These are the bare essentials. They've been stripped of endless rhetoric that can plague survival sites and taken as they are can be a serious aid to those who are embarking into the wilderness and may find themselves in dire straits. To those new to the world of survival, the tips below are a useful summary of the most helpful survival lessons.

Break wooden strike-anywhere matches in half; you can store twice as many.

Tampon wrappers make good fishing bobbers.

Cotton balls with Vaseline make good fire starters.

Smear Vaseline or grease on your face in cold weather; it will help protect you from the cold.

All fur-bearing mammals are edible.

All freshwater fish in North America are edible.

All birds are edible.

Ants, grubs, and grasshoppers can be eaten.

The bark of birch trees is a great fire starter and burns well even when wet.

Water brought to a boil is safe to drink.*

If you are going out in cold weather, don’t wear cotton.  The old saying is “cotton kills.”

Becoming dehydrated will result in poor judgment and loss of energy.

If it is raining and you need dry wood to start a fire, look for the small dead branches still attached to the tree.

Carry orange or red [butane lighters]; they are easier to find if you drop one.

Always carry a knife, life straw, some food and at least a space blanket.

Stay calm, find shelter and take the time to think things out.

*Disclaimer: Bringing water to a boil only destroys harmful microorganisms and bacteria. It does nothing to eliminate any chemicals or heavy metals that may be present in the water source. Exercise caution in selecting your water supply.

While you may find it obvious that staying hydrated is important, the sad truth is that finding water often takes a backburner to those in survival situations. It only takes 3 days to die of dehydration, but it takes far less time for cognitive abilities to suffer as a result of poor hydration. One of our favorite tips is the oft-said “cotton kills.” You can't take this one too lightly, as cotton dries very slowly and sucks all heat from the body when it's wet: an easy recipe for hypothermia. You are far better off with a wool or wool blend. Again, these are some of the most useful survival tips you will find out there, and we really enjoy the succinctness of this article.

One of our favorite tips is the oft-said “cotton kills.” You can't take this one too lightly, as cotton dries very slowly and sucks all heat from the body when it's wet: an easy recipe for hypothermia. You are far better off with a wool or wool blend. Again, these are some of the most useful survival tips you will find out there, and we really enjoy the succinctness of this article.

Thanks to Howard at Preparedness Advice Blog for this helpful list.