Troop 60 > Resources > Scout Skills > Wilderness Survival Priorities

Wilderness Survival Priorities


STOP ( Stop, Think, Observe, Plan)

STOP ( Stop, Think, Observe, Plan)

Stop


Think


Observe


Plan

Provide First Aid

If you have significant injuries, treat these before moving on.  A little bit of blood loss won't kill you, but if you don't stop the bleeding, you may die of shock. 

Seek Shelter

In extremes cold and intense heat, you will not survive long without shelter.  Don't skimp on your shelter.  Continue to improve your shelter as priorities and time allows. 

Scout-Made Lean-To Survival Shelter

Build a Fire

Fires keep you warm, dry you out, signal for help, boil your water and keep your spirits up.  

Fire Building is one of the most important and difficult to master skills of Wilderness Survival.  Your ability to survive may very well depend on this vital skill.  Make sure you have 2 different methods of starting a fire and practice using different techniques to start fires. 

Signal for Help

Build 3 fires and draw attention to yourself.  The bigger the signal, the more likely you will be found. 

Drink Water

Know how to find and treat water.  You need water to stay alive.  You also need to avoid diarrhea to stay hydrated, so treat water if you are able to. 

Don't Worry about Food

Most rescues happen within 72 hours.  You won't die without food for a few days.  However, poisoning or diarrhea can kill you in the wilderness.  Don't worry about food, unless no one knows where you are and you are very very remote. 

Survival Gear

Survival gear should be based on your priorities of survival, environment and skill set.  When possible, select gear that has multiple uses.  Your knife of course is the most versatile tool for survival. 


The Knife show here has multiples uses:


Other benefits:

Morakniv Bushcraft