- Scout Outdoor Essentials
The Scout Outdoor Essentials, as practiced by the
Boy Scouts of America , are a list of ten items or categories of items that should be brought by each individual to any outdoor activity, such as camping orhiking . They are often called by their former (though now unofficial) name, the "Ten essentials ".As listed in the Eleventh Edition of the "Boy Scout Handbook", they are:
* A
pocket knife (presumably more than just aknife , aSwiss Army knife for example) can come in handy in a wide variety of situations. It is useful for tasks as large as building an emergency shelter or lighting acampfire with poorfuel , or as small as repairing a damagedbackpack .
* Afirst aid kit can be a lifesaver. A basic kit forfirst aid might include adhesive bandages, medical tape, sterilegauze ,moleskin ,soap ,antiseptic , a mouth-barrier device for CPR, and scissors.
* Extra clothing to match the weather. Multiple layers are superior to a single massivejacket , because layeredclothing is adaptable to a wide range of temperatures.
* Rain gear is very important. Being wet from rain may result inhypothermia , a potentially fatal condition.
* Aflashlight is, of course, important for finding one's way at night.
* Trailfood is good for maintaining your energy. However, the human body can reportedly survive for weeks without food, so starving to death should be the least of your worries if you become lost in the wilderness.
* Water is probably the most important of the Essentials.Dehydration may develop intoheat exhaustion andheatstroke . The human body may only survive for a few days without water. Portable water purifiers andwater still s may be used to obtain potable water from virtually any source. If a watersource is unavailable the use of a dromedary bag should be considered.
*Match es may be used to lightfire s for heat, or for signalling purposes. (Publicly owned forests in the United States often have lookout stations for forest fires and signal fires.)
* Sun protection may includesunblock ,sunglasses ,lip balm and a wide-brimmedhat . Used properly, it will preventsunburn and possiblyheat exhaustion .
*Map andcompass are probably the most important tools one can carry in case of getting lost, but they won't be of any use to someone who does not know how to use them. In knowledgeable hands, they can be used to determine one's location and the best route to reach another location.
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