How to survive in the Amazon rainforest

It doesn’t matter how you get stranded in a rainforest, but whatever the cause its important you do things right from the start, because the second you become lost within the trees your life is in danger, no matter how many supplies you have.

Proof of that is that the first cause of death in the Amazon is crushing caused by falling trees, something one can do little to nothing about.

A rainforest is classed as any kind of dense forest in a tropical area where it rains frequently. They are found all round the world but typically in a band about a third of the way south from the equator towards the South Pole.

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It can be very scary when you realize your life is in danger and people often panic in these situations. So the first thing you should do is to stop where you are for minute or two and take a few deep breaths to calm yourself and start to think and plan.

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If you happen to have a knife, it can be very useful for cutting fruit open. But be careful because the second cause of death in the rainforest are these type of accidents. If you hurt yourself and don't have a first aid kit or medicine and the wound gets infected, you may have a serious problem.

The third cause of death in the Amazon is drowning. There are numerous rivers, reservoirs and swampy areas that people confidently try to cross but get swept away or sucked in by.

Furthermore, numerous dangerous animals can be in those waters, such as crocodiles, hippos or snakes. Animal attacks are the fourth cause of death in the Amazon.

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Once it becomes clear that staying calm is a determining factor in surviving in the jungle, being a sound and logical person will multiply your chances of leaving the Amazon environment alive.

In fact, one of the first pieces of advice given by the military and guides in the area is to follow the trails marked with trail markers. It seems logical but not everyone does it.

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The advice is as simple as thinking that once we abandon the path and enter the depths of the jungle, the task of finding our way and returning to the path becomes extremely complicated.

It is also advisable to watch where you are stepping. The ground is full of animal dens. Animals can sense that they are being attacked and will fight back. Snakes are very territorial, and it is common for them to bite when someone steps near them.

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Another essential tip is to cover as much skin as possible; wear long pants, long sleeves and shoes that cover your feet entirely. Yes, it can get hot, but better sweaty than dead.

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In this way you can avoid bites from spiders, fleas, snakes or mosquitoes, but also cuts from tree branches or spikes from plants.

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In addition to the clothing mentioned, you should wear a cap or hat that protects your head from the animals that can fall from the trees.

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At bedtime, don't even hesitate: build yourself a hammock. Sleeping on the floor is putting your body on a platter to all kinds of animals and bugs.

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It is also advisable keep yourself warm at night with a blanket or an insulating element that covers you completely and protects you from bugs but also from the cold. Dying from cold in the rainforest is also more common than it may seem.

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On the other hand, don't forget to put your sneakers face down on a stick while you sleep. And even if you do, always check that there are no bugs inside before putting them on again.

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Are you hungry? The simplest thing is to eat fruits and ants, as they will provide you with protein. Of course, be careful not to get stung.

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Eating plants carries risk, as many are poisonous. If you tear off a branch and white or yellow liquid oozes out of it, it's best not to eat it.

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If you manage to hunt an animal that you can eat, remember that you should cook it as best you can before eating it. So consider the effort of fishing or hunting, if you don't know how to cook it or have no way to do it.

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To drink water, it is recommended to boil it 10 minutes before drinking it. You can also use your shirt as a filter. It is better to drink from a river than a lake, because the water flows more and there is less bacteria.

However, the safest bet is to drink rain water. Look for plants with large leaves as they often hold water for quite a while after each rainfall, and if you’re in a region that has bamboo, the sections normally contain a good amount of safe water, if you can crack them open of course.

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If you come across a stream then follow it as it’ll lead to a larger water source at some point and increase your chances of being found. People who live in the rainforest almost always live close to a river or lake because fishing has always been a huge part of their lifestyle.

But speaking of rivers, if you have to cross one, don't be in a hurry. Observe it for 30 minutes, throw stones and check that there are no crocodiles. If there are and you go in, you won't get out.

Last but not least, don’t take unnecessary risks. If you are tempted to risk doing something drastic to save time then just remember it only takes a single infected cut or broken bone in an environment like this to end up as nothing more than a skeleton with something growing through it.