Survival Skills
The difference between a fun-filled day in the great outdoors and a life-threatening disaster is lesser than you think. If you landed in a sticky situation, would you make it out alive? Test your survival savvy with this quiz.
- 1.Dehydration kills. If you’re lost without water, your best bet for finding it is to:
- A.
Set up a collection system and wait for rain.
- B.
Walk downhill—water usually pools or flows downhill.
- C.
Find a forked stick and use it to guide you to a well.
- 2.Hear that thunder? You’re above tree line but nearing the summit. What’s a girl to do?
- A.
Pull out your umbrella and hurry to bag that peak before you get wet.
- B.
Wait it out under a nearby tree.
- C.
Turn downhill fast. If you see lightning, drop your gear and spread out the group.
- 3.The rule of threes states that you can die in as little as:
- A.
Three days without food.
- B.
Three weeks without food.
- C.
Three months without food.
- 4.You wandered off the trail and haven’t found it again—but it’s getting dark. What’s the best plan?
- A.
Begin building a shelter and start a fire.
- B.
Yell and wander in erratic circles. Someone might hear you, or you might find the trail.
- C.
Remain calm, inventory your supplies and information, and prioritize to meet your most immediate need.
- 5._____ cause(s) most outdoor deaths. Avoid an untimely end by ______.
- A.
Falls; watching where you’re going and staying within your comfort zone.
- B.
Hypothermia; dressing in layers and staying dry.
- C.
Animals; bringing a gun and shooting on sight.
- 6.A comprehensive survival kit includes:
- A.
A knife, matches, and a notepad.
- B.
A sandwich, ibuprofen, and a bandana.
- C.
A cell phone, lighter, and compass.
- 7.Halfway into a trail run you notice a bear in the brush up ahead. What do you do?
- A.
Stop running and back up slowly until you’re out of sight.
- B.
Stand in the trail and talk loudly to yourself until he moves out of your way.
- C.
Keep running—you’ll pass quickly, and he looks pretty distracted by those berries.
- 8.You didn’t hear the rattle until it was too late, and that snake left fang holes in your calf. You should:
- A.
Suck the venom out and then catch the snake to help the doctors identify it.
- B.
Keep the bite below heart level and get to the nearest hospital calmly and quickly.
- C.
Move away from the snake and wash the bite with soapy water.
- 9.You’ve been lost for a week and hunger’s taking a toll. Fill up on:
- A.
Mammals and six-legged insects—almost all of which are safe to eat.
- B.
Red berries—just like pie without the crust.
- C.
Roots and any bug you can catch—gathering is in your blood.
- 10.It’s not home sweet home, but your survival shelter will keep you alive, because:
- A.
You built it facing away from the wind and it stays pretty warm at night.
- B.
It’s near water so you don’t have to expend much energy to get a drink.
- C.
The wreath above the door will welcome the search party.
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