I'm sure this subject has come up before.
In my little mind there is a difference between survival situations and living a primitive lifestyle or practicing primitive skills.
Survival is using to the utmost any and all resources to one end, survival.
Indeed, primitive skills and learning to endure harsh circumstances will certainly aid in that endeavor.
But, I feel that in the places I go and doing the things that I do the Number 1 survival tool that I have with me at all times when I am out is:
A charged cell phone.
Yes, I'm going to have a knife or three and a means of making fire. In the truck or boat I'm going to have more than that but none of those things are going to get my butt out of a crack faster than one bar on a cell phone.
There are not many places where I can't get a signal. Granted, I am a flatlander and flat water fisherman so it's very hard to be out of range of a tower. I've had to stand up on the console and hold the thing up in the air as high as I could but I could still get a signal.
One of my friends (yes, I have friends) called one day. He was out across the bay and his motor wouldn't start. It was getting dark. In ten minutes I was on my way on the hour and half drive and one hour boat ride to get to where he was. Fortunately, he called back in fifteen min that the motor was running. I drove on toward the boat ramp until he called that he was back. Two reasons the cell phone worked. He called for help, and he called back that he didn't need help. If you call the boat tow service they take your credit card number over the phone before the leave to come get you. If the Coast Guard comes to get you, they are likely going to get you and leave your boat there. So calling a friend is a good option to have.
Even hunting, text messaging keeps everyone abreast of what you are doing and where you are. Yes, it's not like Kit Carson did it but this ain't the 1800s either.
Now, with that said. There are times when I like to do things the old way. I really like that. The charged cell phone is still present. You never know when playing Injun is going to turn into a survival situation. When it does I want to be able to get Life Flight in to the closest LZ available.
That is a worst case scenario but it ain't a survival situation until then.
The second most important tool in a survival situation is right between your ears. If an outing goes survival, building a fire or making a fish spear might not be your first priority. Administering first aid or swimming for shore might be high on the list depending on where you are.
Thinking rationally (and calmly) and acting on that rational thought is #1. #3 son is a firefighter/paramedic. The first thing they do when they get to someone's survival situation is to secure the scene. You cannot help anyone or help yourself is your area is not secure. Then you can go to work.
That's when your skills come into play. Obviously, if EMS is there things are looking up. But in other situations you may have to make that splint, or stop that bleeding or get someone or yourself to shelter. That is where the primitive play is going to get really important.
Like cutting a stick to get that cell phone up high enough to catch a bar.
Alan
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