Water
The first and most important skill you must learn in order to survive in the wild is how to find water. A human being cannot survive for more than a few hours without water before dehydration sets in, causing ketosis and uremia (buildup of toxins in the bloodstream). Eventually, dehydration will cause shock, seizures, organ failure, and death.
Once you find yourself in the wilderness, your first priority must be to find water. Luckily, coniferous forests usually have many small streams, rivers, and lakes running through them.
Some tips on finding and collecting water:
Once you find yourself in the wilderness, your first priority must be to find water. Luckily, coniferous forests usually have many small streams, rivers, and lakes running through them.
Some tips on finding and collecting water:
- Follow animal tracks (they could lead you to a water source).
- Look for lush green plants (a sign that water can be close by).
- Keep moving until you find water.
- Listen for running water.
- Look for low-lying areas or valleys (water always flows downhill).
- Collect rainwater and dew.
- Melt snow or ice. Do not eat frozen snow and ice, which will lower your body temperature and lead to dehydration.
- Tie a plastic bag around the leaves of a non-poisonous plant. As the plant transpires, water will collect in the bag.
- Create a solar still (diagram on the right).
- Never drink blood, urine, fish juices, salt water, or alcohol.
However, you must be careful to drink only clean or purified water. Many diseases are caused by viruses and bacteria in water (see Disease). Clean-looking rivers and lakes may not always be clean (though fast-flowing water is more likely to be safer than still-standing water). Freshwater springs may be clean enough to drink from directly, but it is still better to be as careful as possible.
Some ways to purify water:
Some ways to purify water:
- Boil the water for at least 10 minutes.
- Use purification tablets, either iodine or chlorine. Wait at least 30 minutes before you drink the water.
- Use a portable filter or purifier.
- Use a LifeStraw (shown on the left). This device filters water as you drink from it.