Timely Safety Procedure Reminder

Great post.

Sometimes someone says something here that makes me proud to be a member.

I will (today) point Heidi to this post and we will together start to re-educate ourselves about what's important.

We carry a terrific First Aid Kit and seeing as Heidi is a Nurse I wouldn't know a thing about First Aid, Silly eh?

Thanks Willem

We are entering a 3 month trip in July with our two children 12 and 6 they have both been going through the safety procedures in case something was to happen.
As a family we all know where the communication,first aid,and even mechanical devises are located in car and camper trailer for time of need as well as knowing how to use the equipment . Understandably the 12 and 6 year old would have some difficulty in some machanical areas but they have the basics to give some assistance in an emergency.As we have had numerious camping expeditions as a family group travelling alone, I do believe this is a very essential point to be made.

Kind Regards
Troopytrek

As we have been reminded by the recent tragic deaths, it is important to stay with the vehicle!
I carry a marine style 'Vee-Sheet', which can be tied across the roof of the vehicle, or layed out on the ground if under a treed canopy. The other item which should almost be mandatory, is an EPIRB.

Jude will still ask you to do....and then tell you how as well

Willie, I hope you showed her how to change the oil and all those other "important" jobs too....Maybe she should practice doing some of these routine maintenance jobs from time to time as well!!! LOLOL (Oh well, it's worth a try).

Seriously though, you've raised a very valid point. I know that VKS737 encourage all their members to get the wife and kids involved in radioing in during the skeds so they will not be intimidated by the (otherwise) daunting prospect of having to fire-up the HF to make an emergency call.

In my case, I'm somewhat behind the 8 ball from the start as Annette does not want to learn how to drive. I am only hoping nothing serious happens to me in a remote location until at least my oldest lad (9) can be taught the rudiments of operating the Nissan's clutch and generally getting us going if I've broken my leg or something.

I did a first aid course last year (and now carry a fairly large first aid kit), but reckon I'd be useless at an accident scene, cos I'd have to refer to my handbook for 15 minutes to find out what to do. It's like most training I've done during my life....if you don't use it, you lose it!!!

In the case of those poor blokes in WA, what can I say??? They stayed with the truck which is what we're all told to do. But that's not worth diddly squat if no buggar knows you're missing or overdue. As said before by somebody else, an epirb could have got them out of trouble; but going on a trip like that well-prepared and with people being informed of your intended trip etc might be the best possible insurance.

R.I.P.

Roachie

Willem ,
If it's not to nosy , where are you off to on Sunday ? Somewhere exciting ?
Cheers ,
Willie .

Hey Willem great post, i have done this myself more through necessity than good management, as i used to race bikes i usually at times fell off and could not load the bike on the trailer or drive or do alot of things, so it was up to the missus or Venessa to do all these things so when we started going bush it was natural that the girls learned things that i would normally do, like being able to load and hook the trailer up to the car by themselves, change a tyre and or repair it too, just commen sence really, i am lucky that Kerry and Ness love to do all these anyway so no coaxing here, sometimes i feel that i'm in the way lol.

Baz.

Thanks Willem, I have to admit I haven't taught my wife everything because I don't want her leaving me in the middle of the desert some day. I try to make a couple of jobs, like changing wheels, look a bit complicated, "this wheel brace could turn in one of two directions, so I better do it" then she thinks she needs me around. We both know I am kidding myself, but It helps me sleep better at night.

But you have made me realise my first aid training is way out of date and we both need to do another course, and also the kids aren't familiar with the UHF, the Sat phone is no problem (teenage daughter). Would anyone know the minimum age to do a first aid course? may as well get the kids involved in that too if they can.

Dont be frightened to show your kids how to drive even if only in low range so they would be able to get you to a main road homestead etc.

They become pretty good a it in a very short time.By using l/4 anyone can start and when conditions allow upchange the biggest problem will be staying inside 2 wheel tracks and the easiest way to help them is to use a large cable tie sticking up from the bullbar.Align the tail of the cable tie with the edge of the left wheel track so from the drivers seat it all lines up generally close to the centre post.My then 6yo used to watch a obstical disapear under the bonnet and count till the front wheels would be there (1st + 2nd lr).Teach them never to reverse unless someone is guiding them from the front of the vehicle takes longer but saves a lot of grief because the person guiding has to keep stopping the driver while they check behind the vehicle.

First aid everyone in camp should know even the kids can look after each other if you make it their ressponsibility.

My boys 6 + 10 at the time used to have a ball getting the Nissan out of a bog that Dad would do on purpose and then sit down for a quiet beer while listening to what was going on 10 mts away.

Teach them every thing take them every where they leave soon enough.

One of the best post/response sequences this year Willem. Bloody Terrific!!
I always reckoned I could wriggle out of most small mishaps, get to the truck, get to the hospital?? or whatever. Well, not so... 18months ago took a tumble in the scrub which ended with left leg bust in 4 places. About 200m. from the truck. My mate (bloody lucky for me!) was "somewhere about" so I reckoned on crawling back to the truck. Now with the bones completely snapped off, that just dont work. I soon discovered the true meaning of pain.
It took the mate about an hour to locate me, then use the sat. phone to call Ambo's. He didn't know how to operate it, its fixed mounted in the vehicle.
We eventually got it sorted, but not before the bloody ants took a feed off me!
The trip to hospital was also interesting, a Troopy Ambulance, 3hrs. of unsteady bucking!! I was interested to find out what the digital monitors on a panel were indicating. The Ambo said, oh, your doing ok, that 95 is your oxygen conversion. Good I said, and whats that one showing around 127. Only your pulse, he repliied.
Now I have to go through it all again, they managed to put my foot back on 18deg. out of alignment. (srubbing tyres like mad!)
I learnt quite a lot from that experience, and as I said, the responses to this post tremendous value.
the kesh

Great post Willem, and great idea. I have been showing James a lot of things as we go along, but in most he is too young to do a lot. He does know some important things, like how to use the GPS, how to use the UHF and how to use a mobile phone. He has also been instructed on how and when to use an EPIRB. When I have the sat phone he will be taught how to use that too. Once I do a refresher First Aid course, I will be showing him some critical things in that too. Unfortunately he is too young (at 7) to be able to change tyres, belts, hoses, oil etc, but he will be shown how to drive a vehicle soon.

Cheers

The wise old sage has done it again. Well put young fella!!
Have a great and safe trip. Look forward to hearing all about your trip when we get back.
Might overload your inbox while your away. LOL
Happy travels
Alpaca

Yup, we all know what to do (at least we think we do!!) but alot of our partners (not all of them, but alot) really don't give a crap. They like the scenery they don't mind camping (as long as we organise it) but if anything were to go wrong they would look at you. If you are stuffed, then they are stuffed. Normally we go away with at least one other vehicle so there are other people with knowledge but at easter when we went out by ourselves around Kalgoorlie I gave Bec a quick GPS course and UHF course and little Mike has instructions on where to find the First Aid kit and how to use the phone. But there is always more they could know, it's hard sometimes to spark the interest.
We have both done St John as well but it was a while back, we are both planning a refresher later this year when we have some time off. You can never know too much first aid!!
I'm sure those little crash courses we've given them will hopefully come flooding back if an emergency ever arises! At least they've got somewhere to start anyway.

Hi to all
sometimes we underestimate exactly how much the young ones do actually absorb.It is crucial that they are shown what to do but also given the chance to try and experience the things that they have been shown in non life threatening situation.Im late forties and even now on occassion have to do things in everyday situations,that my father had shown me when I was a kid.Power to the kids and hopefully they will be able to use their well learnt skills,All the best Dave