Back to the Basics: Top 8 Survival Skills

“We each survive in our own way.”
― Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass

It is true that we all survive in our own ways. However, there are some basic survival skills that we all need. In today’s world, we literally have everything at our fingertips, thanks to our phones. From food and water to transportation and first aid, everything is only a dial away. Naturally, we have become complacent. For most of us, surviving means excelling in the workplace or in the academic sphere. If a catastrophic event occurs and we suddenly find ourselves in a post-apocalyptic world like some of our favorite characters from books and movies, many of us would find ourselves at a less. Though it is extremely unlikely for us to find ourselves in such extreme situations, we can easily land in a scenario without access to modern amenities. After all, we never know when Mother Nature will unleash her wrath. A cyclone can hit or an earthquake can wipe out all our facilities. There can even be a situation where we can get lost while camping or hiking. What should we do then, apart from waiting to be rescued? The answer is simple. We should try our utmost to survive.

Here is a list of some basic survival skills that we all should possess in case of an emergency.

Accessing Clean Water

We cannot live without water. Hence, it is very important that we always have access to clean drinking water. However, there may come a time when you can get stuck in the wilderness. There are plenty of water sources in the wild. You may find rivers, streams, ponds, and waterfalls, among others. However, the water from these natural sources is not pure. They contain pathogens, viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Directly drinking this water can cause waterborne illnesses. Therefore, we need to make sure to purify water before drinking it. Making potable water is simple. You can boil it and then filter it through a T-shirt. You can even create a filtration system on your own with the help of fire, sand, rocks, and a PET bottle.

Foraging For Food  

Food is essential to our survival. We can hardly go without food for a long period of time. Hence, it is necessary that we are able to find food even in situations where we do not have access to modern amenities. To do this, we can learn to identify edible plants, fruits, and berries. This can be tricky as there are many toxic and poisonous plants out there. Miner’s lettuce, dandelion, and lamb’s quarters, among others, are some easily identifiable and tasty plants out there. Knowing how to fish and hunt can come in handy as well. This will ensure that we have an adequate amount of protein.

Creating a Shelter

Knowing how to build a makeshift shelter is a very useful skill. You never know when you get trapped in a situation without any access to hotels or tents. Shelters protect us from wild animals as well as from extreme cold or hot weather conditions. We can easily practice building shelters in our own homes. Building lean-tos, tarp tents, and teepees is quite easy once you get a bit of practice.

Building Fires

Fire was the beginning of civilization. Most of us believe that learning to build fires was the first step to building human societies. It goes without saying that building fires is one of the most basic survival skills. When you are stuck in a situation with no electricity, gas, or access to restaurants, fires will be your key to cooking food, boiling water, keeping yourself warm, and also shooing away predators. Building a fire when you have few supplies is not an easy feat. Hence, it is best to practice your fire-building skills with the help of feather sticks and flints, preparing for a scenario when you do not have matches or lighters.

Basics of First Aid

Having basic first aid knowledge is of utmost importance. You never know when you or your loved ones may get hurt. Instead of waiting for emergency services, you can save a lot of precious time by administering first aid on your own, especially in a scenario where you do not have access to hospitals in the first place. Knowing the process of CPR, treating burns, dressing wounds, using tourniquets, setting broken bones, controlling bleeding, and identifying natural remedies may save the lives of yourself and your loved ones.

Navigation

Navigation is a key survival skill. Nowadays, we are habituated with Google Maps, GPS, and other such modern technology. Imagine, being lost without having access to the internet. In such times, your navigation skills come to use. It is best to know how to use a compass and a map together to find your way. Knowing how to navigate your way with the help of the sun and your wristwatch can be useful as well.

Signaling

Knowing how to properly signal is an underrated survival skill. However, it comes in handy when you are in need of rescuing. Knowing how to use fire, flags, mirrors, whistles, and colored markers can help you grab the attention of your potential saviors.

The Right Mindset

You may not realize it, but having the right mindset is paramount in a survival situation. We should be level-headed and logical.  In the time of crisis, most of us tend to panic and make spur-of-the-moment decisions without thinking. This can lead to disaster. To avoid this, we should be calm and make practical decisions. By preparing for the eventuality of a crisis in advance, we can remain cool and make the right choices if we ever find ourselves in a survival situation.

Conclusion

Possessing basic survival skills is essential. After all, our ancestors were able to build great civilizations and societies only because of their quest to survive. Instead of forgetting that, we should ensure that we are prepared for anything that may come our way. These survival skills are easy to learn and can come in handy in times of need.

Do vote for the survival skill that you think is most needed. Also, please feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts on survival. I would love to hear from you.