CORE Outdoor Safety and Survival Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the safest way to cross a swift-moving river without a rope or bridge?
- Swim diagonally downstream
- Find the widest, shallowest point and cross facing upstream using a pole (Correct answer)
- Cross at a narrow, deep section where current is concentrated
- Remove boots to improve footing on the river bottom
Correct answer: Find the widest, shallowest point and cross facing upstream using a pole
The widest section is typically the shallowest; crossing facing upstream with a pole for balance while angling slightly downstream is the safest technique.
Question 2: Which knot is most useful for securing a bear hang to protect food in camp?
- Square knot
- Bowline (Correct answer)
- Clove hitch
- Figure-eight
Correct answer: Bowline
A bowline creates a fixed loop that doesn't slip or tighten under load, making it ideal for attaching a food bag to a rope for a bear hang.
Question 3: When navigating with a map and compass, what is magnetic declination?
- The angle between true north and magnetic north (Correct answer)
- The angle of the sun's position at noon
- The degree of slope on a hillside
- The difference in elevation between two points
Correct answer: The angle between true north and magnetic north
Magnetic declination is the angle between true (geographic) north and magnetic north, which must be accounted for when using a compass with a map.
Question 4: Which fire-starting method is most reliable in wet conditions?
- Bow drill friction fire
- Flint and steel
- Waterproof matches or a lighter (Correct answer)
- Magnifying glass using sunlight
Correct answer: Waterproof matches or a lighter
Waterproof matches and lighters are the most reliable in wet conditions, which is why they are recommended as primary fire-starting tools in survival kits.
Question 5: What does the 'rule of threes' in survival prioritization state about exposure?
- A person can survive 3 days without water
- A person can survive only 3 hours in harsh weather without shelter (Correct answer)
- A person can signal rescuers three times before conserving energy
- A person can survive 3 weeks without food
Correct answer: A person can survive only 3 hours in harsh weather without shelter
The rule of threes states a person can survive approximately 3 hours in harsh weather (extreme cold or heat) without shelter, making it a top priority.
Question 6: What is the recommended treatment for a venomous snakebite in a wilderness setting?
- Suck out the venom and apply a tourniquet
- Immobilize the limb below heart level and evacuate immediately (Correct answer)
- Apply ice and elevate the bitten limb above the heart
- Make an incision over the bite and squeeze out venom
Correct answer: Immobilize the limb below heart level and evacuate immediately
Current first aid guidelines recommend immobilizing the bitten limb below heart level to slow venom spread and evacuating the victim to medical care as quickly as possible.
Question 7: When using the sun for navigation in the Northern Hemisphere, which direction does the sun appear to travel across the sky?
- North to south
- East, arcing south, to west (Correct answer)
- West to east
- Directly overhead regardless of direction
Correct answer: East, arcing south, to west
In the Northern Hemisphere, the sun rises in the east, arcs toward the south at noon, and sets in the west, making south the direction of the sun at midday.
CORE Outdoor Safety and Survival Skills 3
What is the safest way to cross a swift-moving river without a rope or bridge?