Would you survive in a forest? - 10 Survival Tips & Tricks That WORK 🌳🔥

As the old saying goes, "better safe than sorry". And it is precisely on this premise that the art of survival is based. Today, we will embark on a wild adventure to learn how to survive in the wild. I will provide you with ten survival tricks that really work and can be the difference between life and death in an extreme situation.

1. Lighting a fire with found rubbish 🌬️🔥

It seems contradictory, doesn't it? But yes, you can use the rubbish found in the forest to your advantage. Here's how. If you find yourself in a windy place, lighting a fire can be an almost impossible task. That's where an unexpected object comes into play: a soda can.

• Crush the can.
• Reform the can into its original shape using a stick.
• Create a "window" on one side of the can.
• Insert your tinder inside.
• Light your tinder with a lighter.

In survival situations, the most unexpected objects can become your best allies. And remember, fire is essential for survival: it provides heat, light and the ability to cook and purify water.

2. Keep your knife or razor in good condition 🔪.

The knife or penknife is one of the most essential survival tools. To keep it in good condition, avoid using it to smash things. Instead, use the crowbar technique to cut wood, and when the blade becomes dull, run it through leather to re-centre the edge.

3. Purifying water with a plastic bottle 💦.

In extreme situations, drinking unpurified water can be dangerous. To purify water, you can use this method:

• Collect water from a freshwater source, avoiding salt water or water contaminated with chemicals.
• Filter the water through cloth or paper to remove large particles.
• Boil water for at least 10 minutes to kill pathogens.
• Let the water cool before drinking.
• If you cannot boil water, use water purification tablets or direct sunlight in a clear plastic bottle to disinfect it.

4. Dealing with stomach ailments 🍂.

It can happen that even after purification, the water of a stream makes you feel unwell. To treat this, you can turn to natural forest medicine. The leaves and bark of oak and holm oak are astringent and can help treat diarrhoea.

• Collect a handful of bark or acorns.
• Boil for about 10 minutes.
• Drink the resulting infusion to relieve symptoms.

5. Disinfecting and covering wounds 🩹

If you cut yourself, the tree fungus known as "tinder" can act as a natural band-aid. To disinfect the wound, you can use the resin of conifers.

• Remove the resin from the tree using a sharp stick.
• Apply the resin to the wound.
• Use the top layer of plaster to cover the wound.

6. Create a sturdy spear 🪓

If you find yourself in a long-term survival situation, a sturdy spear can be a great help. Make it sturdy by heating it slowly over a fire, this will make the wood harder and more resistant.

7. Maintaining oral hygiene 🦷

Oral hygiene is essential to prevent infection. To clean your teeth in nature, you can use a sharp stick and some charcoal mixed with water to make a rudimentary toothpaste.

8. Identify edible plants and fruits 🌾.

Nature is full of potential foods, but not all of them are safe to eat. To identify whether a plant or fruit is edible, you can follow these steps:

• Rub the plant or fruit in your hands and wait. 
• 15 minutes in the mouth and then spit it out. If we feel that our mouth is numb, as if under anaesthesia, or any other strange effect, that plant or fruit is poisonous. If there is no effect, we move on to the next step.
• We take a small piece, swallow it and wait 8 hours. If we feel sick, we vomit quickly and drink a lot of water. If after those 8 hours we have not had any negative reaction, then we can say that the plant is edible. 

This process should be done with each part of the plant: leaves, stems, roots, each of them can have different components and some parts can be poisonous and others not.

But always remember, if in doubt, don't risk it. Nature is generous, but it can also be dangerous if you don't know it well. 😊

9. Know your survival priorities: 

Not all survival needs are equally urgent. For example, while a person can survive for three weeks without food, they can only survive for three days without water, let alone in hot climates. Here's an easy way to remember: the "Three Rules of Three". A person can survive:

• 3 minutes without air.
• 3 hours in extreme weather.
• 3 days without water.
• 3 weeks without food.

10. Keep calm and prepare a plan

Panic is one of the biggest enemies in a survival situation. Fear can make you make unwise decisions, so it is essential to take a deep breath and stay calm. Analyse your situation, make rational decisions and do your best not to panic.

The best plan can fail. Make sure you have a contingency plan, or even several contingency plans, in case things don't go as expected. Always be ready to adapt to new circumstances.

You never know when you might find yourself in a survival situation. Learning how to make a fire, build a shelter, purify water and recognise edible plants can be of great help. It would also be useful to learn basic first aid.

In extreme situations, sometimes attitude and mindset can be as important as know-how. Always remember that, despite the difficulties, human beings are incredibly resilient.

Surviving is more than being alive, it is learning, it is adapting, it is being respectful of the environment and knowing how to take advantage of its resources without damaging it. And above all, it is knowing that even if the situation is difficult, there is always hope if we remain calm and use our heads.