What do you do if you are stranded on a desert island?

[JonnyBoy12]

Not sure if this is the right area for this question, but it is most certainly a destination. What do you do if you are stranded on a desert island? The first thing to do is to put piles of stones to form the letters S.O.S. in the sand, and then build a fire to light when you see a ship or plane in the distance. I know that the distance to the horizon is only 30 miles, so any ship further than that would not see you.

Has anyone here had this experience, and how did you get away?

[Buenchico]

I thought that the first thing to do was to find the gramophone and eight records ;-)

I'm assuming that your island has big hills, high cliffs or very tall trees if you expect to be seen by ships up to 30 miles away. If you're standing on the beach the distance to the horizon is roughly 3 miles, not 30.

Even then it would probably need to be quite a big fire to be spotted during the day from a distance of 3 miles, although even a small fire could be picked out on a clear night from that distance.

Personally, the first thing that I'd do would be to seek a source of (non-saline) water. Without it my survival time would be extremely limited. I'd rather be found alive after a long time than dead after a short one.

Chris

[spudqueen]

The first things are shelter, water and food. Only when you've got those sorted can you start to think about the giant SOS on the beach!

[moonraker558]

Find a woman and don't bother with a bonfire.

[SlackAlice]

Food, Shelter and can I survive here.
If yes to the above then cancel the S.O.S

;)

[Mosaic]

I think you need to train a lobster to power a small generator, befriend a deflated football, and rescue a polynesian so you can convert him to christianity and condescend to him.

[MikaJ]

If I have my husband with me, we would probably enjoy the beach and the water and die of hunger while holding hands :))

[AB Editor]

Mosaic, do you condescend first or convert first?

You could always start your own religion? Surely something to while away the hours?

[mccfluff]

i have ray mears packed away for such emergencies

[pa___ul3]

avoid any polar bears and black smoke monsters.. make friends with any doctors.

[sandyRoe]

Wouldn't a Woman Friday be more fun?

[rowanwitch]

I want the admirable crichton

[sandyRoe]

Who was the young wonam in THe Blue Lagoon?

[sandyRoe]

Woman not wonam ^^^^

[McMouse]

I'd walk round the island to see if anyone else was there. If I found someone and I was bigger and stronger then they would become my slave and sort out all the shelter and food things.

[rowanwitch]

Assuming you will be missed the SOS or at least a visible sign is a priority a desert island by definition is dry so its early rescue or death