How To Survice Danger: There are many popular lists which equate towards survival. But it is the ‘rule of threes’ which epitomizes the test of survival for mankind.
Surviving The Rule of 3
There are many who always address survival rules in this order. They were taught the corresponding survival skills in that natural progression.
But, the list of skills for surviving danger does not end there. Theirs is a valid argument that learning how to escape a fire should also fit somewhere into any list of survival priorities.
The Rule of 3s relates to the general viewpoint that the human species is usually destined to perish in as little as:
- 3 minutes without air
- 3 hours without shelter.
- 3 days without water.
- 3 weeks without food.
The Rule of 3s Explaine
You might consider these as health guidelines, rather than survival instinct. They base surviving imminent danger on time factors. But, as real-life incidents prove, there are always exceptions to any rule.
3 Minutes Without Air
We believe the world record is around 12 minutes for surviving a long period without breathing air. Even in a life-threatening situation, most people would struggle to survive after going 3 minutes without air.
In most cases, the brain gets irreversibly damaged when starved of oxygen for more than 6 to 8 minutes. There are recorded cases of humans surviving longer periods of air starvation in extreme cold weather environments.
3 Days Without Water
There are some earthquake victims who survived over 10 days without water. But in fact, you could die of dehydration in only a few of extreme heat.
Some experts suggest losing 2% of your body weight in water can result in a biological effect of 25%. Losing two pints of water makes your heart beat around 8 times more per minute. Dehydration eventually leads you towards exposure and poor judgment caused by poor thermoregulation.
3 Hours Without Shelter
Of course, surviving three hours without shelter needs clarifying for analysis. The location and the seasonal weather would play contributing factors in outdoor endurance. It would also depend on what clothing you have (wet or dry) and whether you can make a fire to keep warm.
3 Weeks Without Food
There are those who survived six weeks without food and suffered no irreversible effects to their body. That emphasizes why survival rules may be better expressed as time-factor guidelines for biological health considerations.
Survival Thinking Framework
Survival priority lists are the mainstream framework in escape and endurance. But, having an advance framework is another way of helping you to think how to survive a dangerous situation.
Survival Acronyms
STOP
S: Stop. You should physically stop and sit down. The aim is to relax so your heart rate decreases. That will increase your mental and emotional clarity.
T: Think. Take a moment to think rationally about your situation.
O: Observe. Look around and observe your surroundings for immediate threats and opportunities. Access your wellbeing and determine what resources you have around you.
P: Plan. After determining your situation you can make a plan and then act upon it. But, you should always be ready to change a plan with immediate effect and adapt to the situation.
PLAN
P: Protection. You must protect your body from dehydration and heat loss or hyperthermia (heat gain). Body protection means externally as well as internally.
L: Location. To survive a disaster you want to maximize your chances of being located by your rescuers. Always be prepared to signal your location and at all times. You may need to improvise with a mirror, blanket, whistle, or a fire.
A: Adapt. Take stock of your kit and any first aid supplies, then get what you may need for water, fire, signaling, and shelter.
N: Now. A survival plan is useless unless you act upon them, NOW.
Note: Some SAS survival books have the ‘plan’ acronym using ‘A’ for acquisition (of resources). They also suggest ‘N’ is for navigation. Having good navigational skills could avoid you becoming lost in the first place. As a rule, the advantages of staying put and being rescued outweigh most self-rescue techniques. Navigation will be crucial if self-rescue is, or becomes your only option of surviving a dangerous or life-threatening situation.
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