Sunlight for Survival

As a survivalist, knowing how to use mother nature to stay alive is a vital skill to develop. This means learning how to forage for food, catch rain for water, and even use the sun in order to survive.

Sunlight is an often overlooked and underestimated component of survival, one that gets taken for granted. Without the sun, life on Earth as we know it would be nonexistent. The most obvious uses for sunlight include staying warm and growing crops, but that is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to using this flaming ball of gas.

Here are some surprising survival hacks using the sun, starting with a video by Griffith University:

As the video explains, the sun can be used to purify water, which is crucial in a survival situation. What other ways can you utilize sunlight in a survival situation?

Navigation

If you are not equipped with any items that can help you find your direction, you can count on the sun to help. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west; with this knowledge, you can determine each direction. Once you’ve found east and west, you can determine north and south.

Fighting Germs

Sunlight can kill germs, so even if you have no way to wash your clothes, you can lay them in the sun for a few hours or even a day. The clothes will be noticeably dryer and smell fresher.

Firestarter

Gather a pile of tinder and focus the sun’s rays onto the pile with a magnifying glass, a pair of eyeglasses or even a glass bottle. The tinder will eventually ignite, allowing you to build a fire for warmth or cooking.

The sun is helpful in several ways; it can even help with depression. Unfortunately, the sun is only useful when it’s visible. On a cloudy day, it won’t be much help in a survival situation.

Do you have other unusual ways to use the sun for survival? Reply to your email and let us know, we would love to hear from you!