Would You be the Last one to Survive? GORP.com Offers Top Ten Survival Tips
NEW YORK, June 12, 2000 - You're stranded in the middle of no where. Would you know what to do in order to keep yourself alive? Chances are, you won't be competing to win a million dollars with network camera crews recording your every move, but if you're faced with being stranded, you'll need to know the best way to survive in any situation. Here are some tips from Bill Greer, Editor-in-Chief of GORP.com, the leading Internet site dedicated to outdoor recreation and adventure travel, on what to do to help you survive.
1.
Before you leave, prepare for the worst - preparation is first key to survival in the wilderness. If the cast of the CBS phenomenon "Survivor" could have brought anything with them, a few staples should have made the list including, matches in a water-proof container, water-proof tarp, water purification tablets, knife or small hatchet and bungee cords or rope.
2.
Let someone know where you are going and when to expect you back.
3.
Build a shelter and stay near it. Chances are that a search party will find you more quickly if you stay put. Build a signal fire to draw attention to your location.
4.
Keep warm or cool, depending on the climate. Humidity, precipitation and wind can impact your chances of survival. Even a small mylar "space blanket," or a few heavy-gauge garbage bags, can make a big difference. Packing extra clothing, especially socks, can be a life-saving extra in an emergency.
5.
Rest. Fatigue can mean the difference between life and death. Use your energy wisely.
6.
Treat injury and pain as best you can with what you have. Even a minor injury can easily turn major when you're trying to survive.
7.
Drink plenty of water. Water is more important to the body than food.
8.
Only eat things that are easy like plants, bugs and fish. Don't expend more energy trapping food than will be replenished by the food itself. Keeping a couple of high-energy sports bars in your pack is always a good idea - and may mean the difference between having to eat hairy beach rats or three-inch long beetle larvae
9.
Minimize your fear. Yes, your situation may be dire, but the chances of a bobcat eating you alive or a bear attacking you are slim. A flashlight is a small addition to your pack that can help you feel in control or alert a rescue team to your whereabouts.
10.
Don't deny your situation, but don't let it get you down either. Hopelessness can be your worst enemy. Don't give up.
GORP (a.k.a. Great Outdoor Recreation Pages) is the largest and most trafficked Web site dedicated to outdoor recreation and adventure travel. With more than 100,000 pages of content, GORP offers a complete package of authoritative, award-winning content, a large, active community of outdoor enthusiasts and a full-range of e-commerce offerings drawing nearly 13 million page views per month. Started in 1995, GORP offers a full-service adventure travel booking feature, accessible via the Web or telephone, with nearly 4,000 trips in addition to a gear store with 180 brands of clothing, footwear and equipment. GORP has been cited by Yahoo!, US News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and many others, as the leader in this category and a "Best of the Web" site.
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