FIRE NO.5
The
Survival Edition BEING PREPARED
àPLUS WATER FILTRATION DEVICES HOW TO: BASIC FIRST AID TECHNIQUES SURVIVAL TOOLS THAT MIGHT SAVE YOUR LIFE DESOLATION: SOME OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST DANGEROUS LOCATIONS
outdoors SINCE 1958
The Campfire
Chat… Visiting those quieter, more remote parts of Australia is so
rewarding.
It re-connects us
with nature,
soothes our soul, and takes us as far away as possible from our day-to-day troubles that come with civilisation.
It’s the solitude that speaks to you, the remoteness that makes it so special. Getting out there does come with its risks however, and only the foolish would head into the wild without the right knowledge and preparation. Having the right tools at hand, and the knowledge of how to use them, along with a good dash of common sense is usually enough to stay clear of trouble and get yourself out of a pickle. Combine that with some sound preparation, and you can be capable of tackling some of the roughest corners that Australia hides with confidence. In this edition of Campfire, we have some basic information about survival that could make a lot of difference on your next adventure. This edition will show you some basics, give you some tips, and load you up with inspiration.
Yours in camping, The Ray’s Outdoors Crew
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Contents 3 Water 6 How To: Basic Survival Techniques 9 Survival Ideas 12 Desolation
Water
THE REASON WHY LIFE IS POSSIBLE ON EARTH, WATER DEMANDS THE UPMOST RESPECT FROM ADVENTURERS WHEN HEADING OFF THE BEATEN TRACK; A HUMAN BEING CAN’T EXPECT TO LIVE LONGER THAN 3-5 DAYS WITHOUT IT.
W
ater, One oxygen and two hydrogen atoms, connected by covalent bonds, is the reason why life on our planet is possible. Water covers a whopping 71% percent of the earth’s surface, but a vast majority of that is saline, and undrinkable. Only around 2.5% of our planet’s water is freshwater, and almost 99% of that freshwater is either located underground (in aquifers and basins) or locked up in ice. Although water contains no energy or nutrients, it is essential for survival. Why is that? It’s because the human body is made up of almost 60% water. If you weight 70 kilograms for example, you are made up of around 40 litres of water. The tricky thing is that the body uses water constantly, and needs topping up. Think of it like a leaky radiator in your car; if your body is working, it is losing water. The harder you push it, the more water it expels. Obviously, the main sources of fluid loss is through urine and sweating, but did you know that each breath comes with a loss of fluid through water vapour? So, how do we stay on top of our water consumption? Scientists estimate that the average person will lose around
2.5 litres of water per day, with that amount increasing sharply according to the amount of hard work the body is doing. We take in a reasonable amount of water via the foods we eat, so a baseline of two litres per person, per day is a bare minimum to avoid dehydration. If you plan on any form of exercise, then add another litre. What about ambient temperatures? If days are looking to be hot, add one litre again. And of course, a bit of a reserve capacity wouldn’t hurt either. You have to take into account water usages other than consumption, like cooking and washing if you are spending more than a day in the bush. It’s a good idea to keep these separate. WATER FILTRATION One great way of taking a chunk out of the water that you have to lug is by sourcing it along the way, from natural sources. This comes with an element of risk however, as water can be a source to some pretty nasty microbes and viruses. The issue isn’t hard to overcome however, thanks to many advanced water filters that are available. Good quality filters remove things like polio and e.coli from drinking water through a very small filter, one that goes down to 15nm, which is equivalent to 0.0000015 centimetres. In other words, very very small!
Rivers like this one can but you have to be sm provide water to the traveller, art Filtration and treatme about the way you use it. nt is most important.
THE LIFESTRAW, A SMALL, PERSONAL WATER FILTER, ALLOWS YOU TO DRINK WATER FROM NATURAL SOURCES
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Water
THE REASON WHY LIFE IS POSSIBLE ON EARTH, WATER DEMANDS THE UPMOST RESPECT FROM ADVENTURERS WHEN HEADING OFF THE BEATEN TRACK; A HUMAN BEING CAN’T EXPECT TO LIVE LONGER THAN 3-5 DAYS WITHOUT IT.
A SOLAR STILL Adding vegetation or any other source of moisture can increase the still’s output.
STEP 1
If water really is scarce, it’s a good idea to do the hard work at night time, so you lose as little water as possible from the toil.
STEP 2
By digging the hole and placing the sheet over the top, you are trapping the sun’s heat in the still, causing moisture to evaporate, and then condense on the sheet. Applying the weight in the centre of the sheet (with nothing touching the bottom side) will cause the condensed water that sticks to the sheet to move and accumulate at the lowest point, finally dropping into the container you have placed in the still. Then, with the aid of the tube, you can then suck the water from the container without having to disassemble the still. The still is also able to purify water through the evaporation and condensation; brackish, muddy and murky water, even urine can be converted into drinking water through the still.
Pile dirt removed from hole around the top to hold down the plastic
A solar still doesn’t make a huge amount of water, but it could be enough to get you out of a pinch. One simple method of procuring water thin air, in a way, is a solar still. A solar still works on the very simple method of drawing the moisture out of soil and vegetation, trapping and channelling it into a vessel, which can then be drank. All you need to make a solar still is: Some thick, plastic sheet (the size of this will determine the size of your still, a handful of weights (some rocks/ timber) a suitable vessel and a length of tube to extract the water from the still.
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WHEN THINGS GO WRONG: LEN BEADELL Famous Australian Explorer Len Beadell had a close shave with dehydration during his time exploring the Great Victoria Desert during the 1950’s. 300 miles from camp in the middle of an untamed desert, Len’s supply of 72 litres of water in his 4X4 ran dry. Fearing the worst, with his lips swollen and starting to get delirious, Len’s legendary reputation as a bushman was about to be put to the ultimate test. Travelling down from a rocky outcrop, Len was able to find an old watercourse marked in the desert’s sand. Following the sharper edges of the watercourse, Len was able to find a small puddle of water, about the size of a dinner plate. From this source, Len was not only able to slake his thirst, but after digging out the puddle with his shovel, he even was able to refill his 72 litres of water capacity.
Drinking tube Weight down the plastic cover over the container
Add sources of moisture into the pit
Line the hole with darker rocks if avaible
Q
QUENCH
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Continued
How To:
BASIC SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES
TREATING A SNAKEBITE: The Royal Flying Doctor’s Service has some simple instructions that can possibly save a person’s life in the event of snakebite. Despite what you might see on the Hollywood action movies, sucking the bite isn’t a good idea; neither is cutting or washing the bite area. The first thing you should do is keep the casualty (the one that got bitten) as calm and still as possible. Your next step is to apply a firm, but not tight pressure to the wound area. The best thing for this is a pressure immobilisation bandage, starting from the bite and wrap the limb down all the way to the toes, with just the nails poking out (so you can monitor blood flow). The pressure, whilst not stopping venous bloodflow, hinders the venom travelling through the lymphatic system. Your next job is to apply a splint to the limb, and keep the casualty’s movements to an absolute minimum. Then, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Every bite should be treated as life threatening, especially if you don’t know what sort of snake it was that did the biting.
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Not all wildlife is cute and cuddly. If you are concerned about survival, it’s a good idea to keep your distance from and be aware of potentially dangerous animals in the area. BURNS: St John Ambulance has some simple directions in the event of a burn. If your clothing catches fire, the best thing you can do is ‘Stop, Drop and Roll’, the fastest way to extinguish any flames. If the flames persist, wrapping the patient in a blanket and rolling them along the ground is effective. The most important thing to do next is to cool the burnt area. A great way of doing this is putting it under cool running water for twenty minutes. If there isn’t a tap nearby, improvisation is key. Look for a creek or river, or use a vessel to recycle any water at hand. It’s also a good idea to remove clothing and jewellery from the burnt area, unless they are sticking to the burn itself. Then, dress the burn.
Good-quality maps are an essential item when visiting remote areas.
Use sterile, non-adhesive dressing to cover the wound, and then seek medical attention as soon as possible. BLEEDING: If you have a wound that needs treatment, the first thing you have to look at doing is stemming the flow. St John Ambulance tells us that applying direct pressure, using a sterile or clean dressing and pad to achieve this. Lying the patient down and raising the wound above the heart can help to slow bloodflow as well. Next, you must bandage the dressing and pad firmly in place. If bleeding persists, apply another pad and bandage over the top of that. If bleeding still persists, it’s important that you seek medical aid as soon as possible.
If you are travelling by vehicle in remote areas, a fire extinguisher is a must.
SPRAINS: Although not as serious, sprains can be a real hassle and benefit from correct treatment. This comes in four stages: REST: The injured part in a comfortable position. ICE: Apply an icepack, wrapped in a wet cloth to the area. Do this for 15 minutes, every 4 hours, for 24 hours. COMPRESSION: Firmly apply a compression bandage, wrapping beyond the area of the injury. ELEVATE: Reduce bloodflow to the area by raising it above the heart.
First Aid Courses – A Survival Essential If you are planning on entering some dangerous territory, the most important thing you can do is get some proper education. First Aid Courses are plentiful, cheap, and can provide you with the essential knowledge that just could save your (or somebody else’s’) behind. St John Ambulance is one of Australia’s leading trainers in first aid. For more information, visit www.stjohn.org.au or call 1300 360 455.
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Survival Ideas TOOLS AND TIPS THAT MIGHT GET YOU OUT OF A PINCH
They radioed for help, and a rescue helicopter was soon on its way. All thanks to the humble signal mirror, and the knowledge of how to use it. TARPAULIN
MULTITOOLS A good-quality multitool can pack a lot of punch for its size, and can be seriously handy whatever the situation. From opening bottles and cans, to filing and bending, you will always find a use for a multi-tool. You can go for the ‘Swiss Army’ style pocket-knife, but we prefer the chunkier, heavier duty tools that include some sturdy pliers.
It might sound silly, but a tarp has a myriad of uses when it comes to survival. It can be used as a shelter, to collect rainwater, or can even be made into a tent or hoochie. If space is at a premium, consider packing a heavyduty garbage bag, which can be made into an excellent rainwater funnel.
SIGNAL MIRROR Many a story come from the saving powers from what is arguably the simplest, and most effective survival devices around. In America in the late 1980’s, three men went on a rafting adventure down the Colorado River. Disaster struck; leaving one of the team with a fractured knee, dislocated hip, a fractured pelvis and tailbone. Being immobile, they had to try and contact help somehow from their extremely remote location. Using a signal mirror, one of the team was able to send an S.O.S signal into the skies, which was picked up by a commercial plane flying 35,000 feet in the sky.
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Continued
Survival Ideas TOOLS AND TIPS THAT MIGHT GET YOU OUT OF A PINCH
WATER TREATMENT We know how important water is for survival, so it’s a great idea to get water as a contingency if things go wrong. Purification tablets are a great idea, as well as a reputable water filter that you can use to supplement your water reserves.
FIRST AID KIT
PERSONAL LOCATING BEACON If you are going super remote, and you are looking for some peace of mind, then a Personal Locating Beacon can fit the bill. Simply flick the aerial up on this, and it will send your GPS location (to within 45 metres) to the emergency services. This isn’t suitable for use on water (you need an EPIRB for that), but is a great size, and is great for remote overland trips.
This is probably the most important, along with the knowledge of how to use it. Look to take one as comprehensive as space can allow, but even a simple first aid kit is better than nothing. If you haven’t undertaken some formal first aid training, it’s a very wise idea before you head out into the boonies.
COMPASS Where a GPS is a great thing to have when you are exploring remote areas, a compass is a must for a survival kit. A compass on your phone is handy, but a real compass doesn’t run out of battery. Originally used for divination in Ancient China, it was quickly adopted as a navigational tool. Working by aligning a needle with the line of Earth’s magnetic field, it can accurately point out directions from the magnetic pull.
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Desolation:
SOME OF THE MOST REMOTE AND DANGEROUS PARTS OF AUSTRALIA.
GREAT VICTORIA DESERT The Great Victoria Desert is an absolute monster of a desert. It’s the biggest in Australia, and rates as the 8th biggest in the world. It’s so big in fact, people aren’t sure exactly how big it is; estimates of its size range from just below 350,000 km2, to almost 650,000 km2. The Great Victoria is a subtropical desert, getting only 200-250mm of rainfall per year. Temperatures can often reach over 40 °C during the day in Summer, whilst a winter’s night regularly sits around -5°C. The country is extremely rough and inhospitable; spinifex and mulga populates the sand hills, only interrupted by rough gibber plains, clay plans and salt flats. The notorious Anne Beadell Highway crosses the desert from East to West, the 1325 kilometre journey only for the adventurous and well prepared.
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GREAT SANDY DESERT Straddling the Pilbara and Kimberleys in Western Australia’s vast north, the Great Sandy Desert is a huge conglomeration untamed land. Comprised of 285,000 km2, the Great Sandy Desert has a high rainfall as far as deserts go, regularly going over the 300mm mark. High temperatures, high evaporation levels and inconsistent rainfall still means the Great Sandy is a harsh, inhospitable biome, with an average high temperature that never dips below 25°C all year round. The desert was conquered by Peter Warburton in 1874. Warburton finished the journey absolutely emaciated, strapped to a camel and blind in one eye. Later, Warburton attributed his survival to Charley, the aboriginal tracker that was part of the expedition. Without his traditional
bushcraft skills handed down through generations, Warburton would have likely expired in the unforgiving Great Sandy Desert. COBOURG PENINSULA Sitting at the very northern point of the Northern Territory mainland, the Cobourg Peninsula is one of the most remote parts of the Australian Mainland. There has been an attempt to colonise the area, in the form of the Port Essington settlement during the early to mid 1800’s. The settlement failed, due to the remote nature of the area, the unforgiving tropical weather and constant battling with Mother Nature. One major setback was a cyclone that came through in 1839. It killed twelve people, and drove the HMS Pelorus aground. Just before it was finally abandoned in 1849, and described it as ‘the most wretched,
the climate the most unhealthy, the human beings the most uncomfortable and houses in a condition most decayed and rotten.’ The ruins of the settlement can still be seen today, where nature rules. The estimated population of the area is somewhere between 30 and 50.
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VIC
(03)
Melbourne City
9347 7666
Traralgon
5176 5258
Lake Haven
4392 0788
Maroochydore
5443 1551
Marion
8296 4522
Myaree
9317 8277
5442 1103
Mildura
5021 0100
Waurn Ponds
5241 8855
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4008 2010
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3204 9075
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(08)
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(02)
Ballarat
5331 1888
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9596 3816
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Fountain Gate Frankston
9706 9050 9704 1254 9770 0012
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9318 4499
Mentone
North Geelong Nunawading Preston
Shepparton
South Morang Taylors Lakes
9584 6644 5278 7633 9877 8455 9484 1422 5821 8900 9404 1977 9449 4333
Warrnambool NSW
Albury
Campbelltown Camperdown Castle Hill Kotara
5562 9588 (02)
6041 5333 4628 9299 9557 9333 8850 7544 4957 2700
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9647 1488 (07)
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5525 5995
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4191 4340
Elizabeth
3800 0016 4041 0808
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4942 6542
Enfield
4926 5266 4638 4015 4728 3791 (08) 8231 3633 8252 0166 8359 5866
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8263 0611 9204 3436 9451 6044 9301 1622 9022 3104 9534 9267 9250 3313
Rockingham Majura Park TAS Cambridge Devonport Moonah Launceston
9527 2801 6196 3310 (03) 6248 5044 6423 2498 6272 4827 6331 0103