Survival

The Acronym SURVIVAL S-Size Up the Situation Size up three different things: 1.-Your surroundings - Survey 2.-Your physical condition – injuries, water, food, and shelter 3.-Your equipment – what gear you have and condition of the gear.

The Acronym SURVIVAL U-Use All Your Senses, Haste Makes Waste BE OBSERVANT!! What you don’t know, can hurt you.

The Acronym SURVIVAL R-Remember Where You Are Find your location on a map and relate it to the surrounding terrain and water sources. Use a compass or the sun to determine direction and orientation.

The Acronym SURVIVAL V-Vanquish Fear Fear and panic can destroy your ability to make an intelligent decision.

The Acronym SURVIVAL I-Improvise Learn how to improvise, use natural objects around you. Nothing is useless when survival is the issue.

The Acronym SURVIVAL V-Value Living The number one necessity of life is the Will to Live

The Acronym SURVIVAL A-Act Like the Natives Animal life in the area can give you clues on how to survive.

The Acronym SURVIVAL L-Live By Your Wits Survival training reduces fear of the unknown and gives you self confidence.

Patterns for Survival Develop a survival pattern, it must include food, water, shelter, fire, first aid, and signals. If you are injured first aid has top priority.

Patterns for Survival The necessities of life in order are: 1)Will to Live/ Positive Mental Attitude 2)Air/Oxygen- you can only survive 3-5 minutes without air 3)Shelter, clothing, and warmth 4)Rest- both physical and mental rest are needed 5)Water- you can survive without water for 3 days at most 6)Food-you can go without food for 3-4 weeks

Knowledge In order to stay alive you must be aware of the main enemies to survival. In order of priority they are Exposure Thirst Hunger

Exposure The normal human body has a core temperature of 98.4°F It is important that your body's core temperature be kept as close to normal as possible in a survival environment. There are two types of exposure Cold Heat

Cold Exposure If your body’s core temperature drops below 95°F the body becomes hypothermic. Symptoms Become numb with cold and shiver intensely Impaired motor function and coordination Slurred and slow speech Impaired mental function Poor decision making Difficulty concentrating

Heat Exposure The first effect is sweating. If the salt isn't replaced you will experience heat exhaustion, which is a form of shock. As water and salt are lost your blood thickens and blood pressure drops, which reduces the blood flow to vital organs. You will become cold and clammy and may get a headache, feel dizzy, confused, and drowsy, it will leave you feeling weak and drained.

Exposure Heat stroke will follow if correct action isn't taken. To counter the drop in blood pressure the blood vessels widen, called vasodilation (opposite of vasoconstriction), and heart rate increases. As fluid and salt levels decrease the blood thickens further, this means sweating has failed. Skin will now feel dry and hot as the heart beats faster to try to raise blood pressure