Biographies Characteristics Analysis

Autonomous human survival in nature. Stopping nosebleeds is important

Survival in conditions of autonomous existence.

Norilsk Pedagogical College

The ability of a person to successfully overcome the harsh conditions of the natural environment is one of his most ancient qualities. Even in time immemorial, he learned to protect himself from cold and heat, to build a dwelling for himself from snow and tree branches, to make fire by friction, looking for edible fruits and roots, to hunt birds and animals, etc. But centuries passed, and a person, having tasted the benefits of civilization, began to gradually move away from nature and lose the skills acquired by many generations of ancestors. As a member of society, he is accustomed to the idea that many of his needs are provided by the people around him, that someone constantly takes care of satisfying his needs, that in this or that unfavorable situation he can always count on someone's help. Indeed, in everyday life, a person does not have to rack his brains over how to hide from heat or cold, how and where to quench thirst and hunger. Lost in an unfamiliar city, he can easily get the information he needs. If you get sick, seek medical help.

However, even today there are cases when a person, as a result of the prevailing circumstances, finds himself in conditions of autonomous existence, the favorable outcome of which largely depends on his psychophysiological qualities, sound knowledge of the basics of survival and other factors.

With a short-term external threat, a person acts on a sensual level, obeying the instinct of self-preservation: bounces off a falling tree, clings to immovable objects when falling, tries to stay on the surface of the water in case of a threat of drowning. There is no need to talk about some kind of will to live in such cases.

Another thing is long-term survival. In the conditions of autonomous existence, sooner or later, a critical moment comes when exorbitant physical and mental stress, the seeming senselessness of further resistance suppress the will. A person is seized by passivity, indifference. He is no longer afraid of the possible tragic consequences of ill-conceived overnight stays, risky crossings. He does not believe in the possibility of salvation and therefore perishes without exhausting his reserves of strength to the end, without using food supplies.

Survival, based only on the biological laws of self-preservation, is short-lived. It is characterized by rapidly developing mental disorders and hysterical behavioral reactions. The desire to survive must be conscious and purposeful, and must be dictated not by instinct, but by conscious necessity.

The natural environment and its physical and geographical conditions are also important for human life. Actively influencing the human body, it increases or shortens the period of autonomous existence, promotes or hinders the success of survival. Each of the natural zones determines the specifics of human life: the mode of behavior, methods of obtaining food, the construction of shelters, the nature of diseases and measures to prevent them, etc.

How to behave a person who finds himself in extreme conditions of the natural environment? If there is no firm confidence in the ability to quickly get out of the situation, and the situation does not require immediate departure from the scene, it is better to stay in place, make a fire, build a shelter from improvised materials. This will help you to protect yourself well from the weather and keep your strength for a long time. In addition, in parking conditions it is much easier to get food. In some cases, this tactic will facilitate the actions of the search and rescue service, which received information about the incident in a particular area.

Having made the decision to “stay in place”, you need to draw up a plan for further action, which includes the following activities:

determining your location; protection from the adverse effects of environmental factors; making a fire; issuing distress signals; obtaining food and water; self-care and disease prevention.

Orientation

Orientation on the ground is the determination of one's position relative to the sides of the horizon and local objects. Depending on the nature of the terrain, the availability of technical means and visibility, the sides of the horizon can be determined by the position of the Sun, the North Star, by signs of local objects, etc.

In the northern hemisphere, the direction not north can be determined by standing at local noon with your back to sun. The shadow will indicate the direction to the north, the west will be on the left, the east on the right. Local noon is determined using a vertical pole 0.5 - 1.0 m long according to the smallest value of the shadow length from it on the Earth's surface. The moment when the shadow was the shortest in terms of marks on Earth corresponds to the passage of the Sun through this meridian.

Determination of cardinal points using a watch: The clock must be placed horizontally and rotated so that the hour hand points to the Sun. Through the center of the dial, the bisector of the angle formed between this line and the hour hand is mentally drawn, showing the north-south direction, and the south is to the right of the Sun until 12 o'clock, and after 12 o'clock - to the left.

At night in the northern hemisphere, the direction of north can be determined with the help of the polar star, located approximately above the North Pole. To do this, you need to find the constellation Ursa Major with a characteristic arrangement of stars in the form of a bucket with a handle. An imaginary line is drawn through the last two stars of the bucket, and the distance between these stars is plotted on it 5 times. At the end of the fifth segment there will be a bright star - Polaris. The direction to it will correspond to the direction to the north.

You can refer to some natural features. So, for example, on the north side, the trees have a coarser bark, covered with lichen and moss at the foot, the bark of birch and pine on the north side is darker than on the south, and tree trunks, stones or ledges of rocks are densely covered with moss and lichens. During thaws, snow stays longer on the northern slopes of the hills. Anthills are usually protected from the north by something, their northern side is steeper. Mushrooms usually grow on the north side of trees. On the surface of the trunk of coniferous trees, facing south, more resin drops stand out than on the north. These signs are especially clearly visible on trees standing separately. On the southern slopes, grass grows faster in spring, and many flowering shrubs have more flowers.

How to arrange an overnight stay

Organizing an overnight stay is hard work. First you need to find a suitable site. First of all, it must be dry. Secondly, it is best to settle down near the stream, in an open place, in order to always have a supply of water on hand.

The simplest shelter from wind and rain is made by linking individual elements of the base (frame) with thin spruce roots, willow branches, and tundra birch. Natural cavities in the steep bank of the river allow you to comfortably sit on them so that the place of sleep is between the fire and the vertical surface (cliff, rock), which serves as a heat reflector.

When preparing a place to sleep, two holes are dug - under the thigh and under the shoulder. You can spend the night on a bed of spruce branches in a deep hole dug or thawed to the ground with a large fire. Here, in the pit, one should keep the fire in the fire all night in order to avoid a serious cold.

In the winter taiga, where the thickness of the snow cover is significant, it is easier to arrange a shelter in a hole near a tree. In severe frost, you can build a simple snow hut in loose snow. To do this, the snow is raked into a heap, its surface is compacted, watered and allowed to freeze. Then the snow is removed from the pile, and a small hole is made in the remaining dome for the chimney. A fire built inside melts the walls and makes the whole structure strong. Such a hut retains heat. You can not climb under clothes with your head, because from breathing the material becomes damp and freezes. It is better to cover the face with clothes that are easy to dry later. From a burning fire, an accumulation of carbon monoxide is possible and you need to take care of a constant influx of fresh air to the combustion center.

How to make fire

The fire in the conditions of autonomous existence is not only warm, it is dry clothes and shoes, hot water and food, protection from midges and an excellent signal for a search helicopter. And most importantly, a fire is an accumulator of cheerfulness, energy and vigorous activity.

To get fire you need use a flint and flint , a piece of flint. Any steel object can serve as a flint and flint, in extreme cases, the same iron pyrites. Fire is struck by sliding blows on flint so that sparks fall on tinder - dry moss, crushed dry leaves, newspaper, cotton wool, etc.

Fire can be mined friction. For this purpose, a bow, a drill and a support are made: a bow is made from a dead trunk of a young birch or hazel 2–3 cm thick and a piece of rope as a bowstring; drill - from a pine stick 25 - 30 cm long, pencil-thick, pointed at one end; the support is cleaned of bark and a hole 1–1.5 cm deep is drilled with a knife. The drill, wrapped once with a bowstring, is inserted with a sharp end into the hole, around which tinder is laid. Then, pressing the drill with the palm of the left hand, the right hand quickly moves the bow perpendicular to the drill. In order not to damage the palm, a gasket is placed between it and the drill from a piece of cloth, tree bark, or a glove is put on. As soon as the tinder smolders, it must be blown up and put into kindling prepared in advance.

To achieve success, you should remember three rules: the tinder must be dry, you must act in strict sequence, and most importantly, show patience and perseverance.

Obtaining food and water

A person who finds himself in conditions of autonomous existence must take the most energetic measures to provide himself with food by collecting edible wild plants, fishing, hunting, i.e. use everything that nature gives.

Over 2,000 plants grow on the territory of our country, partially or completely suitable for food.

When collecting plant gifts you have to be careful. About 2% of plants can cause severe and even fatal poisoning. To prevent poisoning, it is necessary to distinguish between such poisonous plants as the crow's eye, wolf's bast, poisonous milestone (hemlock), bitter henbane, etc. Food poisoning is caused by poisonous substances contained in some mushrooms: pale grebe, fly agaric, false honey agaric, false chanterelle, etc. .

It is better to refrain from eating unfamiliar plants, berries, mushrooms. When forced to use them for food, it is recommended to eat at a time no more than 1 - 2 g of food mass, if possible, drinking plenty of water (vegetable poison contained in such a proportion will not cause serious harm to the body). Wait 1-2 hours. If there are no signs of poisoning (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, intestinal disorders), you can eat an additional 10-15 g. After a day, you can eat without restrictions.

An indirect sign of the edibility of a plant can be: fruits pecked by birds; many seeds, scraps of peel at the foot of fruit trees; bird droppings on branches, trunks; plants gnawed by animals; fruits found in nests and burrows. Unfamiliar fruits, bulbs, tubers, etc. it is desirable to boil. Cooking destroys many organic poisons.

In conditions of autonomous existence fishing, perhaps the most affordable way to provide yourself with food. Fish has a higher energy value than vegetable fruits, and is less labor intensive than hunting.

Fishing tackle can be made from improvised materials: fishing line - from loose shoelaces, thread pulled out of clothes, untwisted rope, hooks - from pins, earrings, hairpins from badges, "invisible", and spinners - from metal and mother-of-pearl buttons, coins and etc.

It is permissible to eat fish meat raw, but it is better to cut it into narrow strips, dry them in the sun, so it will become tastier and last longer. In order to avoid fish poisoning, certain rules must be observed. You can not eat fish covered with thorns, spikes, sharp growths, skin ulcers, fish that are not covered with scales, devoid of lateral fins, having an unusual appearance and bright color, hemorrhages and tumors of internal organs. You can not eat stale fish - with gills covered with mucus, with sunken eyes, flabby skin, with an unpleasant odor, with dirty and easily detached scales, with meat easily lagging behind the bones and especially from the spine. It is better not to eat unfamiliar and dubious fish. You should also not eat fish caviar, milk, liver, because. they are often poisonous.

Hunting- the most preferred, in winter the only way to provide yourself with food. But unlike fishing, hunting requires sufficient skill, skills, and a lot of labor from a person.

Small animals and birds are relatively easy to catch. To do this, you can use traps, snares, loops and other devices.

The mined meat of the animal, the birds are fried on a primitive spit. Small animals and birds are roasted on a spit without skinning or plucking. After cooking, the charred skin is removed, and the carcass is cleaned of the inside. It is advisable to burn the meat of larger game after gutting and cleaning over high heat, and then roast it on coals.

Rivers, lakes, streams, swamps, accumulation of water in certain areas of the soil provide people with the necessary amount of liquid for drinking and cooking.

Water from springs and springs, mountain and forest rivers and streams can be drunk raw. But before you quench your thirst with water from stagnant or low-flowing reservoirs, it should be cleaned of impurities and disinfected. For cleaning, it is easy to make the simplest filters from several layers of fabric or from an empty tin can, punching 3-4 small holes in the bottom, and then filling it with sand. You can dig a shallow hole half a meter from the edge of the reservoir, and after a while it will be filled with clean, clear water.

The most reliable method of water disinfection is boiling. In the absence of utensils for boiling, a primitive box made of a piece of birch bark will do, provided that the flame only touches the part that is filled with water. You can boil water by lowering heated stones into a birch bark box with wooden tongs.

Prevention and treatment of diseases

In conditions of autonomous existence, when a wide variety of injuries, bruises, burns, poisoning, diseases, etc. are possible, knowledge of self-help techniques is especially necessary, because you have to rely on your own strength.

To protect against mosquitoes, midges need to lubricate open areas of the body with a thin layer of clay. Smoked bonfires are widely used to repel insects. To drive insects out of the hut before going to bed, burning coals are placed on a thick piece of bark, and covered with wet moss on top. The smoke oven is brought into the shelter, kept there until it is filled with smoke, and then it is well ventilated and the entrance is tightly closed. At night, the smoker is left at the entrance on the leeward side so that the smoke, repelling insects, does not penetrate into the shelter.

During the transitions, care must be taken not to step on the snake. In case of an unexpected meeting with a snake, it is necessary to stop, let it crawl away and not pursue it. If the snake is aggressive, immediately deliver a strong blow to the head, and then finish it off. When bitten by a poisonous snake, it is necessary to carefully suck out the poison (if there are no cracks in the mouth and lips) and spit it out. Wash the wound and apply a bandage.

In the treatment of diseases, some plants .

Ash bark has an anti-inflammatory effect. To do this, remove the bark from a not very young, but not very old branch and attach the juicy side to the wound. Fresh crushed nettle leaves help well. They promote blood clotting and stimulate tissue healing. For the same purposes, the wound can be sprinkled with greenish-brown pollen of a mature puffball mushroom, tightly clamping the cut with the velvety skin of the same fungus turned inside out.

Fireweed fluff, reeds, linen and hemp tow can be used as cotton wool.

The burning reddish juice of the lungwort can replace iodine. And white moss is used as a dressing with a disinfectant effect. Fresh juice of plantain and wormwood stops bleeding and disinfects wounds, has an analgesic and healing effect. This remedy is also indispensable for severe bruises, sprains, as well as for the bites of wasps and bumblebees. The leaves of plantain and wormwood are crushed and applied to the wound.

How to send a distress signal

The fire remains one of the most effective means of emergency signaling. In order to give a signal to the search helicopter in a timely manner, the fire is prepared in advance. Dry branches, trunks, moss, etc. are stacked in open places - a clearing, a hilltop, a clearing, otherwise the trees will trap smoke and the signal will go unnoticed. To make the column of smoke thicker and blacker, fresh grass, green leaves of trees, damp moss, etc. are thrown into the blazing fire. The fire is set on fire when a helicopter or plane has appeared in the visibility zone and the noise of running engines is clearly audible.

The attention of the crew of an aircraft search vessel can also be attracted by various signals that unmask the terrain: for example, trample geometric shapes in the snow, cut down (break out) bushes, and if there is a fabric of bright colors, stretch it out in the open.

The favorable outcome of an autonomous existence depends on many factors, but the main one is solid knowledge from various fields. It is desirable not only to know how to behave in a given situation, but also to be able to do it, because when the situation becomes threatening, it is too late to start learning.

Ways of autonomous human survival in nature

Modern man has overcome an unusually long evolutionary path of development from a cave dweller to a creator of spacecraft. Today we know how to treat many diseases, predict the weather, use all the benefits of modern civilization. But can we consider ourselves prepared for autonomous life more than other inhabitants of the wild? We hunt animals for fun, we cut down forests and pollute the environment for money, not to mention criminal offenses against our fellows. Therefore, many areas of nature, where no human foot has yet set foot, are cleaner, more beautiful and, most importantly, safer for survival compared to residential areas in many cities of the world. This is the main thing that a person who has ended up in the wild against his will should know. Forest, mountains, steppes, tundra, desert are the habitats of many living organisms, here you can find water, food, shelter, and medicines. Avoiding the attack of predators is also quite within the power of everyone if you know the basic rules and laws of life in the wild. Compliance with these rules and laws will ensure your safety.

The main problems of human survival in nature today are in himself. Weak physical fitness, excessive irritability, fear and panic, the presence of neuroses, chronic diseases and dependence on comfortable living conditions make a person unprotected and unprepared to survive in autonomous conditions.

Most of the inhabitants of the developed countries of the world are accustomed to moving around in cars, eating in the catering system, buying clothes in stores, sewing them in ateliers, building housing by hiring workers, and with any disease go to a medical facility. Skills such as building a fire, cooking over a campfire, hunting, sleeping in a tent, being active without means of comfort, and always having a portable emergency supply (PPE) on hand are all fantastic. In fact, these skills and abilities are relevant today for almost every person who is going on vacation on a luxury ocean liner, makes air flights, goes to the forest for mushrooms or goes on a hike. This manual is dedicated to the emergency survival of a person in the wild, that is, its study, interaction with it, education of love and respect for it, which will be the main and most significant survival factor.

THE BASICS OF EMERGENCY SURVIVAL IN THE WILD

1.1. Natural emergencies, warning measures and priority actions

Knowing the basics of survival is a must for every person. Survival should be understood as active expedient actions aimed at preserving life, health and performance in the conditions of autonomous existence.

These actions consist in overcoming psychological stress, showing ingenuity, resourcefulness, effective use of equipment and improvised means to protect against the adverse effects of environmental factors and meet the body's needs for food and water.

The capabilities of the human body, like all living things, are limited and are within very narrow limits. Where is the threshold beyond which changes in the functions of organs and systems become irreversible? What time limit can people who find themselves in certain extreme conditions have? How best to protect a person from the adverse effects of numerous and diverse environmental factors?

Experience shows that people are able to endure the most severe natural conditions for a long time. However, a person who is not accustomed to these conditions, who has fallen into them for the first time, turns out to be much less adapted to life in the wild than its permanent inhabitants. Therefore, the harsher the conditions of the external environment, the shorter the period of autonomous existence, the more strictly the rules of conduct must be followed, the higher the price that each mistake is paid for.

The natural environment and its physical and geographical conditions are of great importance for human viability. Actively influencing the human body, it increases or shortens the period of autonomous existence, promotes or hinders the success of survival. The Arctic and the tropics, mountains and deserts, taiga and the ocean - each of these natural zones is characterized by its own peculiarities of climate, topography, flora and fauna. They determine the specifics of human life: the mode of behavior, methods of obtaining water and food, the features of the construction of shelters, the nature of diseases and measures to prevent them, the ability to move around the area, etc.

The favorable outcome of autonomous existence largely depends on the psycho-physiological qualities of a person: will, determination, composure, ingenuity, physical fitness, endurance. The basis of success in the fight against the forces of nature is the ability of a person to survive. But this requires certain theoretical and practical knowledge.

The basis of man's survival is his conviction that he can and must preserve health and life in the most severe conditions, that he will be able to use everything that the environment gives to his advantage.

Forced autonomous survival of a person can occur in the following cases:

♦ loss of reference point;

♦ deprivation of a vehicle;

♦ loss of a person who knows the area;

♦ natural disaster. The reasons for these cases may be:

♦ natural disasters, adverse weather conditions;

♦ transport emergency (shipwreck, plane crash);

♦ inability to navigate the terrain;

♦ carelessness;

♦ overconfidence.

In any case, a person must know the factors of survival in the wild.

1.2. Human Survival Factors in the Wild

Survival factors are the reasons of an objective and subjective nature that determine the outcome of an autonomous existence (Fig. 1.1).

Rice. 1.1. Survival Factors

Practice has shown that out of the total number of people who find themselves in an extreme situation, up to 75% experience a feeling of depression, up to 25% - a neurotic reaction. Self-control retain no more than 10%. Gradually, over time, people either adapt or worsen.

Which reactions of a person who has fallen into extreme conditions - negative or positive - will prevail depends on the following factors.

The physical condition of a person that is, the absence or presence of chronic diseases, allergic reactions, injuries, injuries, bleeding. The age and sex of the person are important, since the elderly and preschool children, as well as pregnant women, endure the most difficult autonomous survival.

The psychological state of a person. Favorable psychological factors include the ability to make decisions independently, independence and resistance to stress, a sense of humor and the ability to improvise. It is important to be able to cope with pain, loneliness, apathy and powerlessness, overcome hunger, cold and thirst, as well as cope with other survival stressors.

Learning to act in autonomous conditions is a fundamental factor in survival. Much depends on the degree of professional training. A great success for a group that has fallen into autonomous conditions are crew members, professional military, doctors, and rescuers. The chances of survival for such a group increase significantly. However, this situation can create certain problems. The most trained members of the group immediately become formal leaders, but depending on the specifics of their profession, they are trained to act, having the necessary equipment in their hands, to work in a team of professionals just like themselves. In an emergency situation, there is usually no equipment and special equipment, a professional can be alone, the lives of dozens of people who are in disarray and not ready to act in extreme situations depend on their decisions. Under such conditions, a specialist should be not just a rescuer, a doctor, but also the best specialist in this field, have experience in acting in such situations, and have management skills in a crisis.

We list the main skills and abilities that a person who finds himself in a situation of autonomous survival in nature should possess:

1) the ability to calculate the required minimum amount of food and water;

2) possession of methods for the extraction and purification of drinking water in nature;

3) the ability to navigate the terrain with the help of a map, compass, GPS-navigators, other devices and without them;

4) first aid skills;

The textbook systematizes the basic rules, norms, laws and methods of ensuring the safety of life in the conditions of autonomous human survival in nature. The textbook is compiled on the basis of a large theoretical and practical material developed by a group of special forces veterans, combatants, psychologists who study the impact of extreme situations on a person, teachers of educational institutions of higher, secondary vocational education and teachers of a comprehensive school. It is intended for students studying the organization of human security in emergency situations, specialists of law enforcement agencies and rescuers, as well as for residents of our country living in remote regions and in areas at risk of being offline due to extreme natural conditions. The material presented in the textbook can be useful to athletes, tourists, forestry and fisheries workers and all those who are fond of forestry.

The publication is fundamental for the training of security specialists, bachelors in the field of "Life Safety", cadets and students of all higher educational institutions of law enforcement agencies.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holders.

Approved by the Educational and Methodological Association in the areas of pedagogical education of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation as a textbook for students of higher educational institutions studying in the direction 050100 "Natural Science Education" (preparation profile - "Life Safety")

    Chapter 1 - BASIC WILDLIFE EMERGENCY SURVIVAL 1

    Chapter 2 - FEEDING AND STARTING IN EMERGENCY CONDITIONS 5

    Chapter 3 - FEATURES OF AUTONOMOUS SURVIVAL IN VARIOUS CLIMATOGEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS 18

    Chapter 4 - PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN AUTONOMOUS SURVIVAL IN NATURE 24

    Chapter 5 - FIRST AID FOR DISEASES UNDER AUTONOMOUS SURVIVAL 32

    Chapter 6 - ORIENTING THE TERRAIN 39

    Chapter 7 - TOURISM ORGANIZATION 48

    REFERENCES 53

Team of Authors
Ways of autonomous human survival in nature

FROM THE AUTHORS

Modern man has overcome an unusually long evolutionary path of development from a cave dweller to a creator of spacecraft. Today we know how to treat many diseases, predict the weather, use all the benefits of modern civilization. But can we consider ourselves prepared for autonomous life more than other inhabitants of the wild? We hunt animals for fun, we cut down forests and pollute the environment for money, not to mention criminal offenses against our fellows. Therefore, many areas of nature, where no human foot has yet set foot, are cleaner, more beautiful and, most importantly, safer for survival compared to residential areas in many cities of the world. This is the main thing that a person who has ended up in the wild against his will should know. Forest, mountains, steppes, tundra, desert are the habitats of many living organisms, here you can find water, food, shelter, and medicines. Avoiding the attack of predators is also quite within the power of everyone if you know the basic rules and laws of life in the wild. Compliance with these rules and laws will ensure your safety.

The main problems of human survival in nature today are in himself. Weak physical fitness, excessive irritability, fear and panic, the presence of neuroses, chronic diseases and dependence on comfortable living conditions make a person unprotected and unprepared to survive in autonomous conditions.

Most of the inhabitants of the developed countries of the world are accustomed to moving around in cars, eating in the catering system, buying clothes in stores, sewing them in ateliers, building housing by hiring workers, and with any disease go to a medical facility. Skills such as building a fire, cooking over a campfire, hunting, sleeping in a tent, being active without means of comfort, and always having a portable emergency supply (PPE) on hand are all fantastic. In fact, these skills and abilities are relevant today for almost every person who is going on vacation on a luxury ocean liner, makes air flights, goes to the forest for mushrooms or goes on a hike. This manual is dedicated to the emergency survival of a person in the wild, that is, its study, interaction with it, education of love and respect for it, which will be the main and most significant survival factor.

Chapter 1
THE BASICS OF EMERGENCY SURVIVAL IN THE WILD

1.1. Natural emergencies, warning measures and priority actions

Knowing the basics of survival is a must for every person. Survival should be understood as active expedient actions aimed at preserving life, health and performance in the conditions of autonomous existence.

These actions consist in overcoming psychological stress, showing ingenuity, resourcefulness, effective use of equipment and improvised means to protect against the adverse effects of environmental factors and meet the body's needs for food and water.

The capabilities of the human body, like all living things, are limited and are within very narrow limits. Where is the threshold beyond which changes in the functions of organs and systems become irreversible? What time limit can people who find themselves in certain extreme conditions have? How best to protect a person from the adverse effects of numerous and diverse environmental factors?

Experience shows that people are able to endure the most severe natural conditions for a long time. However, a person who is not accustomed to these conditions, who has fallen into them for the first time, turns out to be much less adapted to life in the wild than its permanent inhabitants. Therefore, the harsher the conditions of the external environment, the shorter the period of autonomous existence, the more strictly the rules of conduct must be followed, the higher the price that each mistake is paid for.

The natural environment and its physical and geographical conditions are of great importance for human viability. Actively influencing the human body, it increases or shortens the period of autonomous existence, promotes or hinders the success of survival. The Arctic and the tropics, mountains and deserts, taiga and the ocean - each of these natural zones is characterized by its own peculiarities of climate, topography, flora and fauna. They determine the specifics of human life: the mode of behavior, methods of obtaining water and food, the features of the construction of shelters, the nature of diseases and measures to prevent them, the ability to move around the area, etc.

The favorable outcome of autonomous existence largely depends on the psycho-physiological qualities of a person: will, determination, composure, ingenuity, physical fitness, endurance. The basis of success in the fight against the forces of nature is the ability of a person to survive. But this requires certain theoretical and practical knowledge.

The basis of man's survival is his conviction that he can and must preserve health and life in the most severe conditions, that he will be able to use everything that the environment gives to his advantage.

Forced autonomous survival of a person can occur in the following cases:

♦ loss of reference point;

♦ deprivation of a vehicle;

♦ loss of a person who knows the area;

♦ natural disaster. The reasons for these cases may be:

♦ natural disasters, adverse weather conditions;

♦ transport emergency (shipwreck, plane crash);

♦ inability to navigate the terrain;

♦ carelessness;

♦ overconfidence.

In any case, a person must know the factors of survival in the wild.

1.2. Human Survival Factors in the Wild

Survival factors are the reasons of an objective and subjective nature that determine the outcome of an autonomous existence (Fig. 1.1).

The earth is the ideal habitat for man. He cannot exist without nature, since he himself is a large part of it. Many centuries ago, people were very closely connected with the environment and completely dependent on it. Time has passed since then, man has learned to build cities, extract energy, fly into space, and even if the connection with nature is not felt so sharp now, we cannot survive without plants and animals, air and water. Often there are situations when a person has to accept the conditions of autonomous existence, that is, to survive in the wild without any help. This can happen at the will of the adventurer or out of his will.

Volunteer Adventure

Sometimes people set goals that require them to be especially patient, such as crossing an ocean alone. They take a certain amount of resources, which should be enough for a while, and set off. Once this supply is depleted, they are forced to obtain their own food and water on their own, such as fishing and desalination. In this case, they say that this is a voluntary autonomous existence of a person. Its goals can be different: connecting with nature, conducting scientific research or experiment, finding out one's capabilities. Examples of autonomous existence are often found on the pages of books and magazines. One of them is the crossing of Antarctica by Bjurg Osland. In 1996-1997, he crossed the South Pole alone on skis. For some 64 days, he overcame 2845 km of snow and ice, showing himself strong both physically and morally. But the most understandable example of this type of activity for a simple layman is the usual hiking trips that do not torture the daredevils so much, but still leave them face to face with nature.

Many do not like this extreme at all, because it is really very difficult. Why torture yourself if you don't see the point in it? But life is very unpredictable, and it happens that, willy-nilly, a person finds himself face to face with nature, forced to survive at the same time by any means. Such autonomous existence is called forced. It differs sharply from voluntary, because in the first case, a person prepares for such an adventure, he consciously goes for it, setting himself a specific goal. If a person, for example, is lost in a forest or survives a shipwreck, then he needs to drastically rebuild in order to survive and return home. It is very difficult, both physically and mentally.

The Loneliness Factor

Man is a creature that is highly dependent on society, that is, on the people around him. Getting alone in it can psychologically break down. After all, a forced autonomous existence leads to a great fear, and if there is no one nearby who could support and reassure, then this fear increases tenfold. Often there is a very negative emotional reaction, which manifests itself in a sense of hopelessness, approaching death, pain and suffering. This is due to the fact that a person is in an unfamiliar environment, which can potentially carry many dangers to his life. At such moments, one's own weakness and fragility of the body are especially acutely felt. Autonomous existence can cause controlled or uncontrolled fear. In the first case, it can not only be harmless, but also help, push for actions that will lead to the most effective problem solving. But if it is uncontrolled fear, then it subjugates every thought and action of a person. Panic is not good, it will only make the situation worse.

Distress signal

Autonomous existence in nature can be short-lived if you behave correctly. The first thing not to do is to leave the scene. The best option, if the person is not in danger, is to set up camp. Indeed, for rescuers it is quite difficult to find those in distress in the mountains, forests or in bad weather. Therefore, you should come up with a signal in advance that will be given if any vehicle approaches a person, for example, a helicopter. The best in this case will be a fire. This is the fastest and easiest way. Material for it must be prepared in advance. If the case takes place in the desert, then a jar of sand, which is saturated with some combustible substance, can replace brushwood. Fires should only be lit when the rescue equipment can be seen or heard. In addition, if this is an open area, then you can lay out any sign of stones or trample it on the snow. Flags made of bright fabrics will also not be superfluous.

Nutrition

The autonomous existence of a person in nature is further complicated by the lack of food, which can lead to a hunger strike. It can be full when there is no food at all, but water enters the body, and absolute when there is not even water. The first option is more acceptable, since forces can be drawn from internal reserves (fat deposits and by reducing the size and volume of cells). A person can live up to 70 days without food, but these are adults. For children, this period is reduced significantly. But the main thing even in the absence of food is water. Since without it you can live only a couple of days. It is very difficult to find it in the desert, but if you try, everything is possible. For example, you can build a solar capacitor based on a water-repellent film, or you can squeeze the juice out of a cactus. It tastes bitter, but in such conditions everything will do. If there is a stream or a river nearby, then you can drink water from there, but it must be boiled, and if there is nothing, then you just need to put a hot coal from a fire into any vessel. This will help prevent future infections.

Locating

Forced autonomous existence can be reduced if a person knows how to navigate the terrain. The first thing you can do is to go back on your own tracks if a person is lost. You can navigate using several things at different times of the day (by the sun, stars, shadows, compass, clock, moss on the trees). If you figure out where you came from, then finding the right path will be much easier.

Thus, autonomous existence is the independent survival of a person in the wild. It can be either voluntary or forced. In both cases, survival depends on the moral stamina and physical fitness of the person in a similar situation.

Ways of autonomous human survival in nature, Mikhailov L.A., 2008.

The textbook systematizes the basic rules, norms, laws and methods of ensuring the safety of life in the conditions of autonomous human survival in nature.
The textbook is compiled on the basis of a large theoretical and practical material developed by a group of special forces veterans, combatants, psychologists who study the impact of extreme situations on a person, teachers of educational institutions of higher, secondary vocational education and teachers of a comprehensive school. It is intended for students studying the organization of human security in emergency situations, specialists of law enforcement agencies and rescuers, as well as for residents of our country living in remote regions and in areas at risk of being offline due to extreme natural conditions. The material presented in the textbook can be useful to athletes, tourists, forestry and fisheries workers and all those who are fond of forestry.
The publication is fundamental for the training of security specialists, bachelors in the field of "Life Safety", cadets and students of all higher educational institutions of law enforcement agencies.

Modern man has overcome an unusually long evolutionary path of development from a cave dweller to a creator of spacecraft. Today we know how to treat many diseases, predict the weather, use all the benefits of modern civilization. But can we consider ourselves prepared for autonomous life more than other inhabitants of the wild? We hunt animals for fun, we cut down forests and pollute the environment for money, not to mention criminal offenses against our fellows. Therefore, many areas of nature, where no human foot has yet set foot, are cleaner, more beautiful and, most importantly, safer for survival compared to residential areas in many cities of the world. This is the main thing that a person who has ended up in the wild against his will should know. Forest, mountains, steppes, tundra, desert are the habitats of many living organisms, here you can find water, food, shelter, and medicines. Avoiding the attack of predators is also quite within the power of everyone if you know the basic rules and laws of life in the wild. Compliance with these rules and laws will ensure your safety.
The main problems of human survival in nature today are in himself. Weak physical fitness, excessive irritability, fear and panic, the presence of neuroses, chronic diseases and dependence on comfortable living conditions make a person unprotected and unprepared to survive in autonomous conditions.
Most of the inhabitants of the developed countries of the world are accustomed to moving around in cars, eating in the catering system, buying clothes in stores, sewing them in ateliers, building housing by hiring workers, and with any disease go to a medical facility. Skills such as building a fire, cooking over a campfire, hunting, sleeping in a tent, being active without means of comfort, and always having a portable emergency supply (PPE) on hand are all fantastic. In fact, these skills and abilities are relevant today for almost every person who is going on vacation on a luxury ocean liner, makes air flights, goes to the forest for mushrooms or goes on a hike. This manual is dedicated to the emergency survival of a person in the wild, that is, its study, interaction with it, education of love and respect for it, which will be the main and most significant survival factor.

Table of contents
FROM THE AUTHORS
Chapter 1 BASICS OF EMERGENCY SURVIVAL IN THE WILD
1.1. Natural emergencies, warning measures and priority actions
1.2. Human Survival Factors in the Wild
1.3. Rules of conduct in conditions of autonomous existence
1.4. Types of means and methods of sending distress signals
Questions for self-control
Chapter 2 ORGANIZATION OF NUTRITION AND STARTING IN EMERGENCY CONDITIONS
2.1. Catering in conditions of autonomous survival
2.2. Fasting and its tolerance
2.3. Extraction of food and water in the conditions of autonomous existence
Questions for self-control
Chapter 3 FEATURES OF AUTONOMOUS SURVIVAL IN DIFFERENT CLIMATOGEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS
3.1. Features of autonomous existence in the jungle
3.2. Survival in the wooded and marshy area
3.3. Features of autonomous survival in arctic, subarctic zones and winter conditions
3.4. Wilderness Survival Features
3.5. Features of survival in conditions of forced autonomy at sea
Questions for self-control
Chapter 4 PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN AUTONOMOUS SURVIVAL IN NATURE
4.1. Features of the formation of attitudes to extreme situations
4.2. Psycho-emotional reactions to an extreme situation
4.3. Mental disorders in acute life-threatening situations
4.4. Adaptation to an extreme situation
4.5. Psychological assistance after high-risk situations
Questions for self-control
Chapter 5
5.1. Recommendations for maintaining health in the wild
5.2. First aid for mechanical injury
5.3. Temperature injury
5.4. Drowning
5.5. resuscitation
5.6. Bites of reptiles and insects
5.7. Plant poisoning
5.8. Colds
5.9. Food poisoning and gastrointestinal diseases
Questions for self-control
Chapter 6 ORIENTATION ON THE TERRAIN
6.1. The concept of "orientation" and geographical projection
6.2. Types of standard instruments and orientation aids
6.3. Orientation techniques using standard equipment and instruments
6.4. Orientation without a map and compass
6.5. Orientation in local subjects
6.6. Using Visual and Auditory Orientation Markers
Questions for self-control
Chapter 7 ORGANIZATION OF TOURIST TRIPS
7.1. General approaches to the organization of tourist trips
7.2. Organization of halts and overnight stays
7.3. Installation and equipment of tents
7.4. Bonfires and hearths
7.5. Types of simple shelters
Questions for self-control
BIBLIOGRAPHY