To help you in your mission, take a look at the following videos and consider how explorers survive in extreme conditions.
(Please note these people are professionally trained so do not try this at home).
http://www.discoveryuk.com/web/born-survivor/videos/?video=born-survivor-a-wormy-nibble
http://www.discoveryuk.com/web/born-survivor/videos/?video=bear-grylls-born-survivor-leeches
those vidioes were discusting.