What To Do When You’re Trapped In Certain Situations

The happenings in the world bring bursts of worry among many people, along with the repercussions of climate change, sporadic wars, and terrorist activities that seem to happen on an everyday basis. It is so easy to imagine a scenario where you will find yourself trapped in dangerous situations.

For sure, panic will ensure. And with panic, dire conditions are exacerbated. Your mind will be so wrapped up with the danger you are facing that eventually, you will forget most of your human faculties—to keep calm, to think of a way out, and to feel compassion to your fellow man. In extreme circumstances, like in the case of damaging hurricanes, there will be looting and killing. It can bring out the worst in humans.

It is not impossible to find yourself in that kind of situation. And if you are unprepared, you will either give up before the battle even begins or toughen up and use any means to survive. That is why being prepared for the unknown can go a long way, not just to keep you alive but also to retain your humanity.

Whether you are someone with a taste for adventure or a homebody who is clueless about the outside world, it is mandatory to be prepared for the worse. So what is the first thing you should do to increase your chance of survival if worse comes to worst?

This is unlike your emergency kit of multi-tools and medicines. A survival pack is designed to aid you once you find yourself in a situation beyond your control, like getting shipwrecked and stranded in an island or dealing with the aftermath of a high-magnitude earthquake.

This survival pack can make or break your chances in extreme outdoor conditions, helping you not only withstand your situation but also thrive in it.

Waterproof Bag

Mountaineers are known for investing in backpacks that can house their days worth of supplies and ensure that they are convenient enough to carry. You should find a sturdy bag that can store everything you need.

Flashlight

When disaster strikes (say an earthquake or a hurricane), there will be power loss. It can take days to restore or even months, depending on the extent of the damage. A flashlight can be a useful emergency tool once the night closes in.

Compass and Maps

If power is out, then your electronic devices will eventually give up once their batteries drain. It is so much easier to travel with the help of a GPS, but if it is out of your options, then the manual way is your best choice.

Maps and a compass can help you navigate your way to your destination. They are especially useful if you are out in the wilderness and need to find your way.

Knives

Of all the survival tools, a knife is perhaps the most useful. You might be short of devices, but a knife can help you fashion one through resourcefulness and innovative skills. It can be valuable if you need to hunt for food, gather firewood, cook, and even to defend yourself.

You should make sure to choose a proper high quality knife, which means it must have straight edges, since those are easier to maintain. A backup knife is also advisable just in case you lose or damage your primary knife.

Multi-tool

This is a no-brainer. Multi-tools like this wallet-do-it-all are just extremely useful and do not really take up a lot of space. You can settle for one with basic inclusions, like a can opener, a nail clipper, and a screwdriver.

Water Canteen

You can probably go for days without solid food, but water is just too important to live without for long.

A handy water canteen can be very useful when you are just starting out or if you are stuck in the woods far from a water source. Filling up your canteen with water and bringing it along on your journey is better than simply relying on your luck to come across a river or lake.

Medical Kit

Of course, this is not something you can overlook. Disaster spells injuries and other illnesses. By preparing a kit of medicines and other medical supplies, like bandages, antiseptics, ointments, and many more, you can rest assured when you have minor wounds or burns. It also pays to learn how to apply first aid to minimize the effects of injuries.

Collapsible Tent

It is difficult if the impact of a destruction is wide and there will be no more shelters to run to in case of heavy rain or extreme heat. A collapsible tent can make a huge difference, especially if you have to travel far or stay outdoors.

Rope

There are ropes for climbing and multipurpose ropes. Ropes used for climbing can be immensely helpful if you have to tackle tricky terrains. Bringing a rope can help you handle heavy weights and shock forces. In addition, multipurpose ropes can be used when making rafts, lifting game, and creating traps.

Packs of Food

Stock up on energy bars and chocolates. They are easy to carry around and can provide substantial energy on the onset of food shortage. They can get you through several days, giving you enough time to hunt for food.

Necessary Clothing

Prepare clothes that can keep you warm but light enough not to burden you. Avoid choosing those made of cotton, as those types of clothing can be detrimental if you are wet and cold since they lose their insulating properties when wet.

But if you are left with no choice and you are wearing a cotton cloth when you get wet, the best thing to do is to find something you can stuff between you and your wet clothing. If you are in the wilderness, leaves can do the trick.

Miscellaneous

This can be any tool you can find useful for survival scenarios. It can be a hatchet or a crowbar, or it can be a set of lock picking tools, as they can open abandoned houses if you are desperate for shelter and food supplies. 

A sewing kit is also a good idea if you need to mend or sew crude materials. You never know what’s in store for you out there.

While survival tools can be the key to manage harsh conditions, they are no use if you do not have the will to survive.

Your preparation does not end with the survival pack. You must also make it absolutely certain that you are physically, mentally, and psychologically prepared. Sometimes, a proper mindset can make a world of difference to those who survive a disaster and those who perish.

People who have mastered the survival psychology can remain calm amidst the chaos. Instead of panicking, they assess the situation and come to a clear understanding of what needs to be done. Their actions are not always the traditional; they have the ability to think outside the box. Their focus on the tasks at hand makes them adept problem-solvers.

Of course, most of that is easier said than done. But there are steps you can take to make sure that you are mentally and psychologically strong to handle high level of stress.

Never let your fear control your actions. Fear can send you into panic, hinder all logical thoughts, and bring you closer to danger. It can make you immobile, unable to function when the situation calls for it.

Manage the way you deal with situations by putting your fear under your control. Train your mind to concentrate on what needs to be done. If you only look at the goal to survive, there won’t be room for fear. But if it persists, tackle its root cause. What are you scared of? Why does it scare you?

By facing what you fear the most head on, you can train yourself to overcome it and build your confidence.

If you have to deal with a crisis, you will need to make decisions. Often, these decisions can dictate the outcome of your survival. Every thought you take and every action you make must be accompanied with optimism. Your eye should be on the primary goal—to survive.

By keeping positive in your situation, no matter how dire it is, you can also influence others who are with you to move and do something. Remaining positive can also quell the onset of fear.

Do not be complacent in the face of disaster. If the circumstance calls for a swift decision and action, then you should not let another minute go by before making a move. But you cannot also give in to rash decisions.

Acting on your imagination at the wrong time can spell disaster not only for you but also for those who rely on you. That is why it is important to assess the extent of danger you are in. Find the balance between caution and quick-mindedness.

Apart from mental and psychological preparation, you should also learn integral skills that can help you survive. This is very useful if you find yourself stranded on an island or lost in the wilderness.

These skills can provide you with the basic necessities that you need to live.

Fire is not only for cooking food. It can also be a deterrent for some wild animals and is necessary to keep you warm. Others use it as a signal for help. True, there are lighters and matches. But what if you run out of them? Building a fire is something you should master.

Use thin fuel to begin your fire-building, before gradually moving on to thicker logs. Dry tinder is ideal if you are trying to start a fire in a wet area. It can mostly be found in tree branches, under logs and rocks, and inside some plants. For help signals, you can use leaves to create a lot of smoke, piling them on top of your fuel.

Constant rehydration is a requirement for the body to function well. You can only imagine what will happen if you will go without water for too long. So it is only sensible for you to learn how to find water anywhere. It is not only the typical source of water, like streams and rivers, that you should take note of. You can also learn how to find one in the absence of a clear water source.

Knowing and learning about plants that can give pure and drinkable water is a must. In case your water is not fit enough to drink, then you must know how to purify it.

It need not be a house, but if you find yourself stuck in the mercy of nature, you should be able to fashion a shelter out of the resources at your disposal. It can be anything from a debris hut to a tarp tent.

The important thing is that your shelter can protect you from rain and heat. Sticks, leaves, grass, and pine needles can be used for a hut. A tarp and some roof are enough to build you a tent.

Looking for food can be challenging. You can be forced to pry doors open or hunt for food yourself.

It is mandatory that you learn the kind of plants safe for consumption and the type of wild game you can hunt to give you the required nutrients to recharge your energy. You need to know the basic of traps, including snares, deadfalls, fish traps, and bird snares.

Taking these steps is not a guarantee that you will be safe and win the survival game. There are still too many factors that can affect your chances, but being prepared anytime and anywhere can put your mind at ease once a crisis sets in, knowing you have learned and trained to manage probable dangerous scenarios.