Island Survival Worksheet.doc - Island Survival Worksheet Name ... - Free Printable

To solve this problem, we need to fill in the "Island Survival Worksheet" table by ranking items based on their importance for survival. The scenario is that you are stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash. You have salvaged 15 items from the wreckage. Your goal is to rank them from 1 (most important) to 15 (least important).

The key to surviving in this situation follows the "Rule of Threes":
- You can survive 3 minutes without air (not applicable here as you are on land).
- You can survive 3 hours without shelter in extreme conditions (hypothermia or heatstroke).
- You can survive 3 days without water.
- You can survive 3 weeks without food.

Therefore, the priority order for survival is generally:
1. First Aid / Safety (Immediate life-threatening injuries)
2. Shelter (Protection from elements)
3. Water (Hydration)
4. Food (Energy)
5. Rescue (Signaling for help)

Let's analyze each item and assign a logical rank based on standard survival guidelines (like those used in Coast Guard or military survival training):

Items List:
1. Ball of steel wool
2. Small axe
3. Can of shortening
4. Newspaper (one package)
5. Cigarette lighter (fluid empty)
6. Extra shirt and pants
7. Plastic sheeting (10x10 ft)
8. Canvas section (20x20 ft)
9. Hand ax
10. Chocolate bars (one package)
11. Fishing kit
12. Mosquito netting
13. One quart of 151-proof rum
14. Map of the Pacific Ocean
15. Sextant

Step-by-Step Ranking Logic:

1. Cigarette lighter (fluid empty) - Even without fluid, it has a flint wheel. You can strike sparks to ignite tinder (like steel wool). Fire is critical for warmth, boiling water, cooking, and signaling. This is often ranked #1 because fire starts many other survival processes. *Rank: 1*

2. Ball of steel wool - Steel wool catches sparks very easily and holds an ember. It’s the best tinder to use with the lighter’s flint. Without it, starting a fire with just the lighter might be hard if you don’t have good dry tinder. *Rank: 2*

3. Plastic sheeting (10x10 ft) - This is versatile. You can use it to collect rainwater (critical), make a solar still to get water from the ground, or create a waterproof layer for shelter. Water is the next biggest priority after immediate safety/fire. *Rank: 3*

4. Canvas section (20x20 ft) - Great for building a shelter quickly to protect against sun, wind, and rain. Shelter prevents hypothermia or heat exhaustion. *Rank: 4*

5. Small axe - Useful for cutting wood for fire, building shelter frames, or making tools. A small axe is more portable and sufficient for most tasks than a hand ax in this context. *Rank: 5*

6. Extra shirt and pants - Clothing provides insulation and protection from sunburn, insects, and scrapes. It helps regulate body temperature. *Rank: 6*

7. Can of shortening - Shortening can be used as fuel for a lamp (with a wick made from cloth), eaten for calories, or rubbed on skin for protection against sun/wind. High-calorie fat is valuable. *Rank: 7*

8. Chocolate bars - Quick energy source. Food is lower priority than water/shelter, but chocolate gives immediate calories and morale boost. *Rank: 8*

9. Fishing kit - Provides a way to get protein long-term. Since you can survive weeks without food, this is less urgent than immediate needs, but vital for sustained survival. *Rank: 9*

10. Mosquito netting - Protects against insect-borne diseases and annoyance, which can lead to infection or sleep loss. Important, but not immediately life-saving like water or shelter. *Rank: 10*

11. One quart of 151-proof rum - Alcohol dehydrates you, so drinking it is bad. However, it can be used as an antiseptic for wounds or as fuel for fire. Its utility is limited compared to other items. *Rank: 11*

12. Hand ax - Similar to the small axe, but bulkier. If you already have a small axe, this is redundant. Less useful due to size/weight. *Rank: 12*

13. Newspaper - Can be used as tinder for fire, insulation inside clothing, or toilet paper. Low value compared to dedicated tools. *Rank: 13*

14. Map of the Pacific Ocean - Unless you know your exact location and how to navigate, a map is useless. You’re on a deserted island; knowing where you are doesn’t help you survive day-to-day. *Rank: 14*

15. Sextant - Used for celestial navigation. Without knowing time accurately and having skills to use it, it’s nearly useless. Also, you’re not trying to sail away—you’re waiting for rescue. *Rank: 15*

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Note: Different survival experts may vary slightly, but the general consensus prioritizes fire-starting tools, water collection, shelter, then food/signaling.

Here is the completed table with ranks:

| Item | Rank |
|------|------|
| Cigarette lighter (fluid empty) | 1 |
| Ball of steel wool | 2 |
| Plastic sheeting (10x10 ft) | 3 |
| Canvas section (20x20 ft) | 4 |
| Small axe | 5 |
| Extra shirt and pants | 6 |
| Can of shortening | 7 |
| Chocolate bars | 8 |
| Fishing kit | 9 |
| Mosquito netting | 10 |
| One quart of 151-proof rum | 11 |
| Hand ax | 12 |
| Newspaper | 13 |
| Map of the Pacific Ocean | 14 |
| Sextant | 15 |

Final Answer:
The correct ranking from most important (1) to least important (15) is:

1. Cigarette lighter (fluid empty)
2. Ball of steel wool
3. Plastic sheeting (10x10 ft)
4. Canvas section (20x20 ft)
5. Small axe
6. Extra shirt and pants
7. Can of shortening
8. Chocolate bars
9. Fishing kit
10. Mosquito netting
11. One quart of 151-proof rum
12. Hand ax
13. Newspaper
14. Map of the Pacific Ocean
15. Sextant