Survival Essentials

What do we mean by Survival Essentials?

Well, there are basically 2 ways to look at it – essential equipment and essential needs. One obviously follows on from the other.

When you are out hiking, backpacking, camping or generally enjoying the great outdoors, if something goes wrong what do you need to ensure survival? What are your basic Survival Essentials?

If you consider your basic survival needs, factor in the type of trip you are planning and the terrain you will be covering, then you should be able to determine what basic survival equipment to take with you.

Your basic survival needs are:-

Medical (physical and psychological)

Protection (clothing, shelter and fire)

Sustenance (food and water)

Signaling (a means of communication to get help)

Travel (the ability to get to safety)

If you consider these 5 basic needs and look at the trip you are planning, you can work out what survival kit to take with you.

Remember that in a rescue situation, the survivor is usually the weak link. Change that by being prepared.

Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail.

Back in the 1930s, a mountaineering club based in Seattle came up with what they thought were the 10 essential items to take with you to survive an emergency situation.

The 10 Essentials have since been adopted by hikers, backpackers, campers and many other organizations.

This list was obviously aimed at mountaineers, but even with advances in technology has hardly changed.

If you are not sure what to take, this list is a good place to start.

The original list was:-

A map

A compass

Sunglasses and sun cream

Extra food and water

Spare clothes

A flashlight (torch) or headlamp

A First Aid kit

Matches

A Firestarter

A Knife

Sunglasses and sun cream may be essential in the snow, but I think for a jungle expedition you might decide insect repellant was more important.

A number of items have been added to this list of 10, amongst them:-

Emergency Whistle

Signal Mirror

Emergency Blanket (sometimes known as a space blanket)

Water Purification System

Repair Kit

Emergency Bivvi Bag

As you can see, Survival Essentials is the Survival Equipment you need to take with you to cater for your Basic Survival Needs in an emergency situation.

Don’t underestimate the importance of these items.

It is very easy to find yourself in the sort of situation where one or more of these items will be critical for your survival – either through an accident or simply by underestimating how difficult the trip will be.