When you are in a survival situation, there are many things that go through your head. However, it is very important that you remember what comes first. That’s PRWF for Protection, Rescue, Water and Food.
-Protection-
Your first goal should always ensure adequate protection. Even in 50 degree weather you can get hypothermia, especially if it’s wet and windy. Shelter from the sun is also essential in hot climates. Using paracord that you must have in your survival kit and what you can find in your immediate vicinity, build some kind of shelter and protection from the elements.
When building a shelter to keep warm, remember that one layer of insulation at the bottom is as good as two at the top. Much of your body heat leaks to the ground at night. Also, keep your head covered as most of the body heat is dissipated through the head. If possible, build on dry, well-drained, flat ground. Choose a place that is close to water and firewood. Build a shelter in a place that is easy to see and detect.
Clean and bandage the wounds with compresses and alcohol preparation bandages, another key element that you must have in your survival kit. Infections can pose a serious danger in survival situations. Use safety pins to secure bandages in place.
-Rescue-
Once you’ve established protection, your next job is to draw attention to yourself for rescue. Use a whistle, a piece of aluminum foil as a signaling mirror, or a flashlight to signal search teams. The sound of a whistle can last 1 to 2 miles in the desert and requires very little power to use. A human voice can only carry 100-200 meters at best. A smoky fire is also a good way to attract attention from afar.
3 of any type of sign is the international danger sign. 3 flashes of a flashlight, 3 blasts of the whistle, 3 sticks, or even 3 fires in a triangle will signal to any search party that you are in danger.
If you must travel, leave obvious signs along your path for rescuers to follow and also to prevent backward bending. Three stones stacked on top of each other is an excellent method for leaving markers when nothing else is available.
-Water-
Water is the next most essential element for survival. Conserve your water by not breathing with difficulty, avoid sweating, stay out of direct sunlight. The best place to store water is the stomach. Drink as much as you need and as often as you can. Store the extra water in a ziploc bag, canteen, or water bottle. If fire is not available, you can drink from streams that are flowing and clear. Never drink standing water! If possible, purify the water by boiling it. A neatly folded piece of aluminum foil makes a good boiling mug (another useful survival kit item). Do not put aluminum foil directly on the fire, but near the heat on a hot rock. Drop some bullion cubes into water to replace lost electrolytes and improve flavor.
Trees and vegetation contain large amounts of moisture and water. A clear plastic bag or bottle can be wrapped around a leafy branch, or filled with leafy material, sealed with a rubber band or string, and placed in the sun. Over time, direct sunlight will evaporate the liquid from the vegetation and reconstitute it into drinking water.
-Meal-
Food is your last concern after protection, rescue, and water. Eating a glucose candy can temporarily raise your blood sugar level and give you much-needed energy to complete a task. If there is a stream nearby, a small fishing line and a hook or safety pin with some bait attached to the end may work. Traps can be set using paracord. A rubber band can be used to improvise a harpoon or sling to catch other types of small animals. You can use a knife or razor blade that should also be in your survival kit to prepare the meat for cooking.
Remembering these steps in this order will give you a much better chance of surviving your emergency situation. So always: remember what comes first.