“What Moment Made You Say ‘Yep, I’m Definitely Dead’, But Survived With No Major Injuries?” (50 Answers)

If you've never heard of the "Rule of Three," it's knowledge that's crucial for survival. Basically, a person can survive three minutes without oxygen, three hours in unprotected environments, three days without water, and three weeks without food.

Knowing this helps should you ever find yourself in a situation where you have to prioritize your needs in order to survive. Many people might think to look for food first but that's not the case, say the experts. "Foremost, it is essential to find a suitable shelter, then you require sufficient water. Food is last on this list," notes the Survival Kompass site.

The team adds though, that this rule can change depending on where you find yourself. If you're stranded on a hot, deserted island, water might be your priority.

Your mental attitude can also play a crucial role in whether you live or die in tough situations. Believe you'll survive and you might be halfway there. "Any critical situation not only stresses the human body, but also presents a challenge for the mentality," warns the Survival Kompass team.

That's why it's super important not to panic. Instead of helping, panicking could cause you to act recklessly and make wrong (potentially fatal) decisions. The experts advise taking a few seconds to pause before acting.

The next step is to create a plan and think about what needs to be done. And then to put that plan into action. This structured approach is key to preventing impulsive actions, and can help avoid panic.

When it comes to water, experts say the usual travel rules about being overly cautious don't apply. Meaning, when you see water in a survival situation, you drink it. Dehydration is deadly.

"This does depend on how far you are from civilisation," notes Getaway magazine. "If there are communities nearby, your water is more likely to be polluted with nasties; what’s more, there’s more of a chance that you’ll find your way to rescue before dehydration kicks in. So you can gamble."

The Red Cross warns that wild water sources can also have harmful viruses and pathogens that could cause waterborne illnesses. So it pays to know how to purify the water you come across. If you're lucky, you might have tablets, iodine drops, or a UV light purifier on you. But if not, boiling water may be your best option.

And if there's zero water to be found, one of the most famous wilderness survival experts Bear Grylls says it's fine to drink your pee.

Whether you need heat to stay warm, or a way to boil water, being able to light a fire is going to come in handy. But what if you don't have a lighter or matches? According to Grylls, one way is to pierce a lithium cellphone battery with a knife. It should explode and create sparks. Not something you want to try unless absolutely crucial...

"Alternatively, if you quite like your cellphone, a bit of wire wool and a 9V battery will work almost as well: just touch the wool to both terminals of the battery, and you’re away," advises a travel writer who attended one of Grylls' survival courses.

As we mentioned earlier, finding or building a shelter is critical. They create a barrier from predators, harsh environmental elements and offer a sense of security. The Red Cross advises that you first find a suitable location.

"Look for a nearby water source and access to trees for firewood as well as potential food sources you can hunt or trap," notes the site, adding that you should use natural materials when building your base.

"Look for grass and other soft materials that you can use to sleep inside your shelter. Rocks help build the structure of a shelter and surround a fire."

The next step is to create a small framework that can be piled high with available debris like moss, ferns, grasses, leaves, and pine needles. "Pack the inside of the shelter with debris, and the entrance is sealed to prevent convective heat loss," advises the organization.