Some other things that might help;
- Any armor you can cobble together reduces damage, even if its just a tiny bit.
- Bows can help give you an edge and if you stay hidden, can snipe some enemies
- Take only the stuff with you that you need to survive the run, and foods that you already had on you. That way you dont take up more slots than you need, so you can take your lost loot back without leaving stuff behind or staying stuck in the loot window.

I always try to have alteast the food that i already had in the exact same slots as i had when i died, this is 3 slots i dont have to worry about.