Water

Finding potable water in the wilderness can be very difficult, especially in arid regions. You may also have limited mobility if you are injured in a crash. BRING SUFFICIENT WATER WITH YOU IN THE AIRCRAFT so that you can stay hydrated until rescued.

Although the movies and television often show survivors rationing water, it is better to drink as needed when you are thirsty to avoid heat stroke. RATION SWEAT, NOT WATER—avoid exertion and remain in the shade to reduce the body's need for water.

DO NOT EVER DRINK SALT WATER!—it will only speed the process of dehydration as the body draws water from the extremities in order to dilute the high salt concentration in the stomach.

If a quick rescue is assured, it is better to drink un-purified water than succumb to heat stroke, since the onset of bacteria-induced illness usually takes several days.

When possible, always purify any water that you find in the wilderness (even when it comes from a "pristine" mountain stream—there may be a dead animal or feces in the water further up that you cannot see). Filtering water with a cloth does not eliminate pathogens—it must be boiled, or treated with purification tablets. Two drops of chlorine will purify one quart of water. There are many commercially available filters that can be stored in a survival bag. As a last resort, water that is relatively clear can be placed in a clear plastic bottle and allowed to remain in the sun for 7 hours. The ultraviolet light will kill the bacteria as long as it is not blocked by colored plastic, paper labels, or sediment particles in the water itself.

There are a few techniques that may produce limited amounts of water under certain conditions. Early morning dew can be collected with a handkerchief or cloth which is then wrung out to release the water. Tying an absorbent cloth around the ankles and walking through grass or leafy plants can speed up the collection process.

Digging down at the lowest point of a bend in a dry stream bed may produce wet sand or mud. The water can then be soaked up by a cloth and wrung out.