Could You Survive?
How well would you fare under the most extreme conditions? Test your survival acumen!
You have fallen into quicksand. You should:
move your arms and legs vigorously and swim out.
relax and try to float to the top.
wait patiently until the crocodiles come to eat you, then grab one and pull yourself out.
You chose:
You chose:
The human body is not as dense as quicksand, and will float in it as long as you don't struggle -- thrashing around will only cause you to sink further. Just relax, lie back, and try to very slowly let your legs float up to the surface. If you can reach something that floats, such as a tree branch, try to work it under your hips to help raise them up out of the quicksand, which will make it easier to free your legs. Once you have floated to the surface, you can slowly maneuver yourself towards terra firma and pull yourself to safety.
Your car has gone off the road and is sinking into a body of water. You can't get the door open. You should:
make sure all the windows are tightly closed to trap air in the car and stay inside until you are rescued.
wait until the car sinks to the bottom and then just drive it out of the water.
open a window and let the car fill with water until you can get the door open and swim to safety.
You chose:
You chose:
A car is not airtight, so keeping the windows closed won't prevent the car from filling with water, but it will make it difficult to escape. As the car sinks, the water pressure will make it nearly impossible to open the doors. If your car goes into the water, you'll need to take quick action. Release your seatbelt, open a window, and get out as quickly as possible. Don't try to take anything with you (except other passengers). If you can't get out through the window, wait until the car fills with enough water to equalize the pressure, and you'll be able to open the door.
You are ice skating on a pond when your friend falls through the ice. You are able to pull her out, but she appears to be suffering from hypothermia. You should:
remove her wet clothes, wrap her in a warm blanket or sleeping bag, and have her lie down.
walk her around to get the blood flowing and then put her in a hot shower or bath.
rub her arms and legs vigorously and give her brandy to warm up.
You chose:
You chose:
A person suffering from hypothermia is extremely fragile and should be treated very gently. The safest course of action is to put her in warm, dry clothing; cover her with a blanket; and, if she is conscious, give her warm (nonalcoholic) liquids to drink. Keep her as horizontal as possible to help prevent shock and maintain blood flow to the brain.
You are camping in the woods and a female bear with her cubs wanders through your campsite. You should:
keep very still and quiet.
pick up one of the cubs -- they're so cute!
climb a tree.
You chose:
You chose:
There are few animals more dangerous than a female bear defending her cubs. Bears can run and climb trees much faster than humans, so you are better off keeping your distance and staying very still so she does not feel threatened by you. Avoid making eye contact or turning your back on the bear.
You are skiing in a remote area when you suddenly find yourself caught in an avalanche. You should:
hold your ski poles straight up so rescuers will be able to find you buried in the snow.
discard your equipment and use a swimming motion to stay on the surface of the snow.
dig a hole in the snow and hide in it until the avalanche has passed.
You chose:
You chose:
You should make every effort to avoid being buried in the snow. Using a freestyle swimming motion, try to stay on the surface and move to the side of the falling snow. If you are buried by the snow, try to keep your hands in front of your face to clear a breathing space.
Your friend has been bitten by a venomous snake. You should:
put your mouth over the bite and try to suck out the venom.
put ice on the affected area to keep the venom from spreading.
wash the bite with soap and water.
You are on a boat in rough seas when a huge wave washes you overboard into the frigid water. You should:
kick off your shoes and remove as much clothing as possible to prevent it from weighing you down.
keep moving in order to stay warm.
grab onto something that floats and remain as still as possible until rescued.
You chose:
You chose:
When you have fallen into cold water, your top priority should be to conserve your body heat. Your clothing can trap air next to your body, which will serve the dual purpose of keeping you warm and afloat, so keep it on and try to buckle, button or zip everything up. Unless you can easily swim to safety, it's best to move as little as possible, as swimming will actually cause you to lose body heat and reduce survival time by up to 50 percent.
You are hiking in the mountains when a major electrical storm blows through. To avoid being struck by lightning, you should:
seek shelter under a large tree.
crouch down with your hands on the ground.
submerge yourself in a lake, pond or stream.
You chose:
You chose:
Lightning is one of the most lethal natural phenomena on earth. When out in the open during a thunderstorm, you can protect yourself by avoiding isolated tall trees, high ground, large open spaces, and water. Take off all metal items and stay low to the ground.
You're lost in the desert. The temperature is approaching 120 degrees Fahrenheit and you are almost out of water. You should:
drink as much water as you need.
save the water and eat something instead.
pour the water on your head to cool yourself down.
You chose:
You chose:
Dehydration is the gravest danger you face in the desert, and the worst thing you can do for yourself is curtail your water intake. People have been found dead in the desert with water in their canteens. Your brain and vital organs cannot function properly without water, so drink enough to maintain your physical and mental well-being. Try to eat as little as possible, as the digestive process will absorb some of the water from your body.
You are at the bank when a robber puts a gun to your head and orders you to lie facedown on the floor. You should:
try to get a good look at the robber so you can identify him later.
attempt to distract and disarm the robber.
avert your eyes and do what he says.
You chose:
You chose:
Don't try to be a hero. Avert your eyes, lie down, and listen carefully to what he tells you to do. Avoid putting yourself and everyone else in the bank at risk by staying calm and complying with the robber's demands.
While scuba diving, you encounter a menacing shark. You should:
punch it in the nose as hard as you can.
keep very still.
poke it in the eye with a stick.
You chose:
You chose:
Most marine biologists advise not to do anything that might agitate or injure the shark, as that could make it more aggressive or attract other sharks to the area. If you feel threatened, use a stick or other tool to fend it off, rather than your hands, and poke it in the eyes or gills instead of the nose. The widespread misconception about fending off shark attacks with a punch in the nose has spawned a joke: "If you are diving and are approached by a shark, marine biologists recommend that you swim toward it aggressively and punch it in the nose as hard as possible. If this doesn't work, beat the shark with your stump."
Correct
(0-4 correct): You probably shouldn't venture too far away from civilization until you've learned a little more about surviving in the wilderness.
Correct
(5-8 correct): Your chances of making it out of a desperate survival situation are about 50/50. Not bad, but if you get in over your head, you may not survive.
Correct
(9-11 correct): You either have great instincts or know a lot about survival. If you missed a question or two though, you might want to make sure you do some research before embarking on your next, great wilderness adventure.
