Results
Great work, you have a good understanding of what to prioritize in various survival scenarios. Feel free to read the rationale for each answer below.
Good effort, you may disagree with some of the answers, but take a moment to read the rationale below and the motivation behind the answers may become a bit clearer.
#1. Which of these is most necessary for self preservation?
The will to live is at the top of the survival pyramid set forth by SAS Survival Handbook’s author, John ‘Lofty’ Wiseman. Even with food and water, if your will to live is compromised, you won’t have the potential to survive long.
You can almost always find food and water when you possess a will to live, but you cannot find a will to live by possessing food and water.
#2. On a sunny, clear day, what is the most effective way to signal an aircraft for help?
Sunlight is extremely powerful, and a mirror can effectively reflect it in a strobing pattern if you tilt it properly. This has the highest likelihood of alerting a pilot. Smoke is effective, but it can also be written off as naturally occurring.
#3. What shape provides the most structural integrity?
The triangle is the most structurally sound shape which can be clearly seen by its use in truss bridges. You often see an “X” shape called “cross-bracing” when buildings are being framed, this is actually four triangles intersecting in the middle, which is specifically used to stabilize walls, bridges, and buildings against external forces.
#4. Out of these options, which shelter could be built the fastest?
The lean-to shelter would be able to be built with the most ease and speed. There are better long term options though as this one can be challenging to insulate.
#5. What is a clear indicator that you may be at risk of hypothermia?
Hypothermia is a low body temperature that can result in the body shutting down. Shivering is the body’s attempt to compensate and warm the core temperature by creating movement in the muscles.
#6. Which of these methods would work best for creating a sustained fire in a freezing, damp environment?
The road flare is easy to spark and can burn for 15 minutes depending on the length you have. This allows it to dry out wet wood as it burns, without much effort. This can be life-saving in freezing conditions where you can barely move. All the other methods are valid, but in this instance, the road flare shines above the rest.
#7. Which of these items is the most important to keep in your survival kit?
All of these items are great to have, but a knife provides more utility and is the most difficult to replicate with natural materials. You can create a water filter from sand and charcoal but you can’t easily forge a blade. It can be used to build shelter, prepare food, create tools and in many other cases as well.
#8. What is the first step in treating a severe bleeding wound?
Applying direct pressure is the most important thing you can initially do for a severely bleeding wound. This will help prevent hypovolemic shock.
If you have access to a CAT, or Combat Application Tourniquet, this is ideal for stopping a bleed on appendages.
#9. What is a key rule when eating insects for survival?
Cooking them thoroughly is the best option to neutralize any harmful parasites or bacteria. This will make the majority of bugs safe to eat, heat even neutralizes some toxins, but do your own research on species local to you. You should rule out the potential for other food sources first though, unless bugs are palatable in your culture.
#10. What trait gets people in trouble most often in emergency situations?
Indecisiveness in a real emergency means the issue will neither be avoided or confronted and can result in terrible outcomes. In disaster response scenarios, people tend to have a mob mentality and go along with what they see others doing. This can be an effective strategy, but it can also backfire if there is a collective indecisiveness.