This document describes a problem solving activity where participants must rank 14 items in order of importance for survival after being shipwrecked. The items include necessities like water, food, and signaling devices as well as less useful items. An expert ranking from the US Coast Guard is provided as well as explanations for each item's ranking based on its usefulness for signaling rescuers, collecting water, providing shelter or food, and other survival needs.

1. Lost at Sea
Problem solving and Decision Making
Game

2. Situation
• In this activity, assume that you have been
shipwrecked (ship broken) and are stranded in
a life boat. You have list of 14 items.
• Rank the items based on how much important
for your survival.

3. Items
1. a mosquito net
2. a can of petrol
3. a water container
4. a shaving mirror
5. emergency rations
6. a sea chart
7. a floating seat or
cushion
8. a rope
9. some chocolate bars
10. a waterproof sheet
11. a fishing rod
12. shark repellent
13. a bottle of rum
14. a VHF radio

4. Items Individual
Rank
Group
Rank
Correct
Rank
Individual-
Correct
Team-
Correct
a mosquito
net
a can of
petrol
a water
container
a shaving
mirror
emergency
rations
a sea chart
a floating
seat or
cushion

5. Items Individual
Rank
Group Rank Correct
Rank
Individual-
Correct
Team-
Correct
a rope
some
chocolate
bars
a
waterproof
sheet
a fishing rod
shark
repellent
a bottle of
rum
A VHF Radio

6. Correct Order (Experts -United
States Coast Guard)
• Shaving mirror.
• Can of petrol.
• Water container.
• Emergency
rations.
• Water Proof sheet.
• Chocolate bars
• Fishing rod
• Rope.
• Floating seat or
cushion.
• Shark repellent.
• Bottle of rum
• VHF Radio
• Sea chart
• Mosquito net

7. Reasons
• Shaving mirror. (One of your most powerful tools, because you can
use it to signal your location by reflecting the sun.)
• Can of petrol. (Again, potentially vital for signalling as petrol floats
on water and can be lit by your matches.)
• Water container. (Essential for collecting water to restore your lost
fluids.)
• Emergency rations. (Valuable for basic food intake.)
• Water proof sheet. (Could be used for shelter, or to collect
rainwater.)
• Chocolate bars. (A handy food supply.)
• Fishing rod. (Potentially useful, but there is no guarantee that
you're able to catch fish. Could also feasibly double as a tent pole.)
• Rope. (Handy for tying equipment together, but not necessarily vital
for survival.)

8. • Floating seat or cushion. (Useful as a life preserver.)
• Shark repellent. (Potentially important when in the
water.)
• Bottle of rum. (Could be useful as an antiseptic for
treating injuries, but will only dehydrate you if you
drink it.)
• Radio. (Chances are that you're out of range of any
signal, anyway.)
• Sea chart. (Worthless without navigational equipment.)
• Mosquito net. (Assuming that you've been
shipwrecked in the Atlantic, where there are no
mosquitoes, this is pretty much useless.)

9. Reference
• https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/tea
m-building-problem-solving.htm