Survival Basics

When you find yourself in a survival situation here is what you need to know

Don't Panic

Stop take a deep breath, get calm and look at your situation objectively.  When people panic they often make irrational decisions, this type of mistake can kill you in a crisis.  Stay alive, think clearly and don't panic.   Absorb the situation and start with the basics.

Identify where you are

The same way you check where your car is parked before you go into a mall.  It doesn't matter whether you are in the city, the country or the wilderness.   It is essential to take your bearings.  Identify anything that is a major landmark that can help you pinpoint your current location.    If the signal calls for it you may want to make this spot very visible, so that anyone following can track you down.

Evaluate your situation

Determine if its best to move on or stay put.   If you decide to move on you may want to clearly mark your location in a way that can be seen from the air, and leave trail markers (such as hatchet marks in trees or strands of cloth tied to trees, rocks or other available scenery).   If these are brightly colored it makes your trail easier to follow.   Obviously if your circumstances dictate that you might not want to be followed, then don't do this.

In many cases it is better to stay put, if you think someone is looking for your and would know where to start looking.   Much of this decision relies on your supplies situation, your experience and what resources are available.   If you are with a group, it is almost always inadvisable to seperate.   Many expeditions have come back missing people when they became seperated.    Usually more people increases the chance of successfully surviving.

Things to consider

Shelter

Do you have shelter or can you improvise shelter.  Rain and other elements can very quickly change your situation.   Without adequate shelter, whether temporary or permanent your survival chances drop rapidly in many cases.   Familiarize yourself with how to construct a simple lean to or other shelter.   Think about what you have that can be improvised to make shelter.

Water

Water is the most critical resource your body needs.  Food can wait for a while.  Food supplies energy, but water is what keeps you functioning.  You can go several days or even weeks without food, without water your time is measured in a few days.

Food and foraging

Familiarize yourself with plants that are edible in your area.  Learn to make simple traps.  Consider foraging.   Learn how to identify whether a plant is edible (more on this in a seperate article).  If you have trees, the cambrium is usually edible.  The cambrium is the green stuff under the bark.   Fresh needles from pine trees can be stripped and eaten.   Dandelions are a good food source in many places and quite nutritious.    Practice identifying things that are edible, this knowledge can be extremely important.   If its common in your area you may want to investigate it.   Mushrooms can be dangerous, only eat them if you are an expert in identifying them, many types look very similar.  Small animals may be baited and trapped in an emergency.   Cooking is recommended.

Fire/Warmth

Hypothermia is the most serious immediate risk.  Night can get very cold in many places, even in the warmer part of the year.  If you get wet you need to dry out.   Learn how to make a fire without a lighter.   Ideally carry a firestarting kit on your keychain.   Fire can keep you warm in almost any circumstances, it provides light and can be used for cooking.   The importance of fire is why it was considered the first of mankinds great discoveries.   If a caveman can do it, you can.  Learn how.  Later articles will deal with the specifics of fire starting.

Equipment

Inventory your equipment.   It is good to have a basic kit in your car or within easy access.   Fortunes can change rapidly.   There is no reason to be unprepared under any circumstances.   By definition an emergency is the arrival of the unexpected.   If you are prepared you will be equiped to deal with it.  If not, you may very well be toast.

Food, water, heat and shelter.   If you have those things or can acquire them, you have the essentials for staying alive.   Everything else is gravy.  Understanding that is something that goes over the heads of a lot of people.  It is easy to get caught up in day to day living, but never lose sight of the fundamentals. More skills articles will be added, keep your knowledge sharp and your days long.  Recognize that before all other things, you are an animal at the core, and be prepared to take care of the first order of business, staying alive.