Welcome to Surviving like a Beast Survival School
This weekend we'll be heading to Mt. Laguna, San Diego for some demonstration and practical application of survival skills. But before we dive in with headlamps and knives, let's take a load off, grab a frosty beverage, and soak in some knowledge in the comforts of our own home. These blog posts will cover educational topics that will prepare your mind for the skills your hands will be doing up on the mountain.
Section One: Survival Mentality
The objectives for this section are:- Learn the difference between Surviving and enduring
- Learn the importance of survival skills
- Learn the "Law of 3"
- Learn the SURVIVAL acronym or mnemonic device
First off I want to draw a distinct difference between two seemingly simple words: Surviving and Enduring. The difference between surviving in the wilderness and enduring the wilderness is that survival is a proactive exercise while enduring is just toughing through it. Survival requires knowledge and cunning, while enduring an ordeal just requires a high tolerance for pain. To summarize, the act of surviving is proactive, while the act of enduring is reactive.
Enduring the elements will only take a human so far in the wilderness. A common mantra in the survival community is the "Rule of 3" which states a person can only survive 3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. Studying survival is literally the study of staying alive.
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| Retrieved from Army Field Manual (FM) 3-05.70 |
The military even uses the word SURVIVAL as a learning acronym or mnemonic device, as shown to the right of the screen.
Size up the situation - When one finds themselves in a survival situation the first step is to gather all the situational awareness one can. Take account of all available equipment, your physical condition, and what immediate challenges the environment poses.
Use all your senses- Sights, smells, temperature changes, all are indicators that could influence actions you need to take.
Remember where you are- Remember where you are and if you don't know where you are use techniques to triangulate your position using a variety of methods we'll be learning.
Vanquish fear and panic- Remain calm and in control. If you let your emotions get out of control it will not only cloud your judgement but drive you into a negative mental state which ultimately leads to giving up the will to live.
Improvise- No matter how complete your survival kit is, there will always be something you need that won't be readily available. Be ready to use rocks as hammers, limbs of trees for pulleys, or any other thing your imagination can concoct.
Value Living- Survival is the goal and it requires a positive mental attitude and tenacity. Maintain a will to live and overcome or circumvent all obstacles between you and your survival. Never give up.
Act like the natives- How do the natives of the area survive the elements? If you are truly in a remote region, think about the animals. How do they cope? For example, animals need water just like us. If you find a convergence of tracks heading in one direction there is likely a watering hole in that direction. Animals tend to flock towards water, sometimes even predators and prey drink from the same sources.
Learn basic survival skills- Be prepared and plan for the worst. Know the environments that you will be traveling through.
This concludes section one. We've covered the importance of survival skills, the difference between enduring and surviving, and the SURVIVAL mnemonic device. Practice and commit the SURVIVAL acronym to memory. We'll be playing a "Survival Knowledge Game" before the buses leave for the training area to test your knowledge. The winning team of the game will get some gear that others will have to improvise in the field, like fire starters and hand tools, so study up!
