You may have all the world’s best survival tools with you, but do you know how to use them? A tool that you don’t understand how to use may as well not even exist.
Yes, before you suddenly go on and empty the shelves of your nearest mall you need to have the skills to use these items in the first place, otherwise they will simply weight you down.
And even without these items, survival skills like these will help you even if you get lost in a forest for an extended amount of time and increase your chances of returning home alive.
This article is here to examine the survival skills you should prioritize honing to be prepared at all times.
Shelter Building
We don’t usually pay attention to shelter much, as we almost always have a proper roof over our heads whenever the rain or the morning sun comes.
But in a survival situation, having even a simple slanted roof protecting you from the night wind or rain can mean the difference between surviving with a bit of chills or dying from hypothermia and exposure.
To that end, having the skills to create a proper shelter is essential for survival. Even without any tools, any person can still create a shelter out in the wilderness if they know what they are looking for. Lean-tos, for instance, can be built quickly, easily, and without any tools, and all its materials can be found in the forest.
Fire Starting
Fire has so many uses that even if we’ve moved to electrical societies today, many aspects of our life still use fire, such as the stove.
And in survival, fire is one of the major contributors to keeping your survival, thanks to its wide utility, such as: Boiling water, cooking food, deterring predators, and illuminating an area.
You can light a fire with or without materials so long as you do some scavenging around the forest, and search for tinder, fuel, and kindling. You can also choose to bring your own to make things easier for you.
You can practice fire making even in your backyard but keep an eye out on the fire so that it does not go out of control
Being Mentally Strong
This is a skill that is not talked about all too much, because unlike most of the items on this list, it does not show results that are “tangible.”
But to dismiss it completely is one of the worst things you can do.
Think about it, all of the other items on this list require a thinking process of one way or another.
But if you can’t even process anything because of panic and anxiety, then you can’t do anything on this list.
This means that you would need to train your mind to keep yourself calm in situations like these, to ensure that you do not panic and cause yourself even more trouble should you find yourself in a situation like this.
Water Purification
No matter how clear that spring looks like, it is likely still chock-full of dangerous microorganisms that will make you ill should you ingest that water. You simply can’t see them as they are too small.
That means being able to purify water is a valuable skill. You can choose to try your hand at making basic water filters in your backyard, as well as attempting to boil water to clear it of any microorganisms (but with a fire outside, and not from your stove).
You can also bring a water bottle that purifies water, but you’re not exactly always going to have one on hand, so it pays to be prepared.
Basic First Aid
Being able to treat or dress even a simple wound can prove invaluable when you’re lost in the woods. Getting heavily injured then getting struck by a life-threatening illness from said injury is the last thing you need on your way to survival.
But it goes further, as having even basic knowledge of first aid can be applicable in practically all situations when the time calls for it, and you have no idea when you will need it.
So not only are you preparing yourself for future outings, you’re preparing yourself for when something unexpected that requires first aid happens as well.
First aid is not exactly something you can teach easily on a manual and dressing your wounds improperly on the scene might lead to getting it even more infected, so train your skills even before a survival episode. It might literally save your life.
Land Navigation
With the proper tools and skills, land navigation will make most potential survival situations a pipe dream, because you know where to go for help if something ever happens.
And even if rescue might not be coming for a while, navigation will help you obtain the resources you might need to survive, such as flowing water to hydrate yourself.
Signaling
Your end goal is to be rescued by people, and one of the best ways you can pull attention to yourself is by signaling.
Whether it is by using the smoke from your fire or utilizing signal mirrors to take advantage of light, being able to signal your would-be rescuers will greatly increase your chances of being found.
Conclusion
Always prepare for the unexpected, no matter how unlikely it may seem.
You don’t want to be part of the 1% without any skills to protect you when you’re at your most vulnerable.
While you don’t have to go to hardcore survivalist camps, even keeping these in mind will help you should you choose to brush up your survival skills.