Wilderness SurvivalWilderness Survival

Adapted from Boy Scouts of America Adapted from Boy Scouts of America Series : Wilderness SurvivalSeries : Wilderness Survival

What is wilderness survival?What is wilderness survival?

Knowing how to stay alive until an Knowing how to stay alive until an emergency is over (usually 24-48 hours if emergency is over (usually 24-48 hours if travel plan was made)travel plan was made)

Planned SituationPlanned Situation – training exercise – training exercise with minimal supplieswith minimal supplies

UnplannedUnplanned - Lost in nature, injured - Lost in nature, injured while hiking, capsized canoe, broken while hiking, capsized canoe, broken down vehicledown vehicle

7 Survival Priorities 7 Survival Priorities

Knowing priorities in an emergency Knowing priorities in an emergency lets you start to work immediately lets you start to work immediately and without confusion. and without confusion.

1. Positive Mental Attitude 1. Positive Mental Attitude

- Positive mental attitude may be the most Positive mental attitude may be the most essential element in survival.essential element in survival.

- When you first realize you are lost or When you first realize you are lost or confused, confused, STOPSTOP

S .T. O. P.S .T. O. P.

SStoptop, before you do anything. Take , before you do anything. Take off your pack and find a dry place to off your pack and find a dry place to sit. Relax sit. Relax

TThinkhink. Study your map if you have . Study your map if you have one. If you don't have a map, think one. If you don't have a map, think about where you could have gone about where you could have gone wrong wrong

S.T.O.P. ContinuedS.T.O.P. Continued OObservebserve. What do you have that may help . What do you have that may help

you? Weather? What natural resources are you? Weather? What natural resources are available? Where is a good place to make available? Where is a good place to make camp?camp?

PPlanlan a course of action. Adopt a plan that a course of action. Adopt a plan that will best utilize your limited reservoir of will best utilize your limited reservoir of energy. If dark, stay where you are. energy. If dark, stay where you are.

It is easier to find a stationary person than It is easier to find a stationary person than a moving one.a moving one.

2. First Aid2. First Aid

1.1. If an injury is life threatening, such If an injury is life threatening, such as rapid loss of blood, first aid as rapid loss of blood, first aid becomes the most important thing becomes the most important thing to do.to do.

3. Shelter 3. Shelter

In extreme cold finding or building In extreme cold finding or building a shelter of top importance a shelter of top importance

Even more urgent if night is Even more urgent if night is approaching.approaching.

4. Fire4. Fire

You will need a fire for warmth and You will need a fire for warmth and signaling. Fuel should be secured signaling. Fuel should be secured and the fire started before dark.and the fire started before dark.

5. Signaling 5. Signaling

When you have taken the first steps When you have taken the first steps in dealing with the emergency, you in dealing with the emergency, you will need to prepare rescue signals.will need to prepare rescue signals.

6. Water6. Water

Under all circumstances, water is Under all circumstances, water is essential. You can live only a few essential. You can live only a few days without it. days without it.

More important in hot, dry weatherMore important in hot, dry weather

7. Food7. Food

A person can live several weeks A person can live several weeks without food; it does not rate high without food; it does not rate high as a survival priority.as a survival priority.

Dangers of ColdDangers of Cold

HypothermiaHypothermia FrostbiteFrostbite

How does your body lose heat?How does your body lose heat?

RadiationRadiation - Heat given off just because - Heat given off just because we are warmer than the air around us we are warmer than the air around us

RespirationRespiration - Heat lost in the air we - Heat lost in the air we exhale exhale

ConductionConduction - Heat lost while we are in - Heat lost while we are in contact with cold surfaces contact with cold surfaces

EvaporationEvaporation - Heat lost by evaporating - Heat lost by evaporating sweat on our skin sweat on our skin

ConvectionConvection - Heat passed on to the - Heat passed on to the surrounding airsurrounding air

HypothermiaHypothermia Hypothermia is a drop in the body’s core

temperature (in the central part of the body).

As the body loses heat, it begins to function less and less efficiently.

Blood vessels constrict, drawing blood away from the hands and feet toward the heart and lungs

Effects of Body Temps.Effects of Body Temps.

98.6 ° F : Average normal body temperature 96.0 ° F : Body shivers to generate heat.

Chemical reactions slow. 94.0 ° F : Body may shiver uncontrollably.

Mental and physical processes are very inefficient; good chance of making dangerous, irrational mistakes.

Affects of Body TempsAffects of Body Temps

92.0 ° F : Beyond this body requires added heat to warm itself. Person is mentally and physically incompetent.

90.0 ° F 85° F : All shivering stops. Muscles become rigid. Unconsciousness sets in.

78.0 ° F : Death occurs

Signs of HypothermiaSigns of Hypothermia Mild Hypothermia (above 90.0 ° F):

Look for consistent shivering and blue lips, progressing to slurred speech, dazed expression, and stiff muscles.

Severe Hypothermia (below 90.0 ° F): Shivering has stopped. Person appears confused and unaware; muscles are rigid and unconsciousness sets in.

Treatment of HypothermiaTreatment of Hypothermia You must get the victim warm. Reduce heat loss and add heat. Get victim out of the cold and

remove wet clothing. Replace it with dry clothing or a sleeping bag.

If possible, get to a warm place

Treatment of HypothermiaTreatment of Hypothermia

Get several people to huddle around the victim to slowly add heat.

If conscious, give victim warm liquids to drink.

They should see a doctor as soon as possible.

FrostbiteFrostbite Frostbite occurs when cells in the body

freeze and burst. Commonly happens to cheeks, nose, and

ears, and to hands and feet. Water inside your cells freezes, it will

expand and burst your cells. Not usually fatal, but it can kill body parts,

turning them black resulting in amputation

Signs of FrostbiteSigns of Frostbite

Pain or burning in exposed area. Skin will become yellow-gray or Skin will become yellow-gray or

white white Numbness in affected area

Treatment of FrostbiteTreatment of Frostbite Get into shelter to rewarm Exposed hands can be placed on stomach

or armpit Put them in lukewarm (not hot) water. If numb see a doctor.