Camping Survival

When camping you can prepare and equip yourself as much as possible for many situations with your camping and outdoor equipment, camping first aid kit and outdoor survival kit. But what about the unexpected? Say for example you leave your tent to embark on a leisurely walk through the forest and find yourself in a field face to face with an angry bull or hidden behind one of the trees in the forest is a wild bear. What are you going to do? Camping equipment is very useful but for situations such as meeting a bull or bear, its knowledge, calmness and clarity of thought that will get you through and give you camping survival.

Camping and Outdoor Equipment

Camping Survival

How to act with an angry bull

If you find yourself in the rather precarious situation of being face to face with an angry bull, whatever you do don’t panic. Most species of animals can smell fear and view this as a weakness and then take the initiative because they gain extra confidence from your fear. Bulls though generally are not so interested in humans and will leave us humans alone unless they become angry. So whatever you do try not to antagonize the bull and remain as motionless as possible. Hard to do I grant you, but it’s paramount you remain motionless.

Trying to run away from a bull is a futile exercise as the bull can easily outrun any human being. However take heed of your situation and look around for any escape routes. What you will hope to see are fences that you can jump over, high ground or some sort of safe shelter.

How to escape from bees

If you are out camping and find yourself in the situation where bees are flying around you and stinging then do not freeze and stand still. You must run away as fast as possible. And in no situation must you try and swat these bees. If you do so they will become even angrier and more aggressive towards you than they already are.

So run towards shelter. This is wise camping survival.

You really need to get indoors as quickly as you can and if there is no indoor shelter of any kind available to you then run through bushes and high weeds which will help to give you some sort of cover.

When you are stung by a bee the stinger is left in your skin. You must remove this and to do this you rake your fingernail across it in a sideway motion. If you try to pinch or pull out the stinger you run the risk of squeezing more of the stinger venom into your body. But you have to remove the stinger because they stay live for up to 10 minutes and during this time they are continually pumping venom into your body.

If when running from bees you encounter water such as a river or lake you may think it’s a good idea to jump in as the bees will not like water. But do not do this because more than likely the bees will just be hanging around waiting for you to resurface and you have less movement ability in water. You will be a sitting duck for them.

The most dangerous bee is the Africanized honeybee which is the cousin of the domesticated honeybee that has been living in the US for many centuries. The Africanized honeybee is wild and become very aggressive when they are angered by humans or animals alike. And they are easily angered. Bees tend to swarm in the Spring and Fall which is when bee colonies move to make a new hive and they will protect this new hive with much gusto, attacking and stinging any potential threat to it. These bees can actually kill So you must run. Bees will chase you for about 150 yards before backing of so stay in reasonable health to be able to sprint for 150 yards if you encounter the bee. If you see a bee colony, avoid it and under no circumstance ever bother a bee colony.

Once the bandage is on and tied you should be able to slip a finger underneath it. If you can’t, then loosen it a little until you can. If you have a well equipped camping first aid kit then you may have a suction device of some kind in it. This you can use to suck out the venom from the wound.

The things not to do when you suffer from a snakebite are to place ice or some other form of cooling agent on the bite. This will make it more difficult to get the venom out by suction. If you tie the bandage above the bite too tightly you will cut off blood flow which could cause permanent damage to a limb. Trying to cut out the venom from the wound with a knife or some other similar object subjects you to the danger of infection and any attempt to suck out the venom using your mouth is also very risky. If you suck out venom and it’s in your mouth it can be absorbed or even swallowed and enter the blood stream that way.

To avoid a snake attack, if you see a snake do not go towards it to get a closer look. The snake will view this as threatening. Under no circumstances prod the snake to make it move and don’t try to kill it. Instead back away slowly from the snake and give it a wide berth. A snake has a striking distance of at least half their body length and some can strike up to 6 feet in distance. When you are out camping and hiking in a place where you know there could be a possibility of meeting a snake you should always have the correct camping and outdoor equipment such as thick leather boots and long trousers made from sturdy material. One tip worth remembering is that snakes are cold blooded and do need the sun to regulate their body temperatures so you are more likely to see a snake in sunny places or lying on warm rocks. So be more vigilant in these areas for safer camping survival.

Escaping from a mountain lion

As beautiful as these magnificent creatures look they are not the average household moggie and you want to avoid them. If you see a mountain lion whilst you are out hiking do nut run as by running you will cause the cat to pay more attention you. If you can see the cat and you think maybe that the cat has not seen you still don’t run. This creature has incredible senses and would of already smelt you even before it came into your view. Instead of running try to make yourself appear bigger by opening your coat wide if you are wearing one. Mountain lions are very wary of creatures larger than themselves and are less prone to making the first aggressive move.

Also when coming head to head with the lion do not crouch down. Stand your ground and wave your arms about and make noise. By doing this you display to the lion that you have no fear of it and that you are not defenceless. Children are more at risk from the mountain lion than adults. They are smaller and move around quicker and have higher pitched voices than adults. The child is more like prey to the lion. So if you have children with you, pick them up and hold them in your arms. This will make you appear much bigger and hence more of a threat to the lion.

Survival skills

These are abilities and skills that a person will use when they are in a dangerous survival situation to help themselves or comrades to survive. Survival skills are used to provide any basic necessities for human life such as water, food and shelter. They are also essential for the person to think clearly, signal others for help, to be able to safely navigate one’s way back to safety, to have the knowledge and skill to avoid any possible nasty interactions with wild animals and plants and of course to be able to perform first aid.

Survival skills are very useful to know even though you may never have to use them. If you are an outdoor type who goes camping then you will come into contact with nature and many possible dangerous situations can occur in nature where the knowledge of survival skills will ensure your safety. Whilst camping you may go mountain trekking and find yourself lost without much in the way of camping and outdoor equipment to assist you. Your survival skills will pay great dividends in this situation. Maybe you are embarking upon desert camping and being lost in the desert can be fatal without the appropriate survival skills.

There are 3 major points we must all know regarding survival and it is these 3 points that pretty much dictate to how you will react in a situation. These points are not strict and of course there will be exceptions, but if you use these as a guide line they will help you prioritize and plan correctly.

A human being cannot survive for more than 3 hours exposed to extremely low temperatures.
A human being cannot survive for more than 3 days without water.
A human being cannot survive more than 3 weeks without food.

Fire

Being able to have fire will help you greatly in being able to survive out in the wilderness if you are lost. Learning how to light a fire without matches or a cigarette lighter is an excellent skill to possess for outdoor survival Fire is a vital tool in the fact that it can warm you up, can dry wet clothes, can clean water and be used for cooking. But this is not all that fire will give you. Psychologically fire will give you a boost for the safety and protection it gives you. Fire can deter wild animals away from you and also the light and smoke from the fire can be used as sources of signaling for help to the rescue services.

Water

The human being can survive for just 3 to 5 days without water on average providing they are at sea level, room temperature and humidity is favourable. If the conditions are colder or warmer then the human has a greater need for water. Any form of exercise will also increase the need for water. Under normal conditions the human being will lose between 2 and 3 litres of water in a day and much more in hot or cold weather. In order for the human being to keep the body functioning properly and to prevent dehydration whilst in the wilderness it is between 4 and 6 litres of water or other liquids that the body will require.

Dehydration is caused by the lack of water and the symptoms of this are lethargy, dizziness, headaches and confusion. So you can see that lack of water is a great concern in any survival situation. Even a mild form of dehydration can reduce your endurance levels and impair your concentration. You will know if you are dehydrated by the symptoms you suffer and the fact that when you urine your urine will be dark yellow or dark brown.

Food

The human body needs food to survive but in a survival situation it is not the main priority as the body can survive several weeks without it. Water always takes precedence over food. Lack of food in extreme cold temperatures can be very dangerous. When the body does not have food intake the human becomes irritable and has low morale. You become weak and lose mental clarity. The immune system also becomes weaker and your body has problems in keeping a level maintained body temperature. In the wilderness you must seek out nuts, mushrooms, cereals and algae to feed the body. These food stuffs are high in calories which gives the body energy. Plants are usually the most abundant of food stuff available and are usually the easiest food sources to collect without exerting too much effort away from other survival skills.

Shelter

In any given survival situation you should find yourself a base of some sort and have shelter. These shelters protect the human from the environment they are in and any extreme weather conditions. With shelter it is possible to sleep which is another vital human need. A shelter can be a natural shelter such as a cave or a large fallen down tree. You can also build your own shelter such as digging a ditch next to a large log and then covering it with foliage to act as a roof.

Mental state

The state of the human mind plays a vital part in any survival situation Stress is the biggest issue as it is a natural reaction to any adverse situation. Being able to function under stress is paramount. Fear is a normal reaction to a survival situation and it can lessen the ability to make clear and concise decisions. You need to overcome this fear to be productive. With fear usually anxiety comes as well. This is a feeling of uneasiness that consumes the body and mind and if not checked quickly it can get out of control. You need to control this. If you do not take control of the fear and anxiety then panic will also join the equation. Panic causes impulsive actions and loss of self control. So there is a very bad snowball effect going on here and you have to prevent this effect from happening. Anger can also be experienced and this anger will drain your energy so channel the anger into doing something constructive like building a shelter. Lastly depression can also rear it’s ugly head especially if the human is alone. This can cause the loss of hope and hence lead to just giving up. So in a survival situation you must control your mind set and remain as positive and enthusiastic as possible in performing your camping survival.

If you are fortunate enough to see any of these escape points then do take a gamble and run for it to seek solace. And very good luck to you though I am sure you will make it as in this situation you will find that even if you were a slow runner in your school days, this situation will propel you to Olympic standard sprinter.

Now if you have taken in your situation and looked around for an escape point of some sort and not found any then don’t despair. You must remove your shirt, jumper or any other article of clothing to use to distract the bull. In bullfights the matadors always use red, but the colour makes no difference to the bull whatsoever. It’s the movement of the garment that the bull will react to, not the colour. So if the bull charges at you, remain as still as possible and throw your piece of clothing away from you. The bull will divert away from you to the thrown clothing.

If in the field you encounter many bulls or cows or even both that are having a mini stampede towards you, do not try and distract them. Instead determine where you think they are heading and get out of the way. If that is not at all possible then the only option left available to you is to join the stampede and run alongside the creatures so you don’t get trampled. Lying down is futile. Horses will always try to avoid a human that is lying down, but bulls will not. They will just go over the top of you and you don’t want to be trampled by these heavy creatures.

Escaping from a bear

If you go down in the woods today you’re sure to be in for a big surprise. Isn’t that a line from nursery rhyme? And how true it could be! So if you do come across a bear lie still and be quiet. Research into bear attacks have shown that a black bear often stops fighting when there is no resistance or aggression back. Bears are very good tree climbers and can climb them quickly and easily so if you see a tree and think you will be safe up in it then think again. If you are lying down and being still and the bear still attacks you then respond with as much aggression as possible and direct all your strikes at the bear’s eyes or snout.

If you see a bear you really should make your presence known to it as the last thing you want to do is surprise a bear. If you talk loudly, clap your hands or even sing then the bear will be aware of you. If you have children with you make sure they stay close to your side and always within your sight. There is no guaranteed minimum safe distance from a beer but the further away the better for safe camping survival.

To avoid being attacked by a bear when camping always try to reduce or even eliminate cooking odours and food smells from your clothes and your camping and outdoor equipment and definitely do not sleep in the same clothes that you cook in. The main reason bears and humans come into contact is because of the bear being on the lookout for food. So do not leave any food in your tent and also store and dispose of your rubbish properly when camping. Bears are dangerous and you should avoid them in the wild and just remember that they are on the lookout for food and associate humans with food when they are camping. Bears are most aggressive when defending their cubs and defending a recent kill. So always bear this in mind.

Dealing with a poisonous snake attack

The thing with snakes is if you are not a snake expert then it will be difficult for you to identify and differentiate between poisonous snakes and non-poisonous snakes. They have similar markings and their bodies are almost identical so the best advice for camping survival is to just leave all snakes alone and then you don’t risk getting bitten.

But if you are bitten by a snake you should try and wash the bite as quickly as you can with soap and water. Keep the bitten area lower than your heart level as this will slow down the flow of the venom inside the blood system and then try and seek medical help as quickly as possible. A snakebite is a medical emergency and you really need to have a doctor deal with it. Whilst you are waiting for medical attention concentrate on slowing down the progress of the venom. Wrap a bandage or something similar tightly at approximately 4 inches above the bite to help slow the flow of this venom. But do not tie the bandage too tightly as you do not want to cut off the blood flow from a vein or artery.

How To Survive Being Lost In The Mountains

If you find yourself lost in the mountains be aware that hypothermia will be your number one danger. Most casualties are caused by this. You must stay calm in the darkness and loneliness and your chances of survival will increase dramatically. So whatever you do try not to let panic set in. If you have told someone where you are going then if you have not returned, your failure to return would have been reported and the search and rescue teams will be out looking for you. In general these search teams only search during daylight so it nightfall comes without you being located then you must find yourself some shelter.

Try to find shelter that is already present as building your own shelter will use up vital energy as well as making you sweat and cold. If there is snow on the mountain dig down into the snow and make yourself a kind of cave which will protect you from the wind. If at all possible try to make your shelter as near to the middle of the mountain as possible. Valleys are a real no no as cold air falls and the valley floor is usually the coldest part of a mountain.

You need to signal for help from the highest point you can be on. Make 3 fires in a triangle or if you have a signaling device then use this. You should be signaling during the day as this is when the search teams will be out looking for you.. The search teams will also be tracing the route that you took, so do not wander off far from your route as they may miss you and by wandering off will also make it harder for you to be found.

If you are venturing out into the wilderness then you must be fully equipped with the correct camping and outdoor equipment. Firstly you must be dressed properly. This clothing you need to layer. The first layer should be long underwear made from polypropylene if you have it. This underwear will only give you a little insulation as it’s main purpose is to draw any moisture off your skin. The second layer of clothing should be something like a down parks which is worn to trap and create warm air space. Your top layer of clothing should be a breathable jacket of some description. Gore-Tex is a wonderful material for this. These breathable jackets allow moisture to escape but prevent it from entering thus giving you dry insulation.

Once you have sorted out the correct clothing you must never embark out without a survival kit of some sort. In this survival kit you must have a heat source of some sort. Try to take along several boxes of waterproof matches and a cigarette lighter. For shelter emergencies you need a small space blanket which has a foil like coating that can be used to insulate yourself. The type of space blanket you should be looking to have is one that is silver on one side for warmth and orange gold on the other side which you can use for signaling. Other small items you should have with you as well are a whistle and small mirror. The whistle can be used to alert people to your predicament whilst the mirror is another form of signaling device. On the rations front pack carbohydrates instead of proteins. Proteins need heat to be broken down and require a lot more water for digestion.Just these few items will help you greatly with your camping survival.

When you have accepted the situation that you face and become a little calmer try to back away from the lion very slowly or wait for the lion to just move on. But if the lion continues to act in an aggressive manner towards you pick up anything such as stones and throw them at the lion. By doing this you are trying to convince the lion that you are not prey and instead could actually be a dangerous threat to the lion

But if none of these actions deter an attack from the mountain lion and the creature attacks you then you must fight back as aggressively as possible pin pointing the eyes and mouth. Use anything you can get hold of and always protect your throat and neck at all costs as this is a matter of life or death. When a mountain lion hunts they leap down on to prey and bite the back of the neck in a crushing grip. This is how the lion will try to deal with you.

So if you are in an area that is populated by the mountain lion, to avoid an attack from a mountain lion, hike with company and not at dusk or dawn when the mountain lion is most active. But generally the mountain lion will try to avoid you as much as you will try to avoid it.