When armed with the right information, the odds of surviving an emergency situation increase dramatically. Learn the best way to survive an avalanche, lightning storm, airplane crash and fall into a frozen lake.

Bear Grylls, a survival expert and host of Discovery's Man vs. Wild, explains how everyday items like lipstick and tampons can help save lives in emergency situations.

Ready.gov, a national campaign to help people prepare for emergency situations, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency outline 12 essentials you should pack in a survival kit.

Oprah Show designer Nate Berkus and his partner, Fernando Bengoechea, were vacationing in Sri Lanka when a devastating tsunami hit in December 2004. Nate survived; Fernando went missing that day and is presumed to have been killed in the tsunami. Just days after arriving home, Nate shared his story on air. Watch part of that show and find out why Oprah was hesitant to do the interview with this member of the Harpo family.

The right advice can help you change things up, figure things out, and see things differently. Here's the most valuable counsel once you've reached a certain point in your life.