Wilderness SurvivalBy C Kohn

Waterford WI

Basic Survival Needs In order of their importance to

survival, the Seven Basic Survival Needs:

1. PMA – Positive Mental Attitude 2. Air 3. Shelter 4. Warmth 5. Rest 6. Water 7. Food

The Psychology of Suvival It takes much more than the knowledge

and skills to live successfully through a survival situation.

A key ingredient in any survival situation is mental attitude.

Having survival skills is important; having the will to survive is essential. • Some people with little or no survival training have

managed to survive life-threatening circumstances. • Some people with survival training have not used

their skills and died.

Survival Actions In an emergency survival situation, your best

ally is your own self-confidence and instinct.• The first step is to size up your situation.

Size up your Surroundings: know what is around you and determine what can be used to your advantage

Size up your Physical Condition - do you have any wounds or injuries? Are you at risk for an injury (such as hypothermia)? What do you need to do to stay at a maximum level of health and well-being?

SURVIVAL Size up your Equipment – check to

see what you have available. Think of how things can be used in a nontraditional way to save your life• A life jacket is an excellent way to preserve

body heat• A shiny knife can also be used as a signal to

alert planes• An umbrella can be used to collect dew and

rain water when inverted

SURVIVAL Use all your Senses

• Be sure to use sound judgment and rational logic when making a decision

• In an emergency, shock can cause you to react in ways you otherwise wouldn’t

• Plan your moves – know where you are going, what you are doing, and what you expect to happen.

• Be aware of your surroundings to prevent injury and maintain your health and well-being

SURVIVAL Remember where you are

• If you have a map, try to find where you think you are and confirm it with landmarks and other visual evidence

• If you have no map or sense of location, identify the cardinal directions The sun rises in the east and sets in the west Moss tends to grow on the north size of a tree

• Try to identify sources of water, shelter, and food

SURVIVAL Vanquish panic

• Panic is perhaps the most dangerous factor in any emergency

• It will cause you to make unwise decisions and potentially endanger your own life and/or likelihood of rescue

• If you feel panic rising, take a moment. Force yourself to breathe deeply. Focus on what you have at hand, not the odds of your survival or the threats to your well-being. Envision yourself being rescued.

SURVIVAL Improvise

• Take a tool or object designed for a specific use and envision all possible uses for it.

• Look for objects in nature that can fill a needed but missing item Rocks can become hammers Cattail fluff can become insulation Pine bows can become a dry bed

SURVIVAL Value Life

• Convince yourself that cold, hunger, or thirst are only the price to pay for survival

• DO NOT dwell on why you are suffering – only that it may be necessary to preserve your life

• Focus on what the suffering will accomplish for you, not on how it feels or why it happens.

SURVIVAL Act like Animals

• Do not feel as though you have to reinvent the wheel – watch animals for clues about the location of water, food, or shelter

• Watch where migrating birds land to find open water

• Observe rodents and squirrels to find nutrient-dense foods like nuts and berries

• DO NOT assume that because it is safe for an animal, it is safe for your. You are NOT an animal.

SURVIVAL Learn Basic Skills

• If you are going to be in situations that may become survival emergencies, make an effort now to obtain specific skills that may prove to be the difference between life and death, particularly in regards to… First Aid Navigation Region-specific survival strategies

Cold-weather Survival It is more difficult for you to satisfy your basic

water, food, and shelter needs in a cold environment.

You must not only have enough clothing to protect you from the cold, you must also know how to maximize the warmth you get from it. • Always keep your head covered - You can lose 40 to 45

percent of body heat from an unprotected head and even more from the unprotected neck, wrist, and ankles.

• These areas of the body are good radiators of heat and have very little insulating fat.

• The brain is very susceptible to cold and can stand the least amount of cooling

C.O.L.D. There are four basic principles to

follow to keep warm. An easy way to remember these basic principles is to use the word COLD--

C -  Keep clothing clean. O -  Avoid overheating. L -  Wear clothes loose and D -  Keep clothing dry.

Hypothermia Hypothermia is when your core body

temperature stays below 98 degrees. Hypothermia is the greatest risk to

survival in cold-weather emergencies (including stranded cars on WI highways!)

Prevent hypothermia by dressing in loose layers.

Consume high calorie foods like chocolate, nuts, and fruit to maintain your core body temperature.

Hypothermia Stay dry – avoid circumstances in

which you will get wet and avoid excessive perspiration. Remove layers if you are physically exerting yourself.

Avoid cotton, particularly on bare skin, as it will keep moisture on the skin. Opt for synthetic materials or wool (which will keep you warm even when wet).

Signs of Hypothermia Mild Hypothermia (above 90.0 ° F):

Look for consistent shivering and blue lips, progressing to slurred speech, dazed expression, and stiff muscles.

Severe Hypothermia (below 90.0 ° F): Shivering has stopped. Person appears confused and unaware; muscles are rigid and unconsciousness sets in.

Treatment of Hypothermia Get victim out of the weather and remove

wet clothing. Replace it with dry clothing or a sleeping bag. You must get the victim warm.

If possible, get to a warm place (inside heated shelter or car). Get several people to huddle around the victim to slowly add heat.

If conscious, give victim warm liquids to drink. They should see a doctor as possible

Frostbite Frostbite occurs when ice forms on or

inside living tissue, disrupting blood flow and lysing (breaking open) cells

This causes the permanent loss of that tissue or limb

The best way to prevent frostbite is keep all extremities covered at all times

Wear facial covering and avoid wind by seeking shelter (see later slides).

Signs of Frostbite • Pain or burning sensation in

exposed area

• White spot forms surrounded by red skin

• Numbness in affected area

Treatment of Frostbite Slowly and gently warm the affected

parts by placing a hand on the exposed part, or putting in lukewarm (not hot) water.

If the body parts are numb, the victim should see a doctor.

Shelter A simple shelter in a cold-weather

emergency is a tarp or blanket supported by limbs with pine bows for a floor.

Avoid contact with the cold ground – use branches, blankets, or dry leaves to prevent contact with cold surfaces (rocks, snow, ice)

Do not wait until you are cold to insulate your body – by then it is too late.

Shelter Do not overlook the obvious – if you are in a

car, stay with your vehicle and wait for help. Start your car periodically to warm it, but do

not let it run continuously – carbon monoxide poisoning can easily kill you without warning.

Any combustion will create carbon monoxide, particularly in an enclosed space• This includes camp stoves, car heaters, and wood

fires

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, difficulty breathing, and cherry-red gums and membranes.

Get fresh air immediately. Also be aware the carbon monoxide is “heavier” than standard air – you may have to hold your head between your knees and exhale forcibly.

Winter travel tips

Outdoor experts offer this advice for people driving or hiking this winter.

Before leaving, check the weather.

Tell others of your route and expected arrival time.

Source: Joe Fitzgibbon © 2009

Winter travel tips Be smart. The mistakes people make stem from

being poorly prepared, underestimating the risks and making poor judgments.

If the hazard level is high and snow is falling, be prepared to change your plans.

If you become stranded, remain calm, set out rescue signals and stay with the vehicle.

Keep in mind the rule of threes in severe weather. • You cannot survive more than 3 minutes without air, 3

hours without shelter, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food, 3 months without hope.

Winter Travel Tips Take along the 10 essentials for emergency

survival: 1. A first aid kit2. Flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries3. A blanket or sleeping bag4. Nutritional bars5. Rain gear6. Pocket knife7. Waterproof matches, candles or fire starter8. Map9. Compass10. Bright, lightweight tarp. 11. Also good: flares, cell phone, a book, handwarmers,

whistle

Review Questions How would you rank survival needs from greatest to least (e.g. air,

shelter, water, etc.)? What does it mean to size up your surroundings? In an emergency, what happens to your ability to make good decisions?

What does this mean in regards to your need to plan ahead? How can you determine cardinal directions if you have no map? What should you do if you feel panicked during an emergency? What does it mean to “value life”? What parts of your body should be covered at all times in a cold

weather emergency? What is hypothermia? How do you treat it? What is frost bite? How do you treat it? How do you know if someone has severe or mild hypothermia? What are symptoms of hypothermia? Of frost bite? What are symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning? How do you treat

it? What are emergency items that should always be in your car?