The Desert Survival Situation

The Situation
It is approximately 10.00 A.M. in mid-June and your plane has just crash-landed in
the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. The light twin engine plane, containing the bodies of the
pilot and the co-pilot, has completely burnt. Only the air frame remains. None of the
rest of you has been injured.

The pilot was unable to notify the position before the crash to anyone of you.
However, he had indicated that you were 70 miles south-southwest from a BSF camp
which is the nearest known habitation and that you were approximately 65 miles off
the course that was filed in your Flight Plan.

The immediate area is quite flat and except for occasional shrubbery and long-barrel
cacti, appears to be rather barren. The last weather report indicated that temperature
would reach 48ºC that day. You are dressed in light weather clothing – short sleeved
shirts, pants, socks, and street shoes. Everyone has a handkerchief. Collectively, your
pockets contain Rs. 7.75 in coins and Rs. 735 in notes, a pack of cigarettes and a
ballpoint pen.

You are supposed to finish Step 1 of your task (given in next page) without
discussing it with rest of the group members.
Your Task

Before the plane caught fire your group was able to salvage the 15 items listed on next
page. Your task is to rank these items according to their importance to your survival,
starting with “1” as the most important to “15” as the least important.

You may assume

 The number of survivors is the same as the number of your team members.
 You are the actual people in the situation.
 The team has agreed to stick together
 All 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.

Step 2: After everyone has finished the individual ranking, rank order the 15 items as
a team. Once discussion begins, do not change your individual ranking.
 ITEMS Step – 1 Step – 2 Step – 3 Step – 4 Step – 5
Individual Team’s Survival Difference Difference
Ranking Ranking Expert’s between between
Ranking Step 1 and Step 2 and
Step 3 Step 3
(Absolute (Absolute
score) score)
Flashlight (4 battery size) 9 11 4 7
Jack Knife 12 4 6 2
Sectional Air Map of the area 7 9 12 3
Plastic Raincoat (large size) 13 15 7 8
Magnetic Compass 5 6 11 5
Compress kit with gauge (Medical Aid Box) 4 5 10 5
0.45 Caliber Pistol (loaded) 14 12 8 4
Parachute (Red and White) 2 8 5 3
Bottle of Salt Tablets (1000 tablets) 3 2 15 13
1 Quart of Water per person 15 1 3 2
A book titled “Edible Animals of the Desert” 1 13 13 0
A pair of sun-glasses per person 8 7 9 2
2 Quarts of 180 proof Vodka 11 10 14 4
1 Top Coat per person 6 3 2 1
A cosmetic Mirror 10 14 1 13
TOTAL