Welcome to SW Bushcraft!
I believe that survival is an art form and it requires lots of practice and dedication. There are many different ways to define "survival". Through my own experiences in the wilderness, outdoor recreation, sports, traveling, work and personal life, I have found that the best way to define survival is: continuing to exist by adapting to one's environment, accepting the inevitable and conforming to the unavoidable.
For many years, I have practiced bushcraft which can best be defined by the Wikipedia definition: "Bushcraft is the usage and practice of skills, acquiring and developing knowledge and understanding, in order to survive and thrive in the natural environment." Developing this set of skills and learning how to use primitive/survival tools add up to the overall field known as "bushcraft". Some of these skills include: First aid, shelter building, water procurement, fire building, food procurement, navigation, and signaling.
So...back to the art of survival. I'm certain that practicing bushcraft and being prepared by continuing to learn and strengthen your survival skills and techniques before you are in an emergency situation are vital to overcoming most survival challenges. Obviously, being prepared also includes carrying certain types of equipment depending on the situation you're engaging in.