Are you prepared for any possible situation? A good survivalist knows that there are some things that everyone needs to know – or carry. How many of these 14 tips were you previously aware of?
1) Carry a Small Survival Kit
Place some bandages, a portable sewing kit, some matches, and even a small knife in an empty plastic prescription bottle. Carry it with you at all time, because you never know when you’ll need it.
Related Article: 5 EDC Kit Items You Won’t Want to Overlook
2) Swim Using Only Your Legs
If for some reason you end up in a lake or stream and don’t have the use of your arms, you need to know how to swim using only your legs. Start by flipping onto your back, then breathe, flip over, and then repeat, using your legs as ballast.
3) Make Your Matches Waterproof
Did you know that you can turn regular matches into waterproof ones, just by covering them with a thin layer of nail polish? Now you know!
Related Article: 3 Extremely Simple Ways to Make Waterproof Matches
4) Make a Fish Trap
Fishing without poles and bait is easy with a fish trap. Form a circle in the water with stones, but leave an opening near the shore. The fish will swim in and then out right in your direction.
5) Stitch Your Own Wounds
If you’re in the middle of nowhere and have a deep wound on your arm or leg, you’ll need to stitch it yourself. Be prepared with a needle and thread, and then the second your rescued (or back in town) go to a doctor.
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6) Know Basic Morse Code
As long as you have a flashlight, then you can signal for help in the dark. The standard morse code shorthand for “SOS” (also known as “help me”) is three short flashes of light, then three longer ones, and then three shorter ones. Take a five-second break in between, and then repeat them over and over again.
7) Make a Torch Out of Wet Wood
Wet wood can be a major issue. Thankfully, you can split the log across the top into a star shape, and then light it. The inner part of the wood will burn very slowly, but some fire is better than none at all.
Suggest Article: How to Make A Swedish Fire Torch
8) Get Creative When You’re Stuck at Sea
The first thing to remember is that you shouldn’t panic. Then, get creative. You can turn your clothing into fish nets, sticks into fishing poles, and wires into fishing line.
9) Know the Signs of a Rabies Bite
If you were bitten by a wild animal, you can tell that it was rabid just by looking at your wound. It will keep bleeding, turn very dark red, and then start to itch.
10) Let Poisonous Snake Bites Bleed
Don’t be tempted to cover up a venomous snake bite. Instead, let it bleed because this means that some of the poison is leaving your system, along with your blood.
Related Article: Snakebites: What Should You Do?
11) Don’t Panic When Trapped Underground
Panicking will only make you use up even more precious oxygen than standard breathing. Instead, remain as calm as possible until help arrives.
12) Travel at Night in Hot Temperatures
Getting stuck outdoors when the weather is extremely hot can kill you. Heat stroke is no joke. Instead, find a place to rest during the day and travel only at night.
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13) Make Plenty of Noise When You See Wild Dogs
Wild dogs won’t hesitate to attack, so you don’t want to run away or even turn your back on them. Instead, walk backwards quickly while making plenty of noise. This will scare them off.
14) Immediately Wash Your Wound after Getting Bitten
A wild animal bite can easily become infected. Always take the time to wash any bites, even if the only thing nearby is a stream or lake.