Survival: A Heathen's Prospective-Water

Water is the essence of life. In a survival situation water is your most essential tool; without it you will become dehydrated and eventually die. It is said that a human should not go a full day (24 hours) without hydrating. An adult human can go 72 hours without any intake of water, but will be close to death (if they are not already dead). Here are the following symptoms of water dehydration starting from mild to severe:

Mild Symptoms

Thirst
Loss of appetite
Dry skin
Flushing
Dark colored urine
Dry mouth / Cotton mouth
Fatigue / Weakness
Chills
Head rushes

Moderate Symptoms

Increased heart rate
Increased respiration
Decreased sweating
Decreased urination
Increased body temperature
Extreme fatigue
Muscle cramps
Headaches
Nausea
Tingling of the limbs

Severe Symptoms

Muscle spasms
Vomiting
Racing pulse
Shriveled skin
Dim vision
Painful urination
Confusion
Difficulty breathing
Seizures
Chest and Abdominal pain
Unconsciousness

In a wilderness situation a water source is key to survival. The important thing to remember however is to hydrate with sterilized water. If you drink from an open source like a creek, stream, or river; you risk drinking in parasites. Diseases from viruses, bacteria, and protozoa such as: Salmonella, E. Coli, Cholera, Cryposporidum, Giardia, Hepatitis A, Norwalk, and Polio to name a few can lead to vomiting and diarrhea which will further dehydrate you. Some of these parasites could lead to death or serious and permanent injury.

So how does one sterilize their water? Well the basic way of doing this is boiling your water. To boil your water you will naturally need a fire source and a container to boil it in. I would suggest carrying around an aluminum or stainless steel water bottle; it'll last longer than the plastic ones, are safer to drink out of, and will not melt when placed over a fire. The other way of sterilizing you water is by using chlorine or iodine tablets. One of these tablets will sanitize one liter of water, and will take 30 minutes to an hour before its safe to drink. The longer you let the water sit with the tablets, the safer the water will be to drink.

You also have to think about how you will carry your water. Having just one container to hold your water will not do. It's always good to have multiple containers for your water. I would suggest two water bottles, and an alternative method of carrying water such as a ziplock bag or even a condom. With these methods you can be a bit more flexible in where you store it.

It is important to find a water source quickly and not to travel too far from it once you've found it. Also don't forget that you can collect and drink rain water as well. To be safe I would still boil the water; though I believe that rain water is safe to drink.

This is the most important aspect in survival. A human can go a month with out eating, but can not go a few days without clean drinking water. Remember to stay hydrated and always think ahead when going out into the wild.

In Frith

Ragnar