It's very important that you know what you're heading out into before you set foot outside the confines of your home.

If you're going out into a jungle, get an idea of what dangerous animals you might encounter and what kind of plants would be edible. If headed to a desert, research ways to acquire water without direct access to bodies of water.

It's important you find information on the things that would be the biggest issue in the environment you're going into if you found yourself in a survival situation.

No matter where you're headed and if it's for a hike or a hunt, know the environment you're about to go trudging into and have an idea of what you might do if you do get yourself into a survival situation.

Always prepare for the worst, so if it comes along, it won't leave you at a loss of what to do and cause you to break into a panic, which is about the worst thing in itself that could happen in a survival situation. You're less likely to panic if you've planned for the worst and the worst comes along. It may surprise you, but you're ready for it. After that initial surprise, you'll already have the mindset to get to your predesignated tasks that you have in a list either in your head or better, recorded somewhere on your person.

In a life or death situation, knowing your environment beforehand could very well save your life. Not only does it let you come up with a "Worst Stake Circumstances" list of tasks, but helps you not to panic as well. This, in turn, will make you more prepared and help you make cooler-minded, more productive decisions.

First, get a grip on where you're going. Then, and only then, venture forth into the wild, where spirit and body syncronize and our most primal survival insticts take hold. Where the thrill of the hunt, love of nature, and peace of mind and body can all shine through in every one of us, as well as disaster, panic, and even death. Prepare yourself, for mother nature knows no mercy. Better safe than sorry.

Nathan Davis