With
reality shows like Survivor, Man Vs. Wild, and Survivorman, survival
has become a buzzword synonymous with crazy people willing to risk
their lives on national television for the sake of entertainment.
But with survival stories of missing families stuck in their cars
and the climbers on Mt. Hood dominating the national headlines last
November, we are faced with a sobering wake up call that survival
is not just for outdoor enthusiasts and that anyone can be caught
in a real survival situation.
Having
a little knowledge can go a long way in a real survival situation.
If you scan the headlines of survival articles that show up in the
media, there are a few common mistakes that everyone can learn from:
•
Plan Ahead – Most survival situations occur because people are
not familiar with the area in which they are traveling. Bring a map
and compass, but more importantly know how to use it. Otherwise your
map is just tinder for your fire and your compass is just a paperweight.
If you are driving in the winter, know your route. Don’t travel
on roads that are closed for the winter or that are not maintained
in the winter. This may sound like common sense, but you would be
surprised how many survival situations occur because people don’t
plan ahead and are unfamiliar with their environment.
•
Tell Someone Where You Are Going – Before traveling in the backcountry,
make a quick itinerary that has some basic information. Tell people
where you are going, what trailhead you are starting from, what your
destination is, when you plan to be back, and what your friends should
do if you are overdue (such as call search and rescue). Have two copies
of your itinerary and give one to a friend, family member, or roommate
and put the other copy on the dash of your car at the trailhead. If
your itinerary changes, make sure you tell everyone who has your itinerary.
Don’t forget to call people when you get back from your trip
so they don’t send out search and rescue.
•
STOP – Should you find yourself in a survival situation, it
is important to remain calm and think through your situation. One
way to do this is to STOP: Stop,
Think, Observe, and Plan
before you spring into action. If you don’t stop and think about
your situation, it is easy to make some crucial mistakes that could
greatly reduce your chances of survival. Take a deep breath, try to
meditate, or do something that does not take a lot of energy to take
your mind off of your situation. Calories are precious in a survival
situation and it is critical to maintain your energy and a positive
attitude. Think about your situation, where you are, how far you are
from a trail, road, or trailhead, what direction you are traveling,
etc. Observe your environment. What resources in the environment can
you use for insulation, making shelters, making fires, or finding
water? What resources do you have on you that can help you get through
your situation? Everything from your clothes on your back to your
belt to your shoelaces can be used to help you get through your survival
situation. Once you have stopped, thought about your situation, and
observed resources in your environment, make a plan and stick to it.
•
Survival Priorities – There is a simple general rule of thumb
called the Survival Rule of 3’s that can help you focus on the
priorities that will keep you alive. In general, you can live 3 minutes
without oxygen, 3 hours without shelter/warmth, 3 days without water,
and 3 weeks without food. Therefore, food is not your most important
priority, which is a common misconception. Shelter, fire, water, rescue,
and food are your most important priorities in any situation, whether
it is in the dead of winter or the middle of summer.
•
Carry a Survival Kit – Survival kits are nominal insurance policies
that could help save your life. The contents of this survival kit
are designed to help you survive a short-term survival situation between
1 and 7 days. This survival kit is not a substitute for proper planning,
good judgment and decision-making, and sound backcountry skill. The
purpose of survival kits is to supplement essential gear that you
should already have with you on any backcountry trip. Survival kit
materials should be lightweight, durable, serve many purposes, and
address the most critical survival priorities, including: shelter,
fire, water, rescue, and food. The Cottonwood Institute sells
a survival kit with field tested materials that are perfect for day
hikes, overnight backpacking trips, or for putting in your car next
time you drive into the mountains. To find out more information or
to purchase a survival kit, go
to this link.
Please
Note: All proceeds from the sale of our survival kits go to support
our General Scholarship Fund.
You
never know how you will perform in a survival situation until you
are actually in one. Your first instinct may be to panic, and that
is ok, as long as you can snap out of it. Having some basic knowledge,
training, and supplies can help make survival situations inconvenient
adventures, rather than life or death situations. Always practice
survival skills in perfect, safe, warm conditions. As you become proficient
in your ability to make shelter, water, and fire in good conditions,
practice these skills in cold and wet environments. Always practice
your skills with a safe exit strategy and never create a REAL survival
situation when practicing survival skills!
One
of my mentors, Paul Van Horn, always told me that you should have
enough skill and knowledge if you ever find yourself in a survival
situation to make a shelter, start a fire, find water, and make a
cup of hot pine needle tea to offer to your rescue team. After all,
they probably had a long day looking for you and they will need to
rest and relax before hiking you out!
