A seven-year-old girl knew enough about survival to make a decision. She was on a plane that crashed. She tried to revive her parents and realized they were probably dead.
In a split second, a young girl was stranded and her family dead and yet she knew that sheltering in place was deadly because the plane was on fire. Looking for help was the most logical answer and she knew this at seven years old. The seven year old was taught survival skills by her father, and those skills probably saved her life.
Along with skills comes confidence. The biggest challenge for anyone lost or stranded is making decisions. In some cases, the wrong decision means certain death. You cannot make the right decisions unless you have a certain skill set that only comes through training. Knowing your options, knowing what can kill you, and what is the best course of actions is not always instinctive. It comes through knowledge and the practical and repeated application of that knowledge.
Sailor Gutzler knew enough to light a stick from a fire that was burning on one of the wings. How did she decide which direction to travel in, would you know? She walked almost a mile before coming upon an occupied home. A mile through the woods, and she had to cross a waterway, as well, while only dressed for Florida weather, the plane crashed in Kentucky.
It was cold and dark, the girl had broken bones, and yet she set out knowing in her heart that this was the right choice, because she had been taught how to make choices in a survival situation.
Some if not many adults would have panicked, they may have run in circles distressed, screaming for help or ran crashing off through the brush, without lighting a stick for light and comfort. You need courage and a strong will to continue on a path you are not sure of to seek help. After a half of a mile, some adults would have assumed they went in the wrong direction and may have altered course. Altering your course would mean you could wander for days lost in the woods. Sailor, stuck with her decision because she had the confidence from her training to make that decision.
What If This had Been You
You survived, you are injured and others with you on the plane may or may not be alive. First, you treat yourself so you have the ability to render aid and that means searching the luggage for warmer clothing, it is assumed there was luggage onboard. Look for the medical kit so you can render aid to yourself and to others that may be alive. Look for flashlights and emergency markers, check the radio, and look for anything that would help you survive. Look for emergency rations and water as well.
Sailor decided to set off for help. She thought her parents were dead, but anyone would hope against hope this was not the case. In her mind in all likelihood getting help as fast as possible may help her parents.
Planes that go down in remote areas can be difficult to find and in some cases, it is days, weeks and sometimes planes and their occupants are never found. In remote areas, leaving the shelter of the plane to seek help may be the only option after a crash.
Was it a miracle that Sailor Survived
On the other hand, was it because she was taught to survive, it could be a combination of both. Would she have survived if her father had not passed along his skills to his young daughter? Do you have skills to pass along that could save a family members life or your own life for that matter.