Be prepared - that is the number one survival rule. This means having proper training and experience for the challenge you're planning to undertake, but also having the right gear with you can go a long way to preventing a catastrophic situation, or at least minimizing the severity of any problems that do arise. Such gear typically includes the right amounts of food and water, and items like a first aid kit and other supplies.
Fortunately, it is now possible to take these essentials with you without over packing, especially as many of these items are now designed specifically for hikers, backpackers, campers and so on, meaning that they are designed to be as compact and lightweight as possible.
Food and water are of course essentials when it comes to camping survival. You will obviously want to plan to take all the food and water you'll need, and then some, but an emergency food kit is something many people fail to consider. But there is always the chance that your supplies of granola, dried fruit and jerky will run out or simply won't suffice if things take a turn for the worse. Food kits typically include small canned items, dehydrated food, and freeze-dried meals. Vitamins may also include. These products are generally very lightweight and have a very long shelf life. They might not give a gourmet chef anything to worry about, but if you find yourself stranded in the wilderness, they can literally be a lifesaver.
Another important item to have is a field guide to finding edible nuts, berries, mushrooms, plants, and other foods that you might find in the wild around you. A good guide will not only help you avoid eating potentially dangerous things, but should also give tips on where to look for various items and how to prepare them. The items Nature provides vary substantially from one region to another, so be sure to look for a guide that addresses the area where you're going.
A good first aid kit is another critical part of wilderness survival planning. A basic kit will likely include aspirin and/or acetaminophen or ibuprofen, various sizes of gauze and bandages, antiseptics, burn cream, sunscreen, scissors, tweezers and so on. More comprehensive kits may include everything from cotton swabs to tourniquets to wound irrigation systems. It might seem obvious, but you should be sure to buy a kit (or assemble your own) that contains items appropriate to where you're going. You probably won't need mosquito repellent if you're going trekking in the arctic, and frostbite is not a significant risk. There is a wide variety of kits available at a broad range of price points, and many are surprisingly affordable, so be sure to get what's right for your adventure. Remember, however, that first aid kits are generally intended to treat only minor irritations, discomforts or wounds. If a serious wound or injury occurs, you should first stop any bleeding, and then keep the victim stabilized while you attempt to contact proper rescue services via smartphone, emergency beacon or other measures, depending on your circumstances.
Still in the medical vein, if there is a certain medication you take regularly, such as an inhaler, insulin, allergy medication or other medicines, you should make it a point to over pack, ie, include extra doses so that in case of an emergency you won't have to worry about whether you have enough of your everyday medicines.
One item many people don't think of as survival gear per se, but which is becoming both critical enough and portable enough to consider putting on your list of essentials, is a portable inverter generator, such as the Yamaha EF2000iS, a compact and lightweight 2000 watt powerhouse. As our electronic gear becomes increasingly essential in our everyday lives, and even more important in emergency situations, and batteries of all kinds fall short of what's needed, a really portable source of real power is becoming increasingly important - and, surprisingly, practical. While they are not yet something you can just toss in your backpack next to your extra socks, these units have become incredibly smaller, lighter, more powerful, versatile and efficient in recent years. They've also become almost unbelievably quiet. And out there in the great outdoors, a little jolt of civilized electricity might be just the thing!
Of course, there is always the possibility that your skills will be put to the ultimate test. In the event that you become lost or injured in the wilderness, you should have a few items on hand that can help you find your way, or help others find you. Some basics include compasses, radios, flashlights, and flares. And these days, of course, electronics are taking the lead in emergency location. Remember, your Smartphone probably won't get a signal out in the middle of nowhere, so you want to consider an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). These miracle gadgets cost anywhere from about $200 to around $1500, and are designed to save your life if you become lost, stranded or injured, by alerting rescue authorities and indicating your location.
So, always be prepared. And once you get prepared, go out there and have the adventure of a lifetime!
