Basic Human Needs

You can survive three minutes without breathable air (unconsciousness), or in icy water. You can survive three hours in a harsh environment (extreme heat or cold). You can survive three days without drinkable water. You can survive three weeks without food. These are approximations, but legitimate. 

Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who proposed the Maslow hierarchy of needs in 1943. These included, at the basic (physiological) level: shelter, water, food, warmth, rest, and health. 

Shelter is meant to provide an individual protection from the elements and danger. The elements include the weather, such as heat, cold, direct sunlight, lightning, high winds, and snow/rain. The elements can also include insects and other vectors (insects that transmit diseases person to person).  Shelters are meant to shield individuals from dangers such as wild animals and mankind.  

There are three types of shelters: hasty, semi-permanent, and permanent.  Hasty shelters are usually constructed or located quickly and are meant for temporary safety.  Examples of hasty shelters include snow caves, debris huts, and lean-tos. A fallen tree could provide hasty shelter if required.  Semi-permanent shelters are usually temporary as well, but are normally structurally superior to hasty shelters.  Semi-permanent shelters can include tents, RVs/campers, or other vehicles.  Permanent shelters include residential homes, or any facility or building intended to be used in the same location for at least a year.  

Water is essential for all life as we know it. There is a definite difference between palatable and potable water. Palatable water tastes good, but may not be safe to drink. Potable water is safe to drink, although it may not be palatable.  Veterans of the US Military that have utilized what were called “water buffalos” can attest to the safe-to-drink, but terrible tasting water provided when conducting training exercises in the field.  

Water in common everyday America is piped directly into our homes and assumed to be safe to drink.  This is questionable in many areas, requiring individuals to provide various filtration systems for their daily use.  To make water safe for drinking, it must be sanitized and filtered.  Sanitizing, or sterilizing the water reduces or eliminates pathogenic agents, such as bacteria, from drinking water. Filtering reduces or eliminates impurities and other unwanted materials from drinking water.  Drinking directly from that crystal clear mountain stream may seem innocuous, but could cause an individual discomfort, illness, or even death. Cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, amebiasis, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, giardiasis, campylobacteriosis, scabies, and worm infections are but a few water-borne illnesses that can be contracted by drinking unclean water.  

Food is required to nourish the body, as well as the mind.  Hunger not only affects body strength, it can affect the thought process of individuals as well.  Thus, the humorous but true neologism “hangry”.  The longer an individual goes without food to fuel their body and mind, the weaker both the body and mind become. 

Warmth is the essential ingredient for the development of a child and continues to be essential for all of life.  The most obvious place we see it is in the warming of the physical body. Yet it is only one of the aspects of warmth.  There is also emotional warmth, the warmth of love, generosity and true morality.  Warmth weaves itself throughout human experiences and without it, we cannot change or transform.” Heather Church, The Importance of Warmth in Early Childhood.

Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Normal body temperature is around 98.6 F (37 C). Hypothermia occurs as your body temperature falls below 95 F (35 C). An individual’s body and mind start to fail, making the completion of tasks and decisions nearly impossible. Unless proper attention is provided, the individual will eventually die and become a statistic.  

Rest, like food, feeds the body and mind.  It allows the body and mind to heal. Without proper rest, the body and mind quickly deteriorate. 

Health; physical, mental, and emotional; is important to an individual.  Proper nutrition and rest aid the body and mind in regulating health.  A healthy individual is more capable of completing tasks and making decisions.  

An individual’s health can also affect group dynamics.  A healthy individual is an asset for a group.  An unhealthy individual can be a detriment.  

Maslow lists safety as the second tier of needs. I believe safety and security are imperative to attaining and keeping the first (basic) tier of needs.  If an individual cannot keep their shelter, water source, or food secure from various threats, such as looting,destruction, or eviction, their ability to survive is minimized.  Attaining basic needs and retaining those needs, is contingent upon security.  The ability to protect one’s self and others within a group from injury or death is imperative.  

The feeling of safety is paramount to attaining and retaining the basic needs as well.   The fear of not acquiring or losing those basic needs can deteriorate mental health and cause a lack of rest.  

Next: Acquiring Basic Needs/Preparing