What Are The Three Essentials Of Survival? In an emergency, you will usually have three things that matter most: food, water, and shelter. Most people know to look for these three basics when there is no one around to tell them otherwise.
But they forget about the third essential — safety or protective gear. We often overlook this important piece because it seems like a hassle to gather before the first two can be guaranteed.
However, after a disaster, protecting yourself from potential harm is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. And if you don’t take action now, who will?
Fortunately, all three of your basic needs cover this third tip in some way. By eating frequently, drinking enough liquid, and finding somewhere warm to stay, your body will be prepared for anything.
And even though we sometimes feel like staying inside is the safest option, knowing how to prepare a place to safely crash is just as crucial. This article will talk more about those concepts.
Water
Water is essential for our health. Our bodies are made up of 50-75% water. Water helps transport nutrients, oxygen, and waste throughout our bodies. It also helps maintain our body temperature and lubricate our joints. Additionally, water helps flush toxins from our bodies, aids in digestion, and helps keep our skin hydrated.
Shelter
The shelter is one of the most fundamental needs of any living creature. It provides us with protection from the elements and keeps us safe from potential predators. It is also a place for us to rest and relax, and to have a sense of security and comfort.
Food
Food is essential for our bodies to function properly. It provides us with the energy and nutrients we need to stay healthy and allows us to keep up with our daily activities. Without regular and adequate food intake, our bodies can become weak and vulnerable, making us more prone to illness and disease.
Sleep
Sleep is also an essential part of our bodily functions. We all need to get enough rest in order to function optimally and stay healthy. Not only does sleep help to restore our bodies and minds, but it also helps to improve our immune systems and to keep us alert and focused.
Money Is Not Essential
Now that we have addressed what is guaranteed to never run out, our next essential is money. Many believe that having lots of money is an easy way to survive without any other resources. This isn’t true at all!
Having enough money for your basic needs is not necessarily the most efficient use of your energy. In fact, it could be one of the biggest distractions in life.
If you spend your time thinking about how much money you have, then you will be wasting your energy. The more energy you devote to money, the less energy you have for things that matter.
Distracting wealth can easily become a distraction from important issues in your life – like helping others or exploring new opportunities.
So while it is nice to know that you won’t go hungry if you don’t have much cash, it is still not the most useful thing to focus on. It may even hinder your ability to achieve your goals and dreams.
Running low on funds is also a very common cause of stress. If you feel stressed because you ran out of money, try looking into ways to improve your budget.
You might find that there are unexpected costs that you didn’t account for. Check out my tips here for more ways to save money.
Alternatively, consider whether it’s worth it to pursue your goal given that you only have limited money. You may want to reconsider if this is truly the path you want to take.
Why Do You Need To Be Prepared For Emergencies?
Surviving an unexpected disaster may not be possible without these five things, but being prepared is!
Having enough food for at least two weeks, having water you can drink, proper clothing to protect you from the elements and other people, the means to communicate (cell phone with chargers!), and knowledge or copies of important documents and information makes preparing for emergencies easier.
You will feel more relaxed and confident in your preparation if you have done it before – even once was enough!
Experts agree that spending money on a pre-existing condition like a house or car is wasteful during times of emergency. If you make a habit of buying such items, spend less money instead to feel better about yourself.
Don’t Wait Until An Emergency Happens To Prepare
One of the biggest reasons why people survive or do not during an emergency is how well they are prepared. If you have enough supplies to last you for several days, you’re more likely to be able to stay alive until help arrives.
Sadly, most people are not properly equipped for self-sufficiency during a crisis. Most people don’t put together a meal recipe that can satisfy their hunger for at least a few hours.
Fewer still take time to make sure all their important documents are organized and either printed out or copied onto another device.
In fact, many people don’t even know what items would be essential in a situation where there was no food available. These things could include water purification tablets, tools, medicine, and the like.
How to Start Preparing Now
There is one thing that all great survivors have in common – they made sure they were always prepared for whatever situation they were faced with.
They would spend hours going through their supplies, making sure everything they needed was there and enough for them to use it for several days.
By having a plan, and being ready at any time, you take some of the pressure off yourself to make things happen because you have done your homework and left no stone unturned.
This also helps you relax and stay calm as situations unfold around you, instead of getting stressed out. It may sound crazy or clichéd, but believe me, when I say preparing is a very good way to relieve stress.
So if you want to survive anything, this is something you must do!”
Just like how every survivor starts planning for emergencies, the same goes for people who don’t know what life after disasters will look like.
Store Food In A Cool Place
We already mentioned this, but it is worth mentioning again as we now move on to the second essential. This seems pretty obvious, but unfortunately, not everyone obeys it. Luckily, you can always take your food with you!
If you know how to make sure that your foods will keep for at least one week, then do that! If you pack your own snacks, you can also save some money by buying less junk food.
We would recommend keeping an eye on what things use up more energy than other foods- sugar is one of them. Have lots of nuts and berries to help balance out your snack!
Lastly, if you have a small fridge or freezer area, invest in a refrigerator temperature control device so that you can regulate the temperatures in there properly. This will ensure your most important foods don’t get spoiled!
Summary – be aware of how well your diet is balanced, know how to preserve the nutritional value of your food, and learn how to enjoy eating nutritious foods!
Running low on nutrition can put stress on your body, making you feel sick and sluggish.
Have Enough Water Supplies
Having enough water is an important part of daily life, especially during times of extreme weather or natural disasters. While it may seem unnecessary to worry about this basic need when you’re at work or school, it is not!
Throwing away all your drinking supplies in case there is a disaster would be very frustrating at that time, but it could save your life later. Luckily, we have some tips here for you to keep yourself informed and prepared.
We can never assume how much water people around us have consumed, so by law, everyone must carry one (1) liter of purified water with them wherever they go. This includes travel such as buses or cars, schools, workplaces, and even houses.
There should be nothing else within their body fluid balance – no drinks, only purified water.
Buy A First Aid Kit
One of the biggest things that can get lost in an emergency is your first aid kit! Luckily, you do not have to go out and spend a large amount of money on one, as many companies will sell pre-assembled ones.
Most contain all of the supplies needed for minor wounds and illnesses such as bandages, antiseptic cream, rubbing alcohol, cotton balls, tweezers, thermometers, and safety pins (for keeping dressings together). Make sure to include these items in your first aid kit.
Some other helpful supplies include latex gloves, zip-lock bags or plastic baggies, non-corrosive tape, and a pen/paper so you don’t forget anything.