Survival Skills 101: Using Your Field Watch for Emergency Time-Keeping
by Zhang Ron on Aug 02, 2024
When it comes to outdoor survival and emergency preparedness, having the right tools and knowledge can make all the difference. One often overlooked, yet incredibly useful piece of gear in your survival kit is your trusty field watch. Far beyond just telling the time, a field watch can be an invaluable asset in emergency situations, helping you keep track of critical time-related information.
In this Survival Skills 101 post, we'll explore how to leverage your field watch for essential time-keeping tasks that could one day save your life in the wilderness.
The Importance of Time-Keeping in Survival Situations
Time is a precious commodity when you find yourself in a survival scenario. Whether you're lost, injured, or facing other life-threatening challenges, being able to accurately track and manage time can be the key to making the right decisions and improving your chances of a successful outcome.
Some of the critical time-keeping tasks you may need to perform in a survival situation include:
- Navigation: Knowing the time can help you determine your position, calculate your speed and distance traveled, and plan your route more effectively.
- Signaling for Rescue: Timing your distress signals, like flares or emergency beacons, can increase the likelihood of being spotted and rescued.
- First Aid: Keeping track of the time is essential for administering proper medical treatment, such as monitoring pulse rates, administering medications, or changing bandages.
- Rationing Resources: Carefully managing your food, water, and other supplies requires close attention to the time to ensure you don't run out.
- Circadian Rhythms: Maintaining a regular sleep-wake cycle can be crucial for your physical and mental well-being when in a survival situation.
How to Use Your Field Watch for Survival Time-Keeping
Now that you understand the importance of time-keeping, let's dive into how to effectively use your field watch in a survival scenario:
1. Navigation: Use the watch's hour and minute hands, as well as the 24-hour time scale, to determine your position and track your progress. This can be especially helpful for navigating during the day when the sun is visible.
2. Signaling: Time your distress signals, such as firing flares or activating emergency beacons, to coincide with peak search and rescue operations or times of better visibility.
3. First Aid: Use the watch to accurately time medical procedures, such as administering medication, checking pulse rates, or changing bandages.
4. Resource Management: Carefully track the time to ensure you're rationing your food, water, and other supplies effectively, and that you're getting enough rest.
5. Circadian Rhythms: Use your watch to maintain a regular sleep-wake cycle, which can be challenging in survival situations but is crucial for your physical and mental well-being.
6. Backup Time-Keeping: If your primary time-keeping device, such as a smartphone, is not functioning, your field watch can serve as a reliable backup.
It's important to note that the specific features and functionality of your field watch may vary, so familiarize yourself with its capabilities and learn how to use them effectively in a survival context.
Choosing the Right Field Watch for Survival
When selecting a field watch for survival and emergency preparedness, look for the following key features:
- Durability: Choose a watch with a rugged, shock-resistant construction that can withstand the rigors of outdoor use.
- Water Resistance: A water-resistant or waterproof watch is essential for survival in wet or aquatic environments.
- Luminous Dial: A watch with a luminous dial or hands can be easily read in low-light conditions.
- Compass: Some field watches incorporate a built-in compass, adding an extra layer of navigational functionality.
- Timer/Chronograph: Features like a stopwatch or countdown timer can be invaluable for timing medical procedures or signaling.
Watches we would recommend
Titanium Defender:
This lightweight Watch is great for the outdoors. Combined with a bezel timer and comfortable strap it's a great tool watch that you can reply on.
Volga Defender
This newly redesigned Watch has a reliable movement and easy to read hands. Combined with a rotating bezel where you can time anything you need.
Trooper Chronograph
This chronograph allows for a much higher level of accuracy in timing, combined with a scratch resistant sapphire crystal, it's an ideal outdoor watch to have with you.
By incorporating your field watch into your survival skill set, you'll be better equipped to navigate, signal for rescue, administer first aid, and manage your resources in an emergency situation. Remember, the more you practice using your watch for these critical time-keeping tasks, the more prepared you'll be when it really counts.
Stay safe, stay prepared, and let your field watch be a trusted companion on your outdoor adventures.
