If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that the “unthinkable” can definitely happen. From pandemics, natural disasters, unidentified flying objects looming in the sky, and more, we need to be always ready. 

Though survival skills are especially useful in dire circumstances, they are also useful in simple, unexpected situations, such as getting lost on a bike ride or losing power for an extended period. Keep reading to discover some essential survival skills for basically any situation. 

First Aid
Keep your first aid kit in your grab bag so you can deal with whatever emergencies pop up. Make sure your bag has gloves, blister treatment, gauze, bandages, medications, etc. 

Shelter
Building a shelter helps you stay warm and dry no matter the circumstances. In urban areas, cardboard boxes, awnings, and other materials can be used. In more remote areas, look for caves or hollow spaces that can block the wind. Tarps easily anchor to one side, stretch down to the ground, and secure with stones. Better yet, include a small tent in your grab bag. 

Firestarter’s
Another essential tool for your grab bag is a firestarter. Use small pieces of wood, pine needles, or cardboard to act as kindling. Once the fire is going, use larger pieces to keep it blazing. Ensure your fire is built downwind from your shelter, away from surrounding vegetation. 

Water
Since water is heavy to carry, it can be challenging to bring in a grab bag. However, sterilizing/filter kits are an effortless way to ensure your water is purified and free of bacteria, parasites, and viruses. If you don’t have a kit or filter, boiling water is the easiest way to remove harmful components. 

Foraging
Food is essential and can be difficult to find in dire situations. Find a field guide to edible plants in your region. Never eat mushrooms or berries that look suspicious, and never put any unknown plant in or near your mouth, as even a tiny amount could kill you. Fishing and trapping is an option if you have the time and patience. Add some energy bars, emergency food, trail mix, etc., to your grab bag as well. 

Map
Learn how to use a compass and a map before disaster strikes. Your phone’s GPS might not work in an emergency, and your battery could die, you might not have reception, etc. Do not rely on your electronic devices; rather, learn your area and make sure your map is covered in a waterproof film. 

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Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you need it later. 

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/ 

Emergency shelters are typically built during a catastrophic event and aren’t planned out too far in advance. Depending on the situation, it’s important to devise a plan to craft a shelter that can protect you from whatever circumstances arise while using the least amount of time and energy possible. 

To start building an emergency shelter, collect materials and use whatever you can find to create a refuge between you and the elements. Look for large objects that can be propped up with sticks or poles to provide a solid roof or shade. Make use of whatever you have in your bug-out bag, as well. 

You can create several different types of emergency shelters with four main components: support structure, cover, insulation, and flooring. Some examples include: 

A-Frame
This type of shelter resembles a tipi as the frame is made up of sticks, then covered and insulated by another material. Ensure there is enough room to sit up straight inside.

Snow Pit
When there is heavy snowfall, utilize the insulation it can provide by creating an igloo-type of hut. These shelters can actually be quite warm, as snow is an extremely effective insulator.  

Lean-To
These shelters are added to an existing foundation, so the rafters are “leaning” against a wall. Though it provides minimal protection from wind, it is a quick build and can reflect heat well. 

Canvas Shade
When rain falls, canvas can protect you from getting wet. It is also beneficial for blocking wind and sun. Military-style ponchos can sometimes double as a shade, as they have grommets at the edges for this specific purpose. 

When seeking shelter, don’t overlook caves, either. Keep an eye out for wild animals and stay just far enough inside so you will be safe from the elements. 

Whichever shelter you construct, remember that function is the utmost important factor in the building process. 

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Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you need it later. 

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/ 

Love and a sense of belonging are part of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Simply put, love is a basic human necessity. As social creatures, love binds human beings and helps give life purpose. 

The aspects of love can transcend our understanding, but many report that love gives them physical and emotional feelings. Humans possess an innate ability to nurture themselves and others, whether it’s another human, a pet, or an inanimate object such as a garden. 

Generally, humans yearn for a sense of belonging within a community and seek lifetime partners. But love can go beyond romantic relationships. Unconditional love for family members and friends can be viewed as an act of kindness or a way of validating those in susceptible situations.

In the ancient Greek language, there existed five forms of love: familial love, friendly or platonic love, romantic love, guest love, and divine love. There is love as long as there is kindness, compassion, and affection.

Overall, love can bring positivity and a sense of comfort, but love has dark sides that cause more harm than good. Unrequited love, empty love, infatuated love, compassionate love, self-love, and courtly love are all terms identified by modern authors to describe dark love. 

These forms of love can cause isolation, mistrust and sometimes lead to homicide or suicide. Many serial killers have a family history full of dysfunction and an inability to receive love due to how they were raised. Narcissists are classically known to be too deep in self-love. 

In total, love is profound. It’s no joke. It can save or destroy someone. However, despite the positives and negatives, love is a basic human need. Can we live without it? Perhaps we could, but it’s likely that we wouldn’t have much success without it.

Feelings of love can release feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain that boost our mood. It can raise our heart rate and increase oxytocin production and norepinephrine. Some say these feelings are necessary for survival, but at the end of the day, it’s all relative. 

Love is as essential as a well-balanced diet. It’s the opposite of loneliness and helps fight depression and other diseases throughout the body. Having a balanced sense of love in one aspect or another can keep us motivated and determined to continue through life. 

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Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you need it later. 

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/ 

If you ever find yourself stranded outside in the winter, chances are, you’ll be surrounded by snow and susceptible to the darkness that forces temperatures to plummet below freezing. Is building a fire out of the question? Answer: it can be difficult, but not impossible. 

Since snow immediately melts and turns into water when heated, flames can be extinguished quickly. Also, heat – not flame – causes fuel to burn. Since cold temperatures make heat production more difficult, increasing the fuel temperature can take a while. 

The most important thing to consider when building a fire in the snow is to find the proper site. When searching for the right area to start a fire, ensure it is protected from snow accumulation, wind, and water. Clear snow from the ground before beginning. 

Next, construct a fire pit by adding a stone floor to raise the fuel above ground. Align the stones against each other and use a heat reflector to keep the warm air circulating. Trees, cliff walls, or the silver side of heat blankets are all great reflectors. Don’t forget to create a raised space for firewood, which will help keep it dry and away from the snow. 

Use kindling and fuel to start the fire, preferably with large dry, or dead pieces such as tree trunks or stumps. Locate wood you can use as the fire burns to ensure you have enough when you need it. You can try a fire accelerant to speed up the process. If you carry a bug-out bag, pack tinder in your gear to help start fires. Dryer lint is an excellent accelerant.

Once your fire is roaring, build your shelter as close as possible – avoid placing flammable or meltable items near the fire – to keep yourself warm. Rocks placed in the fire can be used as mini heaters, warming your blanket or clothing if necessary. 

Keeping yourself warm in emergencies is incredibly important – even more so in freezing temperatures that can cause frostbite, hypothermia, and more. Ensure you are prepared for the worst, so you can hope for the best. 

Do you need a fire starter for emergencies? Look no further – Wolf Survival Gear carries a variety of fire starters to suit your needs. Rain or shine, hot or cold, we’ve got you covered. 

Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you need it later. 

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/

With the winter season in full swing, it’s much easier for our immune systems to be weakened and our bodies to become susceptible to bacteria and viruses. While we congregate inside to keep warm, cold and flu illnesses are more easily transferrable. Read on to discover some tips to avoid getting sick this season.

Diet: Ensure your diet is full of vitamins and minerals to boost your immune system. Cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower, cabbage, kale, etc., are helpful, as are green vegetables. Use all colors of the rainbow when preparing meals.

Zinc: Take a zinc supplement within 24 hours of feeling mildly ill or “off” to reduce the chances of getting full-blown sickness. Research finds that by taking zinc sublingual (under the tongue), the body quickly absorbs the nutrient, which can help prevent respiratory tract infections and reduce the severity of symptoms. 

Vitamin D: This vitamin is especially crucial during the cold, dreary winter months, as we absorb much of our Vitamin D from sunshine in other months. Vitamin D foods include egg yolks, mushrooms, salmon, tuna, beef liver, or supplements.

Hydrate: Every tissue and organ within the human body relies on water to carry minerals and nutrients throughout each cell. Water also keeps your nose and throat moist, which helps trap bacteria before it infiltrates your immune system. Health experts commonly recommend drinking at least eight glasses of water every day. Include green tea in your regime; it has a high level of antioxidants and several health benefits. Also, avoid alcohol and stick to sugar-free, caffeine-free beverages as much as possible.

Moisturize:  Healthy mucous membranes are naturally moist and hydrated and act as a barrier to pathogens. When cold, wintry air dries out the membranes in our nasal passages, it creates cracks or breaks within the lining and allows viruses to invade our bodies more easily. Moisturize dry air using a humidifier and rehydrate the nasal passages with nasal saline drops.

Exercise: A regular routine such as walking, stretching, or jogging helps to minimize inflammation, reduce stress, increase circulation, and distribute white blood cells, which fight diseases. Every day, keep your body moving but don’t overdo it with extreme exercise, which can elevate stress hormones and increase your risk for infection. Respect your body’s limits and build in recovery days if you’re training for endurance.

Sleep: Healthy people generally sleep a minimum of eight hours nightly and are less susceptible to viruses and bacteria due to the body’s release of cytokines during that time. Cytokines are proteins that help fight infection by regulating the immune system.

Calm Down: Doctors suspect that there is a connection between chronic mental stress and physical illness. Practice yoga, meditate, or find another way to alleviate personal stress. The continuous release of cortisol, the stress hormone produced by your adrenal glands, will lose its effectiveness in fighting inflammation and disease and lower your immune system.

Hygiene: One of the easiest ways to avoid germs is to create environments they cannot survive in. Ensure you wash your hands before eating or preparing food or any contact with your eyes or mouth. Cover your mouth while sneezing, carry hand sanitizer, and disinfect shared surfaces like phones, doorknobs, remote controls, keyboards, etc.

Keep it Personal: According to the National Health Service, flu viruses can survive on surfaces for 24 hours. Try to remain mindful of this by frequently wiping down counters and door knobs when an illness is running through your household. Also, avoid sharing germs, use your own toothbrush, utensils, and glassware, and wash contaminated towels, toys, etc., in hot soapy water.

Staying healthy can be tricky, but using some common sense and some not-so-common advice will help. Stand back a bit from others, giving yourself some space from others who may cough or sneeze droplets into the air. Take a multivitamin and visit a primary care doctor regularly for check-ups. Remember, don’t go overboard by being a clean freak; germs help train the immune system and can help build up a healthy immune response. Also, remember to look on the bright side of things. Having a positive outlook will help ward off illness.  

Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you need it later. 

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/ 

Survival hunting, also known as subsistence hunting, is, simply put, hunting to live. Though it is dwindling as a lifestyle, subsistence hunting is an essential skill for survival. Animal fats and proteins must be eaten regularly in extreme conditions to avoid energy draining during inclement weather or increased metabolism. 

The most abundant and easily huntable wild animals in the wilderness include small game, fish, reptiles, and the like. While all mammals and birds can be eaten, they should be cooked thoroughly to kill any microorganisms in the meat. It’s also important to eat – not avoid – fat; otherwise, your body cannot process the protein. A tasty source of fat is skin and fatty internal organs such as the liver or brain. 

To trap small animals, it’s imperative to understand their daily and seasonal movements, diet, and size. Traps are only helpful if you know their habits, and snares can scare them away if not used with precision. 

Fish are a fantastic option for subsistence hunting since they can be harvested in many ways and prepared in various methods. Traps, spears, nets, bows, and primitive rods can catch fish. Some options are more passive than others, allowing you to do other activities while the fish are caught. 

Reptiles and amphibians need to be skinned before being eaten since many amphibians have toxins in their outer layer. Harvesting can be accomplished with a spear, bow, hook and feather, or smashed. Reptiles and amphibians are most active at night.

Invertebrates such as insects, crustaceans, and mollusks are also food options, though they don’t always come to the top of mind when we think about food options. High in protein, many can be gathered in nets or scooped off the ground by hand. Worms and grubs can be found under rotten wood. Crayfish can be easily trapped or pulled out from under rocks. All should be thoroughly cooked, as they can transmit deadly parasites and diseases. 

Wild meat is abundant outdoors and can be a delicious and sustainable fuel source. In survival situations, small mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates are an excellent way to gain subsistence.

Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you need it later. 

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/ 

According to a report released by Technavio, ready-to-eat meals (specifically focused on emergencies) are expected to grow by $2.88 billion from 2021 to 2026 at a rate of 7.23 percent. 

The report segments the emergency food market by product type, distribution channel, and geography. Some product types include ready-to-eat meals, non-perishable pasteurized milk, infant food, dried food, and more. How these product types perform will be explored worldwide, both online and offline. 

The largest contributor to the skyrocketing marketing growth is the ready-to-eat sector, powered by pre-cooked, pre-cleaned, and packaged food for consumers. The increasing number of working women, the growing Millennial community, quick consumption habits, and hectic work schedules all contribute to the expanding segment.

Maximum growth will be especially seen throughout Northern America, which is anticipated to contribute up to 31 percent of the global market growth, thanks to the United States. 

Vendors are strategically analyzing the difference between organic and inorganic strategies, as the market is fragmented. 

The emergency food market is experiencing stagnation as a result of the growth of the organized retail sector. As consumers can effortlessly choose from a wide range of ready-to-eat products, an increase in the number of retailers is predicted to raise market growth during the forecast period. 

Though the emergency food market is expected to grow significantly, there is at least one challenge: the requirement to adhere to strict guidelines and regulations. Several food safety organizations throughout the world, such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), set regulations that can be laborious for the emergency food market. Overcoming these hurdles and abiding by the law is essential, as consumers are swiftly made aware of incompliance or deviation. 

These factors and more will affect the growth of the ready-to-eat market during the forecast period. 

Are you looking for emergency food for you and your family? Check out our wide selection of delicious freeze-dried and ready-to-eat meals today. 

Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you need it later. 

Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/ 

For the third year in a row, La Niña will return to the United States, driving warmer temperatures in the Southwest, the Gulf Coast, and the entire Eastern Seaboard, according to the Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. Beginning in December 2022 and continuing until roughly February 2023, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted dry conditions along the South and wet weather for the Ohio Valley, Great Lakes, Northern Rockies, and the Pacific Northwest. 

Michael Farrar, Ph.D., director of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction said, “The hardworking forecasters at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center produce timely and accurate seasonal outlooks and short-term forecasts year-round. NOAA’s new supercomputers are enabling us to develop even better, more detailed forecast capabilities, which we will be rolling out in the coming years.” 

In collaboration with the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), NOAA forecasters constantly observe the drought conditions that have plagued the Western United States since late 2020. They also track the Central United States as low-water conditions are afflicting the area. 

“Drought conditions are now present across approximately 59 percent of the country, but parts of the Western U.S. and Southern Great Plains will continue to be the hardest hit this winter. With the La Niña climate pattern still in place, drought conditions may also expand to the Gulf Coast,” said Jon Gottschalck, chief of the Operational Prediction Branch in NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. 

The greatest warmer-than-average weather will occur in Western Alaska, the Central Great Basin, the Southwest, the Southeast, the Atlantic Coast, and the Southern Plains. Below-normal temperatures will stretch from the Pacific Northwest eastward to the Western Great Lakes and the Alaskan Panhandle. 

In terms of precipitation, Western Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, the Northern Rockies, the Great Lakes, and the Ohio Valley should brace themselves for wetter-than-average conditions. Parts of California, the Southwest, Southern Rockies, Southern Plains, the Golf Coast, and the Southeast will see drier-than-average precipitation.

Widespread drought will affect the West, Great Basin, central-to-southern Great Plains, the middle and lower Mississippi Valley, South-central, and the Southeastern United States. Moreover, the already-established drought conditions are expected to improve across the Northwestern United States in the coming months. 

Do you have all the cold-weather gear you need for winter? Are you prepared? Check out our supplies, available online and get what you need today…before you’ll need it tomorrow. 

Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you’ll need it later. 

Ready for your next outdoor adventure? Don’t forget to account for first aid. Most outdoor incidents are minor and easily remedied, though many conditions can worsen quickly. Ensure you and your fellow explorers are prepared for any situation with help from our trusty first-aid crash course.

Evaluate

1. Analyze the scene
2. Locate threats
3. Complete exam (vital signs, head-to-toe check, etc.)
4. Identify the Mechanism of Injury (MOI)
5. Create an incident list and treatment plan
6. Support patient(s) both medically and emotionally
7. Monitor progress
8. Protect yourself

Once you have analyzed the situation and determined treatment is necessary, start by asking the patient if you can help. If they respond with “yes,” ask their name, symptoms, and to describe what happened. This will help you establish their cognizance and formulate a treatment plan. 

Next, begin the life threat exam by completing the “ABCDE” exam: 

Airway check: Look for obstructions in the mouth
Breathing check: Follow the chest’s movements to listen and feel for proper respiration
Circulation check: Monitor their pulse and look for bleeding wounds
Disability check: Protect the spine if you cannot rule out a spinal injury
Expose injuries: Open clothing over serious injuries without moving the patient

If a major wound is present, stabilize and treat that area first. All life-threatening injuries should be dealt with during the “ABCDE” exam. 

After you have gathered all the information you can, make a treatment plan and decide whether an evacuation is necessary. Analyze whether you need to move out by helicopter, rescuers on foot, by yourselves, etc. These are complex decisions and should not be taken lightly. Life or death depends on many factors, especially when it comes to wilderness survival. 

Wilderness first aid classes can be extremely beneficial for patient assessment and to learn how to mitigate many medical conditions. These can be taken at any time and are highly recommended by wilderness experts.

Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you’ll need it later. Written by the digital marketing team at Creative Programs & Systems: https://www.cpsmi.com/