In survival, the greatest needs for our survival are water, food, shelter, and physical and mental health care. But among all of them, the one that stands out the most is the need for water.

The first thing a survivor has to do is look for water, so that their chances of surviving are high, this is the main source of our life.

Human beings can live up to three weeks without food, but without water they will not be able to live more than three or four days, depending on their physical condition. The average amount of water eliminated by the human body in a jungle area, exposed to constant perspiration, is two to three liters per day.

In areas where water is scarce, it must be rationed, in order to try to maintain the daily water ration, since it is not known exactly how long we will be in this condition, but in the jungle and mountain regions it is not difficult to get water, since the rains are constant and there are numerous rivers, lagoons and swamps.

One of the greatest dangers that can occur is drinking contaminated water, due to the diseases they cause. The water can be loaded with pathogenic organisms, for which it is convenient to purify it, either by boiling it for at least 3 to 5 minutes, we can also use Micropur purifying tablets or add 2 or 3 drops of iodine or chlorine per liter of water and let it rest for 30 minutes before drinking it.

The diseases that can cause contaminated water are: Dysentery, Typhoid, Paratyphoid, Malaria, Cholera and Parasitosis.

Water can be obtained from a muddy swamp, even if it has a bad smell and is unpleasant to the taste, but it will need to be boiled first. To determine if the water is not contaminated, add a bit of sand, and if it sinks quickly, it is ready to be used, but if it does not sink easily, it is a sign that it is very dense, therefore, it is impure.

On rainy days, the draining of the trees can be used, the water runs along the branches and then descends through the main trunk. It is possible to cut this current using a garment tied on the same trunk, to drain it later or to guide the water by wick effect, towards a container.

Plants where you can get water

Coconut: It is convenient to look for green coconuts because they contain more liquid than pulp, but it is recommended not to take too much, since it is also a powerful laxative.
The Bamboo: Generally these plants contain water between the hollow knots.
The Sour Cane: It abounds a lot in the tropical forests, it contains abundant pleasant acid juice.
The Banana: The banana stem contains abundant water, for this an incision must be made in the lower part of the stem.
The Lianas or lianas: To obtain water from them, first you have to cut the highest part and then quickly, the closest to the ground. The piece should be 1.5 meters to facilitate handling. The water from these lianas has a transparent color and a neutral or fruity flavor. If an incorrect vine is chosen, its liquid will be milky or thick and its taste will be bitter or spicy; in this case we must discard it because it is highly toxic.
The water collected from the plants should not be stored for more than 24 hours, due to the fermentation process.

Observe and knowledge of fauna

On a jungle tour, watching and listening to wildlife is part of the Amazon travel experience. However, this is very useful in a survival situation. For example, if we follow the tracks or traces of some mammals, they can lead us to a water source. The birds usually fly towards a water source in the afternoon.
In the Amazon there are different species whose songs can indicate the presence of a water source. Learning to recognize the sounds of the jungle is useful for survival.

We have seen that one of the first difficulties in surviving in the jungle is determining our location. This will be useful to take a course.

Orientation by natural means

It may happen that we need to orient ourselves on a day when the sky is cloudy or covered by the dense vegetation of the jungle and that we do not have a compass in our possession. Although in such cases we cannot use the systems indicated so far, there are some indications in nature that, although they are not so exact, can be used to determine a course. The trees sprout more on the part exposed to the midday sun, which is the direction that indicates the North, you can take advantage of this indication, especially in forests or jungle areas where there are tree cuts or friction, it will be noted in your section, that the narrowest parts of the annular layers are to the North and the widest to the South.
If we are completely disoriented in the jungle, we must follow a ravine. Deep in the jungle the ravines are narrow, as the ravine continues its course it will become wider and it will flow into a main river, with the possibility of finding riverside settlers who provide help.

Global Positioning System

GPS (Global Position System) It is a group of navigation satellites that orbit the earth. The precise time and position information transmitted by these satellites is used by a GPS receiver to triangulate an established position, this system provides continuous information 24 hours a day (position and elevation) of any place on earth.
GPS was developed by the US department to provide consistent and reliable navigation information that is unaffected by terrain and bad weather.
time, and is highly resistant to errors and interference. Each GPS satellite transmits its precise location (position and elevation) and the transmission start time. A GPS receiver acquires the signal and measures the interval between the transmission and reception of the signal to determine the distance between the receiver and the satellite. Once the receiver has computed the alignment of at least three satellites their location on the earth’s surface can be determined.
Each satellite transmits two types of data; calendar and ephemeris. The calendar data is the general information of the location and status of each satellite in space since
contains general information, a calendar can be obtained from any satellite.
A receiver with an updated calendar in its memory knows where to look for satellites in the sky, giving their last known position and today’s date.
The ephemeris data is the precise information of the satellite position. Each satellite transmits its own ephemeris data. Both calendar and ephemeris data are
required by a GPS receiver to quickly locate satellites and compute a fixed position.
The satellites, to provide the information to the GPS receiver, were put into orbit and are
maintained by the US Department of Defense for use by its armed forces and allies.
GPS positioning for civilian use yields an accuracy of 25 meters or better, plus
Exactly what no one anticipated. Since the signals generated by the satellites are accessible to
either, the Department of Defense has introduced bugs for security reasons

within the signals sent by the satellites. These errors are defined as selective availability (SA). The accuracy of the GPS receiver is within 15 horizontal meters and 1 to 5 vertical meters.

One of the first difficulties to survive is to determine the location where we are, before deciding on the direction to follow in search of a known place or a position that facilitates our rescue.
There are various means to orient ourselves in the field.
Astronomical: Using the sun, moon and stars.
Mechanical: Using the compass or the clock.
Topographic: Using plans, charts or maps, etc.
Natural: By indications and reviews.
Electronics: GPS.

Orientation through the letter

If the region card is taken, the first step is to orient it, using any of the following procedures:
By terrain features: Identify previously the most notable features of the terrain, then rotating the card, make them coincide with the graphed counterparts on it.
With the compass: Place the compass on the chart and rotate it until the North-South lines of the square are parallel with the compass needle and the North of the chart coincides with the North of the compass. Then rotate it again until it marks the magnetic declination. If the chart contains the marginal information of the magnetic declination, orient it directly on it.

Orientation by the sun

Opening the arms in a cross and pointing with the right arm to the place where the sun rises, we have: In front of us the North, behind us the South, to the right the East and to the
left west.

Orientation by the moon

There are four phases of the moon: full moon, new moon, waning quarter, and waxing quarter.
The moon is a valuable help to find your way around at night. It rises in the East and sets in the West, similar to the sun.
To orient yourself by means of the moon, proceed in the same way as indicated for the sun.
It is necessary to remember that when the moon is in the waning quarter, the points point to the East, while when it is in the waxing quarter, the points point to the East.
West. In both cases, the line determined by the two points indicates approximately the North-South direction.

Orientation by means of the sun and the clock

Place the watch on a flat surface with the dial facing up. A toothpick, match or needle is located on the number 12 of the dial, vertically to it. Accuracy requires that the toothpick be as thin as possible. Rotate the clock until the shadow of the toothpick passes over the number 6. The bisector of the angle formed by the shadow of 12 and the small needle of the clock gives the exact direction of NORTH. The extension of this bisector to the opposite side will mark the SOUTH.

Orientation by the Southern Cross

When you are south of the equator, you use the Southern Cross to orient yourself.
On the direction of the largest arm and in a straight line, a distance equal to five times the largest arm is measured, and from that point a perpendicular to the horizon is lowered until it intersects the terrain; the point of interception will point to the South.

Orientation by the Big Dipper

This constellation, which is in the Northern Hemisphere, is visible in all latitudes of Peru and it is easy to identify it due to its characteristic shape of an inverted saucepan with the handle curved upwards. The body of the constellation is formed by four stars and the handle by three.
The two brightest stars of those that form the body and that are on the opposite side of the handle, will be joined by an imaginary line that extends downwards; the point where this line intersects the horizon will determine the approximate direction of North.

Orientation by mechanical means

Of these means the best known is that of the compass. The magnetic needle of the compass marks the direction of magnetic North.
There are two problems that can arise when marching towards a course: Given a direction, take the course and given the course, take the direction on the ground.

Given the direction take the course

Place the compass horizontal leaving the needle free and look in the desired direction.
Without moving the compass, rotate the limb until the North of the limb coincides with the needle.
Read the degrees marked by the index or direction indicator that will be the heading.

Given the heading find the direction

Rotate the limb until the direction indicator marks the course and, leaving the needle free, confirm a point on the ground so that the magnetic needle coincides with the North of the limb.

Evaluate Subsistences

If supplies are available, a thorough inventory of available supplies should be made. This will help determine what is missing and ration food according to the situation.

Protect yourself in a Shelter

Any feature of the terrain, a tree, a cave, properly prepared, can offer shelters to sleep and protect yourself from climatic aggressions. The terrain usually provides some means of improvising shelter. In the tropics it is convenient to build our shelter near a water source.

Know the Wildlife

Some knowledge of wildlife is required.
Knowing the flora of the place, will allow us to use it for different uses: Food, medicine and manufacture of elements that help us survive.
Knowing the fauna of the area and its behavior will allow us to track, identify tracks and make traps more effectively.

Respect Native Customs

Adapt to local customs.
Respect private property as much as possible and always reward the services provided.
Learn the most useful words of the local dialect.
Don’t bother women.
Do not enter a house if the owner is not present.
Respect local laws and customs.
Do not disregard advice about local dangers.

Don’t rush

Rushed things usually go wrong. Facing events with serenity, the loss of patience inhibits the ability to think. Avoid impulses.

Preserve Health

Personal cleanliness and clothing contribute to maintaining fit health.
Avoid infections and contagions, keep your hands clean. If possible, drink purified water and avoid fermented or spoiled foods.

Improvise Media

Improvisation is essential in any survival situation, even when conditions are unfavorable.
It is convenient to develop ingenuity and manual ability to improvise shelters, bonfires, rafts, traps and other circumstantial elements that help us to our well-being.

Anticipate the Events

Personal skill and knowledge of survival techniques and procedures will allow isolated people to anticipate events before submitting
sharply at them.
Any person whose work involves risks of being isolated must be instructed and trained in survival.

In the survival programs of the Jungle Training Center (Iquitos), the instructors they use military and native techniques to obtain an effective performance before a risky situation deep in the Amazon jungle.

Reading books, videotapes, and courses allows us to learn procedures and methods. individuals for use in a survival situation. No one knows what the exact conditions until you are faced with a real situation.

Priorities in survival will depend on the area and the surrounding circumstances. If you survive a plane crash and land on hostile terrain, your number one concern is not it will be food, water or shelter, but to hide from supposed enemies. On the other hand, if this If an accident happened in the Arctic, the number one priority would be to get shelter.

The training of the mind for survival is essential. This discipline is a combination of confidence, aggressiveness and an extreme will to overcome adversity even when the odds are not in our favor.

The experience gained over the years has shown that you can survive despite remaining isolated, even in hostile territory, due to a special state of mind, in the one that prevails the will to survive and the instinct of conservation.

OVERCOMING FEAR AND PANIC

Fear affects our decisions, paralyzes our actions and is often the author of our failures. It is a psychological state that arises in the face of danger, but it can be controlled by our will, since in many cases it is still a simple phenomenon mental.
Self-confidence and the active state of the person will allow clearing the mind any pessimistic idea that motivates fear.

RECOGNIZE THE AREA

The first step in survival is the location of the area in which we found, before beginning any displacement or waiting for rescue. It is not advisable to be driven by instinct, unless you have experience necessary in similar situations.

PLAN A FORM OF ACTION

The situation must be evaluated calmly to arrive at a logical and practical form of action. taking into account the following determining factors:
Personal safety: Do not make any decision until you are in a safe place, before execute a form of action.
Identification of the terrain: Fear can be increased when the person is in a unknown and hostile terrain, therefore, to adopt a form of action one must identify the place where one is, using any means or information.

VALUE LIFE

Staying alive is a powerful impulse of our self-preservation instinct. Preserving health and strength are of great importance in coping with a situation of survival.

Overcoming hunger, cold, heat, fatigue, thirst and all discomforts are resources to maintain health in condition, and thus be able to execute actions that allow the subject to survive.