To all,

What exactly is the child expected to do with the surveyor's tape?

The expectation is that the children (and most adults) would stay put and make themselves as findable as possible. It seems that big (33 gallon) bright orange plastic bags waving in the breeze would be much more noticable than a small strip of bright plastic hanging from something.

I know Cody Lundin recommends them, and I can see the utility of the survey strips if an adult is traveling (more typically a survival no-no though) as they would identify the path of travel, and can be used to write notes to searchers (date/direction of travel/plan).