First Aid
Anyone actively involved in the outdoors knows how uncomfortable minor illnesses and injuries can be, but in wilderness survival, they can be completely incapacitating and even fatal. Prevention and proper treatment are essential.
Navigation
Hikers and boaters should be able to navigate with a map and compass in addition to a GPS. A GPS has limited usefulness in a survival situation because replacement batteries tend to be hard to come by.
Campcraft
Skills such as building a fire, choosing a location for a shelter, then constructing it, avoiding dangerous animals and poisonous plants, and simple campfire cooking are readily acquired on weekend camping trips into the wilderness.
Water Acquisition
In some wilderness situations, finding water requires some wilderness lore. Even after finding water, it should be treated to prevent debilitating parasitic infections.
Procuring Food
Fishing and hunting are outdoor sports that can lead to finding sources of food. Less obvious outdoor activities are birding, wildlife photography and botany.
Article Written By David Chandler
David Chandler has been a freelance writer since 2006 whose work has appeared in various print and online publications. A former reconnaissance Marine, he is an active hiker, diver, kayaker, sailor and angler. He has traveled extensively and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of South Florida where he was educated in international studies and microbiology.
