Learn essential emergency and survival skills for Scouts and outdoor adventures, including first aid, signalling, getting lost, shelters, emergency planning and calling for help.
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Dehydration can become serious if it isn’t recognised and treated. If someone is severely unwell, confused, very drowsy, unable to drink, has collapsed, or isn’t improving, seek urgent medical help. In hot conditions, dehydration can occur alongside heat exhaustion or heatstroke, which can be medical emergencies. How to Recognise Dehydration Dehydration happens…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST A burn can be more serious than it initially appears. If someone has been badly burned, is having difficulty breathing, has extensive or deep burns, or the burn involves the face, hands, genitals or major joints, seek urgent medical help. For a fresh burn, the priority is generally to remove the person…
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. ⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Wet clothing can become dangerous in cold, windy or exposed conditions. Water conducts heat away from the body much faster than dry air, and wind can…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Natural navigation can be useful, but it shouldn’t be treated as a replacement for a map, compass, GPS or other appropriate navigation equipment. Natural signs can be difficult to interpret and weather, season, location and local conditions can all affect them. When heading outdoors, especially into unfamiliar or remote areas, carry suitable…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Survival skills are designed to help you manage unexpected situations, not encourage unnecessary risk. The best survival strategy is to avoid getting into trouble in the first place through good planning, appropriate equipment and sensible decision-making. If you’re lost, injured or facing a genuine emergency, contact the appropriate emergency services as soon…
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. What Counts as Severe Bleeding? Most cuts aren’t life-threatening. Severe bleeding is different. A wound may be particularly serious if: Severe blood loss can lead to shock and can…
What Is a Tarp Shelter? A tarp shelter is a simple temporary shelter made using a waterproof or water-resistant sheet of material. Tarps are popular with: They’re lightweight, versatile and can be configured in several different ways. Unlike a tent, a tarp usually doesn’t have a built-in floor or enclosed walls. Instead, you use cordage,…
Why Storm Safety Matters Storms are one of those hazards that can change an outdoor situation very quickly. A walk that started in sunshine can become cold, wet and windy. A campsite that seemed perfectly safe can suddenly be surrounded by falling branches. A stream that was easy to cross can become dangerously fast after…
What Are Survival Priorities? When something goes wrong outdoors, it can be tempting to start thinking about everything you might need. You need food. You need water. You need a fire. You need shelter. You need to find your way home. But trying to do everything at once can lead to poor decisions. Survival priorities…
Getting Lost Outdoors Most people don’t expect to get lost. You set off knowing roughly where you’re going. You follow a path. You take a turning. Then another. And suddenly the landscape doesn’t look quite right. Perhaps the path has disappeared. Maybe visibility has fallen. Your phone battery is running low. Or you’ve simply realised…
