How to survive being stranded at sea

Have you ever wandered what it would be like to be stranded at sea with nothing but a lifeboat and a few key items to survive? Well let’s set the story for you:

There was a sailor named Jack (first name that popped out). He had been sailing for many years and had never encountered any major problems. However, one day, while on a solo voyage, a severe storm hit and his ship was tossed around in the rough seas. Despite his best efforts, the ship was damaged beyond repair and Jack found himself stranded at sea with no means of communication or rescue. He had only a small lifeboat, some emergency supplies, and his wits to keep him alive.

Not a pleasant place to be stuck in now, is it? How on earth is Jack going to get himself out of this horrible situation. Well maybe our helpful guide might just help you, if you ever find yourself stranded at sea.

What to Do If you Find yourself Stranded at Sea

 

If you find yourself like Jack stranded at sea with just a lifeboat and some tools, the following steps can help increase your chances of survival:

• Assess your supplies and plan accordingly: Take inventory of the supplies you have on hand, including food, water, and tools, and use them as efficiently as possible. Make a plan for how you will ration your supplies to make them last as long as possible.
• Stay hydrated: Drinking seawater is not a viable option as it will dehydrate you faster. If you have a solar still, you can use it to turn seawater into fresh water. If not, try to catch rainwater or dew in a container.
• Find ways to signal for help: Use any tools you have on hand to make a signal fire, flares, or a signal mirror to attract the attention of passing ships or planes.
• Stay cool: The sun can be intense on the open sea, so try to stay in the shade as much as possible. Use a tarp or other material to create a makeshift shelter.
• Catch fish or other sea life for food: Use a fishing line, spear, or other tools to catch fish or other sea life to supplement your food supply.
• Keep your spirits up: Being stranded at sea can be a difficult and stressful experience, so try to stay positive and keep yourself occupied with activities like reading or writing. Make sure you stay informed about weather condition and make a plan to survive it.

It's important to remember that survival at sea is a difficult task, and that the best course of action is to prevent becoming stranded in the first place by having proper safety measure and communication device. 

We do advise to make sure you carry equipment on you so you can signal others of your location. You can try a signal device this one uses batteries instead of using a flare gun.

Avoid doing this when stranded at sea!
 

There are several things you should avoid doing in order to increase your chances of survival, here is a quick breakdown of some of things you should avoid:

• Don't panic: Panicking will only make the situation worse and can lead to poor decision making. Try to stay calm and focused on your survival plan.
• Don't waste energy or supplies: Every action you take should be carefully considered and executed with efficiency in mind. Avoid unnecessary movement or use of resources.
• Don't drink seawater: Drinking seawater will dehydrate you faster and can lead to serious health problems. Only drink fresh water or water that you have purified.
• Don't leave the lifeboat: A lifeboat provides you with a means of survival and a way to signal for help. Stay with your lifeboat and use it as a base of operations.
• Don't give up hope: Survival is possible, even in difficult circumstances. Stay positive and keep yourself informed about weather conditions and other developments that could affect your situation.
• Don't expose yourself too much to sun and heat, as it will dehydrate you faster.
• Don't trust any strange object or ship you may come across, always be cautious and aware of your surroundings.

Remember, survival at sea is a difficult task, but with the right mindset and careful planning, you can increase your chances of being rescued and returning home safely.

We all know the above short story was made up and not entirely true. "Between 2011 and 2021, some 892 vessels were lost at sea. The majority of ships lost during this period—around 357—were cargo ships." -source. This may not be an astronomically amount but it's good to know, that if that ever were to happen you might have a good understanding on how to survive it. It's always better to have too much knowledge than too little.