There are only a few things a person -- or any living creature -- really needs to survive. Readers might want to comment with a differing opinion, but these are what I consider the top 5 basic needs for survival:
- Appropriate shelter -- I had rabbits once. They had food. They had water. They were caged and up off the ground, as protection from predators. But they died of heat stroke when the sun shone in and they could not find shade. You may have food and water, you may be protected and secure, but if you don't have shelter appropriate to your needs -- both a dwelling and appropriate clothing -- you can die from exposure. Extremes of heat or cold can kill you in a matter of hours. Even simple discomfort can eventually weaken your resistance to the point that it can kill you. To determine what is appropriate for you and your family, evaluate your climate, your surroundings, and your own personal weaknesses. Make sure you protect your body.
- Clean water -- If the elements can kill you in a matter of hours, dehydration can kill you in a matter of days. Reliable sources of water include a spring or well, a rain barrel, distilled water, water utilities from a city or county, and -- with some treatment to purify it -- ground water from creeks, rivers, and lakes. I list these in order of reliability. A spring or well is almost always going to be there for you. A rain barrel or water catchment system is reliable if you live in an area where there is plentiful rainfall and you have a back-up for the dry times. A water distiller is tedious and dependent on dew or other water sources. City water is generally chlorinated and fluoridated, which I don't like, but is reliable as long as the government is intact. And unless you live in the desert, there is always some kind of ground water available. Just make sure you purify it before drinking (or it will come out faster than it went in!).
- Food -- A human being can go without food up to 6 weeks before the body begins to significantly deteriorate. That said, we all know that going just a few days without food makes us feel weak, and that can lead to deadly consequences if we are already in a stressful survival situation. Putting up food through canning, dehydration, smoking, and freezing, is a good thing, but having something growing in the yard is better. A garden, small livestock, and the ability and skills to hunt are all a hedge against deprivation. A second tier of food provision involves educating yourself to what grows wild around you.
- Hope -- Without hope, a person stops eating. Without hope, a person stops seeking out shelter from the elements. Without hope, anyone could die. Hope comes from having purpose. Having family around you, having a team of very close friends, having a connection with God through Jesus Christ. These things give hope. With hope, you can find a way where there seems to be no way.
- Safety -- This includes any one of a number of things that protect you and your family. If you have shelter, water, food, and hope, you may still be attacked from without -- by wild animals, by people of evil intent, even by germs. Safety includes dogs (they may be able to fend off both 2-legged and 4-legged predators, but even if they can't, they will warn of danger, giving you time to address it), weapons (make sure you know how to use them), fences, plus medical supplies. Be sure to include any absolutely essential prescription drugs, like insulin. Some general first-aid supplies include bandages, antibiotics, antibacterial soap and ointment, needle and thread, etc.