The 10 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 to any outdoor activity, such as
camping or
hiking. 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 a
knife, a
Swiss 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 a
campfire with poor
fuel, or as small
as repairing a damaged
backpack.
- A
first aid kit can be a lifesaver. A basic kit for
first aid
might include
adhesive bandages,
medical tape, sterile
gauze,
moleskin, soap,
antiseptic, a mouth-barrier device for
CPR, and scissors.
- Extra clothing to match the weather. Multiple layers are superior
to a single massive
jacket,
because layered
clothing
is adaptable to a wide range of temperatures.
- Rain gear is very important. Being wet from rain may result in
hypothermia, a potentially fatal condition.
- A
flashlight is, of course, important for finding one's way at night.
- Trail food
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 into
heat exhaustion and
heatstroke. The human body may only survive for a few days without water.
Portable
water purifiers and
water stills may be used to obtain potable water from virtually any
source.
- Matches
may be used to light
fires 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 include
sunblock,
sunglasses,
lip balm
and a wide-brimmed hat.
Used properly, it will prevent
sunburn and
possibly
heat exhaustion.
- Map and
compass
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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