Nature is one of the greatest gifts our planet has to offer the human race. Not only is the natural world full of beauty and possibilities for adventure, studies have proven that exposure to nature improves our physical and mental health. However, when it comes to embracing the great outdoors, there is a huge difference between enjoyment and survival. It is one thing to embark on a weekend long camping trip, and another thing altogether to survive in the wild when all goes amiss. Would you be able to survive if you became stranded on your next casual outdoor exhibition? What would you eat? How would you gather water? Would you have the skills you need in order to ensure your safety and sustenance?
We have drawn up a list of the 10 most important survival skills a human requires in order to champion life in the wild. Read on to learn if you have got what it takes to survival food kits survive in the great outdoors.
10 Most Important Survival Skills for Wilderness Living
1. Food: Your body requires nutritional sustenance in order to survive. Food provides your body with the water, energy, and focus it needs in order to properly function. How can this be accomplished? Being aware of edible plants and insects is a great start. A general rule when it comes to wilderness plant cultivation is to avoid munching on plants that appear milky, hairy, bulbous, or have three leaves, or pink spurs – these are sure signs that the plant is poisonous. Wild plants like clovers, dandelion, and sorrel are common and edible. However, your body will not survive on greens alone. You require protein and fat in order to thrive. Nearly all common insects are edible – from ants, to grasshoppers, to worms, to even bees, insects are your go-to source for protein in the wilderness. Or, try your hand at survival hunting. A simple snare requires just a noose, which can be crafted from rope or wire. Simply tie the noose to a tree near an animal’s den, and wait for your next meal.
2. Water: It is impossible for a human to survive without water. In order to survive in the wilderness, you must know how to collect and purify water. This can be done in a number of ways. One way is to collect rainwater in tarps or pots. Another way water can be obtained is by digging a foot deep hole in a muddy area, and waiting for water to surface. Once you’ve collected your water, you must purify it. You can do so by boiling your water over a fire in a tin or aluminum can, a glass jar, or a plastic bottle.
3. First Aid: Learning first aid is a simple way to help ensure your survival in the wild. Knowing how to properly dress wounds and fashion splints and slings could be the difference between life and death in the wilderness.
4. How to Start and Maintain a Fire: Fire is essential for warmth and water purification. Therefore, knowing how to get a fire going and keep it going in both wet and dry environments is one of the most important survival skills you require in order to survive in the wild.
5. Self Defense: When forced into wilderness survival, it is likely that you will find yourself in a situation in which you are required to defend yourself or lose your life. Taking the time to learn self defense and remembering to pack a pocket-knife when leaving on an adventure are two ways that can help you protect yourself in the wilderness.
6. Learn How to Repair Your Clothes: Clothing repair may seem an outdated skill to master, but when it comes to surviving in the wild, maintaining your clothes can offer you much needed protection and warmth.
7. Grooming: Keeping yourself clean may be the last thing you think of when you think of wilderness survival, but basic grooming skills can help maintain your health and keep you alive.