Proficiency In Survival Craft
INTRODUCTION AND SAFETY
Survival skills are techniques a person may use in a dangerous situation to save themselves or others. Generally speaking, these techniques are meant to provide the basic necessities for human life: water, food, shelter, habitat, and the need to think straight, to signal for help, to navigate safely, to avoid unpleasant interactions with animals and plants and for first aid. Survival skills are often basic ideas and abilities that ancient humans had to use for thousands of years, so these skills are partially a re-enactment of history. Many of these skills are the ways to enjoy extended periods of time in remote places, or a way to thrive in nature. Even hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, or some other activity, you need to make sure you have the basic survival skills to handle an emergency situation. Some people use these skills to better appreciate nature and for recreation.
The shelter is merely important and should be able to protect you from heat, wind, rain, sun, snow, and any weather that is around you. Shelter is mainly for protection and comfort. It can protect against the weather, animals, or insects. It should be relatively comfortable because you must be able to sleep, a basic human need.
Fire is presented as a tool meeting many survival needs. The heat provided by a fire warms the body, dries wet clothes, disinfects water, and cooks food. Not to be overlooked is the psychological boost and the sense of safety and protection it gives. The light and smoke emitted by a fire can also be used to work at night and can signal rescue units.
A human being can survive an average of three to five days without the intake of water, assuming sea-level altitude, room temperature and favorable relative humidity. In colder or warmer temperatures, the need for water is greater. The need for water also increases with exercise.
A typical person will lose minimally two to maximally four liters of water per day under ordinary conditions, and more in hot, dry, or cold weather. Four to six liters of water or other liquids are generally required each day in to avoid dehydration and to keep the body functioning properly.
A lack of water causes dehydration, which may result in lethargy, headaches, dizziness, confusion, and eventually death. Even mild dehydration reduces endurance and impairs concentration, which is dangerous in a survival situation where clear thinking is essential. Dark yellow or brown urine is a diagnostic indicator of dehydration. To avoid dehydration, a high priority is typically assigned to locating a supply of drinking water and making provision to render that water as safe as possible.
First aid can help a person survive and function with injuries and illnesses that would otherwise kill or incapacitate him/her. Common and dangerous injuries include:
- Wounds, which may become infected
- Bites or stings from venomous animals, such as: snakes, scorpions, spiders, bees, stingrays, jellyfish, catfish, stargazers, etc.
- Bites leading to disease/septicemia, such as: mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, animals infected with rabies, sand flies, komodo dragons, crocodilians, etc.
- Infection through food, animal contact, or drinking non-potable water
- Bone fractures
- Sprains, particularly of the ankle
- Burns
- Poisoning from consumption of, or contact with poisonous plants or poisonous fungi.
- Hypothermia (too cold) and hyperthermia (too hot)
- Heart attack
- Hemorrage
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The survivor may need to apply the contents of a first aid kit or, if possessing the required knowledge, naturally-occurring medicinal plants, immobilize injured limbs, or even transport incapacitated comrades.
Survival situations are sometimes resolved by finding one's way to safety, or one may need to move to find a more suitable location to wait for rescue. The sources observe that to do either of these safely requires some navigation equipment and skills. Types of navigation include:
- Celestial navigation, using the sun and the night sky to locate the cardinal directions and to maintain course of travel
- Using a map and compass together, particularly a topographic map or trail map.
- "Navigation by observation" of terrain features on a map or otherwise known
- Using a GPS receiver, if one is available
- Dead reckoning
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Surviving at sea is a grueling challenge, one that grows more demanding and draining by the day. So whatever you can do to reduce your risks and hold on to your strength could make a huge difference in determining whether or not you ever see land again.
With luck, you’ll have the use of a life raft, which is more stable than a dinghy. If not, and you have to swim, grab anything that will help you float. Obviously, a life jacket is your best bet, but failing that, look for plastic containers used for food or fuel or buoys or even a piece of wood. The key is to find ways to save your energy. Swimming furiously is a sure way to exhaust yourself.
One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether to try to stay near where you abandoned ship or head to where you think may be land. If you were able to send out a distress signal or if you’re near shipping lanes, try to stay put. Only paddle for shore if you have some idea of where you’re going. Remember, you want to save your energy. Another dark reality: A lot of people drown near the beach because of rip currents or high surf. So don’t frantically head for what you think is land.
If you have a raft, try to take along as much warm and protective clothing as you can handle — wool and polypropylene and anything that’s windproof or waterproof. Once in the raft, protect yourself from the wind, using clothing or a tarp. And stay as dry as you can. Even in a raft the combination of wind and wet clothes could cause hypothermia.
Conversely, depending on your location, you also run the risk of getting dehydrated. Since fresh water is such a valuable commodity, you don’t want to sweat any more than necessary, so limit both your physical exertion and exposure to the sun. If you can, make a sun shade with sails or a tarp. And if the weather is hot, keep your clothes on and get them wet. That will keep you cool and also protect you from getting badly sunburned.
Remember that salt water drains your skin’s moisture, causing it to dry and crack in the hot sun. And constant rubbing with salt water can irritate your skin. The bottom line is that the combination of sun and salt water can do a lot of damage, so do what you can to keep your skin covered. If you’re not lucky enough to have sunscreen with you, try using grease if you can find some. Also, do what you can to protect your eyes. If you don’t have sunglasses, try tying a band of fabric over your eyes after cutting slits to allow you to see.
Some people insist that it’s possible to drink up to 32 ounces of seawater a day without doing irreparable harm to your body, particularly your kidneys. But don’t even consider that risk unless you have no access to fresh water. If you have a supply of water, start rationing right away. You really won’t need to drink much water the first day, no matter how thirsty you feel. Then try to limit your intake to 12 to 16 ounces for a few days, eventually dropping it as low as two to five ounces a day. You can survive, but you’ll definitely become weaker.
adapted from 'Proficiency In Survival Craft' by Capt Muhammad Ismail Mohd Noor
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