Below are summaries of the most important survival acronyms and easy to remember short lists to help you survive.
S.T.O.P
Stop what you are doing and stay put, Think things through, Observe the situation, Plan your next move
The primary concept here is to slow your fight or flight response, so that you can assess your situation and make a better decision / choice
Rules of 3 for Surviving
- 3 seconds – without thinking (stupidity — see Darwin Arwards)
- 3 minutes – without air
- 3 hours – without shelter
- 3 days – without water
- 3 weeks – without food
- 3 months – without hope / isolation (think Guantanamo Bay – keep a small photo of your loved ones on you at all times)
5 W’s of WILDERNESS (and Camping) Survival
When you’re in a survival situation, or just setting up camp, remember the following short list of W’s:
- Wind (Weather) – wind will cool your body temperature very quickly and bring in a change of weather
- Water – you must hydrate
- Wood – fuel and shelter
- Wildlife – traces of animal scat and tracks from large animals like bears, moose/deer along with rodents such as racoons, skunks and even squirrels/chipmunks can wreak havoc in your situation
- Widowmakers – look above for potential dead trees/limbs that can fall on you
5 C’s of Survival
Dave Canterbury, co-star of the first 2 seasons of “Dual Survival” and owner of the Pathfinder School in southeast Ohio, created this easy to remember moniker and list of the most important, essential, emergency items to carry.
Notably these items are the most difficult to produce out of natural materials, so having them already made and available to you, significantly improves your chances of survival, both outdoors and in an urban environment.
- Cover – includes the clothes you are wearing (+hat)
- Cordage – allows you to rapidly build
- Container – single-walled metal container (32oz /1 liter) that can be heated by fire
- Combustion – always carry at least 2 ways of starting a fire
- Cutting (Tool) – knife / axe / saw
Dave extended the original list with another 5 C’s — which are nice-to-have small useful items, that can enhance the original 5 C’s above:
- Cotton bandana – first aid, filtering, makeshift head cover
- Compass – navigation / mirror
- Candle (or light source + bonus heat source) preferably a headlamp
- Canvas needle – repairs / first aid / makeshift compass (if magnetized)
- Cargo (Duct) tape – first aid / repairs
ABC(D)’s of First Aid
Airway – must be clear
Breathing – on their own
Circulation – check for a pulse, otherwise do CPR
Deadly Bleeding – (bonus) need to immediately stop severe cuts and rapid loss of fluids ASAP