Survival means staying alive

This is the last in a series of columns about survival training.

The Google dictionary defines survival as: The state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal or difficult circumstances.

The Dennis L. Clay dictionary simplifies the meaning as: Survival means staying alive.

Consider these two ways to think about being lost. What would a person place in their backpack if a person knows she/he will become lost on a hike today? Yes, a far-fetched question, but think about the question.

The second part to this exercise is to stop half way into the hike and inventory your backpack. The question is: How would the items in my backpack help me survive a night or two while lost?

There is a story about a man who had a leg trapped under his vehicle after an accident. There was a stream close by, but he couldn’t reach the water and his vehicle couldn’t be seen from the road. He survived several days because he had a piece of rope in the vehicle. Tying the rope to his T-shirt and throwing the shirt to the stream, allowed him to drink water.

The lesson is to use whatever tools a person has available to survive. Improvise as necessary and when necessary. However, surviving will be much easier when a few basic tools are always included in a backpack.

This pack doesn’t need to weigh 60 pounds, but a 5- to 10-pound pack is doable. What should be in such a pack?

A pocket knife is in the left front pocket of my pants. A larger, hunting-type knife will be in my pack. Other items include: Space blanket, fire-starting material, a two-way radio (plus a radio for each member of the hiking party), a multitool (think Leatherman) and a GPS.

Other objects/tools include: A first aid kit: The size is up to the hiker. Mine is larger, but is nearby when traveling.

Paracord is essential because some sort of rope or cord will be necessary to assist with making camp. The 550 cord is made up of seven to nine inner strands and each of those are made up of three twisted strands. These strands can be disassembled to make many smaller ropes.

A Katadyn water filter is in my pack. A test, conducted by the health department, proved this filter could make the water from Moses Lake drinkable.

Summary

Remember, stop and stay put. Repeat this to the youngsters and inexperienced adults before every hike and around the campfire at every camping trip.

Remember, survival means staying alive.