As the old saying goes, “prevention is better than cure.” And it is precisely on that premise that the art of survival is based. Today, we will embark on a wild adventure to learn how to survive in the wild. I will provide you with ten survival tricks that really work and can be the difference between life and death in an extreme situation Kambo practitioner training.
1. Light a fire with found trash
It seems contradictory, right? But yes, you can use the trash found in the forest to your advantage. Here I explain how. If you are in a windy location, starting a fire can be a nearly impossible task. That’s where an unexpected object comes into play: a soda can.
Crush the can.
Reshape the can into its original shape using a stick.
Create a “window” on one side of the can.
Put your tinder inside.
Light your tinder with a lighter.
In survival situations, the most unexpected objects can become your best allies. And remember, fire is essential for survival: it provides heat, light, and the ability to cook and purify water.
2. Keep your knife or razor in good condition
The knife is one of the most essential survival tools. To keep it in good condition, avoid using it to crush things. Instead, use the pry bar technique to cut wood, and when the blade goes out of tune, run it through leather to recenter the edge.
3. Purify water with a plastic bottle
In extreme situations, drinking unpurified water can be dangerous. To purify water, you can use this method:
Collect water from a freshwater source, avoiding salty or chemically contaminated water.
Filter the water through cloth or paper to remove large particles.
Boil water for at least 10 minutes to kill pathogens.
Let the water cool before drinking.
If you can’t boil water, use water purification tablets or direct sunlight in a clear plastic bottle to disinfect it.
4. Deal with stomach illnesses
It may happen that even after purifying it, the water from a stream makes you feel sick. To treat this, you can resort to natural forest medicine. The leaves and bark of oak and holm oak are astringent and can help treat diarrhea.
Pick up a handful of bark or acorns.
Boil for about 10 minutes.
Drink the resulting infusion to relieve symptoms.
5. Disinfect and cover wounds
If you cut yourself, the tree fungus known as tinder can act as a natural Band-Aid. To disinfect the wound, you can use the resin of conifers.
Scoop the resin out of the tree using a sharp stick.
Apply the resin to the wound.
Use the top layer of the tinderbox to cover the wound.
6. Create a durable spear
If you find yourself in a long-term survival situation, a sturdy spear can be a big help. Make it tough by slowly heating it over a fire, this will make the wood harder and more durable.
7. Maintain oral hygiene
Oral hygiene is essential to prevent infections. To clean your teeth in the wild, you can use a sharp stick and some charcoal mixed with water to make a rudimentary toothpaste.
8. Identify edible plants and fruits
Nature is full of potential foods, but not all of them are safe to eat. To identify if a plant or fruit is edible, you can follow these steps:
Rub the plant or fruit in your hands and wait.
15 minutes in the mouth and then we will spit it out. If we feel that our mouth goes numb, as with anesthesia, or any other strange effect, that plant or fruit is poisonous. If there is no effect, we go to the next step.
We take a small piece, swallow it and wait 8 hours. If we feel bad, we vomit quickly and drink a lot of water. If after those 8 hours we have not had any negative reaction, then we can say that that plant is edible.
We should do this process with each part of the plant: leaves, stems, roots, each of them can have different components and some parts may be poisonous and others may not.
But always remember, if you have doubts, it is better not to risk it. Nature is generous, but it can also be dangerous if you don’t know it well.
9. Know your survival priorities:
Not all survival needs are equally urgent. For example, while a person can survive for three weeks without food, he can only survive three days without water, let alone in hot climates. Here’s an easy way to remember it: the “Three Rules of Three.” A person can survive:
3 minutes without air.
3 hours in extreme weather.
3 days without water.
3 weeks without food.
10. Stay calm and prepare a plan
Panic is one of the biggest enemies in a survival situation. Fear can cause you to make reckless decisions, so it is essential to take a deep breath and stay calm. Analyze your situation, make rational decisions and do your best not to panic.
The best plan can fail. Make sure you have a contingency plan, or even several, in case things don’t go as expected. You must always be ready to adapt to new circumstances.
You never know when you may find yourself in a survival situation. Learning to make a fire, build a shelter, purify water, and recognize edible plants can be of great help. It would also be helpful to learn basic first aid.
In extreme situations, sometimes attitude and mindset can be as important as practical knowledge. Always remember that, despite difficulties, human beings are incredibly resilient.
Surviving is more than being alive, it is learning, it is adapting, it is being respectful of the environment and knowing how to take advantage of its resources without damaging it. And above all, it is knowing that even if the situation is difficult, there is always hope if we stay calm and use our heads.