Rules of thumb
TEN REAL-WORLD SURVIVAL TIPS
There is no hard-and-fast recipe to negate disaster, but sticking to these guidelines helped me cope. One thing most adventure specialists agree on is that you need to re-evaluate your situation constantly, and then adjust your course of action accordingly.
1. Do Not Panic: evaluate your options and make decisions based on your (and your group’s) physical capabilities. Giving every individual a task to focus on will add to their sense of purpose and focus.
2. ER Course: attend a relevant first aid course and keep your knowledge up to date. You will thank me later.
3. Emergency Communication: carry a Spot Africa or similar satellite communications unit; this will shave precious hours off ER lag time, either via extraction or by connecting you to the emergency response grid for immediate access to information.
4. Plan A + Plan B: initiate self-rescue procedures to further speed up the rescue timeliness; in SA, there are areas an ambulance will never reach.
5. Available Tools: use whatever items you have on hand; we fashioned a sling out of a long-sleeve Core Merino garment, and used a buff as a tourniquet.
6. Use Your Body’s Adrenaline: this is an incredibly powerful drug but you will need to use it within 15 to 30 minutes before the effects fade.
7. Timelines: double your guestimate in your own mind; this means a “good” surprise when you get there quicker than you expect.
8. Out of the Wilds: the true test of character kicks in once you get to hospital and need to confront what may be a challenging prognosis; patience and mindfulness will be key to recovery.
9. Real Healing: this does not happen in the hospital, but in a loving environment where you are able to surround yourself with family, animals and, if possible, immerse yourself in nature.
10. Trauma Counselling: deep emotional trauma is difficult to identify and come to terms with, but it is a key therapy need in your journey to wholeness.