Day 9. Learn Some Survival Basics

{!firstname_fix}

We are almost through the Staying Healthy on Your Hikes email series. Today, let’s go 
over some survival basics. This is important for everyone, no matter how long you have 
been hiking, and where the trails are. 

Know How to Find Clean Water

The three basic survival skills to lean first are having clean water, creating shelter, and 
making fire. With water, you will most likely bring bottled water with you. However, there 
may be times when you get stuck on the trail and run out of water. It helps to have a 
water filtering container with you, as this allows you to get river stream water and filter it 
out so that it is safe to drink. Knowing how to properly filter any type of water is a very 
important skill to learn.

Learn How to Create Shelter

The next thing you should know how to do while hiking is to create shelter. Most hikes 
only last a few hours, but what if you get stuck while someone is injured, or there is an 
unexpected storm? You should know how to find proper shelter for everyone in your 
hiking group. This includes choosing the right location from hazards, locating a heat 
source, and providing enough insulation.

Make Fire When Needed

Lastly, you should know how to start a fire. This helps keep you warm if you need to 
camp out while it is cold, and also allows you to cook food in an emergency. Making fire 
is easiest if you can pack a fire starter with you, but you should also learn the basics of 
starting a fire with only materials you can find.
{Sign Off}
