Common diarrhea, food poisoning, and other intestinal diseases are common if you are in the wilderness especially if you are trying to survive on a limited diet and primitive storage conditions.
To guard against discomfort:
- Keep the body and hands clean. Keep lingers out of your mouth. Avoid handling food with your hands. Wash hands after handling wild foods.
- Avoid eating raw foods, especially those grown on or in the ground. Wash and peel fruit. See Cooking chapter on how to store food. Eat food right after preparation especially meat and fish. Cook all food well done.
- Purify drinking Water. See Finding Water chapter.
- Sterilize eating utensils by boiling in water or heating over a flame.
- Keep insects and other vermin off your food and drink.
- Keep camping area clean and food away from camp.
- Human waste should be kept away from camp site and water supply.
If you develop vomiting or diarrhea rest and stop eating solid foods. Drink water in small amounts at frequent intervals. Maintain normal salt intake. See the First Aid chapter for more information on salt requirements.