valid security measure or EO MYTHBUSTERS?

If u want to do a smoke signal like this then an oily rag in a metal bucket is pretty effective. In the boating world this is actually advised (if not mandatory in places) to have steel bucket on board for this purpose.

If u want to signal for help while 4wding then a smoky fire with green leaf vegetation is not too difficult in most places. Not sure if diesel burns smoky.

Cheers
Muddy

Myth, if you throw the match into diesal it will go out, However if you mix about 25% petrol with it you will have more chance, this mix is used to start fires in water drums etc for fire training and does burn black. it is not overly dangerous although with the small neck of the tin ... HMMMMMMM. Personally if you are going remote where no one will find you unless they are looking you might be better off with epirb - satphone etc. I suspect as your vehicle is gas petrol such measures would usually not be required where you travel

Having just experienced a smoke fire working as a signal, I wouldnt recommend this in most circumstances, we were lucky we werent that far from homesteads and the helicopter was up and mustering cattle towards our direction.

Lying awake wondering if anyone would ever come our way I regretted not having a satphone or cdma and the fact that we had not left instructions as to exactly where and when our family should expect to hear from us. One daughter said she would not have worried if we were two weeks without contacting her and she was revoking our "grey nomads" licence.

t.c. life is precious and certainly worth spending that bit on good communication equipment.

Carolyn

Casnat

There is a new device on the market called an Epirb which has largely replaced the smoke signal and has an improved range of operation (besides, there are so many Datsuns/Nissans driving around converting dieso into black smoke that smoke signals they have lost their impact)

The old solution was to burn a tyre - heaps of black smoke.

New solution is prevention/ good comms/ EPIRB

Cheers
phil

Smoke and rescue are a matter of timing and luck.

Smoke is best seen against the horizon (Fire towers see smoke before aircraft).
Low level aircraft will see smoke before higher level aircraft. (Higher aircraft are best signaled by a mirror reflecting the sun, this works over a very long distance).
This time of year the locals are burning off when they are hunting (Gibson Desert) but they usually know who is lighting them (just hope that locals are included in your search party).

Best of luck

Oombi

Keep the tin as it can come in handy. Stick a good sized piece of rag in it so that you can pull a bit out of it and light it like a candle. Or pack a paper cup and stuff it with toilet paper and then half fill it with diesel and light the paper like a wick.

Has come in handy on a few trips for getting a fire going in the rain

Hi all
Having 12 years experience in marine rescue your best chances of survival are firstly have reliable communications, depending on where you are they may be a mobile phone, UHF CB radio or the best option out bush is a HF radio on the VKS 737 network. Other options are a 406mhz EPIRB as the 121.5/243mhz EPIRB will no longer be monitored after 2008. Flares such as those sold by marine shops are excellent when search aircraft or other vehicles are within YOUR sight, typical packs contain two orange smoke flares (Daytime use only), two red handheld flares that produce an extremely bright light (Night time use only), these are generally sold in a pack of four, two of each and priced between $45 and $70. Also worth carrying are two Parachute flares which when fired rise to approximately 300 feet and produce an extremely bright red light, price about $80 to $90 for two. All the flares operate for at least 60 seconds and are SINGLE use only. As a last resort a smoky fire as described above will help, also marking out SOS or help in rocks or branches 20 to 30 feet high on the ground should also help notify aircraft of a problem. A V - sheet as sold by marine shops for less than $10 can be draped across a vehicle and is visable for miles from the air, daytime effective only. Always make sure someone reliable knows where you are going and setup a time to check in, and above all never leave your vehicle / vessel.
Hope this helps.
Cheers Brad

Hi all
Having 12 years experience in marine rescue your best chances of survival are firstly have reliable communications, depending on where you are they may be a mobile phone, UHF CB radio or the best option out bush is a HF radio on the VKS 737 network. Other options are a 406mhz EPIRB as the 121.5/243mhz EPIRB will no longer be monitored after 2008. Flares such as those sold by marine shops are excellent when search aircraft or other vehicles are within YOUR sight, typical packs contain two orange smoke flares (Daytime use only), two red handheld flares that produce an extremely bright light (Night time use only), these are generally sold in a pack of four, two of each and priced between $45 and $70. Also worth carrying are two Parachute flares which when fired rise to approximately 300 feet and produce an extremely bright red light, price about $80 to $90 for two. All the flares operate for at least 60 seconds and are SINGLE use only. As a last resort a smoky fire as described above will help, also marking out SOS or help in rocks or branches 20 to 30 feet high on the ground should also help notify aircraft of a problem. A V - sheet as sold by marine shops for less than $10 can be draped across a vehicle and is visable for miles from the air, daytime effective only. Always make sure someone reliable knows where you are going and setup a time to check in, and above all never leave your vehicle / vessel.
Hope this helps.
Cheers Brad
For links: Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol - Safety Page

If you have not got any coms (epirb, satphone, hf radio) then buy a 12 volt strobe beacon to put on the roof of the vehicle (as used on vehicles at mine sights and emergency vehicles). Much better then flares and safe.

Thanks everyone for your responses. The attention that this post has drawn has surprised me but it is encouraging to see how much importance everyone gives to safety. I guess the conclusion is that it is a bit of a waste of time carrying my small can.

I must say that some of the responses seemed a bit harsh but in hindsight I probably didn't explain the circumstances properly. This was always intended as a last ditch measure and I wouldn't want you all to think that I head off willy nilly thinking that if I get stuck I just light my fire and someone will come and get me. I always ensure someone knows where I am going and that I have adequate supplies etc.

With regard to comments about being able to get there and back, we all take appropriate precautions and all of us are confident of getting through I am sure but no-one can plan for the unexpected.

I should have given more background in my post. The places I have been to to date are not as remote and potentially as life threatenning as some and it is more about helping someone find me easily rather than them having a massive task, if for some reason I do become stuck. Such places may not see another vehicle for a day or three but will eventually see one (and I ensure I have sufficient water / supplies). More remote areas are a different story clearly and other measures are required.

I guess the upshot is that smoke should not be relied upon and is a very hit and miss affair and that other means should be planned. I might continue to carry my small can of diesel anyway,however, because who knows what use it might be....even just to light a fire in the rain (something I have gained from this post among other things).

Thanks everyone for your responses

Trevor