The Big Picture.... The Survival Hierarchy....

Marion David Poff

Marion David Poff

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Oct 8, 1998
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Looking at the big picture, what are our survival needs?

Now, I know that the rule of threes is popular, and I use it myself, but when looking at the other situations, and planning for them, I think it falls short.

I prefer the hierarchy that I think I got from Davenport...



Personal Protection, which has sub headings of Shelter, Fire, and Clothing

Signalling

Sustenance, which has sub headings of Food and Water

Health

Travel and Navigation

And, I like to add Tools, because there are some things, like knives that fit multiple categories...

So, this hierarchy allows one to look forward, and find solutions for likely scenarios, even non-traditional ones....


For instance, when focusing on Health, I got thinking that it could be broken into sub headings of Sanitation, First Aid, Minor Emergency and Dental.

So, in this example, if you knew that you were going to be on your own (with a small group) and you needed to prepare for that time, you would have something to work from... You might learn how to make soap, and stockpile a couple other items or supplies to ensure that you could keep your sanitation on the up and up. Then, you could analyze your likely needs for first aid, and buy some supplies to match your exposures... Etc...

So, long story short.... Do you any of you have hierarchies like this your work from? Do you have any suggestions for sub headings?

What do you think?

Remember though, we are talking about the big picture, long term situations... Say, for instance, Dr Michael Osterholm stated that in a massive flu epidemic, we might be told to stay indoors and away from other people, in excess of 30 days, not leaving your house...

Marion
 
I think signaling is a constant. If I'm on a hike and hurt myself, first aid would be after I tell the next hiker to call 911 for instance. So signaling is always there through the next stages IMO. The stages in order of how I see it is first aid, body temp, water, food. Body temp is a better way of looking at shelter because it means in the Arctic you need to keep warm but also if in the desert you need to keep cool. So it encompasses fire, shade or even igloo.
 
1) Shelter (be it a built shelter or the clothes you are wearing)
2) Fuel (food and water)
3) First Aid
4) Navigation,
5) Comms

On Comms my thinking is it is nice to be able to contact others but if the situation is that bad ( I mean big picture eotw stuff) who is really coming to help? If I can get out of the elements into shelter then feed myself and self help with my own first aid I can probably use my maps and such to get out of the situation with no need for signaling. I will say there are of course times where I will need help but for me it's not in my top 3.

I am always stunned by people who call in mountain rescue because they've gotten lost or fallen and had no provision for making shelter or even had a survival blanket or ran out of fuel as they carried little food and water to save weight on their hike. I like to study the reports on when stuff like this goes wrong and try and figure out what I would have done differently and what kit I would have taken and would it have allowed me to self help out of the situation or avoid it all together.

As for tools they're spread out through the other priorities so I don't tend to count them as a separate category.
 
Not a bad idea and something that makes it easier to organize with.

Since you're looking at the big picture, you could add "self-defense" under personal protection.

For sustenance, you should delineate water procurement (container) from filtration/purification. Additionally, I would add procurement for food subsection that would include fishing, snaring, trapping, gardening, etc; more than just cans of food or bags of rice and beans. Under procurement could be preservation...canning, salt, drying etc. Although it could fall under "fire", cooking is important as it could be a fire pit or camping stove.

Health is a good category and I think sanitation is a great subcategory...everything from a trowel when out backpacking to a 5-gallon toilet in the garage; plenty of hand-sanitizer, dust-type masks, and plenty of disinfectants. Don't forget the often over looked items such as toilet paper, baby-wipes, female hygiene products, razors, etc.

I always use Signaling and Illumination together...it includes shortwave/weather radios, two-way radios, flashlights, strobes, whistles, signal mirrors, etc.

Another critical category is Repairing or whatever name fits. For backpacking, it could be a small sewing kit, zip-ties, silicone sealant, duct tape, wire, rubber tubing, Super Glue, tec. On a larger scale, it could include hand tools, nails, caulk, wood glue, screws, bailing wire, etc.

ROCK6
 
I like it. I know you said long term, but I believe it would apply anytime. I tweaked it a little bit too...

Personal Protection (Clothing, Fire, Shelter)

Signalling

Health (includes Hydration)

Travel and Navigation

Sustenance
 
Under Health: Basic Medical Training.

I'm sure all of us have put together first aid kits, taken the various standard first aid and CPR classes, so we know what to do RIGHT NOW when faced with a whack on the head or deep laceration. But, it's a week later and you have no hope of getting help for another week or a month or longer, what do you do then? I'm thinking of things like treating infection (local or systemic), setting broken bones permanently, treating concussion and so on, all that stuff that the "system" provides once the first responders are done.
 
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