6 survival techniques I learned from watching “Naked and Afraid.”
6 survival techniques I learned from watching “Naked and Afraid.”
If you had to survive without the basics of life (water, food, and shelter) for 21 days, do you think you could do it?
In my former life, I spent 13 years serving in the U.S. Army. They taught me many survival techniques. But not nearly to the extent that the contestants on the show Naked and Afraid are subjected to.
During one episode, I thought about what I would do if I were in that situation. Would I be able to survive for 21 days without food, water, or shelter (let alone clothes)? Of course, the human body simply can’t survive that long without food and water. Therefore, the contestants must find or make it.
At first, I didn’t want to watch the show. Because, if we’re being honest, who would subject themselves to being in some of the most inhabitable places on earth for three weeks? Let alone do it naked.
While watching other shows, I’d see commercials for it. I looked it up and saw that there were many versions and several seasons of each. So, I decided to give it a try.
The more I watched the show, the more intrigued I became. There were certain individuals who I thought wouldn’t last two days. And yet they’d make it to the end.
I began taking note of the commonalities of those who made it through the entire challenge. And here are the seven survival techniques I noticed. If your survival depends upon it, I’d highly suggest that you consider following the techniques.
1. While food is important, potable water is essential.
Based on scientific research, most people could survive without food for 4-8 weeks (or 1-2 months). Some longer but still less than 3 months.
With the Naked and Afraid survival challenge being 21 days, an otherwise healthy contestant could theoretically go the entire time without eating. After the first 24 hours, their body would shift the way it gets energy.
Nonetheless, a contestant could theoretically last the 21-day challenge without food. But they wouldn’t last a week without potable (drinkable) water.
Of course, it’s even less if the challenge took place in a warm climate where you’re sweating and losing water quicker.
Therefore, finding potable water should be one of the first things that you do in a survival situation. It’s more important than shelter, fire, or food.
But let’s say you find a body of water. How do you know that water’s safe to drink? There are a couple of things to look for.
If the water is standing (there’s no runoff or stream) then rest assured that it’s not safe to drink. Though even if it were running, that still doesn’t mean there’s no bacteria or other microscopic things living in that water.
In most instances, rainwater is safe to drink. Assuming it’s not running off the side of a building or metal structure. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend that unless you were in a survival situation. Multiple countries (including the US and Canada) are putting chemicals in the air that come down with rain and snow.
One of the best ways to ensure that the water is safe to drink is to boil it. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), water is considered safe to drink after it’s been boiled for 1-3 minutes.
Of course, there are also iodine tablets and water filters that also work. But in the show Naked and Afraid, they’re only allowed one item for survival. And I’ve yet to see any of them choose iodine tablets or a water filter.
2. Fire is almost as essential as water.
As mentioned, boiling water is one way to ensure that it’s safe to drink. In order to boil water, you must have a fire. Therefore, having a fire is the next most important thing in your survival situation.
If you find yourself in a jungle, that fire might be what keeps a predator (i.e., jaguar, puma, etc.) from attacking you in your most vulnerable state. While you’re asleep.
In a survival situation, you might not have lighter fluid, a lighter, or even a fire starter. Therefore, you’ll need a fire-starting skill.
Using natural materials only, there are four main techniques one can use to start a fire. These are friction, hand-drilling, plow, and bow drill.
Of those options, the bow drill method is considered to be the best and most effective. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Once you have a fire, you can then use it to keep warm, boil water, and cook food. Not to mention help keep predators and mosquitos away.
Just like most situations/scenarios, it’s best to prepare in advance. Build a fire-starting skill now before it becomes a necessity.
3. Food comes from several places – in all shapes and sizes.
I enjoy having the ability to go to the pantry or refrigerator/freezer when I’m hungry. When in a survival situation though, food and water won’t always be readily available. Therefore, you’ll need to go find it.
As previously mentioned, a person could theoretically last the full 21 days without eating.
Related article: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-long-can-you-go-without-food#how-long
Unfortunately, some people will pass out long before even 1 week without food. In the wrong situation, that could easily cause that person to die (i.e. if it were to happen while they were in water, trying to avoid a predator, etc.).
At the same time, that strategy would not work for one of the longer challenges that could last from 60-90 days.
In a survival situation, you have to know what’s edible and what’s not. Although something might look appealing, it could easily be your last meal – if not prepared properly.
Take frogs for example. Many people around the world eat frog legs. But pick the wrong frog and that meal could turn deadly for you.
Although most frogs are harmless, there are certain frogs that secrete toxic venom from their skin as a defense mechanism. To touch it could cause temporary paralysis of the affected area. Digested, those toxins could be a death sentence.
Of course, you’d want to avoid confusing a frog with a toad. Because toads are toxic. And in most cases are not safe for human consumption. Like poisonous frogs, toads secrete toxic venom from glands in their skin.
But just like puffer fish, prepared correctly they could be made safe to eat. And unless you know exactly how to do that, I’d suggest staying clear of any attempt.
There are many fruits, trees, herbs, and bugs that are edible, will keep you alive, and don’t require special handling.
4. Find or build a shelter.
In a survival situation, you’ll want to find or build a shelter. Having a shelter is important for many reasons. It will help keep you out of the elements such as rain, snow, and the sun.
If built in a certain manner, it could also keep you off of the ground where many of the creepy crawlies and slithering creatures dwell.
To regulate their body temperature, a snake could seek out your body heat in the night. Although many can climb trees, being off the ground will help you avoid one cozying up to you for warmth.
A shelter, like a partner, can help with the mental aspect of survival. It could keep you out of the pounding wind and rain. Which would be a lifesaver in a rainforest. Same goes for the sun. A severe sunburn is not only painful but will dehydrate a person faster than normal.
Depending on the environment, keeping out of the elements could be just as essential as food, water, and fire.
5. Having a partner is better than being alone.
Having a partner is better than going solo, in a survival situation. If nothing more than to avoid mental solitude. Not to mention, provide additional body heat.
Even if two people have disagreements, they’re better off together than by themselves. This is true in both life and survival situations. The Bible says in Genesis 2:18, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” The same can be said for mankind as a whole.
In a survival situation, two people help ward off predators. Most predators will attack if there’s only one person. But become leery when there are two or more. Predators instinctively go through a risk vs reward calculation in their minds. One against two is twice as hard as one on one.
All else being equal, when given a scenario with two adult humans, a predator can’t tell how much of a fight someone will put up. Therefore, when faced with the additional challenge they’ll likely seek easier prey elsewhere. Obviously, a child would be easier prey than an adult.
Additionally, having a partner, even one that gets on your nerves, is better than isolation. There’s a reason why many places of incarceration subject inmates to isolation as a form of punishment. Because it works.
Plus, having a partner makes it easier to build a shelter, search for food, build a fire, and stay warm. Each of you brings a strength to the situation that could help the partnership in one way or another.
6. Foot protection is more important than other clothing.
Depending on the survival situation you find yourself in, foot protection could be just as important as shelter.
A desert floor can get into the triple digits. Trying to walk on that could cause nearly instantaneous blisters. In the frozen tundra, walking barefoot on snow and ice could have equally devastating effects.
Though not lifesaving, some kind of footwear could prove vital for survival if you had to walk for any amount of time. A requirement in order to get water, food, or even to go to the bathroom.
Final Thoughts
After watching several episodes of the show Naked and Afraid, I realized that those who “tap out” do so because of what they put (or don’t put – lack of clean water and food) into their bodies. More quit because of that than because of any other reason.
Therefore, it’s vitally important to first find a water source. Then you would need to build a fire, find some food, and finally build a shelter.
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