Adventure Outdoors Magazine Summer 2015 | Page 76

SURVIVAL & SAFETY that is water. The human body can survive between 6-8 weeks without food, but only days without hydration. The top three things that will kill you out there are: hypothermia, dehydration, and lack of sleep. To reduce the risk of hypothermia while sleeping (if you didn’t pack that sleeping bag and tarp), build a bed off the cold ground. Pine needles, leaves, and bark chips make good insulation to lift you up and this is more important than shelter in some cases. If you Willow leaves contain natural aspirin. Chew a couple to relieve pain, inflammation and headaches. Water Fire Collect it from the dew on plants with a bandana or sock and wring it into a bottle (or your mouth). If there is a water source nearby, purify it by boiling first. You can also drink the sap from certain trees, like maple, because the sap is water-based. You can build a shelter by the light of fire, you can’t build a fire in the dark of night with a shelter. A shelter is no good if you aren’t protected from wild animals by the fire that will scare them off, as well. Shelter Food The elements will drain you body’s energy, which is needed to keep moving. Protect yourself in a shelter when resting. If you’re hungry and you have it, eat by all means. If you don’t have water, fire, or shelter first, then forget about food. Other things to note are how to tell where you are. If you lose your compass, use your watch as a makeshift version. Point the hour hand at the sun. If it is morning, s