Let’s pretend for a moment that you’re deep in the woods with no cell service, no idea where the trail went, and—oh no—no snacks. Do you panic? Yes. Do you also wish you’d paid more attention to those survival shows instead of just laughing at people eating bugs? Also yes.
Here’s the thing: your body and brain don’t care about your yoga routine, your Pinterest meal prep plan, or your daily latte. When things go sideways, they have one very basic checklist. Five items. That’s it.
These are the 5 basic needs for survival. Learn them. Love them. Tattoo them on your soul.
1. Air (AKA “Let’s Start With Breathing”)
No oxygen = no you. We’re talking three minutes before unconsciousness and not much longer after that. So yeah, this is priority number one.
Air issues in the wild could include:
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Choking on food (or that bug you just inhaled mid-sentence)
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Drowning in rivers, lakes, or rain-swollen streams
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Breathing in smoke or toxic fumes (hello, campfire face full of smoke)
Pro tip: Always clear your airway and keep others conscious before doing anything else. This isn’t just survival—it’s basic humanity.
2. Shelter (Because Weather Has No Mercy)
You can be the strongest, fittest hiker out there—but if you’re exposed to the elements too long, nature will humble you fast.
You’ve got about three hours to find shelter in extreme weather before things get sketchy:
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Hypothermia in cold or wet conditions
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Heatstroke in blazing sun
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Wind exposure that chills your core
Shelter isn’t just a fancy tent. It’s anything that protects your body from losing or gaining heat too quickly:
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Tarp + rope combo
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Emergency bivy sack
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Lean-to made from branches and desperation
Always have a plan. Mother Nature isn’t out to get you, but she is indifferent to your survival.
3. Water (Hydration Nation or Dehydration Doom)
You can last about three days without water—and those three days won’t be cute. Dehydration messes with everything: energy, brain function, mood, and even the ability to move or think clearly.
Symptoms of dehydration include:
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Dizziness
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Confusion
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Cramping
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The inability to stop talking about how thirsty you are
You should:
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Carry more water than you think you’ll need
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Learn to use a filter or purification tablets
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Know where your closest water source is (and if it’s clean)
Also: stop assuming “clear mountain water” is safe. Giardia laughs at your optimism.
4. Food (You’re Not as Tough as You Think)
You can technically go about three weeks without food. Will you feel amazing? No. Will you be functional? Also no.
Lack of food leads to:
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Low energy
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Muscle loss
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Bad decisions (like eating questionable mushrooms)
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Emotional breakdowns over granola bars
Don’t rely on hunting/fishing unless you actually know what you’re doing. Bring:
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High-calorie snacks
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Lightweight meals
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Food that doesn’t need cooking (in case your fire-starting skills are mostly just smoke and regret)
And maybe don’t save your favorite snack for “later”—future you might need a morale boost now.
5. Safety + Security (Because Danger Isn’t Always Obvious)
This one’s more mental and situational, but equally essential.
Your environment can throw a lot at you:
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Wild animals
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Steep terrain
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Sharp tools
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Dumb decisions from well-meaning camping buddies
Safety and security means:
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First-aid knowledge and a decent kit
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Fire (for light, heat, and keeping raccoons out of your tent)
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Knowing when to move and when to stay put
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Having a whistle, mirror, or way to signal for help
The moment you feel unsafe, everything else gets harder. Plan for risks, reduce them, and remember—no Instagram moment is worth a helicopter rescue.
Survival isn’t about macho points or wilderness purity. It’s about staying alive long enough to laugh about it later.
So before you head out, check yourself:
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Can you breathe?
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Are you protected from the elements?
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Do you have clean water?
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Are you fed?
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Are you safe?
If you can say yes to all five, you’re already ahead of half the people on reality survival shows. Probably Derek, too. You remember Derek—the one who brought a drone but no matches?