Most serious outdoor emergencies do not occur during wilderness expeditions to remote areas, which are generally well planned. Survival situations are more likely to occur during short trips in which the outdoors recreationist didn't prepare for a medical emergency or prolonged stay.

Pack a light-weight survival kit and carry it with you on every outdoors journey, including bike rides, day hikes and fishing and hunting trips. It couldn't hurt to keep a survival kit in the car, too.

If an emergency happens, don't panic. Address medical situations in priority order, and be emotionally prepared and properly educated to spend an unplanned night in the woods with adequate comfort and safety. If you're with others, avoid the blame and recrimination that frequently occurs during periods of emotional stress. Give everyone a chore or responsibility, and keep the conversation upbeat and positive.

Anything carried with you or found that cuts the wind and blocks the rain or snow can be used to make an emergency shelter. Lean sticks against a fallen tree or the base of a densely covered pine to begin building the shelter's skeleton, then weave in smaller sticks, leaves, grasses and mosses until wind and precipitation are blocked. Pile several inches of grasses to make a floor mat that will keep you off the ground. Remember that snow makes a great insulator, and keep your fire near but outside of your shelter.

Once you've sparked a flame with a match, lighter, friction, refracted light or electrical charge, ignite a small piece of dry tinder, which could include paper, cloth, lint, dry weeds or tree bark. Birch bark contains an oil that burns slowly and consistently, perfect for fire starting. Remember that dead wood burns better than green wood, and it's wet only on the outside -- cut or split it to get to the dry parts. Gradually increase kindling size until you have a glowing bed of coals before adding thick fuel logs. In the rain, build a "roof" of wood over your fire, particularly when it's getting started.

Play it safe by treating suspected sprains as if they're confirmed fractures. Immobilize the injured area, being careful to avoid restricting circulation. Cool it with water or ice, and rest it by applying no weight and elevating it. If it's an ankle, don't walk on it. If the injury is near the spine, don't move it. Apply pressure to stop bleeding.

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