Preparing oneself by learning survival skills in their backyard before venturing into the wilderness is a secure and effortless approach. To ensure preparedness for any survival circumstance, here are eight fundamental skills that one should acquire and excel in.
1. BUILDING A FIRE
Fire is considered one of the most advantageous fundamental survival skills, even though it is not a necessity for staying alive. It serves numerous purposes such as providing warmth to the body and shelter, drying clothes, boiling water, and cooking food. Additionally, in a survival scenario, fire can also offer psychological comfort by imparting a feeling of safety and reassurance.
When traveling in the wilderness, it is advisable to have various fire-starting tools like a lighter, matches, flint and steel, and more. However, starting a fire can still be difficult when the weather is bad. It is strongly recommended to practice starting fires in different weather conditions and habitats as this skill is extremely important. If you ever find yourself without a modern fire-starting tool, the most effective primitive technique is fire by friction. Popular methods for friction fire-making include bow drill, hand drill, fire plow, and fire saw.
If the weather is damp or overcast, or if you are in a survival situation with limited or no supplies, building a fire may be more challenging than anticipated. However, the benefits of a fire, such as keeping warm, deterring predators, and providing heat for cooking, make it worth the effort.
If you want to create fire without gear, there are various innovative methods available that require practice and patience. An excellent way to be prepared for an emergency is to try out some fire-building skills in your backyard.
One way to practice finding or creating dry tinder is by carving a feather stick or searching for amadou, a fungus that grows in the bark of coniferous trees. Another option is to search for quartz in your backyard which can be used to make a flint capable of producing a spark.
2. CREATING POTABLE WATER
Given that the human body is made up of as much as 78% water, it is not surprising that water is considered more important than fire or food. Ideally, individuals should consume approximately one gallon of water each day. Dehydration or the harmful effects of water-related diseases are often the cause of death for many lost individuals. It is important to note that minerals and metals resulting from industrial and agricultural practices can be present in water downstream. In a wilderness environment, springs, head-water streams, and collecting dew in the morning are the best sources of clean drinking water.
One must possess the ability to obtain safe drinking water as it is perhaps the most crucial skill required for survival. Regrettably, natural water sources are not consistently sanitary and have the potential to contain parasites, viruses, and bacteria. However, it is possible to produce drinkable water in the wilderness using simple techniques that can be practiced easily at home.
To ensure safe drinking water in the wilderness, the simplest method is to heat it until it boils. However, there is a possibility of encountering unpleasant taste due to residue or other particles. You can address this issue by passing the water through a t-shirt or constructing a filtration apparatus with the aid of fire charcoal, sand, and small river rocks, all contained within an inverted PET bottle.
Widely utilized modern approaches to purify/treat water consist of using filtering pumps as well as chemical treatments like iodine. If one finds themselves in a survival scenario with access to these supplies, they can prove to be both efficient and effective solutions. Another method, known as herbal treatment, can also be employed to purify water from viruses and bacteria. An example of this is grapefruit seed extract, which is available as a water purifier; although, there is some disagreement regarding its complete effectiveness. Boiling, however, is the most commonly utilized and substantiated means to safely purify water. By bringing water to a boil and maintaining it at a boiling point for a span of 2-3 minutes, bacteria and viruses can be killed.
If you cannot find a source of water, you can create a solar still to draw water from the earth. To build a solar still, dig a hole that is about two feet wide and one foot deep. Put a container at the bottom of the hole and cover it with a tarp or plastic sheet, ensuring that the edges are sealed with dirt or sand. Lastly, place a small rock in the middle of the cover, and moisture will gather on the underside of the cover and drip into the container.
If a person stays calm, builds a shelter, and finds clean water, they can survive for several weeks.
3. FORAGING FOR FOOD
It may be surprising to discover that food is not as high a priority on the basic survival skills list as shelter and water, as we can go much longer without it. Keep in mind the “Rule of Threes”: humans can endure approximately three weeks without food (though it is not ideal to go that long without eating!). Fortunately, natural environments typically offer a range of items that can fulfill our nutritional requirements. In a survival situation, wild plants are often the most easily accessible sources of food, while insects and small wild game can also sustain us.
There are several plants that can be found in abundance all over North America.
The cattail, referred to as the “supermarket of the swamp,” has edible roots, shoots, and pollen heads.
The inner bark of conifers, called cambium, contains sugars, starches, and calories, making it suitable for consumption on nearly all cone-bearing evergreen trees, except for Yew, as it is toxic.
The leaves of grasses can be a source of nutritional juices, and the root corm can be cooked and consumed.
The process of leaching bitter tannic acids from all acorns allows them to be consumed as an excellent source of protein, fats, and calories.
To ensure your safety, it is important to identify any plant you intend on consuming by using field guides or seeking guidance from an experienced expert. Identifying plants can be challenging, as some edible plants resemble poisonous ones. In case you are unable to identify a plant, it is best to refrain from consuming it.
In your backyard farm or around your neighborhood, there are a significant number of edible wild plants that might be unexpected. In a survival scenario, plants serve as an essential source of nutrients and can offer a low-impact means of obtaining energy.
It can be challenging to identify edible plants since some poisonous species share similarities with non-toxic ones. However, there are a few widely found plants in the country that are both nutritious and tasty, such as stinging nettle, dandelion, lamb’s quarters, and miner’s lettuce.
If you are not skilled at gathering food from the wild, it is advisable to steer clear of fungi and mushrooms, as numerous types can be fatal. Additionally, you can enhance your ability to recognize them by referring to a nearby botanical guidebook while observing them in your own backyard.
4. TYING KNOTS
To enhance your chances of survival, knot-tying is a frequently ignored skill that can assist you in constructing a shelter, setting snares, and making tools. Dedication of time and practice is required to acquire the ability to tie firm knots, therefore, take hold of a rope and revise your knot-tying proficiency.
5. MAKING A WEAPON
If you are ever in the wilderness without a weapon, your options for defending yourself against predators seeking an effortless meal are limited. However, you can craft a slingshot using simple materials found at home, such as a forked stick, rubber tubing, and leather or canvas for the pad. This underrated tool can be swiftly and easily made.
After constructing your slingshot, proceed to place several targets throughout your yard and engage in practice sessions of aiming and shooting. It is vital to wear eye protection and guarantee that nobody enters your field of vision while you release your ammunition.
6. BUILDING A SHELTER
When people find themselves in survival situations, they often encounter major difficulties due to direct exposure to the elements. The primary cause of death in such situations is hypothermia, which can be easily prevented by having basic survival skills. The ability to construct a shelter is of utmost significance in a survival scenario. It is crucial to prevent or reduce heat loss, or alternatively, minimize water loss if in a desert setting. Consider the following points when preparing to build a shelter:
When considering shelter, several factors should be taken into account: the location should be away from hazards and near necessary materials, insulation should protect from the ground, rain, wind, and air, and there should be a heat source available, either from body heat or fire. Additionally, the shelter can be designed for either personal or group use.
When considering shelters, there are numerous options to take into account, including natural ones like caves, hollow stumps and logs, as well as constructed ones such as a debris hut, lean-to, debris tipi, scout pit or snow shelter. Among these shelters, the debris hut is often the most feasible to build in almost any setting.
If you find yourself lost in the wilderness, one of the initial tasks to tackle is to search for shelter. However, finding a safe location to shield yourself from the elements can prove to be quite challenging. Utilize the skills you acquired during your childhood endeavors of constructing forts and employ them to build a temporary shelter within your backyard.
There are various shelter options available for building, depending on the terrain, environment, and season. Begin with a simple lean-to or tarp-tent and progress gradually in skill until you feel at ease using long branches to construct a teepee. In regions experiencing substantial winter snowfall, you can utilize the cold weather as an opportunity to learn how to dig a snow cave shelter.
7. BASIC FIRST AID
In the wilderness, it can be challenging for emergency services to reach you in case you are sick or injured. Hence, having knowledge of first aid and being capable of administering it can potentially be life-saving for yourself or a loved one.
To practice administering first aid for various common threats in survival situations, such as CPR, controlling bleeding, treating burns, stabilizing limbs, and finding soothing plants for insect stings and abrasions, grab a friend, partner, or family member and engage in the step-by-step process.
8. FISHING AND TRAPPING
It is crucial to learn the skills of setting snares for small game and survival fishing as they help you acquire valuable protein sources with minimal energy. The types of snares and fishing techniques may differ based on the target, thus it is important to practice setting various snares and using a wide range of fishing methods to be ready for any circumstance.
If you engage in the activity of setting snares in your backyard, it is essential that you remember to dismantle them afterwards in order to prevent any harm to the nearby wildlife or pets within your neighborhood.
Make Sure You Also Learn Some Naturalist Skills
Having a good understanding of nature will enhance your ability to survive in the outdoors. To excel in wilderness survival, it is essential to have comprehensive knowledge of various nature skills in addition to basic survival skills. For instance, being skilled at tracking wildlife enables efficient hunting for food, and familiarity with herbal medicine enables the use of wild plants for healing illnesses. Particularly in situations where you may intentionally pursue prolonged survival living, having expertise in naturalist knowledge is extremely valuable.
All hunter-gatherer ancestors possessed classification systems for living organisms. They were knowledgeable about their names, understood their functionalities, acknowledged their relationships with one another, and were well-informed about sustainable utilization of these resources. This knowledge formed the basis of their success in adapting to the natural surroundings.
For individuals who engage in recreational wilderness skills, having a basic understanding of the natural sciences (including botany, ecology, geology, etc…) can prove highly beneficial and rewarding. A good way to commence this journey is by acquiring the appropriate plant and animal field guides specific to your area. These references will assist you in recognizing different species and comprehending their interconnections.
The Takeaway
It is advisable to not wait until you find yourself stranded in the wilderness to enhance your survival skills. Engaging in activities like fire building and constructing a shelter, which are crucial abilities, can be accomplished during weekends within the confines of your secure backyard.
