IN TODAY’S TECHNOLOGICALLY connected and Internet savvy society, everyone thinks they are an expert just from gleaming a bit of information from the glow of a computer screen or smartphone.
The reality is that survival skills are just that, skills. Being able to build a fire from stark materials or create shelter from debris is something that has to be learned and the only way to actually improve a skill is practice.
Many shows like Man Vs Wild and Survivor Man make it seem as though the average Joe could take on the wilderness or be completely fit to reform stability after a disaster, but a lot of those notions could get you killed.
Find food first
In a scenario where there has been some manner of catastrophe, it may come to mind that if you don’t have a steady supply of non-perishable goods that you need to search for food. In today’s society, we have become very comfortable with eating probably more than necessary.
Humans can survive for up to six weeks without food, it is far more likely that help will find you in that time rather than wasting precious energy scavenging for meals or possibly eating something that you shouldn’t which could cause problems.
Rationing water
When preparing for a disaster or in any situation delves you into uncertainty, water usually becomes one of those precious things that is to be guarded against heavy consumption. However, people have different metabolisms and the need for water is what will keep energy up and prevent exhaustion.
Dehydration is a real problem, even outside the realm of a disaster state.
Rationing water is a good way to starve the body of the energy needed to survive.
Humans can carry on living without food for over a month but a body suffering from dehydration won’t last more than two days. Best advice is to drink as the body feels it necessary rather than forcing it to expend energy drawing from internal resources already in depletion.
Shelter means a cover
Especially for Barbados, the major threats during any disaster are wind and water. Finding a dry place to recover is one of the most important parts of surviving any sort of unfortunate event.
Shelter, however, does not mean simply having a roof over your head. Inclement weather from a tropical storm or other system will undoubtedly come with high winds and rain. Solid walls and a roof are extremely important in this aspect but so is insulation.
One of the most important survival tips is to always have solid protection between your body and the ground. The ground doesn’t retain heat and that can cause hypothermia in a dire situation.
Protecting yourself from the elements means from all sides, having a dry, warm place to spend the night could be the difference between survival and succumbing.
Nourishment from plants
As mentioned before, the information age has brought a sense of amateurism into the world where expertise and practical knowledge cannot be replaced.
Simply reading about survival tactics does not guarantee success in situations where refined learning is needed. A field guide is still just a guide and attempting to eat things such as mushrooms or drinking water from a cactus are not things that should be tackled lightly.
Though the majority of mushrooms are not poisonous, it is still not advised to eat something simply based on the fact that you’ve seen a similar picture. In that vein, drinking water from a cactus can potentially make you very ill.
It is best advised to refrain from employing a pedestrian knowledge to a sphere where survival is on the line.
Making a fire is easy
Even an expert that has built many fires in the wild will have a hard time getting a spark to become a healthy flame if the conditions are not almost perfect. Dry materials, ventilation, appropriate fuel are only a few of the necessities to achieve a useable fire.
This is precisely the reason that survival packs and emergency supplies should always contain waterproof matches, a lighter, tinder, fuel, and other items that would make the rubbing of sticks together a last resort.
Reading about it doesn’t make you an expert
This point bears repeating. Reading about these myths and tips will not make one into a survival guru, which is why it is important to gain knowledge from experience and join a group that is dedicated to teaching the practical application of such knowledge.
From scout groups to local Department of Emergency Management teams, learning first-hand how to deal with a calamity is an irreplaceable staple for being a well rounded and capable adult.
As knowledge is power, practical ability to apply that knowledge is better than a theoretical grasp.