Tools needed to survive in the rainforest

After all, you're pretty much dead meat if you wander up on a mother jaguar feeding her young. And, you could use the weapon to hunt. Or perhaps a good survival knife is the ticket. You'd be able to hack down underbrush, protect yourself against danger, hunt wild boar and cut branches to build a shelter. Most survival knives also come with a nice little stash of goods stored in their hollow handles -- fishing hooks and line or some safety matches to start a signal fire.

Some of them even come with a compass. What about a mosquito net or some heavy-duty insect repellent? After all, mosquitoes in the jungle can give you malaria, yellow fever, West Nile virus and Dengue fever. Not to mention the fact that they're a total nuisance and will make your life miserable.

Then again, you'll be mighty hungry, so a bag full of freeze-dried dinners could help you to survive for a while and give you the energy to hike to rescue. While all of these things are pretty handy in the jungle, none of them are the absolute best tools if you're trying to survive for an extended period of time. So, what's the most valuable? Click ahead to find out.

So the machete lost out, along with the compass , gun , food , mosquito netting and even the reliable and versatile survival knife. All of those tools are handy and useful, but none of them make a bit of difference if you don't have fresh drinking water.

Water is the No. For this reason, the number one tool you can have to survive in the jungle is a high-quality water filter. Camping water filters are compact and easy to use -- all you do is drop the suction tube into the water and pump the lever to draw the water into a bottle.

Most models use a ceramic filter to get rid of particles as small as 0. A micron is tiny -- 0. Humans can go for as long as 60 days or more without food as long as they stay properly hydrated. You can't live without water for more than a few days. In hot conditions with no water, dehydration can set in within an hour.

Since you're in the hot and humid jungle you also need to worry about heat stroke. Keep your skin covered. Roll down your sleeves and cover your face as much as you can to avoid scratches and insect bites. Wear pants instead of shorts. Treat any wounds immediately and as properly as possible. Obtain water. Dense masses of insects often indicate a nearby water source, according to Travel Overseas. Bees usually build their hives within a couple of miles of a body of water, and flies typically stay within feet of water.

Whenever possible, boil the water you find, filter it or add purification tablets to it. Wear waterproof shoes or rubber jungle boots. Never wear wet socks. Over time, chronic moisture can lead to tissue breakdown and leave feet vulnerable to fungus and other infections.

Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound advises applying moleskin or duct tape to hot spots and using foot creams or powders to treat fungus or bacteria. Cover any blisters and drain them from the bottom with a sterilized needle, but only if absolutely necessary. Head downhill. In , year-old Julia Kopecke was the lone survivor of a passenger flight that crashed in the Peruvian rain forest.

It ain't called the "rainforest" for nothing. Most lodges will provide basic rain ponchos, but why not be prepared and bring your own. Grab yourself a raincoat for wearing outside. I love these stylish coats from Sutterheim , a Swedish raincoat company! Cute first aid kits from Ouch Pouch.

Most of Peru's low-lying jungle, including the Iquitos and Puerto Madonaldo, are malaria zones, so you will need to take prophylaxis to protect yourself from malaria.

It doesn't hurt to take some other first-aid supplies, as well, including bandages, traveller's pills for diarrhea, water purification tablets, antiseptic cream and hand sanitizer. Check out Pinterest for some unique first aid kit ideas. Remember what I said about the lodges not having power? Well, you are going to need to take some extra juice if you want more than a few hours of working time. I suggest an additional battery for your laptop and a solar charger.

Treehugger has a list of 5 of the best solar chargers. As a tourist you want to ensure your money is going back into local community projects and sustainable practices and that the rainforest will still be around for your children to enjoy. There are many different eco-tourism boards that certify operators, and it can be confusing to figure out which companies are legit.

Do your research and go with the company whose values match your own. There are piranhas and electric eels in the water, monkeys in the trees.

Many of the most benign looking plants protect themselves with thorns, spines and poisonous substances. Before you travel anywhere near a jungle or rainforest, talk to your doctor about the recommended immunisations and vaccinations you need to stay safe. For some tour operators, this is even a condition of travel. Have you ever travelled to the Amazon? Are you heading out on a new adventure soon? Start today. See the full range of features WorkflowMax can provide your business View all features.

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