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Posted by nogods on April 16, 2008 at 8:11:31 pm EDT
In reply to Re: The NEW Ten Essentials posted by Alicia on April 12, 2008 at 6:29:09 am EDT

I have seven survival essentials.

I backpack mostly in the winter to avoid the crowds. But even in fair weather day hiking I always ask myself before I take that first step down the trail "am I prepared to spend several nights in the woods if for some reason I cannot return to this spot?"

Here is my list of survival needs. There are 7 of them. But only 6 go with me into the woods. The most important survival item is one you don't bring with you, which I reveal at the end of this post. (I put it at the end because people tend to remember the last thing they read in a list rather than the first.)

1. I need to stay warm and dry. So I either have to have shelter or the ability to make a shelter, along with the ability to start a fire.

2. I need to stay hydrated. Although I can live without water for 2 or 3 days, dehydration can bring on both physical and mental problems that inhibit survival.

3. I need to stay energized. Again, I can live without food for 2 or 3 weeks, but lack of energy, like dehydration, lessens the chances of survival.

4. I need some first aide supplies to keep minor injuries from turning to major problems.

5. I need a positive attitude about survival to keep from panicking and causing myself greater problems.

6. I may need navigation tools if I have to extract myself from the situation but if I have left my most important survival item at home then a map and compass should not be necessary.

What should you leave at home that is so important to survival? Simply this:

7. Information about your planned route and return time.

Ask any experienced search and rescue person the most important factor in successful searches and they'll say "we knew where to look and we were able to begin looking as soon as reasonably possible after the subject did not return as expected." Most SAR's that have a known expected location of the subject end within 36 hours by either finding the subject alive or finding his or her body.

But telling friends at work you are going "backpacking" for the weekend and then not returning to work on Monday, probably won't get you a SAR until Tuesday or Wednesday. And then the SAR will be inhibited by lack of knowledge as to your expected location.

Leave detailed information with someone who is responsible enough to call the authorities if you don't return as expected. And always communicated any last minute changes in your plans. That is your number one survival item - and you don't take it with you, you leave it at home.

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