This is a list of the most important things to remember if you are shipwrecked. The list comes from Yan Martel’s prize-winning novel, Life of Pi.
1. Always read instructions carefully
2. Do not drink urine. Or sea water. Or bird blood
3. Do not eat jellyfish. Or fish that have spikes. Or fish that have parrot like beaks. Or that puff up like balloons.
4. Pressing the eyes of fish will paralyse them
5. The body can be heroic in battle; if a castaway is injured, beware of well-meaning, but ill-founded, medical treatment. Ignorance is the worst doctor, while rest and sleep are the best nurses.
6. Put your feet up at least 5 minutes every hour
7. Unnecessary exertion should be avoided. But an idle mind tends to sing, so the mind should be kept occupied with whatever light distraction may suggest itself. Playing card games, twenty questions and I spy are excellent distractions.
8. Green water is shallower than blue water
9. Beware of far-off clouds that look like mountains. Look for green. Ultimately, a foot is the only good judge of land.
10. Do not go swimming. It wastes energy. Besides, a survival craft may drift faster than you can swim. Not to mention the danger of sea life. If you are hot, wet your clothes instead.
11. Do not urinate in your clothes. The momentary warmth is not worth the nappy rash.
12. Shelter yourself. Exposure can kill faster than thirst or hunger.
13. As long as no excessive water is lost through perspiration, the body can survive up to 14 days without water. If you are thirsty, suck a button.
14. Turtles are an easy catch and make for excellent meals. Their blood is a good, nutritious, salt-free drink; their flesh is tasty and filling; their fat has many uses; and the castaway will find turtle eggs a real treat. Mind the beak and the claws.
15. Don’t let your morale flag. Be daunted but not defeated. Remember: the spirit, above all else, counts. If you have the will to live, you will. Good luck!
You forgot to mention befriend a volleyball. Sheesh.
Adam: haha.
These are from “Life of Pie” by Yann Martel.
no its "life of pi", no 'e'
markus: thanks – it does say that in the first paragraph you know
Adam-haha,castaway quote,hilarious,oh,and dont forget,make sure its definetly a voit or somthing,cause the wilson brand with later leave you to go floating in the ocean.
Always eat the fat guy first. Then eat people based on who’s most annoying. Just because you’re stranded doesn’t mean it has to be with some jerk. If you sense people getting annoyed with you, kill one of them before they go after you, no sense in them eating you when theres a perfectly good dead guy just laying there.
Punjar: You almost sound like you are talking from experience…
This reminds me of the first Tarzan book i read as a kid..
Ok, next time I’m shipwrecked, I ‘ll know exactly what to do.
lol yeah but i have to admit punjar’s got some pretty good pointers there… and another thing, you must also eat those useless ones first, those who only eat and doesnt work on anything but lie around. stick with those people with good hunting skills and foraging for foods…
#16 – Watch Survivorman before you are shipwrecked for all sorts of survival tips and tricks!
If you read Papillon you get a fair idea of what not to do when drifting about on the coasts of south america, even though most of Henry Charriere’s stories have not been verified.
Cannibalism is one way to totally screw up the relationships of everyone who survives.
From reading Thor Heyerdahl, your chances of being found are vastly increased if you happen to drift across a shipping lane, so a makeshift sail is a must, to vary your course from that of the current.
Do not, under any circumstances, let the first mate touch any important equipment, supplies, or safety gear. And keep in mind that the professor might not be as bright as he seems…
#1 Don’t eat humans, you’ll regret it if you get saved the very next day.
Weird. Didn’t Bear Grylls drink Urine when he was in Australia or whatever?
Bear Grylls is a retard.
i second the bear grylls comment, he’s a dip. a dip who fakes his show and uses ANY excuse to take his clothes off.
I’ve come to think that Bear has a bet with his mates – that he can show his nob at least once in every episode of a series..
respect though hes knows his stuff (apart from how to make a raft – they always fall apart) and hes friends with Sir Ranulph Feinnes so that must stand for something
nice list….
Nah, I think the diaper rash is a necessary evil if you have to keep warm.
The most useful tip for shipwreck survival was missed – Bring an inflatible raft with you when you’re on a cruise. Yeesh….
This website is lovely jubbly i do hope you have a jolly time in years to come. Could you send me some newsletters please im very interested.
I think this may very well be the Least Commented list on the site!
This list was taken from “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel
watch Man vs. Wild, for goodness sake!
This was a pretty good book, I recomend it. We read it in English class.
“8. Green water is shallower than blue water”
Oh, well that will help the non-colourblind among us
Bring portable reverse osmosis water filtration siphon type.
When U have enough, always wait for the storm before U jump off the boat.
#1 way to survive a shipwreck…avoid going on the damn boat. Works everytime!
I would feed myself to a whale then tap on Mobys ribs until he took me to Tenerife. See you later suckers!
Hey the list said that dont drink blood but a number said drink turtles blood. and number 1 comment is funny. And of course always have a friend named Wilson or Tom or Forrest.
And of course agree with oouchan, to avoid having a shipwreck,
1. Don’t be a sailor
2. Don’t even go on a boat.
3. If you ever had a shipwreck, and want another one, build another damn boat!
4. Befriend a volleyball or a person named Wilson or Tom or Forrest Gump.
The fact that this guy said someone can live 14 days without water makes me not believe anything he said.
Wow. This list is from the first of July two years ago and there’s only 34 comments.
First of all, I know I’m really late in getting into this discussion (why didn’t I discover this site until last month?) but I have to point out that Cast Away wasn’t about a shipwreck. It was a plane crash. Same principles, I’m just a terrible nitpicker.
#2 seawater is drinkable and will save your life.
drink it before it’s too late.
@dalinean [36]:
Seawater is NOT drinkable! The moment you take a sip, you are just as good as dead. >Your kidney will try to ged rid of the salt in the seawater and wash out the water from your body that you need to survive. Drink your *****, it may taste bad, but it can actually save your life!
These tips are horrible. You can drink animal blood and urine. Just make sure its a fresh kill and only drink your urine a few times. Urine is waste and it will be more concentrated and salted every time you recycle it. The body can last up to 14 days without FOOD not water. The human body will only last a couple of days without water before dehydration takes its toll. I know this is from a book but people should really read up for themselves what they need to consider and be aware of in any survival situation.
umm..urine contains calcium and fluids therefore it can keep your body going and hydrate you.whats bad about that.