360° Situational Preparedness Survival Skills
SURVIVAL
Survival situations: How do they start?
How do survival situations happen? How do they start? These are loaded questions. A more accurate one would be, how don't they start? Murphy's law, remember? That which can go wrong will. Flat tires, freak weather, wrong turns, broken limbs, and a 1,000,000 more scenarios exists for screwing up in the woods. More often than not, life threatening affairs are the end result of several seemingly insignificant events. Taken one at a time, they would have little effect, but when compounded they can kill. Therefore, a main part of any survival strategy is to recognize danger signs early so corrective action can be taken.
One of the more common ways to meet your maker is couched innocently enough in the simple day hike. Can you guess why? Have you ever heard someone say, ain't nothin'gonna happen. We'll only be gone for a few hours. It's just a day hike!
Day hikes are notorious for compromising lives because they lull people into a sense of complacency in regard to proper preparing for a trip. Phrases like we don't need extra sweater or leave the water in the trunk, Chen in the print people 6 feet under.
Many people have died less than a mile from their vehicles without in the wilderness. Proper preparation to save your life, best in the one who's died of exposure; they will tell you.
Killing you softly: Enemies to your survival
While it's impossible to complete this list due to the infinite variables present within human nature and mother nature, many outdoor travelers commonly face the enemies below. While there are no guarantees in a survival situation, proper planning, coupled with quality survival training and subsequent practice, will prevent many of these from occurring in the first place.
Anxiety and fear these two, when mixed with the power of the imagination, are voracious killers.
Pain and injury
Illness
Cold and heat
Thirst and hunger
wetness
fatigue and sleep deprivation
Boredom
Loneliness and isolation
Complacency and the desire for comfort
Stubbornness refusal to recognize themselves actions jeopardizing survival
Promises of realistic guarantees made to sell for others leading too stupid behavior
Getting home setting in trying to maintain on realistic timelines
The last three enemies often are subtly work there infectious death magic together, slowly, but surely, eroding away your good judgment.
Dealing with the survival scenario
Attitude, adaptation, and awareness
Give up and die. Emergency scenarios for around the globe are rich with examples supporting this painful simple statement. It is vital to the survivor: attitude, adaptation, and awareness. Cultivating their attributes will allow you to face obstacles within a positive light. Remember, however, that there are no guarantees that you'll live. Anyone who tells you differently, who guarantees your safety, especially if they stand to make some cash, should be treated either as untruthful for as someone who has forgotten or has never known how all powerful mother nature can be.
Attitude
The king of them all his attitude. Maintaining a positive attitude or will to live is critical to your survival. If you're attitude falls, you'll fall with it. Cultivating a good attitude doesn't mean you have to Don flowers and sport a poop eating grin seven days a week. However, Inherent to a positive attitude is the willingness to try; and if there is failure, the willingness to try again and again. Researching real life stories of survivors and a terrific ordeals they've gone through and defeated will put your back country crisis into its proper perspective. This knowledge supports a yes I can attitude essential to your well being and the others in your group. As a bonus, maintaining a positive outlook is contagious and will cause life in general to become more pleasant. When challenges do arise, they can be dealt with more easily.
Prior training and survival skills boost confidence and improves your actions under stress. This prior training has proved itself that you value life in general, especially yours and the ones you love. It's proof that you've taken the time to gain what skills you could to help deal with the life threatening crisis. The increase is self confidence and causes you to believe that you, in fact, can survive because you cautiously taken the time two acquire the tools to do so. Remember, your life is worth the fight. Of all the millions of people on this planet, only you can accomplish the special tasks you've been given by life. All you have the power to give your kids back to life for the benefit of all of us. Never give up. Although it's important that you carry a positive attitude, it doesn't replace their need for you to carry a well designed survival kit.
Adaptation
Begin to cultivate an appreciation for doing more with less. Practice the ability to squeak out what ever you can from the resource is presented to you. Traveling south of the border from my view of the state of Arizona, you'll come to a land were doing more with less isn't just a cute concept it's a way of life. Many cash poor communities in Mexico are used to improvising and adapting to their surroundings because they have to, while Americans head for the nearest discount store for a refund or exchange. The power of adaptation allow you to discover multiple uses for each item carried in your kit. It enables you to think like the critters that live in the very environments that threatens to take your life.
Animals are instinctual. They have little bias about meeting their needs by whatever means work. You cannot afford to be choosy when in a jam. In order to live, you have to recognize and exploit every resource and option available. Talking about survival scenarios is hypothetical at best, because each situation will bee different and every person will react differently to his or her particular situation, adapting or not adapting. in addition, essential survival gear can be lost or damaged, requiring the former owner to improvise.
Awareness
You must become like the master adapter, the coyote, all senses alert for whatever might be of use. Without proper awareness, it's easy to walk for the water filled cattle tank or miss the jeep traveling the next ridge over. It's similar to walking down a seedy big city street. If you insist on watching your feet instead of the road ahead with all its interesting characters, your chance of being mugged increases dramatically. Awareness also includes having the foresight to properly prepare for your journey. Pay attention to your surroundings! Your life may depend on this in the wilderness or the wilds of your cities.
Introducing the typical S. A. R. victim
The following passage was too juicy to pass up. Read it carefully and be honest with yourself, and remember, the very fact that you're reading this proves you're on the right path to proper preparation.
The average S a R victim is a composite outdoorsman for example, hunter, fisherman, skier, hiker, climber, boater, photographer. Most do not do any of these activities well and are not members of organized groups that specialize in the pursuits. Most reside in densely populated areas and travel some distance for recreation and outdoor pursuits. They usually travel too fast and far to acclimatize well to the terrain, altitude, and environmental conditions encountered. Interviews show that they also would generally ignored signs of weather change, environmental hazards, body indicators, and written warnings concerning danger or safety.
Factors contributing to survival situations and search and rescue missions
Improper clothing, foot gear, or both.
Lack of rest, fatigue.
Lack of adequate water, dehydration.
Hypothermia or hyperthermia.
Too ambitious an undertaking for skills or proficiency.
poor physical condition, lack of motivation, or both.
Inadequate or improper food.
Little or no planning.
Inadequate group members for that goal, and lack of leadership.
Itinerary confusing or not known to others.
Individuals could not recognize a physical, mental, or environmental threat.
No preparation for adverse weather.
Unfamiliarity with terrain and lack of map or compass.
It can happen to me philosophy.
