The following are merely examples of the “Rule of 3” but can relate to nearly anything a survivalist or prepper or even a homesteader deals with while planning for their future… or even the present.  In keeping with this theme here are three rules … of three!

3 Minutes without Air
3 Minutes without Air; that’s a very VERY long time to not be breathing. As a Scuba Diver I respect that amount of time very much, you DON’T run out of air at 120’ below the surface and last very long.
If you get trapped under ice by breaking through a Lake or a Stream, you have 3 minutes. If in a fire/smoke and holding your breath, 3 minutes. Try holding your breath for 3 minutes and running out of a smoked filled building.
What if someone is choking you? Can you escape within that 3 minutes? Also some reference the 3 Minutes to being submersed in freezing water. I would agree. Have you ever stepped in a stream of freezing water and your foot feels like it’s falling off? Imagine imagine that, but being totally soaked.

3 Hours without Shelter
The blistering sun and its heat can cook you in hours or less. Heat Stroke, Heat Exhaustion, Sun Burn and Sun radiation poisoning will make for a very bad day.
Freezing temperatures or just getting wet in moderately cold temps and you run the risk of hypothermia. Make sure you have some sort of appropriate shelter everywhere you go. Imagine breaking down in the car/truck in a snowstorm, with no heat, no fuel, and no shelter from the cold……. Happens every year.

3 Days without Water
Actually your body starts to shut down in about 2 days. The kidneys and internal organs begin to shut down, the brain no longer thinks coherently, the blood thickens, and the muscles start to die. Re-hydration after 3 days without water is almost impossible with just “drinking”, it takes medical care.
Please note that when we say “water” this can be almost any fluid; juice from a can of vegetables or fruit, milk, soda (not the best), and so-on. Note that alcoholic drinks are very bad for hydration, even beer, so use caution when you’re dehydrated and don’t drink those kinds of liquids.
Additionally, make darn sure that your “water” is clean. Polluted or contaminated water can and will kill you just as dead as dehydration.

These are not the only “Rule of 3.” You can read more on Modern Survival Blog.

We picked the above to display because they were our personal favorites and, in the end, very logical choices. However, if you move on and read more at the above link you will understand how the “Rule of 3” works for both survivalists and everyday life!