Never Leave It Until It's Too Late - Learn To Filter Your Own Drinking Water Before You Get Caught O

Filtering water is not the same as purifying water but nevertheless it is an important skill that could save your life.

If all you can find is muddy water you will need to create a filter which will clean it of all the sediment and debris. Filtering water removes all visible particles making it safer for drinking. Harmful bacteria and microbes will still exist in the water but the filtering process will make it taste a little better.

To filter water, you must begin with a container. Any decent survial kit will have a bottle in it so use that. By cutting the bottom of the bottle off you will be able to use the top as a makeshift funnel. By stuffing some cloth material into the funnel you will be able to trap particles in the water. Using a can will work, too. For the water to be able to run through you will need to punch a few holes into the bottom of the can with your pocket knife. Then let the water fall through the holes and into a separate clean container.

This is not the only means to filter water in the wilderness. Consider this method as an option during an emergency. Put a piece of clothing or cloth material directly over the container as a filter. This may remove some particles.

Use what nature provides. By alternating layers of rocks and sand you will have made a serviceable filter. Using more layers will create a better filter.

If you have no bottles or cans use some bark and twist it into a cone shape. Put alternating layers of rocks and sand inside the cone of bark. To hold it all together use a piece of string at the bottom of the cone. By thinking ahead and putting small rocks at the bottom you will be able to stop it from all falling apart.

Fine and coarse layers need to be alternated inside the filter. At the bottom of the cone, you will need to stop the sand from pouring through. This isn't difficult. You can stop it with non-poisionous grass, small pebbles, or if available, use some material such as a piece of cloth or part of an item of clothing.

Pour collected water through the filter. Catch the water in a container after it has gone through the filter. If the water is not clear, pass it through the filter again. Keep doing this until you have some clear water.

Don't forget that even though you might now have clear water it is still not completely safe to drink. The water still needs to be purified. The water may contain tiny bacteria that can pass through the filter. Purifying water is simple. Boil it over a fire for five minutes or use a water purification tablet.

Learning how to filter water in the wilderness is an essential outdoor survival skill. Keep yourself alive by making sure water is safe for consumption and staying hydrated until you can get the help you need. Practice this valuable skill before you actually need it. Dehydration is a killer when lost in the wilderness so this skill could easily be the difference between life and death.

As a keen camper I choose to study the skills I might require to keep my family and myselfI alive if things go wrong. For other great camping tips and hints check out the web page camping water purifier.