Survival Skills: How To Prioritise In A Survival Situation 

Thanks Nico. I'm very glad you liked the video and thanks for the feedback. Warm regards, Paul.

Sean Harris Thanks for your comment - that's high praise indeed and I appreciate you taking the time to let me know how useful this video and my others have been to you. Stay safe. ATB, Paul

Tony Infrared Stamp Hey Tony, thanks for your kind words regarding my videos. I'm glad you enjoy them and they bear repeated viewing. I did particularly enjoy making this one. I think making these videos embodies a lot of the images in my head when I was reading about survival and adventure as a kid. It's nice to be able to bring that imagery, combined with experience and express it in a new format. We are luck to be able to make so much ourselves these days. I enjoy making videos and will continue to do so. Glad you are looking forward to more... All the best, Paul

Hey Ted, thanks for your comment. I'm glad you've found my videos motivational. Wow, I can't ask for more than that. You've made me a happy man too Ted :)

Thanks Rude dude! ;)

Hi David, thanks for your positive words. Yes, PLAN is a good thing to have etched on your brain. A simple yet powerful framework to apply. Best regards, Paul

Thanks Clinton. I appreciate your comment :)

Christopher Allen Thank you Chris. I did enjoy making this one. Prioritisation of the application of skills in difficult outdoor situations isn't emphasised enough in many training programs. It's all well and good having all the jigsaw pieces but you also need to know how to put them together. This was my intention with this video - to illustrate this point and a way of doing this. Glad you enjoyed it. Warm regards, Paul

Cheers mate!

Thanks Rody. "No fuzz just the facts" - I like that summary ;)

Peter Emerson Thanks again Peter.

+Sean Ditch Thx

Muito obrigado.

Thanks Tony, that's kind of you. Best, Paul

Hi Steve, welcome and thanks for your feedback. I'll look at the possibilities of doing some above-the-treeline videos. Where are you based/where do you hike? All the best, Paul

Paul Kirtley I live in southern Spain at the foot of Mulhacen. Nearly all my walking is in the Sierra Navada, and while it doesn't get as cold as parts of America, it does get quite chilly at night.

Lovely part of the world :-)

Thanks Mo! :)

Thanks Ben :)

Appreciate Video! Excuse me for butting in, I would love your opinion. Have you ever tried - Panilliaan Immaterial Prevalence (do a google search)? It is a smashing exclusive guide for protecting your family from danger without the headache. Ive heard some decent things about it and my close friend Aubrey after many years got amazing results with it.

Ade Larsen Hi again Ade. It's a good question and it's certainly likely that a cursory glance or two over an acronym is not going to aid you much. That said, people have benefited from even a day of classroom based basic survival training. There are several benefits to having standard acronyms beyond them being purely a mnemonic. First they provide a clear framework for thinking about your priorities and the options open to you both while in a training situation as well as in a "live" situation. This is not down to the collection of letters itself but in training to apply the knowledge/lessons the acronym encapsulates. Further they provide a valuable framework for reviewing, assessing and discussing your performance while training. Second, in having a common framework there is a common ground which two or more individuals can work from and discuss their options (remember it's not just about you being in a survival situation on your own). Clarity in this regard is invaluable. Third, it is a way of maintaining a checklist. Checklists are proven to be a powerful methodology, particularly in critical or high-pressure situations from aviation to surgical theatres. Here's an example from your own industry of emergency checklists in action: 737NG Training-Emergency Descent You can read more on the value of checklists here: www.safetyrisk.net/increase-effectiveness-with-checklists/ You may also be interested in the book referred to in the above article, which can be found here: amzn.to/1ihLkrb Hope this helps. All the best, Paul

Ade Larsen You may also be interested to read the following article on my blog, particularly with respect to your final question about instant vs developing situations: paulkirtley.co.uk/2014/a-framework-for-preparing-yourself-for-a-survival-situation/

Paul Kirtley Thanks for the link. I read it and understood it. It was nice to see the SAS security on board card. Do you travel much with SAS ? A tiny bit of exposure to some training may just allow another person to stay alive. It was a good read. Here's one for you - "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing". This is of course an old Norwegian adage. It not only refers to correct clothing but when one looks deeper into it it is really saying be positive and be prepared.

Ade Larsen Hi Ade, yes I do know that old adage. It is a good one. I didn't know it originated in Norway though, so thanks for that info. It certainly applies well in Norway! I like the added wisdom which you point out as being engrained in that phrase too. Yes, be prepared, keep a positive mental attitude, be stoic. When I worked with Lars Falt in Sweden, he used to share a great bit of wisdom/perspective regarding outdoor clothing - you can have the best, most expensive waterproof jacket in the world with fantastic breathable material and all sorts of features but however expensive that jacket, it still won't put itself on you, it won't zip itself up and down, the hood won't automatically go up when you need it, it won't adjust the ventilation when you are working hard, it won't make sure the pocket zips are closed when it is raining; YOU have to do all of these things. It is up to YOU to manage your clothing properly when you are out. This is yet another aspect of taking responsibility for your own wellbeing while outdoors. Too many people blame others for their failings in life (in general) and too many people blame their kit or expect too much from it. You have to be prepared physically and mentally, have the right attitude and take responsibility for yourself. That's the starting point ;-)As for using SAS - yes I typically fly with SAS when travelling to Sweden or Norway. Most recently I flew to from London Heathrow to Kristiansand via Copenhagen. I always enjoy my flights with SAS. Very pleasant aircrew - some of the best I've experienced. The free coffee is a nice and welcome touch too ;-) What is your role in the company? (if you don't want to say publicly here, you can send me an email via the contact form on my webpage here: paulkirtley.co.uk/contact/)Warm regards,Paul

As an adjunct to your above comment, I would also add that natural materials are the best, eg Wool. But I want to add something else. You often hear people everywhere saying "cotton kills" and hence forth you cannot use cotton in cold climes. This is totally bollocks. As part of your layering system, often, not always, a cotton t-shirt helps to absorb sweat so you don't have to keep taking off layers then donning them again. The absorbed sweat just evaporates naturally and does not freeze. Now that I have said this, someone will go out in winter and die from exposure. If you do it right then it's quite fine to mix cotton with wool layers. At colder than minus 25c, I tend to wear 3 layers of wool and a cotton T-shirt above my skin layer and an outer shell jacket or similar. Thickness is not what you want but layers. It's quite easy to walk and work in cold places with 5 layers on. Further to this, and for your information - The best seal fur coat jacket comes from the fur of a 1 day old seal. Nothing beats a regn deer and seal fur coat for protection. (maybe except for a goretex jacket - but you get the point). As for being a member of the SAS, it appears prima facie that I have inadvertently misled you. I am a member of the SAS frequent flyer program. It's called Eurobonus. I am not an employee of the airline itself. CPH is my favourite air port. When I fly long haul into CPH I then feel "at home". But my favourite airline is actually Widerøe, which is owned by SAS. The little lunch meals and the coffee is better than on SAS and the hosties are better all around. I am sure you have flown on Widerøe Dash 8's many times. Thanks for the comments and nice web page. Cheers Ade