¿Cuánto podrías sobrevivir SOLO en una isla DESIERTA? — Transcript

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1. 0:00How long could you survive alone on a deserted island?
2. 0:03Much longer than you imagine, but only if you do things in the right order.
3. 0:08And that order isn't what you're thinking.
4. 0:11So let's assume the following.
5. 0:12One, you arrive completely alone, after your ship or plane sinks.
6. 0:17Two, you have no equipment with you,
7. 0:20just clothes and empty pockets.
8. 0:23And three, the island is completely uninhabited.
9. 0:27You might think the first thing to do is look for water, but no.
10. 0:31When you arrive on the island, the most important number to remember is three.
11. 0:36It depends on many variables, but roughly speaking,
12. 0:39you could go three minutes without breathing, three hours without shelter,
13. 0:43three days without water, and three weeks without food.
14. 0:47The sand can reach temperatures of 50 to 60 degrees Celsius,
15. 0:51and under the sun, your body can lose about a liter of sweat per hour.
16. 0:56Here's the first trap: every hour you spend searching for water under that sun
17. 1:00costs you more than you're likely to find.
18. 1:05Therefore, your absolute priority isn't water, but shade.
19. 1:08But before venturing too far from the beach,
20. 1:11check everything that might have survived the shipwreck.
21. 1:14Almost any object can save you hours of work,
22. 1:17whether it's bottles, rope, a piece of plastic, or a scrap of cloth.
23. 1:22Furthermore, the currents may have washed ashore
24. 1:25all sorts of trash from far away.
25. 1:28Not good for the environment, but it could be your gold.
26. 1:31So, your absolute priority upon arrival is to find shelter and shade.
27. 1:36You need to look for a slightly elevated area
28. 1:39so that high tide doesn't flood you,
29. 1:41with trees that provide a free first layer of shade,
30. 1:44and something almost no one considers: open space in front of you.
31. 1:48Because in the first few days, you'll need room to set up rescue signals.
32. 1:53And be careful of caves near the sea, because they can become a trap.
33. 1:58Many beaches flood or become isolated when the tide rises,
34. 2:01so check other locations before taking a chance.
35. 2:04If the wreckage of the ship or plane is on the beach,
36. 2:08don't just wander off.
37. 2:09It's very likely they'll be much easier to spot from the air than you will be.
38. 2:14If you need to set up further inland,
39. 2:17leave a large arrow made of stones or logs pointing towards your shelter.
40. 2:22If rescue teams find the wreck first,
41. 2:25they'll immediately know you survived and where to look.
42. 2:30Now it's time to build.
43. 2:31But we're not going to build Buckingham Palace.
44. 2:34For now, you just need something to keep you out of the sun
45. 2:37and dry if it starts to rain.
46. 2:40If you've found a tarp, a piece of sailcloth, plastic sheeting
47. 2:43, or any large piece of fabric among the wreckage,
48. 2:47you're practically halfway there.
49. 2:49The steeper the slope, the better the rainwater will drain away.
50. 2:53If you don't have anything like that, you'll have to build it with vegetation.
51. 2:57Place a long horizontal branch between two supports
52. 3:01and lean other branches on top of it to form a sloping roof.
53. 3:05Next, cover it with large leaves, palm fronds, grass
54. 3:08, or any other available vegetation.
55. 3:10Very importantly, the leaves should be placed starting from the bottom
56. 3:14and stacked upwards, just like roof tiles,
57. 3:18so that water can drain away from the shelter.
58. 3:20Then, cover the ground with a thick layer of dry grass, leaves, or ferns,
59. 3:25so you're not lying directly on damp earth.
60. 3:28For now, you don't need anything else.
61. 3:30If days go by and no one appears, you'll have time to improve the shelter later.
62. 3:34The next step is to find water.
63. 3:37The first and best option is that the uninhabited island
64. 3:40has a natural source of fresh water.
65. 3:43It's not common, but there are uninhabited islands with fresh water,
66. 3:47such as Tetepare in the Solomon Islands, which has three rivers.
67. 3:51And even if the water is completely clear,
68. 3:54it's not a good idea to drink it directly, as it may contain bacteria or parasites.
69. 3:59So, ideally, you should collect it from a flowing area,
70. 4:02as clean as possible, and boil it before drinking.
71. 4:06But you're unlikely to be so lucky.
72. 4:09In fact, the lack of fresh water is one of the reasons
73. 4:12many islands remain uninhabited.
74. 4:15So let's look at the most probable scenario.
75. 4:17What do you do if there's no water source?
76. 4:20The first thing you can try, if the island has a sandy beach,
77. 4:24is to dig above the high tide line,
78. 4:27especially near dunes or vegetation.
79. 4:30Filtered rainwater can form a freshwater reservoir
80. 4:33floating on top of the saltwater because it's less dense.
81. 4:36Dig until you find damp sand and wait for the hole to fill.
82. 4:41Let the sand settle before collecting the water,
83. 4:44and then boil it.
84. 4:45But your best bet will be rainwater.
85. 4:48Use any large surface you have to collect it:
86. 4:51plastic sheeting, tarpaulin, bark, sheet metal,
87. 4:54or even the roof of your own shelter.
88. 4:57The more surface area you can cover,
89. 4:59the more water you can channel into bottles, cans,
90. 5:02empty coconuts, or any other container.
91. 5:05And if you find a plastic bag on the island,
92. 5:07you can collect water by condensation.
93. 5:10Wrap a leafy branch in the bag and seal it tightly.
94. 5:13During the day, the plant will continue to release moisture,
95. 5:16and some of that vapor will condense inside the bag.
96. 5:20Additionally, some plants also store water directly,
97. 5:24like bromeliads, which can accumulate it between their leaves.
98. 5:27If none of this works, there's a much more laborious option:
99. 5:31the solar still.
100. 5:32Dig a good-sized hole in a damp area,
101. 5:35place a container in the center, and cover it with a sheet of plastic,
102. 5:39placing a rock on top to form a cone pointing towards the container.
103. 5:44The sun evaporates the moisture from the soil,
104. 5:46which condenses on the plastic and eventually drips into the container.
105. 5:50The problem is that, even under perfect conditions,
106. 5:53it only produces a few hundred milliliters per day.
107. 5:57Finally, you have an infinite source of water at your disposal:
108. 6:00the ocean.
109. 6:01But it's so salty that drinking it would dehydrate you.
110. 6:04So the only solution is to distill it.
111. 6:07With a fireproof container,
112. 6:09another to collect the water, and some tubing to channel the steam,
113. 6:13you can boil seawater and then collect the condensed steam.
114. 6:18The salt is left behind, and the water you recover is fresh.
115. 6:21The problem is that you need fire and fuel,
116. 6:24and depending on the island, dry wood can be a much more limited resource than it seems.
117. 6:29So, you now have a basic shelter and you've finally got water.
118. 6:33Now your instinct will tell you to eat, but that would be your biggest mistake.
119. 6:37Remember that you can survive three weeks without food,
120. 6:40but what you can't endure is three weeks of ships and planes
121. 6:43passing by without anyone knowing you're there.
122. 6:47To solve this, find a large, open area above the high tide line
123. 6:52and build a huge signal using logs, rocks, or any material that contrasts with the ground.
124. 6:59The best thing to do is write a huge SOS,
125. 7:03the most recognizable distress signal in the world.
126. 7:06And make it really big, at least three meters per letter, although six would be better.
127. 7:11You also need signals you can activate as soon as a plane or ship appears.
128. 7:17The first is something reflective.
129. 7:18A mirror, a polished piece of metal, or a shiny lid can produce flashes visible from a great distance,
130. 7:25and it's something you should always carry with you.
131. 7:28The second is fire and smoke.
132. 7:30You can prepare one or more structures with dry wood and tinder,
133. 7:34keep them protected from the rain, and have them ready to light quickly when you hear a plane.
134. 7:40Look through the debris for a magnifying glass, a camera lens,
135. 7:44or anything else that can focus the sun onto the completely dry tinder.
136. 7:49You have to concentrate the light on the smallest possible point and keep a steady hand.
137. 7:55And when it starts to smoke, blow gently until you get a flame.
138. 7:59If you find a suitable piece of steel and a stone like flint,
139. 8:03you can also try to produce sparks directly on the tinder.
140. 8:07But if you have absolutely nothing, you'll have to do it by friction.
141. 8:11One option is to make a bow with a piece of dry, soft wood,
142. 8:15a harder stick to act as an axle, a flexible branch, and some string or shoelace.
143. 8:21As you move the bow, the axle rotates against the board, generating increasingly hot wood dust
144. 8:27until it produces an ember that you then transfer to the tinder.
145. 8:31You could even do without the bow and rotate the stick directly with your hands,
146. 8:36although this technique is much less likely to work.
147. 8:39There's an even simpler version in terms of materials.
148. 8:43You make a groove in a piece of soft wood and repeatedly rub the end of a harder stick along it.
149. 8:50And now, finally, we can think about food.
150. 8:54If you have coconut trees, which is quite likely on many tropical islands, you're in luck.
151. 9:00The coconut is practically a survival multi-tool.
152. 9:04You can drink the liquid, eat the flesh, use the shell as a cup or container
153. 9:09, and use the outer fibers to make rope.
154. 9:12But if you don't know what kind of fruit you have, it's best not to take any chances.
155. 9:15Just because a bird or insect eats the fruit doesn't mean you can too.
156. 9:21And here's an important difference between surviving for three days and surviving for three months.
157. 9:27In the short term, practically any safe source of calories will do.
158. 9:32But if your stay is longer, you need variety.
159. 9:35Your body needs calories, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals.
160. 9:39Luckily, living on an island means you have a gigantic larder around you: the ocean.
161. 9:45And the best time to visit it is at low tide.
162. 9:48When the water recedes, pools, rocks, and sandy areas appear that were submerged just hours before.
163. 9:55And there you'll find shrimp, sea urchins, crabs, or even trapped fish.
164. 10:00But by far the easiest things to collect are mollusks.
165. 10:03Specifically limpets and sea snails, since they're stuck to the rocks waiting for you.
166. 10:09Always collect them alive.
167. 10:11And in the case of limpets, that means they should be firmly attached.
168. 10:15If one comes off almost on its own, leave it.
169. 10:17Mussels, oysters, and clams, on the other hand, feed by filtering water.
170. 10:22So they can accumulate toxins from plankton that are invisible, odorless, and don't disappear when cooked.
171. 10:28And there's no way to tell just by looking at them, so it's best to focus on the former.
172. 10:32Crabs are another fairly safe bet, except for some toxic reef species.
173. 10:37They usually hide among rocks and in holes and are especially active at night.
174. 10:42And while you're rummaging among the rocks, be careful where you put your hands and feet.
175. 10:47Sea urchins embed spines that break easily into the skin and can be difficult to remove.
176. 10:53Some rays camouflage themselves buried in the sand, so feel around the bottom with a stick.
177. 10:59And if you see cone-shaped shells, don't pick them up, because some species shoot a venomous harpoon
178. 11:04, and some are perfectly capable of killing you.
179. 11:08Another possible food source is seaweed.
180. 11:10Most types are not toxic, and many provide vitamins and minerals.
181. 11:14Collect any that are growing and look healthy, and avoid any half-rotten masses floating on the beach.
182. 11:21But if you want a reliable and relatively constant food source, sooner or later you'll have to fish.
183. 11:27The most obvious option is a spear, made by sharpening a long stick.
184. 11:31But there's an optical problem that complicates things considerably: due to refraction, the fish aren't exactly where they appear to be.
185. 11:39So you'll have to aim slightly below where you see them.
186. 11:43What better ways are there?
187. 11:45You can improvise a hook with a piece of wire, a nail, a bone, a thorn, or even a small piece of wood.
188. 11:53You don't even need a rod; a simple line from the shore will do.
189. 11:58And for bait, you can use insects, worms, pieces of fish, or small animals you've already found on the coast.
190. 12:06But before you eat anything you pull from the water, there's a list of fish you should never touch, under any circumstances.
191. 12:13The pufferfish is the most famous example; its toxin has no antidote and can be deadly.
192. 12:19Another danger is a toxin that accumulates in large reef predators,
193. 12:24such as barracudas, groupers, or sizable moray eels, which is not eliminated by cooking.
194. 12:30So, to significantly reduce the risk on a reef, it's best to eat smaller fish.
195. 12:35Even better than sitting for hours holding a line is passive fishing.
196. 12:42For example, you can set up a night line: a long line with several baited hooks at different points,
197. 12:49one end securely anchored, and some weight to hold it in place.
198. 12:53Set it up in the afternoon and check it first thing in the morning.
199. 12:57You can also take advantage of the tides.
200. 13:00In a shallow area, build two walls with stones or stakes, forming a kind of funnel open to the sea.
201. 13:08When the tide comes in, fish will enter the area to feed,
202. 13:11and when the water recedes, some will be trapped inside.
203. 13:16And here our wonderful ocean trash comes into play again.
204. 13:20If you find a large plastic bottle, you can cut off the top,
205. 13:24turn it upside down, and insert it like a funnel.
206. 13:28Then place the bait on the bottom, and you've just created a small trap.
207. 13:32Fish enter through the narrow opening, but then find it much harder to get out.
208. 13:39And these traps aren't just for fish.
209. 13:41Depending on the island, there might be small land animals.
210. 13:45Some islands that were inhabited in the past still have rats introduced by humans.
211. 13:51You have to find the paths the animal uses between its shelter, the water, and its feeding areas.
212. 13:57And instead of setting the trap just anywhere, look for a spot where the path naturally narrows and place it there.
213. 14:04Another possible source is seabirds.
214. 14:07On many islands, they nest directly on the ground, so you can find eggs that are quite accessible.
215. 14:13And if the situation persists, some birds can also be caught,
216. 14:17especially at night when they are resting on land.
217. 14:20Also, if you manage to catch one, don't just eat the meat.
218. 14:24The liver and heart provide vitamins and minerals that are lacking in lean meat.
219. 14:29And you also need fat, whether from coconuts, fatty fish, or other parts of the animal.
220. 14:35Because a diet based almost exclusively on lean protein leads to what is known as rabbit starvation.
221. 14:41Malnutrition that can kill you, even if you eat until you're stuffed.
222. 14:46So, we have the food, now all that's left is to build a good kitchen.
223. 14:51The simplest way to grill is to stick two forked branches into the ground on either side of the fire
224. 14:56and rest a horizontal branch between them.
225. 14:59Skewer a fish on a stick and place it over the hot coals,
226. 15:04rather than directly over a huge blaze.
227. 15:07You can even build a stove dug into the ground.
228. 15:11Being below ground level, it will be more protected from the wind,
229. 15:15and when the fire dies down, the stones will continue to retain heat.
230. 15:19And if you happen to find a can, pot, or any metal container,
231. 15:23you have the best option for boiling.
232. 15:26To cook in it, you can rest it between stones or make a handle
233. 15:30and hang it with a long branch supported by another forked branch.
234. 15:35If you know you're going to be staying for a while, you can build something more permanent.
235. 15:40Dig a hole about 25 cm deep and cut a channel to the bottom for air to enter.
236. 15:46Then, surround it with stones to form a chimney and fill the gaps with earth.
237. 15:51The air entering through the channel keeps the fire going.
238. 15:54Add fuel from above, and the stones provide a stable surface for cooking.
239. 16:00With camp set up, it's time to stock up on
240. 16:04food, because some days you'll have a surplus and other days you'll be sick or injured and unable to move.
241. 16:11The problem is that the island's heat and humidity are the worst enemies of any food.
242. 16:16To dry fish, clean it, remove the entrails, and butterfly it.
243. 16:21Then, build a small smoker with three poles joined at the top
244. 16:25, placing a platform between them to hold thin strips of meat and fish.
245. 16:31Underneath, build a fire with plenty of embers and smoke, but hardly any flames,
246. 16:35maintaining it for hours to remove as much moisture as possible.
247. 16:40And you still have another very useful tool: salt.
248. 16:44If you've previously distilled seawater, you can use the leftover salt.
249. 16:49Remove the fat from the meat, as it goes rancid quickly.
250. 16:52Rub it well with salt and hang it in a cool, well-ventilated place.
251. 16:56Salt helps draw moisture out of food, making it harder for it to spoil quickly.
252. 17:02Once the food is thoroughly dried, find the coolest, driest, and shadiest spot you can.
253. 17:08If you have airtight containers or waterproof material,
254. 17:12store the food inside to protect it from moisture and insects.
255. 17:16To keep rats, crabs, or other animals away,
256. 17:20you can keep it raised off the ground or even hang it from a branch.
257. 17:25But besides the kitchen, you'll also need to improve the rest of your camp.
258. 17:29One of the first improvements should be to stop sleeping on the ground.
259. 17:34You can build a raised bed using two A-frames
260. 17:38joined by long poles and several crossbeams, then cover it with dry vegetation.
261. 17:44This separates you from the damp earth and allows air to circulate underneath.
262. 17:48There's one last, less glamorous but probably just as important area:
263. 17:54a place to relieve yourself.
264. 17:56Choose a spot away from both the shelter and any water source,
265. 18:01and if possible, on lower ground than the camp.
266. 18:04Never relieve yourself near your drinking water source.
267. 18:09You can build a latrine by digging a large hole,
268. 18:13leaving only a small opening at the top for use.
269. 18:18After each use, cover the excrement with dirt
270. 18:21and keep the latrine covered to prevent flies from entering.
271. 18:25When it starts to smell too strong or becomes too full,
272. 18:28bury it completely and build another one in a new location.
273. 18:32You can even prepare a separate urinal
274. 18:35by digging a hole, filling it mostly with stones,
275. 18:39then placing a makeshift funnel on top
276. 18:42and filling the rest of the hole with dirt.
277. 18:45But in addition to personal hygiene, you'll also need to take care of your mental health.
278. 18:49When weeks go by and no one shows up,
279. 18:52it's not your body that starts to fail, but your mind.
280. 18:55And one of your best tools is something quite simple: routine.
281. 18:59Get up at the same time, check the traps, keep the fire going,
282. 19:03improve something around the camp, or mark each passing day on a log.
283. 19:08Having structured days prevents them from feeling endless.
284. 19:12Also, you should find some way to move around and exercise,
285. 19:16because an active body is much better able to withstand a mind that's starting to give out.
286. 19:22So, how long could you really last?
287. 19:25If you're lucky with the island and don't make any serious mistakes,
288. 19:28you could survive for years.
289. 19:30Maybe long enough for someone to eventually find you.
290. 19:34In fact, the Scotsman Alexander Selkirk
291. 19:37spent more than four years completely alone on a Pacific island
292. 19:41, and his story inspired Robinson Crusoe.
293. 19:44But let's be honest, someone without experience is unlikely
294. 19:48to last even a few months,
295. 19:50whether from thirst, hunger, food poisoning, or some silly wound
296. 19:54that gets infected.
297. 19:56What about you? How long do you think you could survive on a deserted island?
298. 20:00Share your answer in the comments and subscribe for more videos like this.