Survival Quiz

Answer: Drinking a large shot of spirits or whisky. Alcohol is a vasodilator that gives a feeling of warmth but actually lowers internal temperature, accelerating hypothermia.

Answer: Green coconut water. It is naturally sterile and hydrating, protected inside the coconut.

Answer: A third point of support and balance. It reduces fatigue and prevents falls.

Answer: Stick. Essential for balance.

Answer: Piranha. In large schools they can be very dangerous.

Answer: Natural shelter. Saves the energy of fighting the cold.

Answer: Curl up in a ball. This position reduces the surface area of heat exchange with the outside.

Answer: You have to build up gradually: the small flame can't heat the log enough. Start with tinder, then kindling of increasing size, from matchstick-thin to thumb-thick, before adding logs. Each stage raises the temperature to the point where thicker wood can catch in turn.

Answer: The colour stands out against almost every setting: sea, snow, forest or rock. It is often called 'international orange' or 'distress orange'. Rare in nature, it stands out on blue water as well as on white snow or green forest. Reflective strips add visibility at night.

Answer: Don't struggle, lean back to spread your weight and work your legs free slowly. Unlike in films, you don't disappear completely: the human body is less dense than this mix of water and sand and ends up floating at about waist height. However, sudden movements pack the sand round your legs and make escape very hard. The real danger is a rising tide.

Answer: Plant the stick and mark how the tip of its shadow moves on the ground. This is the shadow stick method. The line connecting the two shadow points always runs West to East.

Answer: Create an air pocket in front of your face with your hands. The snow solidifies; your hands protect a vital air space for breathing.

Answer: It lowers body temperature too much. Your body uses too much energy to melt it, causing hypothermia.

Answer: Snow blindness. Corneal burning by UV requires protection.

Answer: Dry leaves. Ground insulation is crucial.

Answer: Under rocks. Insects love the moisture under stones.

Answer: At night. To avoid deadly heat and UV.

Answer: Cotton. Cotton retains moisture and cools the body, unlike wool which insulates even when wet.

Answer: On its own, snow insulates and melts slowly, and the pan bottom can overheat and give a burnt taste. Snow contains a lot of air: a litre of fresh snow often yields only a tenth of a litre of water. At the bottom of the pan it forms an insulating layer, slowing melting and possibly damaging the pan. A little starter water greatly improves contact with the heat.

Answer: Survival chances drop sharply after about a quarter of an hour, mainly due to suffocation. Most victims found within the first 15 minutes survive; after that, suffocation quickly drives the odds down. That is why equipped companions on the spot are best placed to save the victim, even before the helicopter arrives.