Ray Mears Makes Fire

What do you do when you’ve booked you’re trip to Australia and your ride breaks down or you mistakenly wander off from the group in the bush? No Problem, this article is designed to help you be able to cope with anything. Note that it is always encouraged that you have at least a small amount of experiance in survival medicine before leaving on any wild adventure. You don’t have to scan the finest survival guides, we’ve done it for you. Here’s a list of the top ten bush survival tips and techniques, straight from the bushmen who’ve been there, done it and used the T-shirt to store water!

1. Expect the Unexpected
Before you even depart for a unforgiving environment, you have to expect the unexpected. You might take a basic survival course before your trip, a good idea according to thesurvivalexpert.

2. Packing
Prepare for anything by bringing the best tools with you. A water bottle and filter, matches and flint, condoms a sturdy knife, a small mirror and a first aid kit. According to John Wiseman, author of the SAS Survival Guide, Some knives have hollow handles which contain most of these essentials though the knife itself will be less durable.

3. Pack Light
If you travel light, you will be speedier should you have to move. However, you should make informed selections when it comes to deciding what you take with you and leave behind. You’ll waste critical time and energy going back for any items you need but discraded.

4. Don’t Panic
This is central to your survival. Provided you have followed the other three steps, you ought to be in a position to remain calm or at least calmer than others who may be stranded with you.

5. Water
As The SAS Survival Guide states, we can last for three weeks without food but only for three days without water. This is why you took your water bottle and condoms. If you haven’t got any liquids, you should keep movement to a minimum, get to shade and look for water as the sun is going down. In the interest of maintaining fluids, don’t breathe through your mouth, don’t smoke or imbibe alcohol.

6. Eating
You’ll need protein if you decide to leave and this can best be found in meat. Prior knowledge of the local animal and plant life can increase your chances of survival so it might be a great idea to do some research before leaving for the bush. In the bush, you’ll probably find yourself eating insects and cutting leftover meat from wild carcasses. Look at the color of the bones and whether or not there are any vultures nearby as, according to Bear Grylls, you have to make sure meat is safe to eat. If the bones have been brightened by the sun or the meat smells rancid, keep moving. If it’s safe, have it raw as there’ll be more protein in it.

7. Fire
If you have matches or flint and a striker, use them to make a fire to keep you warm at dusk. Old Man’s Beard or comparable dead plant is a useful source of tinder. You can also use fire to make signals, cook or sterilise liquids. See Ray Mears on YouTube to find out how to make fire with sticks, it’s important if you have no flint.

8. Shelter
You need to find shelter, most importantly from the midday sun. Some places in the bush will be completely exposed to the sun and won’t have any shade, so you’ll have to try to make some using plants and whatever material you can spare. Having shade from the sun and later, from the wind and cold can boost your spirits.

9. Signals
Preparing for this eventuality, you have your mirror. Reflecting the sun in the right direction can help you to signal for help, keeping you alive. Failing this, ou can create a lot of smoke to make signals by covering your flame in live or ‘wet’ branches.

10. Moving
You’ll want to be sure of you’re water supply and keep the camp running if you’re not going,. If you’re going, you’ll want  to have water, stay out of the sun as much as possible and be sure of you’re direction. This is a perfect time to use your compass! You can waste a lot of energy worrying and you should try to avoid panic at all costs, be confident.