Survival Skills Everyone Needs to Cultivate

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The great outdoors is something that is meant to be enjoyed. Very few things can match the beauty of nature, but before you head out the door you need some basic survival skills. Knowing the risks you are most likely to encounter is just one thing.

There are many of skills you should learn and practice, some of which are used for urban survival, some for wilderness survival, and others for outdoors survival. The more you know in every survival situation, the more you will be able to handle whatever comes up.

Survival Preparation

Preparation is the key to a good survival defense. When you encounter a situation, do an assessment. Don't panic. Look around and see what you can make use of. Four things are essential for outdoors survival. You need to stay warm, you need to be hydrated, you need to eat, and you need to be well rested.

When you prioritize what needs to be done, you will often discover that shelter is at the top of the list. You also need to find water and see what you have that may be used to signal rescuers if you need assistance. In emergency, catastrophic situations your primary goal is to survive and this needs to be remembered at all times.

Practice Your Survival Skills

Practice your survival skills on a regular basis also so they don't get rusty. You'll need everything at your disposal when an emergency or a disaster occurs and a clear mind is at the top of this list. With practice, these skills become second nature, even though you may never need them.

Certain skills should be developed to help you handle most any emergency. Sadly many of these survival skills are frequently overlooked due to the fact that they are often more geared toward urban survival. Emergencies, however, can happen anytime and anywhere so be sure you know both urban and wilderness survival skills.

For instance, learn how to hunt, fish and trap animals so you can feed yourself and your family. Learn how to butcher your own food for convenience and to safe on expenses. Moreover, make sure you know how to do preventative maintenance and care for what you have.

Vehicle repair, small engine maintenance, and stick welding are just three classes you should look into at your local community college. Other skills you need to consider include operating a ham radio, learning how to build a fire, completing a basic carpentry skills, and learning how to shoot and repair your own gun.

The Rule of Threes

In a survival situation maintain a positive attitude in every situation and remember the "Rule of Threes":

• You can survive for three hours without shelter
• You can survive for three days without water
• You can survive for three weeks without food

This rule clearly reinforces the importance getting or building a shelter in most outdoor survival situations.

Survival Skills: Conclusion

When deciding to go backpacking, camping, bird watching, fishing, hunting, sight seeing, or hiking in the "wild," there are a number of things that outdoor lovers need to be prepared for in case a disaster or an emergency arises.

For example, it's important for outdoor enthusiasts to have a "survival attitude" and the outdoor survival skills they need in order to effectively deal with various emergency situations.

The following is a list of ten survival skills that are necessary when venturing into the great outdoors:

• Fishing and hunting
• Signaling others for assistance and/or for rescue
• Making a fire
• Knowing what clothing to bring
• Finding or constructing a shelter
• Using tools such as a multi-purpose knife, a multi-tool with a saw, and a pair of pliers
• Knowing basic first aid
• Using aluminum foil or a metal container to boil water
• Treating water with purification tablets or drops so that it is drinkable
• Using a compass and reading a map

Educate yourself about the various survival skills that you may need for most situations and take the time to acquire these skills and you will be well on your way to becoming a survival skills expert.

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