Lost At Sea

Group Worksheet Instructions

This is an exercise in group decision-making. Your group is to employ the group consensus method in reaching its decision. This means that the prediction for each of the 15 survival items must be agreed upon by each group member before it becomes a part of the group decision.

Consensus is difficult to reach. Therefore, not every ranking will meet with everyone's complete approval. As a group, try to make each ranking one with which all group members can at least partially agree. Here are some guides to use in reaching consensus.

This can be done individually, but more is learned if done in a group. Everyone will not agree, but get as agreeable a solution to each item as possible. Learning to 'give and take' about the decision is also an important outcome.

Instructions.

You are adrift on a private yacht in the South Pacific. As a consequence of a fire of unknown origin, much of the yacht and its contents have been destroyed. The yacht had all navigational equipment destroyed while you and the crew were trying to bring the fire under control. Your best estimate is that you are approximately one thousand miles south/southwest of the nearest land.

Below is a list of fifteen items that are intact and undamaged after the fire. In addition to these articles, you have a serviceable rubber life raft with oars large enough to carry yourself, the crew, and all the items listed below. The total contents of all survivors' pockets are a package of cigarettes, several books of matches, and five one-dollar bills.

Your task is to rank the 15 items below in terms of their importance to your survival, with 1 as most important and 15 as least important.

1. Avoid arguing for your own individual judgements. Approach the task on the basis of logic.
2. Avoid changing your mind if it is only to reach agreement and avoid conflict. Support only solutions with which you are able to agree at least somewhat.
3. Avoid 'conflict-reducing' techniques such as majority vote, averaging or trading-in reaching your decision.
4. View differences of opinion as a help rather than a hindrance in decision-making.

• Sextant
• Small transistor radio
• Shaving mirror
• Shark repellent
• 5 gallon can of water
• 20 sq.ft. of opaque plastic
• Mosquito netting
• 1 case of rations
• Maps of the area
• Seat cushion (flotation device)
• 2 gallon can of oil/gas mixture
• 1 quart of 160 proof rum
• 15 ft. of nylon rope
• 2 boxes of chocolate bars
• Fishing kit

Answer Sheet Correct Numbers

1. Shaving mirror: Vital for signalling air/sea rescue.
2. 2 gallon can of oil/gas mixture: Vital for signalling - the mixture will float and could be ignited (when the raft is clear, obviously!)
3. 5 gallon can of water
4. 1 case of rations: Provides basic food.
5. 20 sq.ft. of opaque plastic: To collect rainwater and provide shelter
6. 2 boxes of chocolate bars: A reserve food supply
7. Fishing kit: Ranked lower than the chocolate bars because there is no guarantee that you will catch any fish!
8. 15 ft. of nylon rope: May be used to secure equipment to prevent it from falling overboard.
9. Seat cushion (flotation device): A life-saver is someone falls overboard.
10. Shark repellent
11. 1 qt. of 160 proof rum: Contains 80% alcohol - enough to serve as antiseptic for injuries; of little value otherwise; will cause dehydration if drunk.
12. Small transistor radio: Of little value as there is no transmitter.
13. Maps of the area:Worthless without navigational aids - it does not really matter where you are, but where the rescuers are!
14. Mosquito netting: There are no mosquitos out at sea.
15. Sextant: Relatively useless without tables and a chronometer.

The basic reason for ranking signalling devices above the life sustaining items (food and water) is that if you cannot signal there is almost no chance of being spotted and rescued. As most rescues occur during the first 36 hours, food and water are less important during that period.

According to the 'experts' the basic supplies needed when a person is stranded in mid-ocean are articles to attract attention and articles to aid survival until rescuers arrive. Articles for navigation are of little importance; even if a small life raft were capable of reaching land, it would be impossible to store enough food and water to subsist during that period of time. Therefore, of primary importance are the shaving mirror and the 2 gallon can of oil/gas mixture. These items could be used for signalling air/sea rescue. Of secondary importance are items such as water and food eg. the chocolate bars.

Lost in the Desert

Similar situation to that above, with the yacht, but this time you are lost in the desert. Rank the following items in terms of importance to your survival, with 1 as most important and 15 as least important.

• Torch 4-battery size
• Pen knife
• Sectional air map of the area
• Large plastic raincoat
• Magnetic compass
• First Aid kit
• Loaded .45 calibre pistol
• Parachute, red & white
• Bottle of salt tablets (1,000)
• 1 litre of water per person
• A book entitled Edible Animals of the Desert
• 1 cosmetic mirror
• A pair of sunglasses per person
• 2 litres of 80-proof vodka
• 1 topcoat per person