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Survival Priorities List

You never know when disaster may strike. Whether at home, at work or on vacation, being prepared and understanding what you need to do to survive when a disaster happens can be the difference between life and death. Knowing what your survival priorities are in advance can help you stay focused on what needs to be done to ensure each survival need is met. Make a survival priorities list and learn how to accomplish each item and you will be ready to face disaster head on.

  1. Assess the Situation

    • When a disaster occurs, you need to calmly assess the implications it has on you and your family. Make sure you are not in any further imminent danger either from fire, falling debris or other hazards. If you are at home, check if the disaster only affected your home, your street or the entire neighborhood. Try to estimate how long it will be before life will get back to normal. Check what supplies of fresh water and food you have if any and how long they might last.

    First Aid

    • Check to see if you have sustained any injuries and use first aid on yourself before checking others. Apply first aid to others that are with you. Internal injuries are not always immediately apparent, and often it is the quiet victims who need the most urgent help.

    Shelter

    • Ensure you have a good shelter if you are away from home. In hot climates you need to keep in the shade and rest to conserve your energy and need for water. In cold or wet climates, a shelter should provide adequate protection for you, your family and your food and water supplies.

    Water

    • Without water you could die in as little as three days, so you must ensure a clean water supply. Work out how much water you have and store in airtight containers to prevent evaporation. At rest, in a region with a temperate climate, you need to drink at least 2 quarts---approximately 2 liters---of water a day. This need rises to 2 gallons if you are active. In hot, arid locations the amount of water you need can rise to 4 gallons per adult, per day.

    Food

    • You can survive for over a week without food, however you will suffer extreme fatigue and not be able to perform everyday tasks effectively without proper sustenance. If your food supplies are low or you have none, you should forage for berries, fungi and root plants. Hunting for animals can be time consuming and difficult. Learn how to spot animal tracks and set traps. If by water, mollusks and other shellfish can be collected along the shore and fishing with improvised hooks and lines can be effective.

    Fire

    • Building a fire keeps you warm, cooks food, deters wild animals and can be a means of signaling for help. Learn how to build a fire correctly and how to light one without matches or a lighter.

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