Survival Gear: In any outdoor survival situation it is vital to be prepared. Taking appropriate precautions before embarking on an outdoor adventure could mean the difference between life and death. Imagine getting lost while hiking, injured while camping, or any of the other dangerous outdoor survival situations without having the necessities. It could be disastrous. Below are important survival gear to include in an emergency survival pack.
- First Aid Kit
- There are many different kinds of first aid kits available but it is important to select the right one for every scenario. Be sure to get a kit with enough supplies for the whole family. Also, it should be an outdoor kit with things like burn cream and anti-itch ointment.
- Lots of Water
- Be sure to always bring plenty of extra water just in case you are stranded somewhere for any length of time. Some bags have containers that store H20 and can be worn right on your back. Try to find a bag like this if you will be doing lots of walking or running. Also, be sure to bring tablets to purify the liquid if necessary.
- Non-Perishable Food
- Survival is not possible without nourishment so always include plenty of items that do not need to be kept cold. There should always be space in your packs for food as the average person cannot survive long without energy from ingesting calories. Try bringing things like nuts that are high in healthy fats.
- Flashlight, Candles, & Lighters
- Many outdoor emergencies require a source of light. A flashlight is great but if it gets wet on a kayaking or canoeing adventure it may be useless. Candles are a good thing to have and even more importantly a lighter means fire and survival without fire is difficult anywhere.
- GPS Device
- A GPS device may get ruined if it becomes wet so putting it in a container to keep it dry is ideal. However, even without that container it is beneficial to have a locating device in case you get lost and require a map.
- Satellite Phone
- Survival is made much easier when it is possible to contact the outside world during a disaster. Cell phones do not always get service in the outdoors but satellite phones do. They are expensive but anyone who is serious about outdoor survival needs a satellite phone.
- Flares
- Flares are a great way to show those in the vicinity how to locate you and your family. They are usually fairly compact and completely worth having in any survival scenario. It is nearly impossible to be found without some way to indicate your location so flares are well worth bringing along.
Survival scenarios can be truly frightening but they don’t have to be as long as you are prepared for the perils of the great outdoors. Bring the aforementioned items with you and you can be confident that your adventure will be a safe one.