The sudden realization that you are in a potential life-or-death situation can send your mind and body into shock. Panic can quickly take hold. Your heart races, blood pressure spikes, and sweat begins to drench your clothes. Under such intense stress, your brain may not function as it normally would. Clear, rational thoughts can vanish, replaced by irrational thinking and impulsive decisions, which can escalate an already dire situation into something far worse.
While this reaction is a natural response to fear of the unknown, it can be mitigated with a basic plan that you should develop well in advance of any emergency. This pre-planning isn’t limited to a specific type of disaster or survival scenario. Instead, it’s a broad approach that can be applied to nearly any situation—whether it’s a natural disaster in an urban or rural setting, a man-made threat, or an unfortunate accident that leaves you in a dangerous position.
The key to avoiding panic and unnecessary risks is to evaluate your three critical zones of survival. By doing this, you can create a plan, remain focused, and find a way to navigate out of whatever situation you are facing.
Zone 1: Your Personal Space
The first area to assess in an emergency is yourself and the gear you have on hand. This should be your immediate focus once a crisis occurs. Start by taking a moment to calm yourself. It’s difficult to think clearly when panicked, so pause, sit down, and relax. Begin by checking yourself for any obvious injuries—cuts, bruises, bumps on the head, or more subtle issues like sprained fingers, hands, or swollen ankles.
After a traumatic event, your body may still be under the influence of adrenaline and shock, which can mask these injuries. However, once this initial response subsides, any injuries will become more apparent and should be addressed promptly. Keep wounds as clean as possible, and if needed, use parts of your clothing as makeshift bandages, slings, or even a tourniquet in extreme cases.
Once you’ve dealt with your medical needs, it’s time to consider how you can use the items you have with you. Even the simplest objects can be incredibly useful. For example, pens can double as straws to drink clean water if available, and shoelaces can be repurposed for survival tasks like making a bow drill for fire-starting, crafting bolas for hunting, or setting up primitive snares for small game. Eyeglass lenses can act as solar fire-starters, while their metal frames can be bent into fishing hooks. Cotton socks can be shredded for tinder, and your cellphone can serve multiple survival functions—from using the battery to start a fire, breaking the glass screen to fashion a knife, to using the metallic shell to reflect sunlight as a rescue signal.
As you take stock of your available supplies, think creatively. Focus on the four core survival needs: fire, shelter, water, and food. Consider how your personal items can help you secure one or more of these essentials—you may be surprised at how resourceful you can be.
Zone 2: Your Surroundings
The next zone to assess involves your immediate surroundings—this includes the area where you’ll establish a temporary home until you’re rescued or decide to move on. Start by inspecting the area for potential natural hazards, such as uneven ground, tripping obstacles like stumps or roots, or dead tree branches overhead that could fall during a storm. Next, check for nearby water sources. Within a few days, dehydration will become a serious concern, so having easily accessible water close to your location is essential. While lakes, rivers, and ponds are obvious options, also consider natural springs bubbling from the ground, small streams trickling over rocks, or large leaves that can collect rainwater as secondary sources.
Food sources are another critical aspect to scout within your immediate area. Look for signs of wildlife—birds, small game, and fish in nearby bodies of water are all potential food sources. Tracks in the soil, trails made by animals heading to water, and bubbles or ripples on the water’s surface can indicate the presence of fish or other aquatic creatures.
After identifying possible food and water sources, shift your focus to shelter and fire. Consider whether there are natural materials nearby that could be used to construct even a rudimentary shelter to protect you from the elements. These might include rock formations, fallen trees, naturally concaved terrain, or other natural structures that could serve as a foundation for your shelter.
Next, gather sufficient amounts of leaves, bark, moss, and similar materials that could be used for insulation and to seal cracks in your shelter to keep out rain, helping you stay dry and warm.
Fire is also essential, so ensure that firewood is abundant and easy to collect. Look for materials that can be used as tinder, such as bird and squirrel nests, thick, dry grasses, or cotton-like plants such as pussy willows. This evaluation of your local environment applies not only to wilderness survival but also to urban survival situations, as the four core survival needs—fire, shelter, water, and food—remain constant regardless of your location.
In an urban survival scenario, however, your search for food might involve scavenging deserted stores or markets for leftover canned goods or other non-perishable items that can sustain you. When it comes to finding clean, fresh water in the city, contamination becomes your primary concern. Look for bottled water or, if that’s not available, find ways to purify water using everyday materials you might have on hand.
Finally, be aware that in urban environments, you may encounter other people. If they are rescuers, your situation improves; however, if they are in the same desperate circumstances as you, there is a risk of theft or physical confrontation.
Zone 3: Things To Come
After concluding that a rescue is unlikely, you may need to make the difficult decision to leave your camp and essentially rescue yourself. This is where your final survival assessment becomes crucial. This assessment involves carefully surveying the surrounding landscape and using that information to plan your route.
In a rural survival situation, consider the challenges posed by dense brush that could hinder your movement, lakes or rivers that might block your path, and mountainous or rocky terrain that could be difficult or even impossible to navigate. In an urban environment, be cautious of unstable buildings, electrical poles, or other structures that may have been compromised during a natural disaster. Scattered electrical wires, which could still be live, are particularly dangerous and must be avoided. Additionally, be mindful of areas blocked by fences, gates, or other physical barriers.
The best way to get a clear view of your surroundings is to find the highest point possible, whether it’s a hilltop, a tall tree, the roof of a building, or a climbable antenna tower in an urban setting. However, always climb with extreme caution—falling could turn an already challenging situation into a much worse one.
Once you begin your journey, it’s important to make periodic stops to reassess your environment and ensure that you’re staying on your intended path.
Additional points to consider:
Navigation Aids: Before setting out, try to orient yourself using the sun, stars, or a compass if you have one. In an urban environment, use landmarks such as tall buildings or bridges to keep your bearings. If possible, create makeshift markers or notes along your path to help you track your direction and prevent getting lost.
Energy Management: Conserve your energy by planning your route to avoid overly strenuous paths unless absolutely necessary. If the terrain is difficult, move slowly and deliberately to avoid injury, and take regular breaks to rest and hydrate.
Weather Considerations: Be aware of the weather and how it may affect your journey. In rural areas, sudden changes in weather can create new hazards, like flash floods or hypothermia. In an urban setting, heavy rain could flood streets or basements, and strong winds might bring down damaged structures.
Travel Timing: If possible, travel during daylight hours when visibility is better and it’s easier to spot hazards. Avoid traveling at night, especially in unfamiliar or potentially dangerous areas, unless absolutely necessary.
Emergency Signals: As you travel, keep an eye out for opportunities to signal for help. In rural areas, you can use reflective surfaces or create large, visible markings on the ground. In urban areas, consider using bright materials or writing SOS messages in visible locations. If you’re near a road or open area, try to position yourself where you might be seen by rescuers or passersby.
Stay Calm and Adaptable: Flexibility is key. If your planned route becomes too dangerous or difficult, be prepared to change your plans. Panic and rigid thinking can lead to mistakes, so stay calm, assess new information as it arises, and adapt your strategy accordingly.
Supplies Management: As you move, keep careful track of your supplies, rationing food and water as needed. Take note of potential places to replenish these resources, such as streams for water (purify if necessary) or areas where you might find food.
Concluding
In any survival situation, your top priority is to stay calm and avoid panic. Once you’ve taken a moment to relax and accept your circumstances, you’ll be in a much better position to make logical decisions and develop both short-term and long-term plans.
It’s essential to always follow the three main survival assessments, as they are universally applicable to almost any emergency you might encounter. Ignoring these assessments can lead to disorganized thoughts and reckless actions—decisions that could result in a very unfavorable outcome. Staying calm and focused is the foundation for effectively navigating any survival scenario.
Other Useful Resources:
Planning To Evacuate The City When The SHTF
Find Out What’s the Closest Nuclear Bunker to Your Home
Five Reasons Why Most Preppers Won’t Survive A SHTF Event
Knowledge to survive any medical crisis situation during a major disaster