In a survival situation there is something called the rule of 3s. Basically stated, you can survive 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 hours without some kind of shelter, 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food, given that you will have access to shelter and water. This training presentation is focused on procuring drinkable water in worse case scenarios whether urban or in the forest.

It is recommended that the average person drink at least 3 litres of water per day. During a survival situation, extreme emotions, physical and environmental conditions can enhance the need for water. Situations such as injury, excessive exertion, exposure to the cold or heat and illness can contribute to extreme water loss. It is therefore extremely important to procure water very early. When the body becomes dehydrated, symptoms may include fatigue, dizziness, headaches, dry mouth, thirst and confusion. These symptoms will become drastically worse overtime without water.

1 Use/follow animal trails

2 Understand how water moves (it runs down hill)

3 Pay attention to birds

4 Look for dense vegetation

1 Morning dew soaked up with a cloth

2 Tie a rag to a tree

3 Use clothing or a rag to absorb from a pond or river

4 Rainfall collection: use some kind of container, bark from a tree, bamboo or a leaf. You need to be creative!

5 Lake or pond: container such as a discarded plastic, rock with a curvature, animal shells or bone, and by making an impression into a thick piece of wood by burning it.

Unless your water has come from a reliable source that you are confident about, it is absolutely necessary to boil to kill microorganisms. You can do this by means of improvised stoves and/or your campfire. Additionally, you can take some hot rocks from your fire and add them to your water. These rocks will boil the water. Repeat if necessary. You can then let the water cool, remove the rocks and drink.

Note: I encourage you to practice and enhance your knowledge. I have written about common means and methods, but there is much more that can be learned. This is a deep and essential topic.

1 Demonstrating how to make a seep. A seep is a small dug hole 2-3 feet away from a water source. The seep will fill with water from the source filtering itself through the ground. You should be able to drink this water, however boiling is always recommended. Cover the seep when you are not using it.

2 Demonstrating how to get tree sap water. In my area, maple and birch trees can be used.

3 Demonstrating how to obtain water from a naturally occuring spring which is filtered through the soil.

4 Demonstrating how to make a primitive water filtering device. Please note that you will discard the first little bit of water that comes from your filter upon the first use, as it will be darkened from the charcoal. However, it will eventually become clear.