There are different types of survival skills for different types of issue. Ordinary people need to be able to cope with all of them. 

The obvious ones are when a disaster of some sort strikes the community or person. Being able to survive intensely cold weather when the snow blocks all the roads and cuts communications and electricity is one.  In this case having a supply candles or lamps, a camping stove to cook with, an open fire to keep the house warm are the first stages.  However, being unable to contact the outside world (except, perhaps, by mobile phone) can induce a feeling of either excitement because the experience is new or panic because all normal life comes to a standstill. Having a car accident in a remote spot is another hazard. Here having plenty of water in the car, some blankets in cold weather and preferably something to eat are a start to surviving.

There are other levels of survival skill needed though. In everyday life we meet problems with family, friends and colleagues which threaten our well being.  How we deal with these issues determines how we continue with our lives. If we have the confidence, not arrogance, to stand up for ourselves we will deal better with negative input.  Dealing positively with the negative is one way of surviving. If we lack the ability to protect ourselves we will be adversely affected. This is reducing our survival success. 

Part of the human survival mechanism in every day life is our mental attitude. When we are feeling down, depressed, lacking in self worth we are less likely to be able to sustain our ability at making a success of survival. Making an effort to maintain a positive mental approach to life, taking criticism for what it is, taking set backs as experience which makes us wiser is important.  

Unfortunately, the culture of Western societies is to make individuals feel they have no importance.  This is why it is so easy for bullies to be successful. We are taught we are unimportant. In a way, in the overall scheme of things this is true, but we have a life to lead and how we lead it affects others apart from ourselves. When we are negative it pulls everyone down.  When we are positive we lift not only ourselves but others.  This is not meant to be a peon to Pollyanna.  

Ordinary people need survival skills for everyday life and for those emergency situations which occur. Teaching our children how to deal with life is part of the responsibilities of parents.  At the same time, as adults we are responsible for our own actions and we need to think out how to be prepared and act on our thoughts.