Sustain Us Survival Skills Part 1: Water

We’re starting a new series today all about survival – because let’s face it, we live in a world that is full of potential disasters. From natural disasters like floods and earthquakes to man-made disasters like pandemics, it’s important to be prepared for anything.

In this series, we’ll be covering all the basics of survival – from food and water to shelter and safety. We’ll also be giving you tips on what to do in specific situations, so you’ll be as prepared as possible if disaster strikes.

We’re kicking off the series with a focus on water since our bodies can only survive for 72 hours without it. While you might think that water is just water, there is a lot of science that goes into making sure it’s clean and safe to drink. In this series, we’ll be breaking down all the ways you can make sure you have access to clean water in any situation.

1. Finding Potable Water

One of the most important things you need to survive is water. But not just any water will do - you need potable water that is safe to drink. In many survival situations, you will not have access to clean drinking water, so it's important to know how to find water in the wild.

There are a few different ways to find potable water in the wild. One is to look for sources of fresh water, such as rivers, lakes, and streams.

Remember that fresh water will always be flowing downhill. Try to find the point where hills meet as there will most likely be streams and creeks in the crevasses. But if you don’t see any water, don’t fret! Just be quiet so you can listen for the sound of cascading water and then just follow the sound.

2. Beware of Standing Water

Most people know that it's important to drink plenty of water every day. But did you know that you should be careful about what kind of water you drink? That's right - not all water is created equal. In fact, there are some types of water that you should never drink, like standing water.

While standing water may look harmless, it can actually be very dangerous. Standing water is a breeding ground for bacteria and other contaminants that can make you sick. The best drinking water will always be in places with a strong flow. And if you're not sure whether or not a water source is safe, it's best to err on the side of caution and avoid it altogether.

3. Purifying Your Water

But what if you're really thirsty and there's no other water around? In that case, you can boil the standing water to kill the bacteria. Just remember to let it cool down before you drink it!

Boiling water is an effective way to kill harmful bacteria and viruses, making it safe to drink. Plus, it's easy to do and doesn't require any special equipment. 

Here's how to do it:

1. Fill a pot with water.
2. Place the pot on the stove and turn on the heat.
3. Boil the water for at least 1 minute.
4. Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool before drinking.

That's it for the first part of our series on basic survival skills. Stay tuned for more tips on how to survive any disaster. Thanks for reading!