Whether you’re a city dweller or a country mouse, there’s no denying that urban survival skills can come in handy. After all, the world is full of dangers, and we live in an era of rapid change one where weather patterns are more unpredictable than ever before.
So whether it’s an earthquake or terrorist attack that hits your area, it means that every single one of us needs to be prepared for anything at any given time. So here are ten tips on how to survive in the city:
| Takeaway |
|---|
| How to stay safe and survive in different environments |
| Essential skills and gear needed for urban survival |
| Checklist of what to do during an emergency |
| Unique and unconventional survival tactics |
| Materials and tips for building a wilderness shelter |
1. Stick To The Middle Of The Road
It may sound counterintuitive, but moving in the middle of the road will increase your chances of surviving and not just because it’s a safer place to be than on either side of the road. The reason why this works has to do with how our brain processes information about speed and distance.
When we see something out of our peripheral vision on one side of us, our brain perceives that object as being farther away than if it was seen off to the other side. This phenomenon is called perspective bias and has some interesting implications for survival.
Because things in our peripheral vision are perceived as farther away by default, when you’re stuck between two objects (like an attacker and a wall), your brain automatically assumes that both objects are far away from you which makes them seem insignificant!
So by standing near an object like a wall or light pole, you can trick yourself into believing that there’s less danger around you than there actually is!
Surviving in an urban environment can be intimidating, but having the right knowledge and skills can make all the difference. Learn more about essential skills for urban survival in our comprehensive guide on 17 essential skills for urban survival.
2. Memorize Important Landmarks
In an urban environment, there are landmarks all around you that can help you navigate your way back home if things go south.
The important thing is to know which landmarks are most important and how to use them to find your way back home in the event of an emergency or disaster situation.
Look for places of shelter, like parks and churches, so that you can quickly get out of danger once you’ve found a safe place.
Top Navigation Equipment for Wilderness Hiking
| Equipment | Brand | Description |
|---|---|---|
| GPS Device | Garmin GPSMAP 66st | A high-sensitivity GPS and GLONASS receiver with preloaded maps and wireless connectivity. |
| Compass | Suunto MC-2/360/G/D/L | A professional mirror compass with adjustable declination correction. |
| Personal Locator Beacon | ACR ResQLink View | A handheld and buoyant device with a built-in GPS that can send a signal to rescue services if in distress. |
| Satellite Phone | Iridium 9575 Extreme | A more robust communication device that can function in remote locations and in extreme weather conditions. |
| Walkie Talkies | Motorola T600 H2O | Waterproof and weather-resistant walkie-talkies with a range of up to 35 miles and built-in emergency features. |
3. Avoid Making Eye Contact With Strangers
You should avoid making eye contact with strangers, as it may be interpreted as a sign of aggression or disrespect. The best thing to do is keep your head down and make sure to keep your hands visible at all times.
In an urban survival scenario, having the right gear can be crucial for your safety and well-being. Check out our guide on the top 10 urban survival gear items you need to have to make sure you’re prepared for any situation.
4. Always Carry A Flashlight And A Solar-Powered Charger
You should always carry a flashlight and a solar-powered charger. A flashlight is good for finding your way in the dark, but a solar-powered charger is equally important. You can use these two tools together to find your way and communicate with others if you get lost in an urban environment.
Top Flashlights and Solar-Powered Chargers for Survival
| Equipment | Brand | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tactical Flashlight | Fenix PD35 TAC | A powerful LED flashlight that can output up to 1,000 lumens and has a waterproof rating of IP68. |
| Headlamp | Black Diamond Spot 350 | A compact and powerful headlamp with a brightness of up to 350 lumens and a battery life of up to 200 hours. |
| Solar-Powered Charger | Anker PowerPort Solar Lite | A portable and lightweight solar charger with dual USB ports and a high-efficiency solar panel. |
| Solar-Powered Lantern | LuminAID Solar Lantern | A waterproof and inflatable lantern with a built-in solar panel that can charge in 10 hours of sunlight. |
| Hand-Crank Charger | RunningSnail Solar Crank NOAA Weather Radio | A hand-crank and solar-powered radio with a built-in flashlight and USB charger port. |
5. Be Quiet During Emergencies
Silence is your best friend during a survival situation. If you are in the middle of an emergency, silence can save your life.
Silence can also keep you safe from being detected by law enforcement or targeted by criminals. You might be wondering, how do I stay silent?
Here are five ways to stay silent:
- Keep a low profile. The less visible you are, the safer people around you will be in case of an emergency or disaster.
- Stay out of sight from others when possible and always try to keep an eye out for good hiding spots around town so that if needed, they are easily accessible when things get bad outside your home or workplace.
- Be quiet when walking on streets because it makes sense to be aware at all times so no one tries sneaking up behind us as well as looking both ways before crossing any roads (or lanes) because some people might not care about our lives like we do theirs!
During an emergency, every second counts. Make sure you’re prepared by creating a comprehensive emergency checklist. Check out our guide on the ultimate urban survival checklist: what to do in an emergency to learn about the essentials you should have on your checklist.
6. Make An Emergency Travel Kit
An emergency travel kit is a must-have for urban survival. In case of a car accident or other incident, it can make the difference between life and death.
To prepare for the worst, you need to think about what you would want if you were stuck in an unfamiliar place with limited supplies. Your kit should include:
- Basic first aid materials such as bandages and ointments
- A multi tool that can cut through metal or plastic (like scissors) so you can free yourself from seat belts if necessary
Recommended Equipment for Emergency Travel Kit
| Equipment | Brand | Description |
|---|---|---|
| First Aid Kit | Adventure Medical Kits | A comprehensive first aid kit with supplies for treating cuts, bruises, sprains, and more. |
| Hand-Crank Radio | Eton Scorpion II | A self-powered radio with a built-in tuner, flashlight, USB port, and NOAA weather alerts. |
| Waterproof Matches | UCO Waterproof Matches | A pack of waterproof matches that burn for up to 15 seconds even when wet. |
| Emergency Blanket | Swiss Safe Emergency Mylar Blankets | A pack of 10 emergency blankets made of durable mylar material that retains 90% of body heat. |
| Water Filtration System | LifeStraw Flex Water Filter | A portable and lightweight water filtration system that filters bacteria, parasites, and microplastics from water sources. |
7. Escape The Law By Jumping Over Chain-Link Fences
Chain-link fences are often used around construction sites, schools and playgrounds. They’re easy to climb, but there are two ways of getting over them:
The first method is to use the same technique as when jumping over the wooden fence (take off your shoes first). Then, grasp the top of the fence with both hands and pull yourself up until you can get your knee on top of it.
Once this is done, push with your leg against one side of the panel while pulling down on another side; if done correctly, this should cause you to fall into a gap between two panels and land safely on your feet on ground level.
Repeat for all four legs until you reach safety from behind or below!
How to jump over barbed wire fences As shown in video above by YouTube user ‘Beagle Channel’ – It’s very important that you wear protective clothing before attempting this stunt!
Any small cuts or scrapes could lead directly into infection due to bacteria present inside barbed wire strands which may even lead death if untreated properly (which would mean going through many antibiotics). So make sure that any wounds are cleaned thoroughly before jumping into action!
Urban survival often requires thinking outside the box and using unique tactics to stay safe. Check out our guide on the top 10 urban survival hacks you need to know to learn some unconventional tactics that could help in a survival scenario.
8. Make Sure You Are In Good Shape
You need to be in good shape if you want to survive a natural disaster or emergency. You can’t just rely on your body’s ability to function normally; being able to run and climb hills, lift heavy items (including children!), and swim will all help you be better prepared for any situation that comes your way.
If keeping yourself in good physical health seems like too much work, just remember: some people don’t make it through their first day without exercise!
There are so many ways for people who have access to the outdoors hiking, running through parks, climbing trees to stay fit without having gym memberships or fancy equipment like yoga mats and weights at home (though these things do help).
If none of those options sound appealing for whatever reason (maybe because it’s raining outside?), there are plenty more options available online including videos about how to do push-ups from different angles as well as other exercises specifically designed for women who are pregnant or recovering from childbirth (these exercises will also help babies develop strong muscles!).
No matter what type of person we might be looking at when we think “survivalist,” I think we can agree that being physically fit is just one part of being prepared—and probably not even close enough yet!
9. Always Be Armed, No Matter What
“Always be armed, no matter what.”
It’s a fact that criminals have weapons and they will use them. You should always be prepared for the worst and always have a weapon on you or in your home. You should also keep another weapon with you even if you are not carrying it around with you.
When it comes to survival in the wilderness, having a shelter can be a lifesaver. Learn about the materials you can use and how to build a shelter in our guide on the top 15 materials for building a shelter.
10. Keep Your Head On A Swivel, Even When You’re In Your Own Home
If you’re not constantly aware of your surroundings, you’re setting yourself up to get blindsided. This is important no matter where you are, but especially in urban areas where there are often more people around, more traffic and a higher likelihood of crime occurring.
Your brain is constantly working to process what it sees as it takes in information from the world around us. As such, if you don’t pay attention to what’s going on around you, there’s a good chance that something important could pass by unnoticed and that could cost you your life (or someone else’s).
When walking down the street or through an indoor space such as an airport or mall, keep an eye out for any suspicious activity someone acting strangely would be cause for concern here too because they may be planning something nefarious against others nearby who aren’t paying attention either!
Be sure to check out these tips on how not getting mugged might save your life one day too!
Conclusion
In the end, it’s important to remember that survival is all about being prepared. You don’t want to be caught unaware in a situation where your life is at stake, so make sure that you keep these tips in mind as often as possible!
Further Reading
If you’re looking for more information on survival tips and skills, here are some great resources to check out:
Masterclass: Survival Tips – Masterclass offers a comprehensive article on the best survival tips for different environments. You can learn from experts about what gear to carry, how to stay safe, and more.
Backdoor Prepper: Ultimate Guide to Urban Survival – Backdoor Prepper has a complete guide covering everything you might need to know for urban survival. The guide includes information on self-defense, DIY projects, and emergency foods.
The Survival University: Wilderness Survival Tips – The Survival University provides a list of the essential wilderness survival tips that you should know before heading out into the great outdoors.
FAQs
Q: What are some basic survival skills?
A: Some basic survival skills include finding shelter, building a fire, finding and purifying water, and securing a source of food.
Q: What are the most common survival scenarios?
A: Common survival scenarios include natural disasters, getting lost in the wilderness, and being stranded in a remote location without food or water.
Q: What are some essentials for a survival kit?
A: A survival kit should include necessities such as food, water, first aid supplies, navigation tools, and shelter-building materials.
Q: How important is mental toughness in survival situations?
A: Mental toughness is crucial in survival situations. Being able to maintain a positive attitude, stay calm, and make clear decisions can be the key to staying alive.
Q: How can I stay safe in urban environments during a disaster?
A: To stay safe during an urban disaster, it’s important to have a plan and know the potential risks in your area. It’s also important to have the necessary supplies and know how to navigate the city safely.
Hi! I’m Hellen James, and I am the founder of Unified Survival. I have a deep passion for the wilderness and everything that goes along with it. I’ve been hiking since I was a child, and I grew up camping in state parks all over the country. But it wasn’t until recently that I learned how to survive in the wilderness.