of call in one minute.
2.6 Drinking-Water
Human beings can survive without food for weeks but only a few days without water. Staying hydrated is very necessary.
You can collect water from any source and purify them using portable purifiers or purification hacks.
2.7 Consumption of Food
Intake nutritious food to stay active and energetic. Always carry packets of food such as energy bars, noodles, biscuits, etc.
You can have delicious dishes of fish after catching them from a nearby lake or stream. Drinking water is essential to stay hydrated.
3. How to Battle Emergencies in the Cold Places?
3.1 Avalanche
‘Avalanche’ is a natural disaster characterized by the rapid falling down of a mass of snow, ice, or rocks down the mountains.
- Whenever you find a mass of snow gliding down the hills, immediately move to the side. Moving away from the path of the moving snow slab can save your life.
- To save yourself, grab either a tree or a large rock, or a boulder. In that way, you will not be completely exposed to the disaster.
- The prime cause of death among the survivalists whenever an avalanche approach is Asphyxiation. To prevent Asphyxiation, cup your hands over your mouth while moving. Expanding the chest to draw in more air also helps.
- Lastly, always stay calm. No matter how dangerous the situation may seem, you can protect yourself by following all the survival skills.
3.2 Altitude Sickness
To prevent altitude sickness, climb up the hills at a slow pace.
Always camp or rest only after you have climbed down the hills. Sleeping at a high altitude increases the probability of altitude sickness.
3.3 Cracks and Crevices
Walk carefully and look for cracks and crevices on the road. In mountainous areas, the rocky paths are fraught with deep cracks.
Avoid glacial travel unless you are with a person specially trained in crevasse rescue.
3.4 Danger from Wild Animals
You won’t spot animals much. The reason is that the animals in the mountainous areas are generally shy and elusive. However, if you encounter any bear or mountain lion in your path, act wisely.
Carry bear spray to protect yourself from animal attacks. Mountain lions usually prey upon children or someone that may seem easy prey to them.
The mountains in the north-western states are not much safer since the area has reported many attacks on humans by wolves. Always remember that bear sprays work on mountain lions too. Carrying it, therefore, is necessary.
4. How to Survive Emergencies at a Cold Place?
A sudden drop in the temperature of a place may lead to the contraction of cold-related illnesses by the adventurers.
4.1 Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a condition when your body starts emitting body heat rapidly.
Fatigue, loss of proper coordination, and shivering may also show up.
Remedies to hypothermia include moving to a relatively warmer spot. Drinking hot liquids or beverages make you feel warm. If the victim’s pulse can not be felt, immediately give CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
4.2 Frost Nip
Frost Nip causes due to a lack of blood flow. Your skin turns pale and loses sensation owing to exposure to the chilly environment. If left without treatment, frostnip eventually leads to frostbite, which is highly fatal.
To prevent frostnip, wear thick garments or jackets. Warming the body may cure frostnip. Staying near a source of heat also alleviates the problem.
4.3 Frost Bite
Frostbite is the later stage of a frostnip. You’ll see blisters and swellings on the skin, and the color of the skin will turn purple or black.
The remedies to frostbite include moving to a warmer spot. To prevent frostbite, always dress in layers. Massaging the frostbitten area may worsen the condition.
To warm up the affected part, use electrical heaters or heating pads.
4.4 Chilblains
Chilblains are damage to blood vessels of the skin due to prolonged exposure to cold.
Burning sensation of the skin and appearance of ulcers are the common symptoms of chilblains.
Application of the corticosteroid creams helps to ease the pain of the blisters on the affected part.
5. How to Survive the Emergencies at Hot Places?
The scorching heat of the torrid places subjects you to varied fatal illnesses. Here are a few of them and their remedies.
5.1 Heat Stroke
Heat Stroke is highly fatal. In this condition, your body temperature may record as high as 103 degrees (Fahrenheit). Frequent convulsions may occur, accompanied by unresponsiveness and being inert.
The remedies include moving the victim to a relatively cool place or under the shade of a tree.
If the victim doesn’t respond, give CRP (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
5.2 Heat Edema
If you have sensitive skin, prolonged exposure to heat may lead to heat edema.
You may also suffer from swelling in the ankles.
To prevent heat edema, stay at a cool place, away from the heat.
5.3 Heat Syncope
Fainting and dizziness occur as a result of heat syncope.
Dehydration is the chief cause of heat syncope.
Intake of watery fruits and other electrolyte-rich substances leads to rapid recovery.
6. Emergency Helpline Numbers
Always carry a cellphone on your camping trip. Even if there is no network, you can always dial the emergency numbers.
Some of the emergency numbers that you can use are:
6.1 Disaster Distress Hotline
The contact number for Disaster Distress Hotline is 1-800-985-5990.
The universal symbol to transmit distress calls is three blows of a whistle or any other thing, but the frequency has to be 3.
Reflective devices, fire, flashlight, or any other loud sound can be used to transmit signals for help.
6.2 SOS
SOS is an international morse code signal of distress and was used by the mariners at sea. The signal is represented by dots (…), dash (—), and dots (…).
6.3 Dial 911
In the United States, 911 is the universal emergency number. If you get stranded in an isolated area with mobile network coverage, dial the emergency number at once. In any distress or danger, it is always wise enough to dial this number.
6.4 Mayday
“Mayday” implies an emergency, and it is used as a universal distress signal in any form of radio communication.
Conclusion
To shield yourself from adverse elements of an alien land, apply the basic survival skills. No one knows when an accident, a calamity, or an emergency may arise.
Make sure that you have taken all the precautions before embarking on an adventurous journey.
By staying calm and saving all the emergency numbers in your device in advance help you to handle the emergencies efficiently.
References:
- Top 10 Outdoor Survival Tips
- Survival skills
- SEVEN PRIORITIES FOR SURVIVAL
- Top 7 Wilderness Survival Priorities
- Winter Survival Tips
- Heat and Outdoor Workers
Hi, I’m Vineet. Creator of DivinioWorld. I am an outdoor enthusiast and absolutely love researching, learning, and applying skills and knowledge in the real world. I started DivinioWorld to share everything I know so that even a beginner can follow the ropes and master the subtle art of outdoors adventure and survival.
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