360° Situational Preparedness Survival Skills
Water
Finding water is a top priority in the wild. An adult can survive only a few days without water, but many weeks without food.
Dehydration
About 3/4 of the human body is water. Your body loses 0.5-1 gallon (2-3 liters) of water each day through sweating and urination, more if you are hot, exerting a lot of energy or are at high altitudes. This water must be replaced. Therefore, drink often.Finding water is critical, if not, dehydration will inevitably occur. The symptoms you will face are thirst, weakness, decreased mental capacity, nausea, no appetite and dark colored urine.To prevent water loss, rest, keep cool, stay in the shade, and seek shelter. Do not wait until you run out of water before you look for more. Your body doesn't only get water from drinking water. Lots of foods contain water, good examples are fruit and vegetables, and any non-water fluid. However, avoid fatty foods, caffeinated beverages and alcohol as they trigger digestion to use up the fluids.
How Does Our Body Lose Water?
The big four, in order, breathing, sweating, extraction by the kidneys to make urine, and loss through the large bowel because of inefficient water re-absorption. Tears, mucous secretions from the nose and elsewhere are insignificant sources.
Note: Although many people out there describe themselves as masters of of survival and bushcraft, the truth is these skills take a lifetime to master. Every time we go out, we learn something new. The reality is that most of us have to deal with every day life and are unable to live in the bush full time. The first step towards the path of knowledge is to admit we are not masters yet forever students of nature.
