Remembering the Cardinal Rule of Threes for Survival
Our brain and organs become starved of oxygen after three minutes. Oxygen deprivation can lead to brain damage, organ failure and ultimately death, and it all happens very quickly. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to learn basic life-saving skills such as CPR, rescue breathing and the Heimlich maneuver. You should also have a bee sting kit nearby just in case you encounter someone who is suffering from a life-threatening allergic reaction after being stung as well. Breathing is fundamental to everyone’s survival, and knowing what to do in a medical emergency can ultimately save someone’s life.
The general rule of thumb is that our bodies start to shut down after a few days without water. We need water for almost every process inside the body, and it does not get stored in the same way that fat does. People react differently to water deprivation, and it’s important to consider the impact that circumstances can also have on dehydration. For example, did you know that you can dehydrate just as quickly in freezing temperatures as you can in the blazing desert sun?
Even the smallest amount of stress, panic and physical exertion can quickly deplete our supplies of water. Expect to need at least twice the amount of water that you use on a normal day if you are faced with a survival situation. Also, it’s important to remember that we start the process of dehydration before we develop a sense of thirst. Make sure to drink before and during any strenuous activities as well as afterward. It’s also essential that you consider your circumstances and environment in order to ensure that you have access to water.
While the body will die in days from dehydration, the psychological impact of a lack of water can begin within in hours. This can include dizziness, difficulty concentrating, impaired judgment and a lack of control over our emotions. All of these things can lead to serious consequences when a clear head is necessary to manage a crisis. Make sure that you have enough water on hand.
There is no real truth to the idea that we can just feed off of our fat if we are faced with a hunger crisis. In fact, fat is one of the things that the body consumes last. Food deprivation causes weakness, impairs judgment and thinking as well as the deterioration of our muscle and organ tissue. Even under the best of circumstances, we suffer from the deprivation of essential nutrients due to our dietary habits. Compound that with the potential lack of food security during a crisis, and our bodies are particularly susceptible to stresses that can cause illness or weaken our immune systems. This is why it’s so important to not only have a supply of food on hand, but the food also needs to be packed with essential nutrients that our bodies need.
Keep in mind that the rule of threes does not apply to everyone under every situation. Some people can go more than a week without water whereas others can live without food for months. On the other hand, some people may show signs of wasting or decay a lot sooner than the average. Following these guidelines will help in your planning. However, you should also be mindful of the importance of knowing your level of endurance as well as when psychological changes begin to take effect during periods of deprivation. It also calls attention to the importance of situational awareness and being adequately prepared to minimize risk during a crisis as well. Make sure that you plan accordingly and be prepared to address these three basic needs in order to minimize risk if and when you encounter a survival situation.
