Top survival tips for kids?

T

Texas Slim

Joined
Feb 12, 2007
Messages
566
I'm working on Altoids PSK for my sons BSA patrol and thought I'd throw in a short list of tips. Won't take up much room and would also give them something to write on if needed.

So, imagine you're a 12 year-old boy, separated from your troop. Not too far distant from people who are looking for you. What are your "Top 10?"
 
"don't touch what you dont know." is one i often refer saying to kids when i worked as an outdoor summer camp instructor.

also, whistles are great ideas, a couple pieces of hard candy for them to have while waiting for help might be good as well.

a small swiss army knife like the spartan is handy and fits into an altoids tin very well.

if it is available in your area, mini glowsticks are pretty handy too as not all youngsters are good at lighting fires (hopefully scouts train them on that well).

cheers
JC
 
mneedham said:
Texas,

I am a Cubmaster and we did a presentation a while back for our pack. If you go to the link below, you will find my presentation, maybe it will give you some ideas...


http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=515425
Click to expand...


That's a great presentation with some very useful info. Thanks!

I have tons of good ideas and most of the materials for putting their PSKs together so I'm looking for simple tips here. You know, stay put, make yourself visible and such. Of course, they have basic survive training as it is, I just thought it would be a good idea to include a short list to remind them of how to respond in the event they become separated from their patrol.
 
I'd say a very important thing if they get separated is to stay put! Their best chances of survival is to be found, and the farther they wander off the more difficult that will be.
 
Prevention is better than survival! Stay with the group. ALWAYS know where you are - learn to read a map. As soone as you don't know where you are, you're lost. STOP and wait for help!!!

Tell a reliable person where you'll be, when you expect to return, and specifically instruct them to contact authorities if you don't contact them post-activity. If they don't know you're missing/lost then they can't rescue you!!!

A survival kit doesn't do ANY good if its not with you when you need it. A smaller kit is much more likely to be carried. I'm in the big bright orange plastic bag, loud whistle, and tiny flashlight camp.

If lost, admit it, stay put, and wait to be rescued. Don't try to start a campfire - unless you really know what you're doing. Don't hunt for water - unless it is a last resort. Help will come looking for you.
 
My father used to tell me when looking for water to drink, look for water that supports life. Look for bugs, fish and any kind of plant life in it. He said if that water is good enough to support life, it is good enough to be purified and drank.

If the water does not support life, he said it may be because of run off and chemicals have poisoned it. This is something to look for in more populated areas, as well as farm land with ponds or lakes.

Basically what he was pointing out was, just because water is clear does not mean it is always safe to purifiy and drink, look for life in it even if it is just algae.
 
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