Wilderness Survival Guide for Girls

With the recent boom in ecotourism and adventure travel, many girls are finding themselves in closer contact with the wilderness than ever before. Even if you're not an outdoorsman, a shipwreck, plane crash or even something as simple as a car breaking down could put a young woman in a situation where her choices could mean the difference between life and death.

  1. Attitude

    • Your attitude is the most important weapon you have in your survival arsenal. To put it simply, if you don't think you're going to survive, you probably won't. Stay calm. Panicking can lead to irrational decisions and make a bad situation even worse.

    Medical Care

    • If you or anyone in your group has sustained a life-threatening trauma, first aid should be your top concern. Collect any first-aid supplies you may have and survey those who are injured. Treat the most dire cases first.

    Shelter

    • Whether it's the cold of a mountain top in winter or the blistering heat of the desert, extreme weather is one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome in any survival situation. Do you have a tent fly or poncho that could be used to make a shelter? If not, look for natural materials. Sticks and branches can be used to make a lean-to, and snow is an excellent insulator protecting against cold and wind.

    Fire

    • Fire has many uses: It will keep you warm, provide light at night, cook your food and boil water to make it safe to drink. Before you build your, fire prepare the site. It should close to your shelter but not directly inside and protected from the wind. Scrape away any combustible material from the soil. Keep your fire small, you only need a large enough fire to heat your shelter. Large fires mean gathering large amounts of wood to keep them going.

    Rescue Signals

    • Next, you'll want to begin signaling for help. Ask yourself what you know about the area you are in. Are you lost below a commercial flight path where planes or other aircraft regularly cross overhead? Are you stranded along a body of water where fisherman or other boaters may pass by? Do you have a radio or cell phone you can use to contact help? You can signal help to passing planes or boats by building a large X out of any material available, whether it's brightly colored clothing, large rocks, or snow cleared off the ground. At night, keep your fire lit to attract attention.

    Water

    • The human body requires water to carry out most of its vital functions, and the lack of water can lead to dehydration and death. In desert climates, people need a gallon or more a day to survive, and even in temperate areas humans can't go long with out it. Find the cleanest water source available, preferably one with a moving current. Boil water you intend to drink before doing so. Boil water for at least 10 minutes to kill most of the bacteria. If you venture into the woods often, carry iodine tablets that can be used to purify water.

    Food

    • Starvation is a relatively minor concern in most survival situations, because the human body can survive weeks without food and a majority of lost individuals are recovered within 2 to 3 days. Many plants and some animals are poisonous to human beings. It's best not to worry about food unless it is absolutely necessary.