Contributed by Info Guru Oliver VanDervoort

If you enjoy going hiking or camping you probably understand what you need to do to get home.

On occasion however something could come up that will make it hard to get home when you want to. On these occasions you are going to want to know how to survive out in the wilderness whether it is for a few hours, or a few days. There are all kinds of ways people can survive until they can get themselves home or get help to get home.

Here are the top ten survival tips to refer to should you need them: print them out and tuck this in your boot.

10. Carry a good knife

If you are going out into the wilderness you should have sort of dependable cutting tool with you. Using a survival knife can come in handy both when you are trying to scare up food and when you are trying to build a shelter.

9. Find water

No matter how long you think you might be out in nature, one of the first things you should do is find a source of water. You should also have a water testing kit among your supplies to make sure it’s safe to drink.

8. Keep calm

If you feel the need to spend more time in the wild that you though you would, make sure you stay calm. Panicking is certainly not going to help. Obviously you are going to get nervous but don’t act out of fear or frustration.

7. Build a fire

If you ever find yourself needing some basic survival skills, make sure one of them is being able to build a fire. This serves the purpose of being able to cook with it, while also being able to make a signal fire should the need arise. Get a couple of candles or matches in your pack. Emergency candles are going to be best for this situation.

6. Have a first aid kit

If you are out and away from civilization you are almost surely going to get a cut or bruise. Carry a first aid kit in your pack so that you can deal with whatever comes until you get back to civilization.

5. Share your plans

If you are going hiking or camping on your own, let someone know where you are going. If you can be specific about where you are, it will be easier to find you should the need arise.

4. Make yourself known

Make it easier on those looking for you. Wear clothes that are easily spot-able. You should always take a hiking safety whistle that you can blow into intermittently. This way if the searchers can’t see you, they can still hear you.

3. Stay abreast of the weather

You should always know if bad weather is going to befall you. The best way to do this is to have a radio with you at all times. Carrying a crank radio will mean that you don’t have to worry about batteries running out.

2. Maintain a healthy body temperature

Keeping a healthy body temperature is key when you’re out in the wild. If you are going to be somewhere that gets quite cold, make sure a versatile military blanket is among the supplies you take.

1. Ration

If you are going hiking or camping you should have emergency food stuffs with you. Even if you don’t believe that you will be lost long, make sure to ration as well as you can just in case.