A Survival Simulation Game

The Situation

You and your companions have just survived, uninjured, the crash of a small plane. The light twin-engine plane, containing the bodies of the pilot and the co-pilot, has completely burned. Only the airframe remains. The pilot had filed a flight plan before departure but was unable to notify anyone of your position before the crash.

It is mid-January, and you are in Northern Canada. The daily temperature is 25 below zero, and the nighttime temperature is 40 below zero. There is snow on the ground, and the countryside is wooded with several creeks criss-crossing the area. The nearest town is 25 miles away.

You are all dressed in city clothes appropriate for a business meeting. Your group of survivors managed to salvage the following items:

• A ball of steel wool
• A small ax
• A loaded .45-caliber pistol
• Can of Crisco shortening
• Newspapers (one per person)
• Cigarette lighter (without fluid)
• Extra shirt and pants for each survivor
• 20 x 20 ft. piece of heavy-duty canvas
• A sectional air map made of plastic
• One quart of 100-proof whiskey
• A compass
• Family-size chocolate bars (one per person)
• Flashlight (4 “D” battery size)

Your task is to list the above 13 items in order of importance for your survival, starting with "1" the most important, to "13" the least important.

To participate in the exercise, you must assume that:

1. You are the actual people in the situation;
2. The number of survivors is the same as the number on your team;
3. The team has agreed to stick together;
4. All salvaged items are in good condition.

Step 1: Each member of the team is to individually rank each item. Do not discuss the situation or problem until each member has finished the individual ranking. You will have 12 minutes to complete this step.

Step 2: After everyone has finished the individual ranking, rank order the 13 items as a team. Once discussion begins do not change your individual ranking. Your team will have 20 minutes to complete this step.

Step 3: The individual and group rankings will be compared to a survival expert’s rankings and scoring based on the difference between those rankings.

Survival Expert's Explanation, Rankings and Sorting

This information is included in the attached documents