Identify and assess your mental and physical health
Identify indicators of physical stress
The first step in assessing your physical health is to identify indicators of stress. The body often gives early signs when something is wrong and it is vital to know how to interpret them. For example:
– Persistent pain in the back or neck may indicate increased physical stress.
– Sleep problems, such as insomnia, can be a sign of physical overtraining.
– A sharp decrease in appetite could indicate a disturbance in the digestive system.
Evaluate your physical condition
In order to effectively assess your physical condition, it can be useful to use specific tools such as a heart rate monitor or one pedometer. This equipment allows you to respectively measure your heart rate and the number of steps taken during an activity. This gives information about the general condition of our body.
Identify signs of emotional distress
Signs of emotional distress are often more difficult to identify than signs of physical stress. However, certain symptoms such as constant irritability, inability to concentrate or a general feeling of sadness can be indicators of mental health problems.
Assess your mental health
The assessment of our mental health should preferably be done with a health professional. However, certain online tools, such as self-assessment questionnaires, can help to obtain a clearer picture of our situation. Be careful, however, not to take their answers as medical diagnoses, but rather as information to better understand your mental state.
The role of health professionals
It is essential to highlight the role that health professionals can play in the process of identifying and assessing our overall health. Whether it’s a physiotherapist for physical pain or a psychologist for mental health issues, these professionals are trained to help us understand and manage our condition.
The self-assessment process is therefore an essential step in ensuring our physical and mental fitness to face difficult situations. However, it should always be carried out taking into account the advice of a healthcare professional to ensure correct interpretation of the results.
Knowledge of basic self-diagnosis techniques
Understand the importance of self-diagnosis
Effective self-diagnosis begins with understanding its importance. By being able to adequately assess your health, you can identify potential problems before they become serious and take preventative measures. Also, being able to spot early warning signs of dehydration, heatstroke or injury can help you respond quickly. It is important to note that the majority of outdoor incidents do not happen suddenly, but develop gradually. A good self-diagnosis allows you to take the time to monitor your condition and take the necessary corrective measures.
Basic self-diagnosis techniques
Many of the main self-diagnosis techniques can be learned and practiced without specialized equipment. Below I suggest some of the basic skills to develop:
1. Self-assessment of pain: Knowing how to quantify and qualify pain in your body is an essential skill. This will help you determine the severity of an injury and decide how best to treat it.
2. Vital signs monitoring: These include monitoring your heart rate, your breathing, the color of your skin and the level of your consciousness. These indicators will give you valuable information about your overall health.
3. Detection of signs of dehydration and malnutrition: Dehydration and malnutrition can develop slowly over several days, especially if you are in a survival situation. Learning to recognize early signs can help you prevent serious problems.
Useful tools for self-diagnosis
There is also certain equipment that can help you with your self-diagnosis:
– A thermometer: This is a simple, lightweight tool that can help you determine if you have a fever, a sign of a possible infection.
– A whistle: It can be used to test your lung capacity. If you are able to blow loudly into a whistle, your lungs are functioning normally.
– A signaling mirror: Another use for this classic survival tool is to check hard-to-reach parts of your body, like the face or back.
Acquiring the skills necessary for effective self-diagnosis is key for anyone who regularly engages in outdoor activities. By taking the time to learn and practice these techniques, you can prepare yourself for the challenges that may arise while out in nature.
Use available resources for self-diagnosis in a survival situation
Become aware of and deal with a survival situation
A survival situation is never attractive, but if you find yourself in it against your will, it is imperative to be able to self-diagnose using available resources. Self-diagnosis is the art of using one’s environment to determine one’s state of health, one’s physical limitations, and understand how to navigate unforeseen circumstances. This article aims to guide you through practical and essential tips to help you stay alive.
Understanding your body’s signals
In a survival situation, your body is your first resource and the first factor to evaluate. Feeling extreme fatigue, having headaches, or experiencing persistent dizziness may indicate dehydration or a lack of nutrition. It is essential to never ignore these signs.
Basic techniques for controlling your body:
1. Take your resting pulse to check your heart rate.
2. Assess your energy level.
3. Check your skin’s hydration.
4. Are you able to keep your balance without problems?
5. Are there any unusual marks on your skin?
Take advantage of the environment
In any survival environment, you have useful resources for self-diagnosis. Changes in temperature can indicate a failing health condition, such as a fever. A lack of light space could indicate vision problems or a deficiency in the photoreceptor cells in your eyes.
Tips for assessing your condition through the environment
1. Use water to check your reactions to cold or heat.
2. Test your vision by comparing the number of stars visible to the naked eye versus an astronomical mapping app.
Using self-diagnostic tools
Some equipment survival, such as the survival kit of the brand LifeStraw, come with built-in self-diagnosis tools that will help you better understand your health. These tools measure your body temperature, the oxygen level in your body, your heart rate, and more.
Tools commonly available in a survival kit to perform a self-diagnosis:
– Thermometer
– Pulse oximeter
– Blood pressure monitor
– Compass to judge your ability to orient the tool
– Whistle in case of hearing loss (not being able to hear it may indicate a problem)
– White light lamp to check pupillary reactions
The aim of self-diagnosis in a survival situation is not to replace a doctor or health professional, but rather to carry out practical assessments in an extreme situation in order to take emergency measures accordingly. . Take your body and your environment as your allies and vigilant safeguards. Listen to yourself and trust your instincts. Your survival may well depend on it.
Act quickly after self-diagnosis: first aid and survival
Understanding rapid self-diagnosis
Before even thinking about the care to be provided, it is crucial to understand what rapid self-diagnosis entails in a survival situation. Self-diagnosis is a process by which a person evaluates their general state of health without external assistance, looking for signs of injury or illness, both physical and psychological. Questions to ask yourself when self-diagnosing include: What are my pain levels? Is my heart rate fast or slow? Am I confused or disoriented? Are my extremities intact and functional?
Act after self-diagnosis: first aid
It is essential, once the self-diagnosis has been carried out, to immediately move on to the next step. This may involve providing first aid to oneself, even in the most difficult conditions. When it comes to first aid, remember the famous adage among outdoor and survival enthusiasts: “Use what you have.” Improvised bandages can be made from torn clothing, even foam can be used as an antiseptic compress as a last resort. However, it is always advisable to have a first aid kit. Many brands such as Adventure Medical Kits Or Survivalware offer compact, lightweight but very complete kits to face a variety of medical scenarios.
Prioritize survival needs
Once medical emergencies are dealt with through your self-diagnosis and rapid application of first aid, it is time to prioritize your survival needs. Outdoor survival experts like the iconic Bear Grylls are all about placing shelter, water, and food in that order of importance.
To shelter
The first thing to look for is shelter to protect yourself from the elements, whatever the weather conditions. A shelter can be a tent, but it can also be a well-chosen natural space. Brands like Big Agnes Or MSR offer high quality survival tents that are quick to pitch and durable.
Find water
The second priority is to find a source of drinking water. Products such as personal water filters from LifeStraw Or Survivor Filter are essential tools to help you obtain safe drinking water.
Eat
Finally, without food, long-term survival can become particularly difficult. This is where food survival kits, like the products from Mountain House Or Wise Company, can make all the difference.
By applying these basic principles with determination, nothing can stop your success in a survival situation, whether you are alone in the forest or in the high mountains. Always remember to act quickly after self-diagnosis, it might just save your life.
