Subscribe to Outdoor Life
Get 1 Year for Only $10
If you’re caught on the water without a barometer, look for nature’s clues to approaching weather.
 | Survival Q&AYou've got questions, our survival expert's got answers. |
 | Surviving a WildfireEscaping a forest fire demands keen awareness and quick thinking. |
 | Stranded and AloneWhat to do if you become stuck with your vehicle in the middle of nowhere. |
 | Snow and Ice SurvivalIf the winter weather has you trapped, would you be able to make it out alive? |
 | Hurricane GuideOur comprehensive guide will teach you how to stay safe when a hurricane hits. |
 | Flood SurvivalStatistically, floods are the most devastating natural disasters. |
A 46-year-old woman, Paula Lane of Gardnerville, Nevada, is recovering now from a terrifying week spent stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Tragically, her boyfriend, Roderick Clifton, 44, did not survive their traumatic circumstances.
The couple was reported missing on November 29, after they left Citrus Heights, California, but never made it home to Nevada. The situation is still under investigation, but it seems that the couple decided to travel a back road through the mountains. This remote area has little to no cell phone coverage, and when their Jeep became stuck in a sudden snowstorm, Lane and Clifton became stranded. [ Read Full Post ]
Creating a splint can give an injured person a lot of relief, and prevent further injury. As with most things, though, there are right ways and wrong ways to apply a splint to an injury. Here are five common mistakes to avoid, if you ever have to tie a splint on your buddy or yourself.
Don’t splint the limb too tightly. Splinting should give support and limit movement, but not to the point where it cuts off circulation. The splint should be loose enough for you to fit a finger between it and the limb. [ Read Full Post ]
If you’re ever in a survival situation where you need to both signal for help and light a fire, Orion’s Signal Flare/Fire Starter might just be your new best friend. This versatile tool can be used to start a fire in wet or windy conditions; and it can be used to signal rescuers with a bright red light that helps them locate your position, day or night. [ Read Full Post ]
When most folks think of survival, the words clean and hygienic don’t usually come to mind. In fact, the art of surviving in the wild can be a filthy, nasty endeavor. But it doesn’t always have to be.
As you’ll see, there’s more to surviving than just wiping with leaves. (see my emergency toilet paper post here). Here are a few simple tips for staying clean while you stay alive. [ Read Full Post ]
If you find yourself in a wilderness emergency without food, and the wild game is scarce, you can rely on some of the wild edible plants that kept our forebears alive through tough times.
Here are five of the most common and most nutritious wild edible plants that you must know for the fall season. [ Read Full Post ]
The carrying weight of your Bug Out Bag can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the bag needs to be lightweight enough so that you can move quickly while carrying it. And on the other hand, the bag needs to have enough supplies (including heavy things like water and food) to last you a few days or even a few weeks in a pinch.
Since every ounce counts, let’s look at some constructive ways to make the best use of the weight you need to carry.
Assuming the standard Bug Out Bag contains shelter, water, first aid, food, clothes, and other supplies, you should consider losing weight from each group of gear. My personal BOB weighs 40 to 45 pounds, depending on the season. It’s about as lean and mean as I dare to make it. [ Read Full Post ]
How do you manage medical problems until medical care is available?
Impressively, folks survive all the time with very little in the way of supplies, training, or equipment, but not everyone is so lucky. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, many people were cut off from the normal medical care that they need. Worse still, many were injured by the storm and had few places to turn for help.
Help can be difficult to reach through a variety of situations, not just hurricanes. Those in rural areas and wilderness areas may be far from help on a good day. Natural disasters and terrorist attacks can also create a delayed-help scenario anywhere or anytime. What can you do when you or someone with you cannot get the help they need?
First, you need to get yourself and your patient away from any dangers that may be present. Second, call for help or send someone to get help, if doing so is possible. In remote areas, this might mean signaling for help after treating the patient. Third, treat the wounds as best you can with a first aid... [ Read Full Post ]
| Page 7 of 19 | « First | ‹ Previous | …34567891011… | Next › | Last » |
