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This article will show you how to survive in a deserted wooded area, which might happen if you get lost on a camping trip. It will focus on what items are essential for survival and how to make most of them.
If you ever get lost, one of the most important things to have on hand is water. This is because the average adult can only survive for three days without water. But not all water is drinkable just the way it is, so it is important to have some matches (or a lighter), and a small can. Then you can boil any water you find for five to seven minutes to purify it and make it safe to drink. In the camping section of Canadian Tire or some other stores water purification tablets are also sold, which can be used to purify water, but this supply is limited where boiling water is almost unlimited. If there is only salt water, do not drink it. The human body is designed to pass out just 1.5% of salt in any water, and seawater contains much more then that. It would be dangerous and would dehydrate you much faster then if you hadn't drank anything.
The next important thing is food. Often people think it would be good to eat food even if you do not have water. This is true if the food consists of something like an orange, or tomato, but most food is dry and will dehydrate you even more and will hinder your survival. In nature there are many kinds of edible plants such as dandelions, day lily buds, cat-tails, wild garlic, potato-like roots of bull-rush, nuts, berries, wild apples and cherries, mushrooms, and many more plants. It would be essential to take a course on edible plant identification if you are planning to go camping if there is any chance of getting lost. But if you don't know about a plant don't eat it...there are many poisonous plants out there as well. If you were in a situation where you don't have any idea about what to eat, try rubbing the plant on your neck (a sensitive area) and if there is no irritation after one hour, chew up a small piece and spit it out. If again there are no irritations, eat a small piece, wait 24 hours drinking just water, and if no sickness or pain is experienced after this time you can consider the plant eatable. Do not eat plants that smell like peaches or bitter almonds when you crush them. Eating ants, grasshoppers worms, snails, fish, rabbits, birds, and many other animals are safe to eat, and in a survival situation you just might need do that.
Making a fire is also very important. The fire should be lit in one try, and a good technique for making a fire is with very dry kindling in the middle bottom of the fire, then larger sticks, and last the large logs. This fire should be started with just one match because you don't want to waste what you have, and if you find it hard to start the fire, never let it burn out. If you have no matches or lighters on hand, you could use ammunition powder, a lens (magnifying glass or thick glasses), a metal match, flint and steel, or steel wool and a battery to ignite some very dry material. Striking rocks together also produce sparks.
Building a shelter to protect against the weather, animals or insects, will let you survive better as well. Make the shelter very small so it will be warm for you. You can use sticks and logs, leaves and mud to make your shelter. It should be sturdy and wind resistant. If it is winter it might be easiest to make a snow fort or igloo type structure. This will keep you warmer then if you were outside and you wouldn't waste wood which could be used for a fire.
Knowing directions is also important. If you can navigate by the sun, or moon and stars, you will be able to go home quickly and you won't walk in circles. These skills will help you survive much longer then if you just started walking in circles.
If you ever get lost try to stay in one place and make the best of the items you have. Try to make a fire to signal a rescue party, try to find water as soon as possible, and make a shelter to protect yourself. Look for edible plants or animals so you will even survive for a longer time.
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