Tropical Jungle Survival: Protecting Your Body in Rain and Mud
▶ PLAY FREE NOWNo download · Phone or PC · 3–5 minutes per runIn a tropical jungle, what brings people down is more often water, mosquitoes, wet feet and heat than wild animals. On the WW2 Pacific front, too, malaria and diarrheal disease were enemies as deadly as bullets. This page summarizes tips you can use in travel and outdoor activities today, based on public sources such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Army Survival manual (FM 21-76).
1. Water: boil or disinfect, then wait
- Even creek water or rainwater that looks clear can contain bacteria, viruses and parasites that cause diarrhea.
- The surest method is bringing it to a rolling boil for at least 1 minute (3 minutes above about 2,000 m elevation) (CDC).
- If you can't boil it, use purification tablets or disinfectant and wait the time stated on the product before drinking. Strain muddy water through cloth first and let it settle.
- In WW2, US troops disinfected one canteen (about 1 quart) with one Halazone tablet and waited 30 minutes.
2. Malaria: preventive medicine and mosquito protection
- Before going to a malaria risk area, consult a doctor about preventive medicine, and take the prescribed pills without missing a dose until the date specified (CDC).
- Combine long sleeves and long pants, mosquito repellent and a mosquito net. Mosquitoes are especially active at dusk and at night.
- If you develop a fever during or after your trip, see a doctor right away and tell them where you traveled.
- A line of history: in WW2, a rumor spread that the malaria drug Atabrine caused sterility, but it was not true (CDC journal).
3. Leeches: don't yank, push them off
Remove a leech by sliding a fingernail beside the sucker. Removing it with salt, fire, cigarettes or alcohol, or forcibly yanking it off, can make the wound worse. Afterward, wash and cover the wound. Bleeding for a while is common (travel medicine guidance such as the UK NHS). Tucking pant legs into your socks and using gaiters and repellent means fewer leeches latch on.
4. Wet feet: dry, change socks, massage
Leaving your feet wet for a long time in rain and mud can lead to immersion foot (trench foot) and skin disease that make walking hard. At least once a day, take off your shoes, dry and massage your feet, and change into dry socks. Keep spare socks in a waterproof bag (US CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health guidance).
5. Heat and exhaustion
Walking with a load in the tropics, you lose water quickly through sweat. Drink often, in small amounts, and rest in the shade along the way. If dizziness, headache, nausea or confusion develop, stop immediately and cool down. Clouding of consciousness is an emergency (CDC heat illness guidance).
6. Snakes: don't touch them, let them pass
Most snakebites happen when people try to grab or chase the snake. If you encounter one, stop, then slowly back away. If bitten, stay calm, immobilize the bitten limb and get to a hospital quickly. Don't cut, suck or tie it tight (WHO).
7. Crossing a swollen river
- If you don't have to cross, don't. Once the rain stops, the water usually drops quickly.
- If you must cross, choose a wide, shallow spot, and take off heavy loads or loosen the straps so you can shed them if you fall in.
- Hold a rope or each other, angle your body upstream and shuffle your feet as you cross (US Army Survival manual FM 21-76).
- Unknown bridges and logs may have been undercut by the water, so don't trust them blindly.
8. Listen to local people
The people who know a land best are the people who live there. Respect local guidance about routes, water levels and dangerous spots, and follow reliable information over an unverified "shortcut." On Leyte in 1944, too, the Filipino guerrillas' intelligence helped US forces.
9. If you're lost: stop, report, be seen
If you're lost, rather than keep walking, stop, report your location by phone or radio, and signal from an open spot with a view of the sky using bright cloth, smoke or a mirror, in threes and big. Don't move around carelessly at night (US Army Survival manual).
FAQ
Can I drink rainwater as is in the jungle?
Rainwater can also be contaminated by the container or cloth that catches it. If possible, boil it, or add disinfectant and wait the specified time before drinking.
Do I really need to take malaria preventive medicine?
For a risk area, it's recommended to consult a doctor and get a prescription before departure. The type of medicine and how long to take it depend on the region and your health, so follow your doctor's instructions.
Can't I remove a leech with salt or fire?
It's not recommended. The leech may regurgitate and make the wound worse. Slide a fingernail beside the sucker to detach it, then wash and cover the wound.
My feet have gone white and swollen. What do I do?
Take off your shoes and socks, dry your feet and massage them to get the blood flowing, then put on dry socks. If pain, blisters or numbness persist, see a doctor.
Should I suck the venom out of a snakebite?
No. Don't cut, suck or tie it tight; immobilize the bitten area and get to a hospital quickly (WHO).
Is it okay to swim across a swollen river?
It's very dangerous. Even knee-high current can sweep a person away. If you can wait, wait until the water goes down.