Factors of surviving are primarily preparedness to act in emergencies, will to live, knowledge of basic medicine, practical survival skills, having an emergency kit, physical fitness, and proper organization of actions.
We are not going to consider cold, hunger, and luck, which do not depend on us in the slightest. No, let’s look at what we can influence. Let’s dwell on basic survival factors.
The will to live
When faced with an external threat, a person usually acts on a subconscious level, obeying the animal instinct of self-preservation. Instantly bounces from a falling tree, clinging to fixed objects when falling, trying to stay on the surface of the water at the threat of drowning, and so on. This is your key to survival in short-term situations.
Long-term survival is an entirely different matter. In the conditions of an emergency sooner or later comes a critical moment at which mental and physical stresses so depress a person that further resistance seems useless. The very will to live fades. A person is no longer frightened by the possible tragic consequences of ill-conceived overnight stays, risky crossings, and the like. He does not believe in the possibility of salvation, that is why he perishes without fully utilizing his reserves of strength and food. Statistics state that about 80% of people who are rescued after a shipwreck die within three days from moral factors alone! Often the lifeboat crews have removed from the lifeboats or rafts, food supplies, and… dead people.
Survival based on self-preservation instincts alone is short-lived and will not get you what you need. The will to survive must be conscious and purposeful. You could call it the will to live. When one has resigned oneself to one’s fate, even survival skills and food supplies become useless.
Long-term survival should not be driven by the instinct “I don’t want to die!” but by the goal “I must survive!”. The will to live in an emergency involves first and foremost action. Moral willpower is the main thing. Even in the complete absence of everything, you can survive on your resilience and courage alone.
Information and proficiency
However, for all your resilience, you can’t survive for more than three days without drinking liquids. This is where your proficiency and knowledge come into play. How do you fetch water, give first aid, or escape a fire? Most people are not familiar with the science of survival, but the dangers have not gone anywhere. That is why you must constantly improve your safety competence.
Equipment and gear
A penny lighter or the simplest rubber tourniquet can separate you from death. In the wilderness, you can spend hours setting up a shelter and lose a lot of energy, or you can set up an awning in 5 minutes that is guaranteed to protect you from rain and wind. Every additional piece of gear increases your survivability and efficiency. That’s why it’s so important to always have a survival kit or EDC with you.
Team
One person has many times less chance than two or more. A lone person has no one to help, no backup, and no one to carry them in the event of a serious injury.
The inability to work as a team can lead to terrible consequences. Not to mention the negative psychological mood that will accompany a quarreling group. That’s why it’s so important to choose your team carefully and be a good teammate.
Health and Fitness
Who is more likely to deal with difficulties effectively and have a high chance of surviving? A person who runs every day and goes to the gym 3 times a week, or an unprepared person? We think the answer is obvious. Physical fitness and generally taking care of your health are essential parts of your ability to survive.
Conclusion
By pumping up the above factors, you increase your survivability. Do not neglect any of them, as the chain breaks from one weak link. Be always ready for any difficulties! Only in this way, you will be able to effectively resist them and even come out of any disasters as a winner. Stay safe!
