LATEST OUTDOOR GUIDES
Keep up to date with the latest guides, activities and resources from Survival Guides UK. Explore new articles covering outdoor skills, survival, Scout activities, camping, navigation, knots, fire safety and practical skills.
Our latest posts are designed to help Scouts, youth groups, leaders and anyone interested in outdoor learning develop practical knowledge and confidence. From new activity ideas and survival skills to useful how-to guides, check back regularly for the latest resources.
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SGUK Outdoor Skills Challenge: Something Big Is Coming
Something big is coming to Survival Guides UK. Not another short list of outdoor activities. Not a course that finishes after a few lessons. And not a challenge that stops when you reach number 100. We are building something much bigger. The SGUK Outdoor Skills Challenge is going to be a huge, ever-growing collection of…
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How to Baton Wood Safely
Batoning is one of those bushcraft skills that looks fairly simple when you first see it. You put a knife into a piece of wood and use another piece of wood to tap the knife through it. In practice, there is a little more to it than that. The choice of wood, the knife you…
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How to Sharpen a Knife
A sharp knife is generally easier and more controlled to use than a blunt one, but sharpening is a skill in its own right. A blunt blade often encourages people to use more force, which can make slips more likely and makes simple camp tasks harder than they need to be. You don’t need complicated…
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How to Make a Smoke Signal
A column of smoke can be visible from much further away than a person, particularly in open countryside where there are few other sources of smoke. In an emergency, a controlled smoke signal can therefore be useful for attracting the attention of rescuers or other people who may be able to help. Smoke signalling is…
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How to Use Bright Colours to Help Rescuers Find You
If you need to be found outdoors, making yourself easy to see can make a huge difference. Bright colours can stand out against grass, woodland, rocks, snow and other natural backgrounds, giving rescuers another clue to your location. This is one of the simplest signalling techniques because you may already be wearing or carrying something…
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How to Register for Emergency SMS
If you are somewhere with a mobile signal but cannot make a voice call to the emergency services, the UK’s Emergency SMS service can provide another way to contact 999. It can be particularly useful for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment, but it can also provide an alternative…
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How to Make an Improvised Splint
An improvised splint can be useful when someone has suffered a serious limb injury and you need to support the injured area while waiting for medical help. Outdoors, you may not have a proper splint available, but you can often find suitable materials in a rucksack or around your camp. The purpose is not to…
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How to Treat Sprains and Strains
Sprains and strains are common outdoor injuries. A slip on a muddy path, an awkward landing, a twisted ankle or simply pushing a muscle too hard can leave someone in pain and unable to carry on normally. A sprain affects a ligament, which is the strong tissue connecting bones around a joint. A strain affects…
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How to Use the Recovery Position
The recovery position is used when someone is unconscious or has a reduced level of responsiveness but is breathing normally. Placing them on their side can help keep their airway open and allows fluids such as saliva or vomit to drain away rather than blocking the airway. It is a useful first-aid skill to know,…
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How to Do CPR
CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is an emergency first-aid skill used when someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally. It helps keep blood moving around the body while you wait for professional medical help to arrive. Emergency Disclaimer This article is for general first-aid education and is not a substitute for recognised practical first-aid training or…
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How to Check for Danger and Assess a Casualty
When someone is injured or becomes unwell outdoors, your first instinct may be to rush straight over and help. That is understandable, but the first thing you need to do is stop and check that the situation is safe. A casualty who needs help is already in a difficult situation, but rushing into danger can…
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