Key Strategies for Surviving a Disaster
When faced with a life-threatening situation, our chances of survival can often come down to our choices.
Through my research, I have discovered that many of these survivors took basic yet critical steps to ensure their survival. In this article, I will explore some of these key strategies that can help increase our chances of making it through a disaster, and even help us overcome everyday crises.
Small steps:
When disaster strikes, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the challenge ahead. But, rather than fixating on the enormity of the situation, focus on taking small steps toward your ultimate goal of survival. Even forward progress of just a few inches can provide the motivation to keep going.
For instance, while hiking alone in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in 2003, Amy Racina fell down a cliff and shattered her legs and hips. With no one expecting her back for several days, Racina knew that she had to take action to survive.
Despite extreme pain, she began slowly dragging her body down the mountain towards a trail, just a mile away. To begin, she chose a goal that was only ten yards away. Racina ultimately made it to the trail and was rescued.
Stay in the moment:
In a life-or-death situation, it’s essential to stay focused on the present and what you need to do to overcome it. Rather than assigning blame or figuring out how you got into such a predicament, concentrate on what you can do to improve your circumstances and stay alive.
Brad Cavanaugh and Deborah Scaling survived the sinking of their sailboat in 1982 after it was struck by a massive wave. Despite being stranded on a raft in the middle of a violent ocean, Cavanaugh and Scaling remained calm and strung wires across the raft, so they could get their bodies out of the cold water and avoid hypothermia
Adrenaline is the enemy:
In an emergency situation, it’s easy to act on impulse and panic. However, rather than giving in to our primal urges, examine all options, and make decisions based on the situation at hand. In 1976, John Vihtelic found himself trapped in his car after it went off the road and slid down a 150-foot ravine.
With his leg pinned in the wreckage, he could have easily given up hope. Instead, he made a mental list of all the materials available to him and ripped up the portion of his car that he could reach. He then made a fishing pole from roof struts and fabric to drink from the nearby creek.
By casting his makeshift rod into the creek several times, he was able to squeeze out enough liquid to survive. After 16 days, Vihtelic was finally free and dragged himself up the ravine, where a passing motorist spotted him. Despite having to have his foot amputated, he was alive.
Each of the survivors in “Extreme Survival,” was determined to get through their ordeal or die trying. They all kept up a constant chatter of encouragement in their minds.
While these strategies are crucial in life-and-death situations, they can also be applied to overcome everyday crises. Mike Tougias himself found the power of small steps helpful when he contracted long-term COVID and experienced deep fatigue for five months.
By trying to do something productive each day, even if it was just online research or taking notes, Tougias was able to make it through that difficult time. By staying calm and focused, taking small steps, and examining all options, we can increase our chances of surviving a disaster and emerging alive.
