When you hear the term ‘survival skills’, what immediately springs to mind? Perhaps you picture someone foraging for edible plants in the wilderness or lighting a fire with a primitive fire plow. But what do these skills entail in today’s rapidly-evolving society?

Edible vs Inedible

One of the foundational elements of survival is the ability to find food. This often involves understanding which natural resources are edible and which are not. The term “edible” hails from late Latin edibilis, translating roughly to ‘fit to be eaten’.

However, foraging in the wild requires caution. A misstep can lead to the consumption of stagnant water or a plant that induces nausea. Bushcraft, or the skill at living in the bush, often hinges on this nuanced knowledge.

Facing adversity – a term from Old French adversite, signifying a challenging situation – is a given in any survival scenario. This doesn’t always refer to physical hardships. The challenges posed by a job loss, a health crisis, or even navigating the bush of the digital age require their own set of survival skills.

Resourcefulness in the Face of Danger

Imagine finding yourself in a country prone to natural disasters. How would you react? Your resourcefulness, or the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties, will be your most trusted ally.

Remember, it’s not always about having an abundance of tools or supplies. Sometimes, just knowing how to use a fire extinguisher or respond to a cardiac arrest can make all the difference.

Self-defense and Standing One’s Ground

Stand one’s ground, a phrase that denotes not retreating in the face of opposition, has deep significance in the context of survival. This might be in the literal sense, when confronted by a wild animal, or metaphorically, when facing personal or societal challenges.

But what if you found yourself at a disadvantage, in a hind position or situation? This is where the knowledge of self-defense and the confidence to assert oneself become pivotal.

Education and Survival Skills

Given the myriad scenarios where survival skills are crucial, should educational institutions incorporate them into their curriculum?

Vocabulary Highlights

Bush: Primarily signifies a shrub or clump of shrubs. In places like Australia, it denotes wild or uncultivated country. Additionally, it can refer to a metal lining for an axle.

Nausea: From the Latin naus, meaning ‘ship’, this term describes a feeling of sickness with the urge to vomit.

Cardiac Arrest: A sudden cessation of the heart’s functioning, which can be potentially fatal.

British Heart Foundation Vinnie Jones’ hard and fast Hands-only CPR: An initiative by the British Heart Foundation, teaching people about hands-only CPR through a campaign featuring actor Vinnie Jones.

Modern survival isn’t just about confronting the elements in the wild; it’s about navigating the challenges, both physical and mental, that we face daily. In our unique journeys, with the right set of skills, we can all become master survivors.