20 Random Survival Facts That Could Save Your Life

“Knowledge is the key to survival, the real beauty of that is that it doesn’t way anything” – Ray Mears

1. Before setting off on a hike, always let someone know where you’re going and what time you expect to be home by.

2. Tinder (for lighting fire) can be improvised using loose threads, lint or the wool from inside padded clothes.

3. When lighting a fire in a forest, make sure you find a clear, open area to prevent forest fires.

4. You can filter water through moss, twigs and clothing. Boil water if you are unsure of how clean it is, this will kill any remaining germs.

5. Bears should be dealt with depending on their species. If it’s black, fight back. If its brown, lie down. If it’s white, good night.

6. If you are being attacked by any other animal stand tall and look threatening. If a predator thinks you’ll be a difficult meal, they won’t bother with you.

7. Water and shelter are the most important things needed to survive. Humans can survive up to 6 weeks without food.

8. If you find yourself in the elements without a sleeping mat, one can be improvised using dry leaves, branches and moss. This may be uncomfortable but lying on the ground will absorb your body heat and cause hypothermia.

9. If you become lost, don’t panic. Remember to S.T.O.P. – Sit, Think, Observe and Plan.

10. Wearing wet clothes is more dangerous than wearing no clothes at all. If you accidentally get soaked, take your clothes of and dry your body as soon as possible.

11. If you have no other source of water, then make sure you melt snow before drinking it as your body uses a lot of energy and heat to convert it to water.

12. Don’t remove the object if you accidentally get stabbed or impaled. The object might be plugging an artery or vain and by leaving it in place you are reducing the risk of bleeding out or becoming infected.

13. If you get lost in the wild, try to find a fence or a river. Rivers flow downhill and fences will lead back to society.

14. Always carry a mirror and whistle when hiking in case you become stranded and need assistance. A mirror can be used to reflect the sun and get attention from far away. Three blows on a whistle is the universal for “I need help”.

15. You can make an emergency knife by rubbing the edge of a can or tin on a rock until its sharp.

16. Use tweezers to carefully remove ticks as they burrow deep into your skin and can be difficult to get out fully with fingers. Wear long trousers when walking through tall grass to minimize the likelihood of tick bites.

17. Watch out for a red bump with a red circle around it on your skin. This is a symptom of lymes disease which can be caught from tick bites.

18. Eat something before going to sleep as digesting food helps heat up your body. A few star jumps can also help you heat up just before bed.

19. Always carry paracord on you. It doesn’t take up a lot of space and can be used for so many different things including repairing clothes, tying items to trees and even as an emergency snare.

20. The most important thing needed to survive any emergency is a positive attitude. Staying optimistic will increase your chances of survival and ultimately keep you sane whilst you wait for help.