Thailand Cave Rescue: How to Stay Safe Inside a Cave

What would you do if you found yourself trapped in a cave?

As 12 youth soccer players — all under the age of 16 — and their 25-year-old coach have been found alive after spending more than a week stuck in a Thailand cave, Inside Edition explored the conditions they may be facing.

"I’m crouched down, there’s water dripping all over the place, it’s hard to navigate," Inside Edition’s Steven Fabian reported. “It’s tight quarters, there are big rocks everywhere, easy to trip over. If I were to turn the light off, I wouldn’t be able to see anything. Can’t imagine being stuck in a place like this for a week, nine days. I couldn’t be down here for half an hour."

Emergency room specialist Dr. Armand Dorian explained the first concern when it comes to being trapped is your own nerves.

“Once your anxiety is up and you’re in a claustrophobic space, you can start breaking down and that breakdown psychologically can start affecting you medically or physically,” Dorian told Inside Edition.

To best combat symptoms of anxiety, survival expert Shane Hobel explained how explorers can be best prepared when heading into a cave.

The first rule of thumb is to always wear a head lamp and pack a spare.

"If I’m going in deep, I’m going to carry a parachute cord," Hobel told Inside Edition. "Some sort of bright colored cord that will act as a guide or map on the way back."

Finally, to stay hydrated no matter the condition, Hobel recommends bringing a personal water filter.

"I pop the top and the bottom off and I simply get to the water source and drink," he explained. "Just like any other straw."

While rescuers have brought the young soccer players combat rations and high-protein foods to help them keep their strength, officials estimate they may not be extracted for months as the complicated cave system is completely flooded.

"They’re doing it together, they’re staying together," Hobel said. "This is the best medicine that they have. That’s hope."

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