generally... Shelter, water, food. If you're following the rule of three's, I think it goes something like this;
you can survive;
3 minutes without air (or adressing injuries)
3 hours without shelter
3 days without water
3 weeks without food
3 months without hope
__________________
"Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security" -Benjamin Franklin
Depends entirely on where you are and how well equiped you are. If you are well enough equiped in a temperate climate your biggest concern will be clean water.
down here in the desert, water is the first concern then food and shelter last because you can sleep under the stars for 8 month of the year before some sort of shelter would be needed.
__________________ 12-21-2012: Party like theres no tomorrow!!!
... quite obviously there are variables such as "location". Given the original poster "NorthEastWinter" ... shelter is number 1 in a cold climate. In a hot climate location, water would come first.
__________________ You don't scare me! Work on it!
Depends...in Alaska in a storm, or in a mountain range in snow; if you don't find shelter from the cold, you won't last long enough to die from thirst. You really have to evaluate the situation.
like i said in my first post it depends on what i have with me and where i am at along with what the weather isso if the OP would like to give a example of where the are and what they would have with them would be a great help
If weather dictates then shelter first. If not then fire. The fire can purify water and will help build confidence. Alot of folks today would focus on the shelter because that is what they are usedto having around them. Today very few people are comfortable camping under the stars. They're afraid of creepy crawlies and what not. This can lead to their undoing. As long I'm clear of the elements and warm food and water will be easier to hunt and gather. But we all need to remember that even the best of us can end up in a situation where no matter our skills water and food can eldue us. This sho ain't man vs. wild!!
Generally, regardless of situation shelter, water, food.............. remenber these are the order of your considerations (here is where you insert your conditions / equipment / supplies on hand).
i.e - Shelter may be a no brainer ( such as an urban area, plenty around, desert/snow area an inperative) energy consumed to locate / procure/construct it.
Water - immediate - hot/desert area - remember protect yourself from the sun first or water and energy expended to acquire will not help much!
Food - might be considered a medium/long term survival issue this will be detirmined on the energy you comsume to procure / process it !!
SURVIVAL winter in north east carry 2 bic lighters. body core temp loss will kill you the fastest. build a small enough fire to get close to it and not have to search for more wood in the night. dig snow to ground to make fire burn less wood to stay going. I have been through the ice in northern maine 3 times in 40 years (trap line and hunting) bic took a licking and kept on ticking. dig a hole in the snow, build a fire , dry the clothing, walk out next day. the saying is in order. cold, wet,tired and hungry.
ps one of the times I was with a hunting partner. he did not go through because he stayed 100 yards back. he returned to camp. he saw me get to the far bank. it was 4:30 in november. 3 feet of snow on the ground. he drove 40 miles to town and rented movies to watch but did not tell dif&w to look for me. he said when I got back to camp 2:00 the next day " search and rescue would raise our taxes, you are a big boy tough it out".
I don't know which is more important, but over the weekend the local public service district contractors tore up a main water line in town and half the county was without water....
People were running to the store stocking up, etc...
Me, I just sat back and enjoyed some tap water I had saved in bottles awhile back and tried to figure out if I would need the big barrel of rainwater outside to take a bath in later....
down here in the desert, water is the first concern then food and shelter last because you can sleep under the stars for 8 month of the year before some sort of shelter would be needed.
you stand out in the sun all day in the desert looking for water, i'll take shelter in the shade and look for water at night while moving.
shelter
water
food
it doesn't matter where your at, the same rules apply. even in the best of conditions, weather can change.
