SEALs say: “Whatever you do in training, you will do under stress.”
USE THE RULE OF THREE
I will never forget one of the earliest and best pieces of advice I got from Warrant Officer R. when I was in training. Yelling in my face, he drove home a very important point: “The worst decision is no decision. Now make a call!” I carried that with me throughout my career and had several opportunities to use it, including recently in Iraq, when I was confronted with the decision to stay, flee, or fight. I had only a minute to decide, and based on variables like whether I was outgunned, whether I had the necessary speed, the possibility of causing an international incident, and the threat of torture, I am happy I made the right choice. It was the only time that “stay and reason” worked.
Warrant Officer R.’s advice is absolutely true and essential in many life-threatening situations. So, once you are out of immediate danger—and only then—you can use something called the Rule of Three decision-making process to help you know what to do next.
Come up with three—and only three—possible options or courses of action. Look at the pros and cons of each option. Honestly weigh factors like risk, your ability to accomplish each option, and whether your plan is realistic. This will give structure to your thinking process in extreme circumstances. Then, without debating and rethinking each of your options, make the call and choose the one your gut tells you is the best. When life and death comes down to mere moments, second-guessing yourself will be your death knell. Instead, and most importantly, be confident in your decision and proceed. You can change or adjust later, but this survival decision is now your mission. You will accomplish it!
LONG-HAUL SURVIVAL
Some survival situations are going to require an approach very different from one you would use during a mall shooting or a mugging. Instead of taking minutes or hours, the situation might play out over a period of weeks or months, such as being lost at sea. If you find yourself in a long-lasting survival scenario, all the rules still apply. However, you need to readjust your mindset and decision-making when confronted with the challenge of long-haul survival. You’ll need to modify certain priorities while still applying mental and physical toughness to endure and survive. You must place yourself not only physically but, even more so, mentally into an efficient mode. Save your strength and resources; conserve your energy and shift into low gear. Stay positive, but say to yourself, “I may be out here a long time.” Just remember your entire mission is survival, as long as that mission takes.
SEALs say: “Becoming a Navy SEAL is 100% physical and 100% mental.”
Mind Shift
To better illustrate this, imagine the difference between running one lap around a track and running to the next town. Imagine sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner, then imagine making that same plate of food last for twenty days or feed twenty people. Long-haul survival requires not only a particular mindset, but a mind shift. The example I like to use is that of a mountain goat, or for you off-roaders, four-wheel low gear. You need to think about gains in inches as you crawl up that mountain, or closer to safety/rescue. These inches become little victories. It’s the one more breath, the one more step, the one more mile, the one more day, the one more sunrise. And the sum of these little victories is your survival.
Let’s say you are in a scenario that will require you to walk a hundred miles to safety. To most people reading that sentence, this will feel like an impossible task. Now let’s make it more mentally feasible. At a very reasonable pace, you should be able to walk three to four miles in a couple of hours. This will leave you plenty of time with the remainder of the day to eat, drink, and sleep. If you walk only this distance, you will be able to complete this trek in about thirty days. This is a very realistic scenario where each day will bring you closer to your goal: survival.
I often think about what it must have taken for John McCain and the other POWs in the Hanoi Hilton in Vietnam to endure daily physical and mental torture for over seven years. Think about the sum of the pain. Contemplate their situation, and six days on a raft in the middle of the ocean sounds pretty nice.
LONG-HAUL SURVIVAL CHECKLIST
Stay busy.
Set clear objectives.
Savor little victories.
Maintain group cohesion.
Assign individual responsibilities.
Worry about others’ needs.
Focus on the mission, the mission, the mission.
One of the advantages of being an officer in the SEALs was that I always had all eyes on me, which helped me remain at my best. I didn’t have time to think about how absolutely miserable I felt or how physically difficult the situation seemed. I had decisions to make, and they had to be the right calls. If I showed any weakness (such as evidencing the effects of being cold, tired, or nervous), it would trickle down and poison the men and the mission. You will see how you, too, can follow these same rules and take charge during a crisis.
PART TWO
Survival Scenarios
ABANDON SHIP
Ships sink every day. The moment you step aboard a boat or anything else designed to carry you on water, you must consider the possibility of its going down. Anything that floats, from a cruise ship to a canoe, can sink. Tens of thousands of boats go under every year, and at least four large ships sink every week.
As with most life-threatening situations, an accident at sea happens quickly, and if a ship starts to take on water, there will be no time to find out where basic survival gear is kept. Oddly enough, most ship sinkings (nearly 64 percent) take place within sight of a dock or land. However, 34 percent of sunk vessels go down because of breaches in the hull (the boat’s bottom), more often when very far out at sea. Hulls can get damaged from striking an object, for example, or from the failure of an underwater gasket or of an engine mount. But once a hole forms under the waterline, the clock of impending disaster goes into overdrive. A two-inch hole that is only three feet below the surface will allow as much as 138 gallons of water to come rushing in per minute. Even the smallest breach will usually rip open the hole further due to mounting pressure, thus allowing even more and more water in at proportionally unstoppable rates.
During the last five years, one hundred million people took vacations on cruise ships. In the U.S. alone, approximately seventy-five million people partake in recreational boating activities per year. Obviously, there is a difference between the sinking of a commercial cruise ship and a personal watercraft; however, the tools and mindset required to survive are the same. Chances of surviving at sea or in open water if forced to abandon ship are not good, so the decision of whether to leave a vessel in distress is extremely important.
NEVER HESITATE TO ASK QUESTIONS THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE
I have noticed time and again how many people are reluctant to get the information they need because they feel socially awkward doing so. SEALs don’t use the word “embarrassment,” especially when we need to get the facts to do the job correctly the first time. Everyone appreciates a leader, and knowledge and information are primary requirements of becoming one. Don’t let the fear of what others think of you become an impediment for survival.
Situational Awareness:
What to Do When Boarding a Ship or Boat
When you board a boat, ferry, or cruise ship, the very first thing you must do is take a visual inventory or do a situational awareness drill.
1. First, locate safety equipment and evacuation routes.
a. On commercial vessels, signs indicating the location of life vests or life preservers are usually stamped or stenciled on walls. The devices could be under seats or stored above. On a cruise ship, they may be in your cabin. I can’t stress enough that when you are traveling internationally, particularly in poorer countries, the safety standards we have come to expect in the United States are not always adhered to.
b. Look to see where lifeboats or rafts are located. What type of survival equipment do they have? How many people are they
designed to carry? Are there enough?
c. Know where all exits are located; preferably know at least two that are in opposite directions. This is especially important if you are inside the ship. Know how to find your way out, and how to find the bow (front) of the ship and the direction of the stern (back). The stern is usually where engines are located and where most fires occur.
2. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, or want more information, walk around and do what SEALs call an AFAM, or area familiarization. This is an integral part of situational awareness. Ask the crew if there are life vests, for example, even if you have to use pantomiming sign language to communicate, or show a picture of such items you retrieved from (or preloaded onto) your smart phone.
3. Generally, you want to find a seat, cabin, or comfortable place to situate yourself as close to the waterline as possible. This will minimize the distance you have to travel if abandoning ship is necessary.
4. Rehearse evacuating from your cabin or any location on or within the ship. Remember particular features that will help you locate lifeboat stations or the bow of the ship. Keep in mind that you may be required to evacuate with little or no visibility.
5. If you go out on a recreational boat, ask where the life jackets are stored. Ensure that there is at least one for every passenger and that they are the correct size. Additionally, familiarize yourself with radio and electronic equipment. A good skipper, even a buddy operating a twenty-foot sailboat or fishing boat, knows about safety. They will appreciate having another person along who knows where survival gear is stored and how to get at it in the event that a boating accident or mishap occurs.
What to Do When a Ship Is Taking On Water
The scenario of a ship taking on water can be reduced to two questions:
1. Do we stay, reasonably believing that we can keep the vessel afloat? Follow-up questions: If there is a fire, can you extinguish it? Do you have the tools and ability to either stop the leak or remove the water faster than it’s flowing in? All of these actions are incredibly dangerous and will require a very high degree of skill.
2. Do we risk possible drowning, exposure (hypothermia or heatstroke), dehydration, and starvation on the open water?
Can the Leak Be Stopped?
As mentioned previously, water is such a powerful force that you will have limited time to determine if a breach can be plugged. On a commercial ship, it is unlikely that you will be given the opportunity to decide if the hull breach, or other cause of a leak, can be contained and the ship saved. On smaller boats, you might be able to assess the damage and employ bilge pumps and even bailing buckets that could give you a chance to keep the boat afloat. Abandoning ship is the last option, but in many situations there may not be much of a choice.
On recreational fiberglass boats, it might be good to have a packet of fiber mesh (which looks like sheets of sandpaper) and tubes of silicone or marine caulking, which can slow smaller leaks and allow bilge pumps or bucket-bailing to be effective. For boats with wooden hulls, fabric from clothing can be fashioned into a patch and applied over the breach with pitch or roofing cement, although it is best to attempt this repair on the exterior of the vessel, if seas permit. For metal hulls, there are cold-weld products available. Depending on the boat you have, these items should be kept aboard for such emergencies.
In 1947, when Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdal crossed the Pacific Ocean in a balsa-log raft, he used banana leaves to plug leaks. Any marine emergency comes down to acquiring the SEAL mindset of survival: Do not panic, think clearly, and act decisively.
Abandoning Ship
The call to abandon ship, which, by definition, means to intentionally and permanently give up and leave a vessel that has sustained a disaster that is beyond control, is a serious one. However, if you make that decision, or if this is the call made by the crew of a commercial vessel, there is no time for second-guessing and hesitation. Survival in this situation, as during many disasters, depends on your ability to organize your actions into an order of priorities.
For instance, you must decide if it is worth returning to your cabin if your life vest is there, or instead forgo it and begin an alternate plan. Worsening circumstances may warrant heading to the bow, even without a life vest, or toward lifeboat stations, or at least toward a part of a ship away from fire, smoke, or the rush of incoming water.
Pull the Trigger
This is when the skills that you practiced in the mindset preparedness section, and the small daily drills you did to make yourself harder, will ensure your survival. If you tell yourself you are going to die, chances are you will. Your mission is to survive.
If you are inside the ship, get up to the deck. If you are on the deck of the ship, get to a lifeboat or raft, or get to a location of greatest safety. Again, this may sound oversimplified, but in this extremely terrifying situation, you must calm yourself and move with purpose.
Remember, I discussed how fast water can fill the interior of a boat or ship; for this reason, you need to make your way upward and outward. You want to get to the deck of the ship and work toward being as close to the waterline as possible. But if the ship is listing or leaning port (left), for example, then you go in the opposite direction. Since you made a situational assessment when you boarded and rehearsed your evacuation, you should remember details that will allow you to get your bearings even when the ship is lopsided.
Mayday
At some point it is important to alert the outside world— anyone you can reach—to give the status of your vessel, your intentions, and most importantly your current position. But if you aren’t able to give a GPS or radar position, utilize bearings and the distance of landmarks to help rescuers know the location of the boat or that the ship is going down. Mayday calls are always repeated three times and at a minimum give the following:
1. Who you are.
2. Where you are.
3. What you plan to do.
The mayday call is a universally accepted distress signal that implies that a vessel is in “grave and imminent danger.” As with many nautical phrases, the exact origin of the phrase is not totally verifiable, but it probably stems from the French command “m’aider,” meaning “help me.” (“SOS” was used when telegraphy was the only means of communication. The letters stand for “Save Our Ship.”)
In U.S. waters, channel 16 communicates directly with the Coast Guard and with other nearby boats. Most recreational boats over twenty feet in length are equipped with VHF marine radio. Information communicated via radio will allow rescue crews to calculate wind and currents to help find you and gives an invaluable point of reference. If you are on a cruise ship, for example, and are within cell phone range, call 911, or call anyone you know. Even if you only leave a message on a voice mail, this can later be used to pinpoint the coordinates of where you were when you were last able to make a call.
Going into the Water
The most important action to take at this point is to do whatever you need to do to avoid drowning. Expect chaos in the form of screaming and panic.
Once the decision is made to enter the water, you should first attempt to do so in a life raft or boat. Your priority is to get away from the sinking vessel as quickly as possible. A large, sinking ship will create a powerful downward suction that has the ability to pull you under if you are in the vicinity. Help others out the best you can, given the situation.
If you are unable to get to a life raft or boat and have to enter the water by yourself:
1. Put on several layers of clothing. This will provide thermal protection against the cooler water temperature; additionally, the clothes will help you float and stay buoyant due to the air trapped within.
2. Place your life vest on the outside of your clothes.
3. Collect any survival items you can find, like water, small foods, or a flashlight and signaling devices. If you feel you may have a problem floating with the items you have collected, you can always wrap them in an extra life vest
or even place them in a plastic storage container like Tupperware.
4. Find a clear landing zone in the water you are getting ready to enter. If you have the opportunity to enter upwind and avoid any potential smoke, do so.
5. Place your feet and knees together, cross your arms over your chest, and tuck your chin. Go!
As a general rule, never dive headfirst. Doing so risks greater injury to your face, head, and neck. Given that you don’t know what’s in the water, it’s better if you allow your legs to absorb the blow, and therefore increase your chances of surviving the initial jump. Keep your feet and knees together to protect your femoral arteries, which can cause rapid bleed-out if cut.
6. Get clear of the sinking vessel. Swim to a lifeboat or anything else that may be floating.
7. If there is fuel in the water, stay clear of it! If it is burning, avoid or swim under it. (This may require you to briefly remove your life vest—either toss it to a clear section of water ahead of you or drag it behind you, utilizing the straps or any line you may find.)
WHAT WENT WRONG?
In January 2012, the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia hit an underwater rock outcropping that breached the hull. The ship was in 150 feet of water and sank within 1,000 feet of the shore. Yet thirty-nine people died. Survivors related how the crew delayed reporting the severity of the situation and even told passengers to return to their cabins. Those who ignored these instructions and made it to the deck lived. In this situation, the passengers had lost faith in the crew. If you are in a similar situation, use your survival tools and follow your instincts. If the crew, instead, seems prepared and diligent, become a leader to those around you and try to keep everyone calm. Even if you are in the line to board a lifeboat, don’t let chaos set in, as this will lessen your chances of survival.
Seal Survival Guide Page 4
