Top Ten Survivalist Skills

Ray Mears Makes Fire

So, you’ve planned your trip to Australia but what do you do if your ride breaks down or you mistakenly wander off from the group in the bush? Easy, you could be ready for anything just by following the instructions in this article. You should be aware: It is always advisible, you have at least a small amount of experiance in survival medicine before embarking on any outdoor pursuit. You don’t have to scour the top survival guides, we’ve done it for you. There’s guys who’ve been there, done it and used the T-shirt to store water, their advice is key and we’ve compiled a list of the top ten bush survival tips and techniques!

1. Be Prepared
In harsh environments, you have to expect the unexpected before you even depart. Before your trip, it’s a good idea according to thesurvivalexpert.co.uk to attend a simple survival course.

2. Packing
Having the correct tools with you is preparing for survival. A water bottle and filter, a good knife, a small mirror, a compass, matches and flint, condoms and a first aid kit. Some knives have hollow handles which contain most of these tools though the knife itself will be less durable according to John Wiseman, author of the SAS Survival Guide.

3. Pack Light
The lighter you pack, the quicker you will be should you have to move. Making informed choices is important when it comes to choosing what you take with you and discard. If you forget something, you’ll waste critical time and energy going back for it.

4. Avoid Anxiety
In terms of your survival this is key. You will be in a position to remain collected or at least more collected than others who may be stranded with you, Provided you have followed the other three steps.

5. Water
We can survive for three weeks without food but only for three days without water as The SAS Survival Guide explains. This is the time to use the water bottle and condoms you brought with you. Keeping movement to a minimum is important if you haven’t got any fluids but you should find shade and look for water as the sun is going down. Don’t inhale through your mouth, don’t smoke or take alcohol as these all use up vital fluids.

6. Eating
You’ll need protein if you choose to leave and this can best be found in meat. It would be a good idea to have prior experience of the local animal and plant life. In the bush, you’ll soon find yourself hunting insects and cutting leftover meat from wild carcasses. You have to make sure meat is fresh by looking at the color of the bones and whether or not there are any vultures nearby, according to Bear Grylls. If the bones have been whitened by the sun or the meat smells off, keep moving. As there’ll be more protein in it, have it as it is if it’s safe.

7. Fire
If you can access matches or flint and a striker, use them to make a fire to keep you warm at dusk. Try using Old Man’s Beard or a similar dead plant for tinder. You can also use fire to make signals, cook or sterilise water. If you have no flint, you’ll have to make fire with sticks, see Ray Mears on YouTube to find out how.

8. Shelter
The midday sun is particularly hot so you need to find shelter. If you can’t find any shade readily available, you should try to make some using plants and whatever fabric you can spare. Covering yourself from the elements is important and it can even aid your mood.

9. Signals
Preparing for this eventuality, you took your mirror. The sun in the bush is very useful and, reflected in the correct direction can allow you to signal for help, keeping you alive. You can create a lot of smoke to make signals by covering your fire in live or ‘wet’ branches.

10. Moving
Keeping the camp running is important if you’re staying and you’ll have to be sure of you’re water supply. You’ll have to have water, stay out of the sun as much as possible and be sure of you’re direction if you’re moving. For this reason, you brought your compass! Be confident and avoid stress at all costs.