Most important survival tool/ weapon

by Carl Rooker
(Michigan)

Survival kits are great to have. Rifles and pistols can also add a great dimension to survival and recreation. But, what one has to always keep in mind is that most survival situations will happen when one does not have these kits or weapons readily available. If you survive a small plane crash, or even a car crash in the wilderness it is possible you did not take these items with you, or that they were destroyed. You could walk away from camp, and not realize you are in trouble until it is too late. Or you could have your kit with you, and find that you do not have some vital component that never occured to you.

The most important survival tool/ weapon is your brain. It's ammunition is knowlege, and the weapons sights are logic and wisdom, the ability to think things through and come to a solution.

You lost or damaged your GPS and or compass. Do you know how to find North by the sun and stars? Do you even know which direction your camp is.

You are separated from your gun, or it is jammed beyond your ability to fix in the field. Are you just going to sit there and die during an animal attack, or starve? Or do you know how to make weapons in the field that can help protect you and provide hunting possibilities.

You are at a sporting event, and obey the law and do not carry a gun. You are attacked. Are you just going to take it (and maybe die), or do you know that a weapon can be anything used to distract, disarm, disable or distroy?

How many ways do you know how to start a simple fire without a lighter or matches? How do you find dry tinder in wet weather? Same goes for kindling and fuel.

How do you find, purify, and store water if you do not have a canteen and a store bought filter?

How many plants do you know that are edible?

Do you know how to fish without a pole, line and hook? Do you know how to set simple traps made from what ever is on hand for fish, animals and birds?

Do you know how to make effective shelter without tools or material you brought with you, but now do not have?

You, or someone with you is injured. Your small first aid kit is not up to the task of treating the injuries, and rescue is not close at hand. Do you know how to make first aid materials from what ever is on hand? Do you know how to steralize them? Do you know how to clean and close a wound? Or how to treat burns?

Learn to improvise from what ever is at hand. Practice doing with out your normal equipment.

To survive you have to learn to think.