How to Survive Stage 5 Comp - Comprehension Pack.pdf

STAGE 5 Unit focus: Adventure and Survival Text focus: Instruction How To Survive When you are out in the wilderness and trying to survive, there are a few things you need to...

STAGE 5 Unit focus: Adventure and Survival Text focus: Instruction How To Survive When you are out in the wilderness and trying to survive, there are a few things you need to prioritise above all else. The average human can survive for about three weeks without food, three days without water and three minutes without air. Hopefully, there will be plenty of air around you, and so water will be one of your main concerns. Being prepared whenever you head out on an adventure is always important. Most of the time, nothing will go wrong. However, if it does, being prepared can be the difference between surviving or not. The Boy Scouts of America recommend taking the following items on any trip into the wild: Pocketknife First-aid kit Extra clothing Waterproof clothing A full water bottle A torch Energy-rich food such as nuts or grains A way to start a fire– this could be matches or a fire starter A hat and sun cream if it is hot weather A map of the area and a compass If you have these essentials to hand, then you are going to be in a much better position if you are stranded. One thing that all survivalists recommend is to not rely on technology such as mobile phones or GPS trackers. Many places in the wild are too far away from civilisation to get a signal. As mentioned earlier, water is going to be one of two key things to help you survive. The other is shelter. all resources ©2021 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com One of the first things you should do when you realise you are in trouble is to make a plan. Don’t rush around aimlessly: you will end up in a worse situation. The first part of your plan should be to construct a shelter. The shelter should provide protection from the elements (both sun and rain) and be dry and comfortable enough for you to sleep in if necessary. One of the easiest ways to build a good shelter is to secure a piece of string or rope between two trees. Lay a tarpaulin or sheet over the top, and it should form a basic tent. If you weigh the edges down with rocks, it will stop most of the wind. One thing to remember is that smaller is much better when it comes to shelters. Yours should be just big enough for you to lie down in. This way, the heat from your body will help to keep it much warmer overnight. Once your shelter is sorted, it’s time to find water. Rainwater makes good drinking water if you can collect it and store it before it hits the ground. Don’t leave it open; otherwise, it will attract insects and become spoiled. Snow is also a great source of water, but don’t eat it. Because it is so cold, your body will use up far more energy absorbing it. Let it melt in your water bottle first, and then drink it. Whatever you do, any water from streams or puddles must be well-boiled before you drink it to prevent serious illness. Finally, with water and shelter sorted, you are ready to start a fire. This will keep you warm and help to ward off any animals that might enter your campsite. Don’t leave the fire unattended and make sure you damp it down before heading to bed. Fire is also much more likely to attract attention and rescue. SUMMARY FOCUS 1. What should you do first when you realise you are in trouble? 2. Which is more important to find first, food or water? 3. Summarise how to build an easy shelter. 4. Why is a smaller shelter better? 5. How could you drink snow if you had no water? VIPERS QUESTIONS R What should your shelter protect you from? V Find and copy a word that tells you the list of items are important to have with you. I Why might you light a fire? R How long can the average person survive without water? E What impact does placing the items in a list have on the reader? all resources ©2021 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com