Assessing your situation alone
Machine translation from Dutch, not yet checked by a clinician.
In isolation you have to set priorities and make decisions without outside support.
What to do
• Take stock: water, food, medication, means of communication
• Work out the most urgent needs for the next 24 to 72 hours
• Assess your own health and that of others with you, systematically
• Draw up a simple daily plan that covers basic needs
• Conserve energy — avoiding unnecessary exertion is a survival technique
Do not do
• Do not panic — clear thinking is your most valuable survival tool
• Do not make big decisions in the first hours of intense stress
Warning signs
• A medical emergency in the group that needs immediate help
Get help if
• You have someone seriously injured or ill with you
• Your situation is deteriorating despite everything you do
Why this matters
Systematic assessment in isolation prevents impulsive decisions that can be life-threatening.
Source: Survival Medicine Handbook · reviewed 2025-01-01