Signaling
Contrary to what you see in the movies, shouting "Help!" or "Over here!" does not always grab the attention of a passing airplane. To do this, you need to make a distinct effort to communicate, which is known as signaling. If you are lost, people will be looking for you, but you need to help them out. Rather than camouflaging yourself in the woods like a sniper, make your camp visible from outer space! You can use rocks, sticks, bright items of clothing and even quad parts to mark your location or write shorthand messages such as an arrow to grab attention. The two best signaling devices are very low-tech: a mirror and a whistle. If you aren't packing a signal mirror (not much bigger than a credit card with a hole in the middle for aiming), you can use a CD, compact, chrome part or small reflector off your ATV to make reflective signals. Don't aim your mirror at a helicopter's pilot and blind him, but instead lead him a bit so you don't find yourself in for a longer stay. Whistles are superb, especially if you think you are close to a search group-and they won't leave you hoarse from yelling! Remember that fire that you just oh-so-carefully started? The smoke from it will be seen from miles away, especially if you are burning extremely green wood.
Fire
Finally, we've come to the fun part: fire! This useful tool can keep you warm under even the harshest of conditions, along with performing such jobs as boiling water to purify it, heating your food and sending out a signal. You need to have a way to get the fire started. Don't fool yourself into thinking that in an emergency you can simply pull a caveman move and rub two sticks together like there is no tomorrow. You should be prepared by having more than one way to start a fire, such as a stash of matches, a lighter, flint and steel or even a set of eyeglasses (remember the ants?). Having tinder is also good. Besides dry grass or leaves, steel wool, balled-up Kleenexes or even dryer lint work wonders. Pick a good spot to build your fire, where you can make use of the heat without filling your shelter full of smoke.
Now, the truth is most people could not start a fire if they had five gallons of race gas and a whole log. The reason? Fires need to be started on a small scale and built up. First, clear a small area to be used as a fire pit. Then set up a tiny tepee using the smallest sticks you can find-we are talking toothpick-sized at first. Add in a few pencil-sized pieces, being sure to make a little door on the side. Now, get down on your belly, stick your tinder in through the door and light that sucker up. If you do this right, you will have a tiny fire that can be built up and controlled. Do not use gasoline to build your fire, unless conditions are very wet. Do not let it get out of control, as you will be held responsible for starting a forest fire. Do not pop off a flare into a field of dry grass; the bill might make you wish you could stay lost. And whatever you do, do not fall asleep with a raging inferno by your head; you will be sorry. Instead, make a manageable fire that will in turn become a much more effective tool. Remember, you are an intelligent off-road rider, not a caveman!
Water
OK, let's recap: Your attitude is tops, your wounds are taken care of, you have a shelter that would make the Swiss Family Robinson jealous, you have several signals in place and are sitting by a warm fire. What in the world could be next? Why, water, of course! Since water is so critical to our survival, this step is an important one, but it is good to get everything else in place first. Why? Because you can survive three to seven days without water, but you only have a few minutes to get out of the cold before you succumb to hypothermia. You see, the human body can survive for a surprising amount of time without liquids, but this is still no reason to slack. Water is a very plentiful resource on Earth, and simply knowing where to find it will be a huge help.