When you are in a survival situation, there are many things going through your head. However, it is very important that you remember the first thing. That is PRWF for Protection, Rescue, Water and Food.
-Protection-
Your first goal should always be to ensure adequate protection. Even in 50-degree weather, you can get hypothermia, especially if it’s wet and windy. Protection from the sun is also essential in hotter climates. Using paracord that you should have in your survival kit and whatever you can find in your immediate vicinity, build some sort of shelter and protection from the elements.
When building a shelter to keep warm, remember that one layer of insulation on the bottom is as good as two on top. Much of their body heat seeps into the ground at night. Also, keep your head covered as most of your body heat is dissipated through your head. If possible, build on dry, well-drained, flat ground. Choose a spot that is close to water and firewood. Build a shelter in a spot that is easy to see and spot.
Clean and bandage wounds with alcohol prep pads and bandages, another key item to have in your survival kit. Infections can represent 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 so you can be rescued. Use a whistle, a piece of aluminum foil as a signaling mirror, or a flashlight to signal search parties. The sound of a whistle can be carried 1-2 miles in nature and requires very little power to use. A human voice can only transmit 100 to 200 meters at best. A smoky fire is also a good way to attract attention from afar.
3 of any type of signal is the international distress signal. 3 flashes of a flashlight, 3 blasts of a whistle, 3 sticks, or even 3 shots in a triangle will signal to any search party that you are in danger.
If you must travel, leave obvious markers along your path for rescuers to follow and also to prevent you from backtracking. Three stones stacked on top of each other is a great method of leaving markers when nothing else is available.
-Water-
Water is the next most essential element for survival. Conserve your water by not breathing hard, avoid sweating, stay out of direct sunlight. The best place to store water is in the stomach. Drink as much as you need and as often as you can. Store extra water in a ziploc bag, canteen, or water bottle. If no fire is available, you can drink from clear flowing streams. Never drink stagnant water! If possible, purify your water by boiling it. A tightly folded piece of aluminum foil makes a good cup for boiling water (another useful survival kit item). Do not place aluminum foil directly on the fire, but rather near the heat on a hot rock. Place some of the bullion cube in 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 drinkable water.
-Food-
Food is your last concern after protection, rescue, and water. Eating a glucose candy can temporarily raise your blood sugar 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 on the end may work. Traps can be set using paracord. An elastic band can be used to improvise a harpoon or sling to catch other types of small animals. The knife or razor blade that should also be in your survival kit can be used to prepare meat for cooking.
By remembering these steps in this order, you will have a much better chance of surviving your emergency situation. So always: please remember what comes first.