Outback Survival

Adequate preparation before starting your trip will lessen the chance of jeopardising human life. There are numerous articles on the ExplorOz site about vehicle selection, specific vehicle and communications requirements such as EPIRB or UHF Radio for going offroad, tool and recovery kits, driving skills etc.

You should also do a map study to determine what fuel and water sources are en route; the best route; what aids to navigation you will have; what alternative routes you could use if necessary; what positions of evacuation are available; and where the local inhabitants are located. The ExplorOz Adventure Shop stocks a very large range of maps - both paper and on CD, along with mapping software for use on computers and even to interface with a GPS for moving map navigation. For more information see our Navigation articles.

Survival is best defined at simply staying alive. Generally speaking survival in the outback is a day to day proposition. For most people, a survival situation will be a traumatic experience. In fact, people who are survivors are often ones that have been able to keep their stress levels under control to enable them to: review the situation, determine an aim, list the factors affecting their survival, identify all course of available action, select the best course of action, and then make a plan.

The following 6 principles are a good basic guide that apply to anyone, anywhere to varying degrees.

First Aid

Obviously in an accident or emergency situation the first thing is to attend to is the vital life processes of the victim. See First Aid Principles for more information.

Clothing

The next important aspect to ensuring survival is to minimise exposure (cold or hot/UV).

Shelter and Fire

The next step is to protect the body from the elements by seeking shelter.

Location

Now you need to make yourself easy to find by search and rescue parties. So set up location aids - this may include fires, lights, mirrors, or more sophisticated methods such as activating an EPIRB.

Water

Generally the body can survive - 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food.

Food

Given the above, food is a low priority in a survival situation, unless no one knows you are gone. This refers to the searching for food, and is not as applicable to travellers that might already have a fully stocked larder. The issue here is that energy spent looking for food (bush food) is a waste of the bodies precious water resources. It is especially dangerous to eat if you don't have water as it increases the bodies need for water.

The following ideas are well documented methods of obtaining ground water in Australian survival manuals. Be careful not to drink contaminated water because infection will cause you to further dehydrate. If you have adequately prepared, you will have water purification tablets with you.

Rock Formations

Rocky areas are ideal for rain catchments so if there is any water seepage from the ground it is likely to be found near rock formations.

Salt Lakes

After rain has fallen, the top 3mm of a salt lake is fresh water. It can be siphoned off by using a grass straw or tubing.

Windmills

If you can see a windmill, then usually there will be a water supply such as a well, dam or soak. Check the water has not gone salty.

Animal Trails

Where a large number of trails converge together, it would indicate that water was not far away. Follow the trails to the water source.

Water Seepage

Natural springs and soft rock erosion area (slopes, banks etc)

Coastal Water Sources

In Western Australia, you can obtain drinking water by digging high up on the beach above the tidemark or behind the first sand hills. It tastes brackish and should only be used in small quantities.

Dew

Wipe down the vehicle with a cloth before sunrise and wring it out into a container.

Transpiration Method

Water can be obtained by placing clear plastic bags over the leafy branch of a non-poisonous tree and securing the end of the branch. Ensure there are no holes in the bag. The action of the sun on the plastic will cause water to be drawn from the leaves and run to the lowest part of the bag. Do not disturb the bag to collect water, simply cut a small hole in the bag then reseal it with tape. The leaves will continue to produce water as the roots draw it from the ground. Water should be drained off every 2 hrs and stored. If no large trees in the area, break up clumps of grass or small bushes and put them into the bag.

Distilling Sea Water

If the only water around is undrinkable (such as sea water), then boiling it will create steam (which is fresh water). Provided you can find a method of collecting the steam, such as trapping it as condensation, you can drink it.

Extremes of heat and cold are the enemies of human survival and both these qualities are found in inland arid regions where very hot days are followed by cold nights. Vehicles are a source of shelter as they provide protection from the sun during the day and the cold air at night. Ideally, you'll be planning to camp out and have packed a tent or swag. If not, branches or blankets can be used to keep direct sun from the vehicle. Bonnets can be removed too and arranged to create shade.

Fire cooks, warms, sterilises and acts as a signal if necessary. Ideally, your vehicle is well stocked with matches and a gas cooker or lamp. To start a fire without matches can be a challenge for modern man - but all you need to do is find a "fuel", and add heat and oxygen. Some "fuels" could be dry animal manure, kindling, timber, or reactive chemicals. Heat can be created by friction, chemical reaction, spark or magnification.

In an emergency, you could create a fire by one of the following methods not requiring a match:

• Soak a rag in a little petrol and touch a heated cigarette lighter to it


• Pull out two wires from the vehicle and attach to the terminals of your battery - run them away to the ground. When the ends are touched together they will spark and you can ignite tinder (starting fires from batteries is extremely dangerous. Keep fire well away from battery to avoid an explosion)


• Hold steel wool over the negative terminals of a 6 volt torch battery and brush it against the positive terminal. The sparks produced should ignite the steel wool which you can then use to light nearby tinder.


• Condy's crystals can be mixed in equal amounts with sugar and grinding them with the flat of a knife blade producing a brief but intense flame


• Use a lens from binoculars or camera to focus sunlight onto light tinder such as leaves

In the case of statistics of self-drive travellers that have become stranded and died, very few actually die of starvation. Most travellers will have some food stored in their vehicle, and if they stray from the vehicle they tend to die of dehydration not starving. Remember - the human can survive only 3 days without water, but up to 3 weeks without food. Any food should be eaten sparingly if you are unsure of how long you may have to until rescued, and it is better to have one meal a day, than to nibble small amounts.
Here are some useful tips:

Watch Method

To find north using your watch stand holding your wristwatch horizontal with the number 12 pointing in the direction of the sun. Bisect the angle between the hour hand and the 12 o'clock position to give you the approximate position of North.

Shade

Australia is in the southern hemisphere and consequently, shade from bushes in the heat of the day always occurs on the southern side of a bush.

The Shadow Stick

Push a stick vertically into the ground. Place a stone at the end of the stick's shadow. After 20mins place another stone at the end of the shadow. Draw a line in the ground between the 2 stones - this lines will mark the approximate West - East direction. Stand along the line facing towards the stick with your left foot between the 2 stones and your right foot outside the stones - you will now be facing North.

When all is going well, your vehicle should provide you with shelter, food and water - all key elements of survival. However, most of these attributes only work for you when the vehicle is generating power from the alternator to keep batteries alive, which in turn keep the fridge and air conditioner running etc. It doesn't take much in the way of vehicle breakdown to cause a life-threatening situation so anything to do with your vehicle and its safe and continuous operation is a survival factor.

Typical emergencies that eventuate when the vehicle is compromised are:

• Vehicle breakdown (mechanical problem, becoming stuck, out of fuel, or lost)


• Blocked access (natural disasters such as bushfire, flood, or blizzard)

Stuck or Lost?

For the purpose of this article, we are assuming that you are a traveller with a vehicle, and your vehicle (and possibly the tent or swag stored in it) is your source of shelter. Your number one life-saving tip to remember is "always stay with your vehicle". Ideally, if you've broken down in your vehicle and been adequately prepared you will have enough water for many days and have a method of contacting someone using remote communications equipment. This would be the ideal situation, and should lead to your quick rescue. However, if you do not have enough water for the next 3 days you must recognise that you could die without it and hence you should look for water. Most deaths that have occurred when travellers have become stranded have been due to dehydration after becoming lost or having their vehicle break down in remote areas. Remember - the body can generally survive only 3 days without water and in this time your physical strength and emotional resources are at their strongest so if you have to take action it must be worthwhile to your survival so your first efforts should be directed towards conserving what water you have and conserving body energy by staying cool or warm. If you have no water, then you will need to be resourceful to establish a good water supply without expending too much energy or moving too far away from your vehicle. For tips see Finding Water.

If you do become lost, try to remain calm as panic will put you at a psychological disadvantage. Don't try to push on in the hope of ending up "somewhere". It would be safer to return the way you came by retracing your tracks back to a point where you can establish your location. If you have to leave your vehicle temporarily to search for water, mark your trail on the ground with sticks or stones (drawing a line in the dust could vanish with a small breeze) so you can find your way back. Only walk in the cool part of the day to minimise fluid loss and exposure to the sun.

Avoiding Fire

You can avoid creating bushfires by observing fire bans and being vigilant to extinguish every campfire you make before you leave. If planning to travel on tracks in open grasslands, you should equip your vehicle with flymesh across the radiator to avoid build up of spinifex that may cause the engine to overheat and catch fire to the grass beneath your vehicle as you drive along the track. If you do get caught in a large bushfire and cannot get out of its path, you must stay in your vehicle. If possible position the vehicle in a clearing. Close windows, vents and doors. Leave the hazard lights on, and engine running, air conditioning on set to re-cycle air. Protect yourself with blankets, towels, coats etc.

Avoiding Floods

You can avoid being caught out in a flash flood by never camping in a dry creek bed and by planning trips during the dry season in tropical zones such as Far North Queensland, the Top End in NT, and North West WA.

When driving through water crossings you should always test the depth first. Never assume that its safe to cross if you have not seen another vehicle cross immediately ahead of you, even if you see wheel tracks exiting the bank of the river on the other side. There could have been rain overnight, or the tide could be higher. If you're not sure - stop and wait for more travellers to come to the crossing and discuss it with them. Remember, engines can easily stall if water enters the air intake - you should not attempt river crossings without a snorkel fitted and a radiator blind is also recommended. Drive through water crossings with windows DOWN in case passenger evacuation is needed. For more skills and tips see our Water Crossing section in the Driving Skills article.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is sometimes thought of as ambulances in the sky, although it also uses utility land vehicles and 4WDs. The RFDS has gained a very high reputation for there continued support in humanitarian services in rural and outback Australia. Some of the services that are provided include: on site emergency first aid, transportation of general practitioners to rural or remote communities and the safe patient transport to hospitals. Locations for operating bases include:

Central Operations

These include bases at Uluru (Ayers Rock), Alice Springs, Port Augusta, South Australia and Adelaide

South East

Includes bases at Broken Hill, Dubbo, Bankstown, Melbourne, Essendon and Launceston

Queensland

Includes bases at Mount Isa, Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Brisbane, Bundaberg and Charleville

Western Operations

Includes bases at Derby, Port Hedland, Meekatharra, Perth (Jandakot Airport) and Kalgoorlie

As outlined in other articles on this site, there are numerous forms of outback communication devices and navigation aids that can be purchased or hired. An EPIRB is the minimum recommended for outback survival in an emergency. Click for EPIRB or see our Communications and Navigation articles. Without modern safety aids, you can also use the following methods to indicate your position to potential rescue parties looking for you.