WATER SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES
Water should be one of your first priorities in survival.
An adult may survive three weeks without food, but only three days without water.
HOW TO RETAIN FLUID :
Dont smoke.
Do not lie on hot places.
Stay in shade where possible.
Dont drink alcohol.
Only talk when needed.
Only eat as needed.
FINDING WATER :
Dig in dry stream beds.
Look in valley bottoms where the water will naturally flow.
Look in lush vegetation on cliffs for springs.
Take sips of water, dont guzzle.
Be carefull of areas of water with no green vegetation around it.
Bowl water.
Converging game trails often lead to water.
Grain eating birds are always close to water.
They drink at dawn or dusk.
A column of ants moving up a tree are heading to a reservoir of water.
Trees can draw water from 50 feet or more below the ground.
Tie a plastic bag around a healthy, leafy branch.
Evaporation from the leaves produces condensation in the bag.
Ice produces twice as much water then snow for half the heat.
Cut a grapevine high then low about six foot in length.
Water will pour into your mouth.
You can acquire about ½ pint from this length if you cut it off again when it gels over.
You cut it high first, otherwise the plants defense mechanism, capillary action, draws it back up before you can drain it.
SOLAR STILLS :
Look for a sandy wash or a depression where rainwater might collect.
Dig a pit approximately 4 feet wide and 3 feet deep.
In the center of the pit, dig another small hole deep enough for the water container.
Place the container inside, then run the tubing from the container to the outside of the pit.
If there is tape available, tape the tubing to the inside of the container.
Blanket the pit with the plastic sheet, evenly on all sides, but not touching the bottom of the pit.
Anchor the corners.
Find a small rounded rock to place in the center of the sheet, over the water container.
Gently push down on the center weight until the sides slope to a 45º angle.
If the pit is dug deep enough, this should leave the center weight just a few inches above the water container.
Next, secure the edges of the plastic sheet with rocks and dirt.
Make sure there are no places where moisture can escape.
Close the tubing end with a knot, or double it and tie it closed.
Takes about an hour to build.
Wilderness Survival
