If you have a life raft, you can use the plastic from this to help you with water. If there is a first aid kit in the raft, you might need it if you get cut or sick. Any plastic containers, tubing, flashlights, mirrors, sharp objects etc. could come in handy. If there is a flare gun, save this and put it in a safe place. You might be able to use it if you see a passing ship or aircraft.

Venture inland to find a stream or pond. If you are stranded on a relatively large island, your likelihood of finding a freshwater stream or waterfall is more likely. If you can’t find fresh water inland, you can collect rainwater. Collect rainwater in any containers you have or find from debris or washing up on the shore. You can also collect rainwater in large leaves and funnel it into a container.

You can build one of these if you have a container and plastic sheet. Dig a pit about 3 or 4 feet in diameter at a depth of 3 feet. At the center of the hole, dig a depression in the size and shape of a container you will collect water in. Place your container in the hole in the center. Place vegetation or leaves in the hole around the container. As the air heats in the hole, leaves or plants will help more moisture to collect. Drape a plastic sheet over the hole and anchor it down on the edges with rocks. Place a rock on the plastic in the center just above the container. Over the next few hours, moisture will build up in the pit from the heat and leaves. This will condense on the plastic and drip into the container. The water collected in the container will be safe to drink.

You could look for fruits but make sure you recognize these fruits as edible ones. Your best bet for food will likely be fish that live in the shallow pools at the beach. The water should be shallow enough to walk through and look for fish. The best method of catching these is spear fishing. Create a spear from a long thin branch that is sharpened at one end. Stand on rocks when you spear fish to avoid disturbing the water and alarming the fish. Spear the fish quickly, aiming for the head. Try to spear fish that are still as you are more likely to hit them.

You don’t know what lives on the island. Wild animals, especially predators, can pose a distinct threat. You will want to avoid the elements. Getting too wet isn’t good even in warm conditions. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just safe. Look for natural shelter such as rock outcroppings for temporary shelter until you can build a better structure.

Find a large branch and brace it securely against a large tree. Place smaller branches at 45 degree angles along the larger branch. Drop leaves and foliage over the shelter to provide cover and additional protection from the elements. This can be a temporary shelter until you build a more secure tee-pee type of shelter.

Gather 10-20 long branches. The thicker these are, the stronger the structure will be. Stick 3 of the branches into the ground to create a tripod. Place the remaining branches in a circle around the tripod, leaving room for an entrance. Cover the structure with leaves, brush, and other foliage for protection.

It could get cold at night, so it is best to have a source of warmth. You will especially need a fire if you get wet from rain. It is important to stay as dry as possible. Also, the smoke might attract passing ships but keep it under control. Find tinder such as small dry twigs, grasses, and flammable debris. Arrange smaller twigs in a tripod with tinder underneath. Light the fire using a mirror, binoculars, or reflective surface by reflecting sunlight onto the dry kindling.

Take the piece of soft wood and dig a groove into it with the stick. Place tinder on the end of the soft wood that you want to ignite. Using the hard stick, plow up and down the groove in the wood to create friction. When the tinder begins to ignite or smoke, blow on it to create bigger flames. Place small twigs on top of the ignited tinder to create a larger fire.

Travel to higher ground to search for signal. If you manage to make a call, contact someone back home and tell them what happened and whereabouts you are. If you don’t know where you are, look for landmarks on the horizon. If you can’t find a cellphone signal, then explore the island carefully to see if there are any inhabitants with a radio or boat.

Make flags from any bright colored material. These could be spotted during the day by a low flying aircraft. Keep the flare gun in a safe place that is quickly accessible. You will want to fire a flare if you see a passing ship or plane. You can also try to make reflected light signals with a large mirror if one washed up with you.

Find large tree branches that you can arrange to spell SOS in the sand. This can be noticed by a passing airplane. You can also arrange large rocks in the same fashion. If you can’t find enough material such as branches or rocks, you can write this message in the sand in big letters with a stick or even your hand. Keep in mind that you might have to fix this daily as the tide could wash parts of it away.

Be careful your fire is not too big, as it could be potentially hazardous to you, your shelter, and wildlife. Keep your fire as close to shore as possible so smoke can be seen by passing ships. Try to keep it going throughout the night so aircraft can spot the flames from above.