I just watched many episodes of I Shouldn't Be Alive and made notes of the decisions that lead to their near death in the wild. There's definitely memes there, the same type of mistake made repeatedly... like in horror movies where after you've seen a few you know what bad decisions the characters are about to make before they even make them. They never tell anyone where they are going, it gets crazy hot in the day and cold as fuck at night, they don't have or know how to get water, a search plane comes and they don't have any method of signalling it, etc.

Even knowing the common mistakes, I may still make them. Here is the information I distilled from those hours of watching people recount their mistakes, with recreations performed by flatteringly good looking actors:

Basic rules:
- Tell someone where you are going and when you'll be back.
- Carry double the required water and food.
- Rest a minimum of 3 in every 30 minutes.
- Mark your trail.
- Don't go down what you can't get back up.
- Don't leave kit behind.

Attach to your body:
- Sinaling devices (whistle, mirror, fire steel)
- Space blanket
- Knife
- Compass
- Large plastic bag
- Water filter
- phone / gps
- Basic first aid kit
- Map
- Light

When you acknowledge you are in a survival situation:
- Start collecting your piss before you dehydrate #beargryls
- Never pass up anything edible or potable.

Contingencies:
- If a search is in progress, stay put and be visible.

Not by chance it runs closely alongside the various versions of "The 10 essentials" - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Essentials


Peace,

kowalski