Wilderness Survival Training

You never know when you might find yourself in a situation calling for survival skills. Unless you've had military or comparable survival training, wilderness skills don't usually come naturally and aren't intuitive for most people. Learning real wilderness survival skills will teach you techniques that can be useful in any emergency situation.

Basic Survival Skills

Basic skills for just about any type of survival situation involve first knowing the best ways to obtain safe water and shelter. You also need a way to signal for help and a way to make fire if possible. Next, try to find food; however, people can survive longer without food than water. When in a situation requiring you to find, build or seize these things, resourcefulness and a cool head come in handy. Whether or not you're injured, stop and think, then look around and make a plan, according to Wilderness Survival Skills for Safe Wilderness Travel. Realize that if you've managed to survive for several days without any sign of rescue, you'll have to come up with another plan for trying to make your way back to civilization.

Preparedness

News stories often tell of missing hikers or climbers lost in the wilderness who were completely unprepared. The best survival training you can give yourself is to learn about wilderness essentials needed before venturing out into the wild. A tool for this is The Ten Essentials, which is a survival list first put together in the 1930s by The Mountaineers Club of Seattle, Washington, for hikers, climbers and other outdoor adventurers, according to REI.

The Ten Essentials

The modernized version of The Ten Essentials include navigation, sun protection, insulation/extra clothing, illumination, first-aid supplies, fire, repair kit and tools, nutrition/extra food, hydration/extra water and emergency shelter, according to REI. You may find yourself in a situation where you have no way to carry these items, but preparing as much as possible ahead of time before any outing is the best way to survive in the wilderness.

Survival Training Courses

Many outdoor sports stores, recreational facilities, colleges or other schools offer wilderness survival training courses. For example, REI offers Navigation Classes & Outings and Wilderness Medicine Classes & Outings courses with discounted rates for members. Virginia Western Community College offers a wilderness survival course through its physical education and recreation program. Professional wilderness survival schools, such as the Boulder Outdoor Survival School, offer long-term wilderness-survival training programs. Learn how to survive in the wilderness, even if you have no supplies. Also, learn how to use your survival tools if you have them. A compass and map won't help you if you don't how to use them.

Physical Training

As with any sport, physical fitness is important for outdoor sports, such as hiking and climbing. If you're not in proper shape and decide to take a hike, you could find yourself stranded. Prepare for wilderness survival by working out on a regular basis. If you're physically fit, it might make the difference between life and death if marooned in the wilderness. Visit with your health care provider before starting any exercise program.