HELP! I need to know how to survive in the woods.

My english teacher has currently asked me to write a essay about surviving in the woods. I have to do research on this topic, and have the paper done in a couple of weeks, can you help me? I need to know this along eith oher questions I will comment later.

What are the basic survival supplies, and what is the easiest, most energy saving way to get these supplies?

How can you navigate your way through the woods without maps, compasses, etc.?

What is the best way to get food?

What are some medical tricks you can do when lost in the woods, if hurt?

Please comment other stuff I have not mentioned but you think would be important to know when lost in a forest. Thanks for the help.

-What are the basic survival supplies, and what is the easiest, most energy saving way to get these supplies?
The basic things and easiest things that you need to survive in the woods are a plastic tarp to create shelter, some rope like paracord to help create traps and shelter, something like matches or magnesium fire starter to start fires, a water bottle, some form of purify water, a knife, and a sleeping bag. You can get these things at any Meijer, Walmart, Costco, or other major store of that sort.

-How can you navigate your way through the woods without maps, compasses, etc.?
If you have a analog wrist watch then you can use this trick. First, anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere during the day, when the sun is visible. Lay the watch flat and face-up in your palm so that its face is parallel with the ground. Second, turn the watch, your hand, or your entire body so that the hour hand of your watch is pointing directly at the sun. The time on the watch doesn't matter, as long as it's accurate. Third, bisect the angle between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock mark to find South.

-What is the best way to get food?
If you have no food you can try and make a makeshift fishing pole, fishing line and hook. Or you can create snares to capture small animals.

-What are some medical tricks you can do when lost in the woods, if hurt?
I need to look more up on this subject but I know the obvious things like gently pressing on each vertebrae if you are determining if a person's neck or back is broken. Then there is if you suspect a neck immediately stabilize the person's head and neck. If there is a broken bone use straight branches and some form of rope to create splints.

Go to the book store and buy the SAS Survival handbook. It'll answer all of these questions and more...

or search round this forum. think there is a link somewhere.

Important to remember the rule of 3
3 minutes without air
3 days without water
3 weeks without food

I'd recommend organizing your report by the main categories of needs...water, food, shelter, then woodcraft.

What are the basic survival supplies, and what is the easiest, most energy saving way to get these supplies?

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A knife is pretty essential. One should always have this on his/her person if going through any woods or traveling through a wooded area. A water bottle is another great one (a metal water bottle even better, since you can use it for boiling). I guess this really depends on whether one is actually PLANNING to just go be in the woods, or just finds themselves there. Personally, one of the first things I do when hiking/camping is find a nice good walking stick. So many uses (helps with shelter, cooking, keeping animals at bay, testing water depth, etc.)

How can you navigate your way through the woods without maps, compasses, etc.?

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Get to high ground, look around. Know the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, and the direction of the nearest outpost of civilization. When in doubt, follow the water, it will eventually lead to a human.

What is the best way to get food?

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The woods are (literally) crawling with food, but knowing which plants and animals are safe to eat (in your area) is essential. Insects are pretty easy food (avoid the bright colored ones), but not too hard to rig up a fishing pole (if you have some kind of line), or a fish trap. Of course, naturally growing nuts, berries, leaves, etc. as long as you know what is edible. (for this, I usually recommend carrying a deck of playing cards that has this info, along with color photos of the plants, etc....that way, you also have some entertainment, and remember them better).

What are some medical tricks you can do when lost in the woods, if hurt?

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The most likely injuries are cuts, scrapes, and insect bites. Aloe Vera grows pretty wild in a lot of places, and the sap inside is pretty helpful for these. Best trick of all....stay hydrated.

Geographic's, time of year, weather, supplies on hand, clothing, one's health all offer a different set of dynamics. 'DON'T PANIC'

The basics (in a perfect world)
Once you recognize you are lost (stop, use your head not your legs) from this point forward 'time' becomes one of the most important factors. Don't panic, assess what you have on hand (anything that cuts, reflects, bright color clothing, fire starting methods, food and water etc..) start gathering materials for a shelter and fire, note: if you are near an opening then move to the opening. Once the shelter is in place and fire wood gathered set up a signal fire (don't light it until you see or hear help in a distance) also have if possible damp vegetation near by (during the night you want a bright fire, during the day you want a smokey fire) if you have bright objects place on sticks and/or exposed limbs around your location, if possible mark the ground large enough that can be seen from the air with a X and/or arrow pointing to your location (itching in the ground, wood, rocks and clothing) Always pay attention to the location of the sun, don't overexert yourself (don't work up a sweat/burn all your energy) If possible snack in the morning and afternoon eat a bigger meal in the evening before you sleep, the bigger meal will help you sleep and stay warm. Listen for the sounds of water, aircraft's, whistles, yelling etc...

Foraging for food and water is going to be dependence on the geographic, each area is going to offer it's own set of challenges that just can't be realistically given here. There are books that touch on this, foraging for food shouldn't be taken lightly due to the dangers of eating the wrong plants, if your forest has pine trees, some Larch and/or some fir trees then they offer food and vital nutrients (making tea providing you have water)

Roninsensei mentioned the SAS Survival handbook, I've heard a lot of good things about this book, another good book Wilderness Survival by Boy Scouts of America

The SAS book is simply a must have for preppers. Should also be in everyone's GHB or BOB. I keep a pdf version on the phone (I have a crank cell charger in my pack), but a pocket one would be handy.