1) Practice with your survival gear. Does it really work as well and as easy as the manufacturer claim? Pretend you are injured, will it function if you have only one hand to work with?

2) If it appears that you will be spending a night in the woods, start preparations early. Not when it is dark. It’s harder to find firewood, bedding/shelter, water supplies and windless areas to spend the night. Fumbling around in the dark one can be come injured, further complicating your survival situation.

3) Fire is your friend. Gather LOTS of firewood to last the night. Break branches, haul wind-falls, old stumps any burnable fuel to generate heat. I also like to have plenty of green boughs in case air rescue is looking for you. Pile green boughs on a hot fire to generate lots of smoke and be seen.

4) Make sure you have a SHARP knife. SHARP means, hair shaving sharp! If your knife is not that sharp, watch our video clip on how to properly sharpen your knife with a LANSKY sharpener. You can also carry a razor blade in your kit. A neat tool is made by the folks at DERMA-SAFE.COM

5) Check with your local Department of Transportation and purchase their heavy-duty plastic trash/collection bags. They are usually orange or yellow in color. They make a great water-proof poncho and will keep you very warm at night if you are dressed properly. You can also use them to collect water. I carry two of them in my pack when I go on extended trips! These are a very important addition to your survival gear!

6) Carry plenty of parachute cord. I normally carry 100-150 feet or para-cord in my pack. It comes in pretty handy for shelter building, carrying gear, creating safety zones, net making, snares etc. Buy good Mil-spec or 550 cord with the 7 fine strands inside the outer sheath. Don’t settle for cheap Chinese junk from the flea market. Having a stout caribiner is also not a bad idea. They can be used like a pulley or shiv to elevate things off the ground.

7) Keep a good wool hat and scarf in your pack. We lose most of our body heat through our head and neck. It’s amazing how much warmer we are when our head is covered. A stocking cap can keep you toasty warm at night.

8) Carry a clean sponge. They are light, and offer many uses such as absorbing water from brush and boughs to drink, use as a compress on deep wounds, or a filter for water.

9) Extra socks and gloves. Foot issues plague lots of hikers, hunters and outdoors folks. Wet feet? Those dry socks are pretty comforting and can keep frostbite at bay. Wet cold hands can render the most fit person into a fumbling buffoon in a hurry. Soak your hands in a cold stream until they hurt and try to light a match, open the blade on your pocket knife, or make your Bic- Lighter function. Extra gloves anyone?

10) If lost remain calm, cool heads prevail. You will find your way out or someone will find you! Stay put if you are uncertain as to the “RIGHT” direction to go. Make camp, build a fire, get comfortable, make a cup of tea and wait for help to arrive. Attempting to walk out on your own can spell disaster in rugged wilderness areas. Avoid going into rougher terrain to find your way out, you’d remember if you’d walked through such an area “before you became disoriented”.

Remember: A stationary target is easier to hit/find than a moving one!