SURVIVING TECHNIQUES
Humans cannot surviv 131e49b e more than three minutes without air (O2)
Humans cannot surviv 131e49b e more than three hours exposed to extreme low-temperature
Humans cannot surviv 131e49b e more than three days without water (H20)
Humans cannot surviv 131e49b e more than three weeks without food
In most survival situations, three priorities must be addressed before any other needs are met:
These priorities may change depending upon environmental factors.
Shelter
Finding or making shelter is the most important because it allows a person to stay protected from the elements.
The next priority after finding shelter is water.The length of survival mostly depends upon climate conditions and physical exertion.
Food is the third essential for survival. This is especially important during winter, as one has higher calorie-burning needs.
A shelter will protect one from potentially disastrous weather, help prevent hypothermia, and allow restful sleep. It will also boost how you feel emotionally, as it will become a base or home. Therefore, in typical survival situations, a shelter should be able to be moved with you, if possible, and be set up quickly. If one spends too much time on a shelter it takes away from other survival tasks.
A shelter should provide a somewhat comfortable place to sleep. To this end, it should account for the following:
Immovable rocks, animal nests, and other obstacles and hazards
should be avoided.
Dry watercourses may be flat, sandy, and comfortable to sleep on,
but they will flood in a storm.
Sunlight provides
warmth (which is not always welcome), and can help one to wake up in the
morning. However, sunny, open areas are vulnerable to wind which causes
convection of one's body heat
Heat transfer: an excessively large or well-ventilated shelter
will not retain warmth well.
Flashing
(weatherproofing) to provide protection from elements.
A cave can provide a very useful shelter because it can provide protection from wind, rain and snow and maintains a constant internal temperature. Unfortunately, caves can present additional problems such as ground water, dampness, disease, and wildlife. Histoplasmosis Blastomycosis, and Coccidiomycosis are several fungi found in caves that can infect the eyes and lungs of cavers. You may want to find a different survival shelter to avoid these fungi. Bats often roost in caves and through their bite they can transmit rabies and other terminal illnesses .The simplest and most mobile shelter is a tarp, supported by make-shift frame work or rope. Large leaves, such as ferns or fir branches, can be added to a latticework of branches. Ferns on a shelter provide insect repellent. Branches propped against a fallen tree make a simple and effective refuge, but animals such as ants and snakes may nest under the tree. Bears also make dens in caves, so before you settle down in one, you should check it thoroughly for signs of inhabitance.
A more advanced shelter is known as a debris shelter, which can be constructed without modern tools or implements. It consists of a central ridge pole supported by two forked poles. This ridge pole supports a lattice of branches, which is then finished by leaves or other insulating material
Water
A human can survive a maximum of three days without the intake of water, assuming you are at sea level, at room temperature, and a relative humidity.
In colder temperatures and/or with rain or snow the length or likelihood of survival would be greatly reduced. In addition to the aforementioned priorities, length of survival also depends on amount of physical exertion. A typical person will lose 2-3 liters of water per day in ordinary conditions, but more in hot, dry, or cold weather.
A lack of water causes dehydration, resulting in lethargy, headaches, dizziness, confusion, and eventually death. Even mild dehydration reduces endurance and impairs concentration, which is dangerous in a survival situation where clear thinking is essential. Your body requires 4L to 6L of water or other liquids each day in the wilderness to avoid dehydration and to keep your body functioning properly.
Dark yellow or brown urine indicates dehydration. Because of these risks, a safe supply of drinking water must be located as soon as a shelter is built (or even before, depending on conditions).
Water can be gathered in numerous ways: scooped out of a creek or pond; rainwater can be caught in makeshift containers; collect dew from vegetation in clothing articles. Many tree roots and vines contain water. The cactus is also a source of water, debunking assertions that this is a myth: pulp can be removed from the broken stem.
In a survival situation, any water supply may be contaminated with pollutants or pathogens (see Potability of backcountry water). Although little can be done to remove molecular contaminants, particles and microorganisms can be removed and/or killed (see Portable water purification). In a beach situation, digging in the sand below sea level, the sand well will fill with drinkable water; it may taste salty or brackish, but the sand acts as a filter reducing the salt content the further you dig inland. Stagnant water can be made drinkable by filtration through a sieve of charcoal.
Animal blood is not suitable for rehydration as it may be diseased. In addition, because of the nutrients it contains, it requires energy to digest. Mammals all have blood-borne pathogens so the animal must also be cooked. Urine contains salt and other toxins, which also makes it unsuitable to drink, although it can be refined in a solar still.
Many birds, mammals, and some insects, such as bees, ants, and mason flies, are reliable indications of water, either through a stream or a soaked patch of earth.
Food
Food is not urgently needed in survival situations, since a human can survive for several weeks without it. However, much like dehydration, hunger can bring about many consequences long before it causes death, such as:
It is actually rather easy to find food in most wild environments, provided one knows where to look. A basic knowledge of animal trapping hunting, and fishing will provide meat. Equally important is a knowledge of edible plants fungi, and lichens. One cannot always rely on the most abundant or most easily accessible type of food. To survive for long periods of time, one must maintain a balanced diet. In order to do this, one must consume a balanced variety of foods.
Mountain Chicken
|
