Survival Tips To Get You Through A Crisis
Sometimes there appears to be no end in sight. Especially in 2020. Numerous hurricanes one right after another brought floods and wind damage and destruction. Not enough rain in the West helps wildfires destroy everything in their paths. And not enough toilet paper due to a pandemic. Feel you need some Survival Tips now?
If you find yourself in a crisis situation what are some basic ‘need to have items‘?
- Water
- Food
- Tools
- Means to supply a shelter
- First Aid Kit
- Proper protective clothing
- A means to call for help
- A way to start a fire
How great would those look after losing your home?
The Importance Of Emergency Preparedness
One of the best survival tips I could give you is the importance of being prepared before any type of crisis hits you and your family over the head. Having a bug-out bag or some basic survival kit always on hand could be a lifesaver.
Living in survival mode is quite different than everyday life. I’ve run across many people who have thought that they were prepared for surviving a catastrophe, even though they hadn’t done anything to survive.
Usually, these are highly capable people who are used to doing a lot of things for themselves. Many have extensive workshops, where they fix whatever their family needs.
Yet that doesn’t make them ready to survive.
Survival Tools To Consider
Most of those workshops have the wrong types of tools to survive. Besides, what good is a bunch of power tools going to do if there is no electricity to operate them?
Did you buy that electric chainsaw because of its ease of use? And now you have no electricity.
A survival tip to consider is that the tools it takes to survive in a crisis are much different than the tools we use on a regular DIY day.
Survival tools can be broken down into two basic categories: those that are used at home and portable tools to be used when bugging out. You need to prepare with both types as you don’t know what you’re going to face until the time comes. Following is a list of Survival Tips with tools for your well-being.
A Good Knife. The knife tops the list of Survival Tips because it is the most universal tool; it can be used for everything from food capture and preparation to shelter building and maintenance. To be a good survival knife, it should be a full-tang, fixed blade. A long blade looks flashy but isn’t really necessary as it can be hard to work with. A knife that is four to five inches long is plenty.
An Ax. If you lose power, there’s a good chance that you’re going to need to cut firewood to heat your home. An ax or maul will make it possible to split the logs you cut so that they will burn well.
A Bow Saw. A chainsaw is commonly used for cutting logs. But if gasoline is not available, that is not going to do much good. While a bow saw is much slower for cutting tree branches and logs, it will work as long as you have energy in your body.
A Crosscut Saw. Many types of disasters can cause damage to our homes. Being able to make repairs can be the difference between being able to stay in your home or having to leave. Once again, this is another area where power tools dominate, but before all those nice power saws came along, the crosscut saw was the choice way to cut lumber.
A Shovel. A shovel will allow you to break up the ground to plant seeds for a garden or dig a hole to be used as a latrine. Both of those can be very important if normal services are down.
A Wheelbarrow. This universal hand cart can be used to haul water from the local pond or to maintain a garden. When there’s no gas for the car, you’ll still need water and other supplies, and that wheelbarrow could be a lifesaver.
A Butane Lighter. We don’t normally think of a cigarette lighter as a tool, however, it makes the Survival Tips List because it will come in handy in survival mode. Lighters are much better than matches for starting fires simply because they stay lit and won’t be as affected by bad weather. Keep it up close to your body when outdoors so the wind does not blow it out and waste your fuel.
A Gun. Careful here! This is another one that most people don’t think of as a tool, but that’s exactly what guns are. With them, you can hunt for food, protect your home, and signal for help.
Be sure to practice with your guns so that you can use them well. Also, be sure to get proper training! Sometimes I get a little queasy by putting this on a Survival Tip List, however, there is a chance that this “tool” will be needed, and it would be a disservice to you and this site not to mention it.
A Hatchet. Your ax is for cutting wood at home, whereas a hatchet is best for your bug-out bag. While it won’t cut wood as well as a full-sized ax, it’s a lot easier to carry and is definitely better than not having one at all. Your hatchet should also be useful as a hammer for driving tent pegs.
A Wire Saw. That bow saw is a bit big to fit in your backpack. If you have to bug out, having a wire saw will give you something to use for cutting tree branches to make a shelter. Buy the three-wire kind; that way, you’ll still have a saw if one strand breaks.
A Camp Shovel. Another portable version of your home tool. You might have to dig a hole in the woods for a fire pit, put a trench around your tent to drain water, or dig a latrine to bury waste. While a folding camp shovel isn’t as good as full-size, it’s a whole lot better than using your knife or bare hands.
A Honing Stone. That knife you’ve got, which you can use both at home and in the woods, isn’t going to be very useful if it doesn’t have a sharp edge on it. Always keep a honing stone and some oil so that you can keep your blade in top form.
Food And Water Survival Means
Water is a must. Find a way to ensure you are adequately hydrated at all times throughout the period you will be without a home. You will be very active in getting your life back together.
A hydration system or water bottle will allow you to carry only a limited amount of water. Conversely, a water purification system can turn murky or unsafe water to clean and safe drinking water.
Food will provide you with the energy to perform optimally both physically and mentally while getting your life back. There are guidelines on the number of calories you need per day for your best performance. You may need even more food in this type of situation.
Pack energy-rich foods and snacks. Also, ensure the foods are either ready-to-eat or easy to prepare. The food must be enough in quantity to feed you and your family for the entire period you will be outdoors.
Shelter Issues For Survival
A shelter is crucial to any survival situation. It offers protection from the extremes of weather conditions. Ideally, a tent could be the best shelter when your home is gone.
A good alternative would be to carry shelter-making materials and the proper tools so that you can use the materials nature provides. Even better is to pack a tarp in that pre-made survival kit that you can use to easily and quickly make a shelter. Just use a paracord or a rope from your survival tool kit to tie your tarp to some tree branches.
Survival Tips On Your Wardrobe
It isn’t easy to tell when a disaster will leave you basically homeless. You cannot even be sure what the weather conditions will be at that time. Things would be much easier if you planned for your survival needs because you can rely on information from the metrological department.
Otherwise, ensure you pack a raincoat or a poncho to provide you with a cushion when it rains. Even if you can obtain weather focus for the future from the metrological department, pack a raincoat and something to keep warm in because you cannot be sure of the accuracy of the weather that might be coming your way..
First Aid In A Survival Crisis
Giving yourself an injury in a hectic fast-moving survival situation is something you should be well prepared for adequately. You may not be able to access the emergency medical crew in time because who knows how long local officials can get to you when all hell is breaking loose in your area.
A First Aid Kit is vital in this case. It can help stop the worsening of bleeding from minor injuries, mobilize injured limbs, and even dress wounds to prevent infections.
It is not necessary for you to go for the huge, fully equipped First Aid Kits. Survivalists can benefit from smaller versions. You can even cut off more weight from the kit by packing only the essential items such as latex gloves, gauze, cotton wool, and bandages, Do not forget any prescriptions, OTC pain medications, and alcohol-based cleaning wipes.
Fire Starting Survival Tips
Your house may be severely damaged or completely destroyed. No electricity, an unworking stove, and a heater. How are you and your family going to keep warm, heat food, and keep yourself warm if the weather is not cooperating?
You are going to have the means to start a fire to achieve some basic comfort and relief. You should have thought of packing some matches or a lighter in your survival kit and have the knowledge of starting a fire in wet weather.
And you thought things could not get any worse.
So how do you start a fire in wet weather? Click here for a survival lesson on fire starting.
Lost And Found Survival Tips
If you find yourself in an evacuation situation, you most likely will be leaving via your car. And there is always a chance that might not go too well. In that case, you may want the authorities to find you. Right now.
How do you get that kind of attention when you are trying to outrun a fire or flood?
A simple flare gun that you could buy from a big box store and include in your survival kit would be the answer.
One of those things can help the authorities to locate someone in distress.
What Survival Tips Did We Learn Today?
Good supplies and the knowledge of how to use them can mean the difference between life and death. There are two keys to success. First, buy quality tools. This isn’t the place to get cheap because poorly made tools will break at the worst possible times.
Second, know how to use what you have to full effect. Even if you buy the best ax on the market, if you don’t know how to split a log with it, you’re going to be cold out there in the wild. Practice with your tools until you are comfortable with them. Then, when you have to use them, you’ll be ready to solve problems speedily and with a whole lot less stress.
Remember……a survival situation is not the time to panic. You are more likely to survive a difficult situation if you focus on maintaining a practical way as a means of survival.
What are the practical means of survival?
• Develop a plan for you and your environment.
• Inventory the resources and the tools you have.
• Identify the critical tasks and tools required for survival such as water and shelter.
• Determination is often an important means that separates a survivor from others.
•You may feel hopeless, however, keep your thoughts focused on the tasks that need to be accomplished.
