Whether one is existentialist or not, it is essential to know how to manage in a hostile environment. The circumstances that can lead us to situations that force us to defend ourselves by fighting for our survival are not as rare as we think. The reality is that our society, as modern as it is, still pushes us from one day to the next into dangerous situations such as earthquakes, floods, accidents, etc. A set of situations in which only those who have the New concept of survival have a chance to get out. The following developments, although they do not constitute an exhaustive list of the best survival reflexes, offer you a minimum when it comes to survival in hostile environments.
Priorities to consider for surviving in the environment
No matter what environment you find yourself in, you will always need to feed yourself, but above all to hydrate yourself sufficiently. Thus you will not be able to survive without shelter from the elements, but also from the dangers you may encounter in nature.
These three priorities can be ranked differently depending on each survivor's situation. Indeed, it is possible that you have water but you have to face cold, snow, wind... In this case, you will first need to find or build a shelter. Conversely, in a very hot environment, water will be sought at all costs before thinking about shelter for the night.
In any case, you will also need to feed yourself. Depending on the supplies at your disposal, you will either have to find your food in your environment or gather edible fruits. You may also have to fish for yourself, go hunting for game...
Build yourself a shelter
To return to building a shelter, this will not only protect you from cold, rain... but also from predators in your environment. You can set up a temporary shelter for emergencies using paracord, but ultimately you will need something solid for as long as the situation requires.
In any case, evaluate the importance of the location where your shelter is built. You should place it as close as possible to the water point to facilitate your supply, while targeting a place that will keep your shelter dry regardless of the situation.
Indeed, you could be a victim of flooding. Next, you will need to learn how to make fire. This fire will not only serve to dry the ground on which your shelter will be established, but will also allow you to repel insects that could enter your space. You must also take into account that a good fire will help warm your shelter, especially in case of coolness.
Finally, regarding the choice of your location, orient the shelter so that it is protected from the wind. This means it will last longer and its configuration will help you have heat in winter. As for the materials you will use, assuming you have few objects with you, it would certainly be a shelter made of wooden beams or naturally dug into the rock, a shelter made of wood, plants, moss, etc.
Obtain water
In terms of survival, water is simply very important. You won't waste time looking for a water source. You can also take advantage of water sources such as rainwater, leaf water, water present in the surroundings, etc. Regarding water points, it is necessary to filter the liquid, or even boil it to make it drinkable.
You will thus be able to avoid all kinds of diseases, as less dangerous illnesses can easily lead to death in a hostile environment.
Obtain food
Finally, regarding food, you have an obligation to what your environment can provide you. However, be careful to target edible plants, and also learn to live off fishing and hunting by having the ideal equipment at your disposal.
Again, you will have to hope that you have minimal equipment, otherwise it will be more difficult to produce. The fire that will be there is also a necessity so you don't have to eat your meat raw. When it comes to surviving, it's better for you to prepare even if the risk of a disaster forcing you to venture into nature is still slim.
There is therefore nothing better than following experts in this field to benefit from their knowledge and have a good foundation in the area of survival.
Essential survival equipment
Obviously, you won't be able to survive in a hostile environment without the bare minimum of equipment to defend yourself, and also to guarantee the strict minimum in terms of needs. Don't forget that your survival depends a lot on your ability to react and anticipate events.
Therefore, a good survivor who will remain alert in all cases and will always have the necessary equipment to survive, regardless of the state of their environment. Speaking of this, we will say that you will need a bladed weapon. It is not wrong to say that it is a survival device of primary importance.
The reason is that knives often have the necessary characteristics to meet your needs. It can be sharp, blunt, piercing..., all functionalities that will be useful for hunting, fishing, construction, DIY, self-defense...
It also has the advantage of being offered without legal limitations. You can indeed buy bladed weapons without authorization.
Survival knife and dagger
This is the case with the survival knife, the flagship equipment of any survival specialist. A multifunctional tool and defensive weapon, it is one of the tools that ensures your survival in hostile environments. You will need to choose a durable model in addition to being sharp, as the survival knife must serve you as long as you are in this situation.
This will therefore help you in many situations. Fortunately, the knife is available in a variety of models, which means you can find the one that best suits your needs. Besides the fixed or folding blade survival knife, you also have a dagger like those offered by the Wildsteer brand.
It remains an important tool when you are in a hostile environment. You will use it more particularly for processing meat after hunting. Such a sharp weapon, it is preferable to keep a dagger in a sheath, both to protect yourself from the blade, but also to protect the effectiveness of this outdoor tool to keep sharp in all circumstances.
The dagger is so effective that it alone can help us survive in the most dangerous environments. If you never want to part with it, also wear it on your belt. There will certainly be a time when you will need it. It will also serve you for various tasks such as defense against attackers and predators, hunting, cutting wood for heating, sharpening other blades, preparing your arrows, etc.
Hatchet and machete
We cannot talk about the most essential survival equipment without mentioning axes and machetes. Whether it's an axe or a hatchet, it's a very useful tool for survival, as it facilitates tasks like cutting wood, or felling trees. All actions that are necessary to make a fire, warm up, cook, build a shelter, etc.
The machete will allow you to pierce through the terrain you are moving on, which allows you to make a path through the most difficult forests to traverse. It can also be used to open coconuts or cut through certain branches. The secret to getting the most out of weapons like survival knives, daggers, machetes... lies in their maintenance.
You will therefore be very fortunate to have a sharpener. Incidentally, it's another tool when it comes to survival.
Crossbow
The crossbow is also on the list of the most interesting weapons in the field of survival. An extremely precise tool just like the bow, it will serve you for your easy and silent catch. In the most hostile environments, the crossbow allows you to eat animals with the toughest skins, such as crocodiles or more imposing ones like bears.
This means it can handle tougher prey. Your crossbow will also be used for self-defense in the same way. Consider the example of a snake wandering around your home (your shelter). With the crossbow, you can easily control it from a distance.
Imagine at the same time a lion or tiger chasing you in the savannah. You can easily target it with a crossbow before it reaches your height. By choosing a well-equipped crossbow, you will have a weapon that is easy to use while having a minimum of safety.
The crossbow is highly appreciated by many survivors because it makes no noise, offers such shooting accuracy that its bolts, the equivalent of arrows for a bow, can be reused indefinitely to preserve ammunition. To top it all off, the crossbow also offers many options on the market.
Over time, more complex technologies have made it more practical while offering users a stylish appearance. As with the use of bows, crossbows require minimal training, however. It is therefore necessary to prepare before facing a survival situation. This way, you will have a life-saving and highly effective weapon at your disposal.