You are lost and need to prioritize your survival. After shelter and fire, what is your third priority?

In a survival situation, after establishing shelter and fire, the third priority should be signaling for help. The rationale behind this choice is that once you are safe from the elements and have a means to stay warm, it's crucial to focus on actions that will increase your chances of being rescued.

Creating signals can communicate your location to searchers, potentially leading to a quicker rescue. This can include building visual signals, such as large symbols on the ground made from rocks or branches, or using smoke signals from your fire. It’s about making yourself visible and alerting others to your presence.

While food, water, and first aid are important survival needs, you can typically survive longer without food—up to weeks—compared to the critical need for water or medical attention. Water is necessary for survival but is often more accessible in nature than means to signal for help, especially if one is in a location where rescue is feasible. First aid becomes essential only if there are injuries, but prioritizing signaling increases your overall chance of survival by attracting attention to your plight.