The Rule of Three in Survival
When in a survival situation, we often experience a great deal of stress. To help gain control and direction, focus on the Rules of Three in survival.
In the First three seconds; decide to Fight, Flight, or Freeze.
This is our instinct reaction to immediate threatening situations. It especially applies if you’re not prepared or caught off guard. You can be trained and still experience these reactions. As the victim, you may initially be caught off guard and Freeze.
You may be close enough however that you must defend yourself by Fighting. Once you’re able to break contact, move to a safer area or Flight. Once the fight has ended, don’t stand around and admire you handy work. Move quickly to a safe location and regroup just in case of a second event. Our friends at Renegade Fighter Mindset has Excellent tips! We also like the pressure point training which is used by many Police Officers, MMA Fighters and Self Defense Instructors at Russell Stutely.
Consider Surroundings
Consider if your current location is safe and secure. If not, move out of the immediate danger or Red Zone.
The Yellow zone is just out of the immediate danger but not totally secure and could become a Red zone at any moment. Try to move up wind during chemical or fire events. The yellow zone is where most decontamination and rescue efforts or triage is conducted.
Green zone is a safe and secure zone. This area allows you to regroup and carry on with your mission or life.
Once you are safe from immediate harm access your situation and establish priorities.
Rendering First Aid
Within the first 3 minutes:
A person is in jeopardy of dying if severely bleeding. Stop the bleeding by applying bandages and applying direct pressure with your hands or tourniquet. Lay the victim prone and raise the legs between 6 inches to 12 inches to help prevent shock.
A person is endangered of suffocating if not exposed to breathable air. If the event is in a confined space, do not enter. Try to get a pole to drag the victim out or a self-contained breathing apparatus. It does no good for you to enter the Danger zone and become another victim. Try moving the victim up wind of the danger area.
According to the OSHA and Fire Service statistics, two thirds of all deaths occurring during confined space rescues are to first responders attempting to rescue someone else!
Exposure concerns
A person is endangered of dying of exposure in 3 minutes if they fall into icy water. Safely get them out to a secure spot. Remove their wet clothing and replace with warm clothing or blankets. You will most likely have to help them every step of the way as their mental faculties will start shutting down. They will be dazed and in shock. Extreme caution must be used if you enter the same icy water as the victim may pull you under trying to save themselves.
3 Hours Rule: A person is endangered of succumbing to a harsh environment of extreme heat or extreme cold. Six people have already died from exposure to the elements this week from the frigid north west cold snap. Proper layers of clothing is a must as your extremities will feel the effects first. Protect your head, hands and feet. Eighty percent of your body heat will be lost through an uncovered head.
The same applies to extreme heat. Keep your arms, legs and head covered as sunburned skin will cause your body core temperature to drop. Stay hydrated but do not try to consume a large amount of water at one time as this can injure your bladder or kidneys.
Dehydration complications
3 Days Rule: Drinkable water. Three days the time before the body shuts down from dehydration. The kidneys and bladder will fail from an overload of the toxins not removed in your bodily waste. Yes, water is always a priority but do not mentally shut down because it is not readily available. There are techniques you can learn now on YOU TUBE or through survival research to apply in times of water shortages. Having a good water purifier available will be a life saver.
Starvation woes
3 weeks rule: The average amount of time a person can survive without eating edible food. The body will draw from its stored fat content before it starts breaking down and affecting the internal organs. This gives you more than enough time to find a safe food source. If water supplies are tight, ration what you eat to small amounts and remember your body consumes water to digest the food you eat. You can cause dehydration just by eating.
If the situation allows, hydration is always important. As your stress increases so should your consumption of water. Only water that will effectively flush the toxins from your system.
Prior training and mental preparation are what will always pull you through. Take what you are learning and practicing serious because one day in the future, it will save you butt.
As always be safe and healthy my friends.
Ralph Tcat
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