Trail preparation pays off.
Outdoor Survival Tips for Trail, Road & Home
When it’s time to hit the trail, always plan for the worst while enjoying the best. Even if it’s sunny and warm when you leave the trailhead, there’s no guarantee it will stay that way. And it’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. Here are some great emergency survival tips from guest-blogger Johnny Rogers.
There are many reasons to have the right clothing to survive an outdoor emergency, and just as many ways to make sure you have enough. For instance, you should always have a bag in your car when you leave the house. Similarly, you should have preparations while on the trail or within your own home. The philosophy should generally be layering, because it takes into consideration a large range of temperatures and conditions. Here’s what you should know.
Materials
You should always consider the material of the clothing you choose. Lightweight wool slacks and a shirt work should be staples, because they keep you warmer than jeans, and they are tolerable during very hot temperatures as well. Wool has the ability to resist wetness (because of the lanolin), so it’s also good in rain.
Clothing
For any emergency situation you should be sure to include a long sleeved shirt, two pair of pants and an extra pair of underwear, as well as socks. A wool sweater or a down vest is also good to have. If it gets cold, you need to be concerned with hypothermia, and that down vest could save you. You must plan for the extreme!
Other Items
A pair of work gloves are handy, in case you have to work with debris. Furthermore, a pair of worn-in boots are good, in case you have to walk long distances or hike. A belt can be helpful for many things too. It can act as a tourniquet or rope, and can even be a place you have to hang survival packs on. A floppy hat is good to prevent your head from burning, in case you are out in the sun a lot. Also, every survival kit should have a bandana. It can be used as a hat, a neck protector, a signaling device, a dust mask and many other useful things.
Basic Clothing Needs
You have to protect yourself from intense cold, as well as heat. Make sure your head is always covered, because you can lose lots of body heat (up to 45 percent) with a bare head. To keep warm, everyone should keep their clothes clean, avoid overheating, and keep clothes loose and layered.
Survival Clothing
If you find yourself in circumstances that don’t allow for planning, there are still some things you can think of. Sleeping bags can be used as a coat alternative, while socks are good for keeping hands warm. Garbage bags can cover your legs, and be used like snow, or even a raincoat. If you are caught in the cold, then stuffing a shirt with dried weeds, ferns or anything will help. You may be itchy, but it will keep you warm.
Never forget that it would behoove you to be as prepared as possible, because getting caught in an emergency situation can be life threatening.
Johnny Rogers is an avid outdoorsman. He loves camping and hiking year round, even in the winter when most people opt to stay indoors. He seeks adventure and uses www.termlifeinsurance.org to keep his family protected and ready for the unexpected.
