by Aubrea Glenn

Created on: February 22, 2007   Last Updated: May 02, 2007

The Ten Essentials

Everyone knows the basic necessities for survival are food, water, and shelter. However, many people forget, or just don't know what they need to survive in case they get lost while hiking, camping, or the like. This is why each individual, not each group, but each and every person should have the following ten essentials on every outing.

Of these ten essentials, the most obvious are extra food, a way of procuring drinking water, and extra clothes. In the way of food, dehydrated fruits and nuts, Ramen noodles, and similarly easy to prepare items are ideal. For the water side of things, many camping stores sell collapsible water containers and water filters. Depending on the area, a filter alone or both may be more prudent.

For further protection from the elements, rain gear and sun screen should also be packed. Even in cooler weather, sun screen is imperative. It is possible to become sun burnt, even through a couple layers of clothing. People who become burnt run the risk of dehydration and even further illness. Again, depending on the location, other assorted protective gear should be packed.

To attempt avoiding being lost in the first place, a map, compass, and a flashlight are also important. While not one of the ten, extra batteries for the flashlight might also be smart. Many people fail to pack a map and compass because they don't feel the items are necessary, or they lack the knowledge of how to use them. This is a misconception, as it is easy to get turned around quickly when out in nature.

Finally, and quite possibly most important, are a knife, a fire starter, and a first aid kit. These three can be quite useful, even without the other seven, due to the fact that they ensure shelter, food, and safety if worse comes to be a reality. For a fire starter, though matches are convenient, a form of flint would be better because of its durability and capacity for resisting water damage.

As long as every person in the group packs and maintains these ten essentials, everyone's outdoor experience will be safe and enjoyable.

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