Survival

Survival refers to the processes and actions used to stay alive in adverse conditions. It covers a broad range of contexts, including wilderness emergencies, natural or man-made disasters, urban search and rescue, maritime, aviation, and space environments. The central goal is to meet basic human needs—air, water, shelter, warmth, food, and health—while minimizing risk and maintaining decision-making capacity.

Core skills include situational assessment, planning, shelter construction, water acquisition and purification, fire-starting, heat management, navigation, signaling for help, first aid, and safe resource management. Widely taught frameworks include the Rule of Threes, which emphasizes prioritizing survival needs in order of urgency, and the Stop-Think-Observe-Plan method for decision making.

Historically, survival practices emerged among indigenous peoples and later evolved with explorers, military forces, and civilian preparedness movements. Modern survival training covers wilderness, urban, and disaster scenarios, with organizations offering courses in wilderness medicine and emergency preparedness. Equipment typically includes a basic kit with tools for shelter, water filtration, signaling, and first aid.

Survival is contingent on environmental conditions, knowledge, physical fitness, and psychological factors. While some survival situations can be endured long-term with appropriate actions, outcomes vary. Safety considerations emphasize avoiding reckless actions and seeking professional help when possible, and ethical guidelines stress prioritizing safety and responsible conduct in challenging environments.