Thursday, Apr 14, 2005 at 14:10
>We realised that we need to change the order of prortity
>of some purchases. UHF,
winches, Epirbs etc.
You’re going to need a damn good winch for the bus :)
>As a general rule. (assuming we have no emergency gear)
>Considering an emergency. (Mechanical or medical). What
>would you have in the Bus and in what order would you buy
>it.
Most of Victoria isn’t really a problem – parts of the high country are pretty remote but you won’t be getting into those in the bus, the north west of the state (The Mallee etc) can be tricky, especially in summer, but again you won’t be getting the bus too far off main tracks and into sand country.
Make sure you have water, simple emergency food and good bedding to keep you warm in winter (here’s where you really score with the bus because you have _loads_ of space). A decent
First Aid kit (but Heidi knows all about that) a UHF CB with external antenna. A CDMA mobile is good. Maps of the area you’re in. Good shoes which you can walk 20km in (in remote regions normally stay with the vehicle) because in Vic you can usually walk out if necessary.
Mechanical
breakdown in Vic would not normally be an emergency so it’s a case of using the CB or CDMA or the feet to get help. Medical issues – to be sure of finding help quickly you really need a HF set but that’s a big cost for a low(ish) risk if you only travel in Vic.
In your case, and in order, I would suggest:
1st Aid kit (naturally!)
Emergency water and food
Maps
Compass (get a good one – boat types are good)
Ambulance cover
GPS
CDMA mobile
UHF CB
Hand held UHF CB
EPIRB
Good tow chain
HF radio
I’m assuming you carry basic spares for the bus, a toolkit, spade etc.
I suggest the hand held CB because if the bus has broken down in the bottom of a valley the vehicle CB will probably only do 3 or 4km with a hand held you can climb to the top of the valley and reach 20, 30, 40???km
Of course what you should really do is get an Amateur Radio Licence then you’d have a _whole range_ of frequencies you could use :) And, best of all, you could chat to Mad Dog and me :)
A very good book for survival techniques in Oz is:
Australian Bush Survival Skills
By Kevin Casey
Kimberley Publications, Qld
ISBN 0 9587628 1 3
My copy lives in my map case and always travels with me.
Mike Harding
AnswerID:
106721
Follow Up By: Member - iMusty (VIC) - Thursday, Apr 14, 2005 at 15:18
Thursday, Apr 14, 2005 at 15:18
Thanks for your reply
FollowupID:
363705