Survival Camping Equipment

Survival Camping Equipment
Photo Credit camping in the back woods. image by CPonder from Fotolia.com

Camping usually is a pleasant opportunity to enjoy the solitude of the great outdoors, but events such as a sudden storm of other problem can turn it into a survival situation. Being prepared can make the difference between life and death. You should carry survival camping equipment, including shelter, gear, food and survival kits. Maintain your survival equipment by replacing used equipment and checking the expiration dates of certain items.

Features

Survival camping equipment comes in a variety of types with different features. The most common types of survival equipment consists of food and gear for three days. Survival equipment, such as an emergency blanket, is used to keep you warm and dry as you wait for safety crews to arrive.

Shelter

According to the Survival Rule of Threes, you can't survive more than three hours without shelter in an extreme survival situation. Shelter helps the body retain body heat and reduces the risk for hypothermia. Even if your tent is destroyed, you can use the tent material, canvas tarps or other equipment to build an overhang to keep you dry and out of the wind and sunlight. Use surrounding brush and debris to support your shelter.

First Aid

First aid kits are an essential piece of gear for camping survival. The kits should contain the supplies to provide first aid, including bandages, sterile gauze pads and antibiotic cream. Also include hand sanitizer, hydrogen peroxide, pain killers and personal medications. Adjust the contents of the kit based on the region, weather patterns and terrain.

Food

Being dehydrated and hungry can decrease your ability to make intelligent decisions during a survival situation. According to the Survival Rule of Threes, you can survive for three days without water and three weeks without food. Pack water purification equipment such as water purification tablets or water filters. Common survival foods are nonperishable and easily stored, including canned food, military issued MREs, freeze-dried meals and energy bars.

Considerations

Think about every possible scenario for your camping trip. Consider the terrain, time of year and weather patterns when selecting your camping survival equipment. Additional gear might include an emergency whistle for creating noise, waterproof matches for building fires and a radio for notifying search and rescue teams. Before leaving on your camping trip, practice using the equipment so you are familiar with the function and features.

References

Article reviewed by Alison Gaynor Last updated on: Jun 21, 2010

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