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OutdoorSafe Newsletter By Peter Kummerfeldt
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Please note our new mailing address above. This change was brought about by our perceived need to improve the security of the mail we receive from many of you. Mail that often contains both checks and credit card numbers with the orders you send. Be assured that we will do everything we can to protect both your privacy and your financial information As another year wraps up for Mary and I we look back with gratitude for all of you that we have been in contact with this year and look forward to maintaining that contact in 2002 Since 1995 when we began presenting OutdoorSafe programs we have had seven people contact us after having used Mary’s survival kits and/or my training in actual emergencies. Sheep hunters in Montana, fishermen in Saskatchewan, a blacktail deer hunter in Alaska and several light aircraft pilots in northern Canada and Alaska. Nothing does my heart more good than to have someone contact me and say “It works! When we started this venture we never planned on getting rich - all I wanted to do was to share “my lessons learned” with others and perhaps save them the trials and tribulations that I, and others, have experienced. To that end I appear to have been somewhat successful but there are still too many people finding themselves having to survive an unplanned night out. So there’s still a lot of work to be done.
Based on the survival books and articles I read there appears to be considerable confusion on what it takes to survive. The word “survival” conjures up a mental picture of a horrendous situation that takes place in some remote part of the world where the “survivor” has to “survive” under extreme environmental conditions, without food, with only limited (or no) water while fending off the onslaught of predatory animals! Let's get real. While there are many book definitions of the word “survival” none come close to adequately describing the kinds of situations that outdoor people sometimes find themselves in. Here’s my definition: Survival-- The ability and the desire to stay alive, under adverse conditions, all alone, until rescued.
Other news: A few thoughts on snakebite. A considerable amount of miss-information still exists regarding what to do in the event you are bitten by a venomous snake. To begin with “How do you know if you have been envenomated?” Just because you have been bitten doesn’t mean the snake injected poison into your tissues. Some authorities estimate that in only about 20% of bites is venom injected. The remainder are “dry bites.” Snakes have the ability to control the amount of venom they inject. But back to the original question. Inspect the wound. Are one or more fang marks visible? Keep in mind that all snakes have teeth and will bite if provoked leaving marks on your skin. Look for bleeding that appears to originate from punctures rather than just abraded skin. If envenomation has occurred pain and swelling will follow shortly. At this point DO NOT make any cuts, shock the victim with electrical shock, apply a tourniquet or consume alcohol! The use of mechanical suction, (Sawyer Extractor) if used within three minutes, may be of some value. Apply a light constriction band around the limb above the bite site, splint the limb, keep the limb at heart level or lower, remove rings and then make your way to medical care as quickly as possible. If others are available to go for help it may be better to allow the “professional medical care” (Flight for Life helicopter or ambulance service) to come to you. The best piece of equipment you have available to treat snakebite may be your car keys! Drive to hospital! Modern anti-venoms are much more effective than those previously available and have fewer side effects. It is always advisable to consult with a doctor after a snake bite incident even if it appears to be a dry bite. In some instances, depending on the type of snake, reactions to the venom may be delayed. Despite many people being bitten each year in the United States very few die from snakebite. In keeping with my “prevention” theme remember, “It is much easier to prevent a snakebite than it is to deal with it after the fact”
It’s that time of year again! The time to check out your vehicle’s survival kit or assemble one if you haven’t done so in the past. SPENDING A NIGHT IN YOUR VEHICLE Anyone who drives faces the possibility of spending a unplanned night in a vehicle. Bad weather, breakdowns, running out of fuel, getting stuck are some of the more common reasons why a driver might have to bed down for the night (or perhaps for several nights) until the situation is resolved. A night out does not have to be a life threatening experience. Drivers who accept the possibility that the unforeseen may happen are drivers that prepare, in advance, for the experience. On the other hand those drivers that deny the possibility may find themselves fighting for their lives until rescue arrives. PREPARATION. Assembling a survival kit is the first step and, as with any survival kit, the contents should be selected based on personal needs, the season and the geographic location. (See following list of recommended equipment) If you become stranded you’ll be glad you took the time to put together an emergency kit. In addition to the kit you should also evaluate the effectiveness of the clothing you are wearing to keep you warm in a cold vehicle. Most people dress to arrive at a destination and not to survive a night out.--- the reverse would be more appropriate Dress to survive not just to arrive!” When traveling with others don’t forget to provide sufficient supplies for the additional people as well. Preparation also involves ensuring that your vehicle is ready for winter travel. Never set out in stormy conditions without a full tank of gas, a good battery, proper tires, a heater and exhaust system in good working condition, good anti-freeze and “common sense.” YOU’RE STUCK! If you do get trapped by a blizzard or severe snow storm - “don’t panic!” Stay with your car and use your survival kit. Your vehicle makes a good shelter and an effective signal - don't leave it.” In your car you are warm (warmer than being outside), dry and protected from the weather. Trying to dig yourself out or attempting to walk to help can be fatal. “Sit tight - let the rescuers come to you!” Move all of your equipment and other emergency gear into the passenger compartment. SHELTERING IN YOUR VEHICLE While sitting out a storm you must use your resources sparingly - you don’t know how long you’ll be there. While the car will cut the wind and keep you dry you will need to keep the interior warm. The heat your body produces is insufficient to heat the interior. Sitting in a car you will become cold quickly-especially your feet. Put on your warmest clothes (socks, hat, gloves, long underwear and additional insulation layers), wrap yourself in blankets or get into a sleeping bag. Sit sideways so that you can place your feet on the seat where the foam cushioning will offer insulation from the cold. The foot wells will be the coldest part of the vehicle. Alternatively, place foam padding under your feet to insulate them. Place insulation behind your head so that it does not come in contact with the cold window. Using a space blanket and duct tape partition off the back of the vehicle from the front so you only have to warm the part of the vehicle you are occupying. Ways to warm the interior of your vehicle include running the engine for short periods of time, long-burning candles, small stoves and Isopropyl/toilet paper improvised heaters. Run the engine about ten minutes each hour or for shorter periods each half hour but only after ensuring that the exhaust is not damaged and the tail pipe is clear of snow and other debris. Run the engine on the hour or half-hour - times that coincide with news and weather broadcasts. Ventilate the vehicle by opening a downwind window approximately ½ inch. Carbon monoxide is a very real threat to your safety Do not go to sleep with the engine running. Carbon monoxide poisoning can sneak up on you without warning. Almost 60% of the unintentional deaths caused by carbon monoxide result from motor vehicle exhaust. It is less risky to use your clothing and other sources of heat to keep yourself warm. If you have to get out of the vehicle put on additional windproof clothing, and snow goggles if you have them, then tie a lifeline to yourself and the door handle before moving away from the proximity of the vehicle. In a blizzard visibility can be as low as 12 inches. Eat right, don’t drink alcohol and don’t smoke! Without enough energy stored in your body you will not have the ability to generate heat to keep your body warm. Your emergency kit should include quantities of high-calorie, non-perishable food (carbohydrate food bars). Keep yourself hydrated. Dehydrated people have great difficulty maintaining their body temperature. Don’t eat snow!It takes body heat to convert snow to liquid. Use your heat sources to melt snow for your drinking water. Don’t smoke - the nicotine in cigarettes reduces blood flow to the skin and extremities and increases the possibilities of frostbite. Don’t drink alcohol - alcohol affects judgment. Bad judgment decreases the chances of survival. GETTING RESCUED The ability to communicate your distress is critical when calling for rescue. A cell phone may be your best method of making contact with rescuers Dial 911 or the number selected by your state to contact law enforcement officials. CB and VHF radios may be available. Lacking electronic communication equipment you will have to improvise - tie a flag to your vehicle’s antennae, have a road flare prepared in the event that an aircraft flies over your area, if weather conditions permit, stamp out SOS in the snow, after the snow stops raise the hood. Keep the upper surfaces of your vehicle clear of snow. Remove the rearview mirror and use it to reflect a beam of sunlight to rescuers - either on the ground on in the air. Do whatever you can to draw attention to yourself. Emergency equipment to store in your vehicle
New products: Sam Splints Survival and First Aid books are full of recommendations on how to stabilize a fracture using sticks, ski poles, rolled up newspapers and other assorted improvised materials. Lacking anything else these might help but why not use a “Sam Splint? What’s a ‘Sam Splint?” A Sam’s Splint is a sheet of moldable aluminum, padded on both sides with foam rubber. The splint may be shaped into an endless varieties of supports and when held in place with Ace bandages, or other improvised cloth ties, effectively stabilizes the injury. You may wonder how a piece of thin aluminum is strong enough support a fracture. The secret lies in how you bend it. While Sam’s Splints are available in several sizes, the 4x36 inch is the most useful. These splints are lightweight, practical, effective and do not require graduation from medical school to use. They are available from Sam Splint 800-818-4726 or www.samsplint.com. These splints are also carried by many retailers throughout the country. Call the 800 number to locate a retailer in your area. Evac-U8 Smoke Hoods When you consider that three out of every four fire fatalities are caused by smoke inhalation the most important thing you can do to survive a fire is to maintain your source of breathable air. EVAC-U8 smoke hoods provide you that air for up 20 minutes. Time to find your way out of a smoke-filled building. Time to evacuate a burning aircraft. The device weighs only 11oz and is similar in size to a soft drink can. For more information contact EVAC-U8 at 800-459-3822 or, on line at www.evac-u8.com
Books that I have read this year... This year, because of my work with the US Customs, I became very interested in survival after a capsizing or ditching at sea and gathered as many books as I could find, both in and out of print, on the subject. The following is a list of the books that I found interesting and the most informative: - Albatross-Deborah Scaling Kiley - Almost Too Late-Elmo Wortman - Survive the Savage Sea-Dougal Robertson - Capsized-Nalepka & Callahan - Sole Survivor-Ruthanne Lum McCunn - Adrift-Steven Callahan - Rough Water-Edited by Clint Willis - Survival and Safety at Sea-Lee & Lee - Sole Survivors-James E. Wise - Staying Alive-Maurice & Marylyn Bailey - Man on a Raft-Kennith Cole - The Raft-Robert Trumbull - Survival Afloat-Don Biggs - Sea Survival-Dougal Robertson - A Practical Guide to Lifeboat Survival-Naval Institute Press These books cover the length and breadth of surviving at sea and should be available through your library, if not directly, then by inter-library loan. Another source I recommend if you want to buy any of the books is “Powells” used book store in Portland, Oregon. (www.powells.com or toll free at 866-201-7601)
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