Je ne devrais pas être en vie

I know the moment I saw the title and the series having its trailers on the Discovery Channel here, I so know I have to watch. Being almost at death's door once, I so understand the feeling of almost never making it.

So far actually I had only watched like two episodes so far, but I am trying to watch the other episodes available on the Discovery Channel on the cable here. With drama and real-life accounts of those who were involved, one can be very sure it's definitely not a reality show. A no-holds-barred series.

Definitely a series where the human limit is really tested to the very extremes. Where humans can actually triumphed over adversaries in dire situations.

I'm interested in outdoor survival, so I was naturally attracted to the title of this series. I started watching the episodes hoping to learn something from them.

What I took out from this series was the following:

1. When you're lost, keep moving. Although there're no guarantee of survival, all the people who survived in this series kept on moving searching for help.

2. Always carry container to carry water.

3. Have plastic sheets and strings to form a shelter from wind and sun, they can also help to collect water.

4. Carry something to filter water. Having real outdoor water filter would be ideal.

5. Carry GPS, and if possible a satellite phone especially if you're going out to the remote areas of wilderness. Keep them in waterproof plastic bags. Going without it is playing Russian Roulette with fate.

6. Carry means to start fire.

7. Carry 3 days worth of food each day worth about 1800 calories. Each Day only weighs about a pound and a half, so it wouldn't be so heavy.

8. Carry a mosquito net in tropics and insect repellent to cover your body.

9. Of course know where you are starting from. Carry a compass and a map of the area.

10. Carry a basic survival kit and first aid.

11. Optional, carry a tent and sleeping bag.

12 Wear a comfortable shoes. Carry a windbreaker, and a hat even if the day is warm.

I've tallied up all these equipment and I found that I can come up with a pack that weighs well below 10 lbs. That's not much of a burden in contrast to the drastic increase in survival possibility.

So the program was not only interesting, but inspirational, and educational as well.

Highly Recommended.

While some of the acting is not that great, 'I Shouldn't be Alive' is an amazing show, that tells dramatic and thrilling stories of people that have been in some of the worst imaginable situations.

I have seen some films where people have gone through situations like this (for example, 'Touching the Void' and 'The Beckoning Silence'), but the fact there was a TV show about these sort of things is incredible.

So like I said before, some of the acting is pretty terrible, but aside from that is it really just an amazing show.

9.5 / 10

Superb program. As an experience outdoorsman (backpacking, kayaking, back country skiing, travel,to remote areas of Alaska/Yukon, Nevada, Northeen California, I am always aware how fate can quickly turn against you. I've done a couple of stupid things.

This series is so well done, they even find actors that bear a resemblance to the real persons they are personifying. I watch these as reruns all the time.

I have a few recommendations:

1. Take a screen shot of your route from Google Maps and text/email it to several good friends. Give them time/dates when you are expect to return. And tell them you will call/email/text them upon your return. Even it's a simple day hike, message someone with your route and the area you plan to be in.

2. If in a very remote area without cell phone coverage (like most of the Sierra Nevada), carry a sat phone or a less expensive alternative, the DeLorme Satellite Communicator that allows you to send an SOS message ( and text friends with your exact location.)

I hope they continue to make new episodes..

I changed from watching true crime where people die horribly at the end to watching survival stories and it improved my mood and perspective on life. As someone dealing with on and off depression, these stories are really inspiring. Please bring this back.