Safety in nature is of extreme importance. If you are going on a day hike or out for a month you should always think safety before you go as you put together your pack. Now what should you have / What do you need?

A good pack should have all the basic needs for survival and at least a simple first aid kit. This does not mean that you have to bring 40 lbs of pack just to go look at the squirrels but you do want to think about what you are doing and where you are going. Every year there are stories about people going out to the woods that they know and they for one reason or another get lost or hurt. A simple pack that you can easily bring along can make all the difference in what comes next.

How to make you pack is actually simple you just think in terms of what you need first:

1. Shelter

Most people know about the whole water food thing but they don't realize that things can easily get dangerous well before you need water. You can make it on average two days without water but not one night "at times" without good protection from the cold or rain. So to take care of this if you are out camping you should always have at least an emergency blanket or two. You can find some cheap light ones at most any camping supplies store. They are a simple thing that looks like foil but they do help and are worth the $2-5 bucks a piece. You should also know how to make at least one basic shelter just in case you get lost or hurt.

2. Water

Water is something that you can go for about two days if needed. You should still know a few things about how to get water. A good thing to have is the water purifier but if you don't have that then a packet of water tablets is needed to bring. Again they don't cost a whole lot and are small and light so there is really no reason to just toss some in your pack! Just in case you are somewhere away from a good water source you should learn hand have with you the means to make a solar still. If you don't know how or cant find out how I will be making that one of the next coming Nature Tips.

3. Fire

Fire can be odd at times in a survival situation sometimes it is needed right after a shelter and sometimes it is more important to find shelter then water then fire. Still it is so simple to have a pack of water proof matches that again there is really no reason to have some with you. A few other tips that you should think about is first have some type of little saw with you. I use a little wire saw that I got for around $3-5. I will admit it is not teh easiest thing to use but it works in a pinch. You should also when making you fire build a wall behind your fire out of mud. Doing this can help to reflect the heat towards you and make your fire more effective.

4. Food

Food is the last one because it is the one you can go the longest without. The average person can go up to a month or more if needed. What I would suggest is to take something with you that you can use as a snack when needed. Some power bars, jerky, something that can last a long time that does not needed to be kept cool. You again can get some power bars and toss in your pack for only a few bucks and they would be nice to have with you if needed.

First Aid Kit

These range in price a lot of time depending on what you are looking for. There should be a list of what is in the kit somewhere on the package. I look at it this way they are basically light to carry and I would much rather have a bunch of things that I will never use then have just one time that I need something and don't have it. Don't just run out and buy the most expensive thing on the shelf but instead read what they have and remember that a few more $ can mean the difference between getting hurt and being ok or getting hurt and being in some real trouble!!!

If you live near an area with snakes a snake bite kit may not be a bad idea either.

Well this will give you something to build on for a pack. You should also look into things that you might want also like maps of the area compass etc. but this will help you out. You should make a good usable pack and ALWAYS take it with you when you go out. I go to an area with houses and businesses on all sides but I still take mine with. I don't need it there but you can bet that I am use to taking it with where ever I go now you can bet that when I need it I will have it. *REMEMBER* you can have the best pack in the world but if ti is sitting at home in you room when you need it then it really doesn't do anyone any good.

This next one is simple always try to leave an area better then you found it. This means if you do have garbage at anytime in the woods bring it back out with you and if you see a little then bring some of that to. Remember no one else is going to go pick it all up, If you love your woods then make it better because you were there. A good way to look at anywhere that you have been honestly.