Put that iPad down

If you were charged for SAR, people would be very reluctant to report a missing person. Then it wouldn't be SAR needed, but "we'll go and pick up the body".

Interesting though recovery of vehicle costs well up around 15000 bucks.

We have the community looking after our lost and our weak. I wouldn't want to see that change.

If actual costs were charged we'd have more folk in a worse state or dead.

It wouldn't take too many before the rest woke up and thought a lot more before they ventured out.

And the problem with that is?...

...it is no different than any other business person raising awareness in there area of expertise or product.

I think I would want the person that is selling training courses to be an expert.

Bob Cooper is recognised as an expert in his field and has been for quite a number of years. There aren't too many civillians who have successfully completed the SASR Selction Course.

Because of his expertise, his opinions are often sought - particularly when there is an event that relates to his area of expertise. Yes he was interviewed when the "Ant man" went missing. Perhaps the recent "lost pilot" has bought about this recent resurrection.

Just because there is a commercial interest doesn't diminish his expertise.

Cheers

Anthony

Hi Stephen maybe should be some legislation on going off the bitumen that vehicles must carry the 3 items.Also some simple things like jump starters or dual battery setup.I am on overkill 3 batteries.The miiror is a good simple thing.I remember when out remote WA the Aboriginals would burn a tyre to attrack attention.Just wondering what satphone you use.I am going to buy one as going to remote NP.in WA. Cheers

Hi Lazylux

From my own personal experiences when travelling solo and with a small group, people that are prepared are not usually the ones that run into trouble.

The experienced outback traveller is aware of what lies out in the unknown and are prepared for most situations, and even with car batteries, having a dual battery system, I still carry a small jump start battery pack....just in case.

I use the InmarSat Pro satellite phone and I have been able to make phone calls from all the remote locations that we travel. The phone is on a pre paid basis, but always make sure I have lots of credit in the situation requires extended phone calls in emergencies. If I happen to run out of credit, then calls to 000 are free from my sat phone.

I still say the cheapest piece of emergency equipment to carry is the PLB, and they should be mandatory in any vehicle that heads bush.



Cheers



Stephen

Read Boobook's post..:)

Cheers
Greg

GPS might be a reliable technology, but GPS devices are just as prone to failure as any other device. Lack of batteries, being dropped in water, run over, left on the roof of the car at the last stop, etc, etc. I think the expert quoted was trying to point out that people are failing to learn what to do when their devices are not available. How to find or make drinking water, how to avoid dehydration, how to fix the vehicle using anything available (watch Bush Mechanics before you go!), that sort of stuff. Pre-Google knowledge, kept in your head.

Bush mechanics was a show for the tv.

Try that in real life and see what happens with a modern vehicle?

Leave your GPS on the roof?

Run it over?


People that do those type of things should never be in the bush in the first place, as they would be totally irresponsible.

As for finding water out in the bush, that is far harder than many think.

You may have heard about the so call bush still, placing green vegetation in a plastic bag and waiting to get moisture that way?

This is the most unwise thing to do, and if you are not a botanist, you can end up killing yourself, as many of out so called green bushes and trees will very toxic and kill you.

There is far more to know than just doing a Google....




Cheers



Stephen

I've used a handheld GPS in bushwalking for going on 20 years now. It's only let me down once - flat batteries. So user error.

In that time I've also carried a map and compass. That's let me down several times: paper maps getting wet and my son sitting on the compass!

If you're lost outback, the chances aren't good that you're going to navigate yourself out of a pickle. With a map and compass you need at least one known feature on the horizon, preferably two. With a GPS you've got coordinates within a minute. When lost in the high country socked in by cloud, a GPS is without peer, or you turn your smartphone on.

Indeed.
But you can still get into trouble on the Birdsville Tk and the like, enough to mean when you're injured waiting for someone to come along you can die.

I say let's have more high tech aids, not less. A smartphone with GPS and map is a wonder we never dreamed about back when we were young. A PLB or SPOT to call in the cavalry are cheap and reliable.