Fear Kills?

[Survivo]

In most of the survival situations it's the fear and panic that comes after it that kill people. Some may argue this but a lot of people will panic in stressful and apparently hopeless situations.

[Woods]

I agree, it is hard not to panic when you start realizing that you don't know how to escape your current situation. Who keeps their wits in such situations have bigger chances to survive.

[oldsarge]

Sitting down for about a half hour and assess your situation, will help calm one down and get their thoughts in order. Fear and panic cause people to rush and make decisions that may make things worse.

[Refrigerator]

Originally Posted by oldsarge

Sitting down for about a half hour and assess your situation, will help calm one down and get their thoughts in order. Fear and panic cause people to rush and make decisions that may make things worse.

oldsarge is right on.

[Gondor]

Originally Posted by oldsarge

Sitting down for about a half hour and assess your situation, will help calm one down and get their thoughts in order. Fear and panic cause people to rush and make decisions that may make things worse.

Just compare a drowning man with these situations and everything will be clearer. Try to spread calm and peace amongst others and don't forget to bring a survival kit.

[Lamebeaver]

Actually, I suspect it's hypothermia.

[wvbreamfisherman]

If you're lost, stop. Build a fire and make a cup of tea or coffee (You DO have your survival kit with you?...I thought so!) and think it out.

A fire is a huge psychological boost, and doing something familiar will calm you down and let you formulate a better plan.

There have been numerous cases of people getting lost and panicking so badly that they actually ran through the woods, shedding all their gear, even their clothing, until they were exhausted and died of hypothermia.

[DThewanderer]

I am lucky that I am the kind of person who gets in the right mindset when an emergency happens. I don't know if it is instinct or not. At the same time I know a lot of people who panic. If you are in a group you have to make sure that the person who keeps calm can keep the ones who might panic in check.

[pastywhite]

Fear can cause you to make some poor choices but hypothermia will kill you.

[oldsarge]

Originally Posted by wvbreamfisherman

A fire is a huge psychological boost, and doing something familiar will calm you down and let you formulate a better plan.

There have been numerous cases of people getting lost and panicking so badly that they actually ran through the woods, shedding all their gear, even their clothing, until they were exhausted and died of hypothermia.

A fire is a Godsend, it can change the whole situation.

Seen a show where a person was lost in the grand canyon. To conserve energy, they dropped their pack. Then ventured out to get their bearing., they never found their pack again. They were eventually rescued, but suffered do to not having any gear.

I've also seen people doubt their navigational abilities, and stop using a map and compass because they said it got them lost.