Lost or Broken Down - Quick Survival Guide

Preparation we feel is definitely the key to survival. Having had a few "nasties" ourselves we tend to be more cautious in our later years. We ALWAYS travel with a full tank of water as you never know when you will become stranded, or you may need it to assist others. Remember that most of the outback is relatively flat, so the extra weight will do just about nothing to your fuel consumption. Be aware that if your van has an external water tank under the van, this can be damaged particularly on dirt roads, so it is extremely wise to carry at least another 20 litres in a separate container. If you do get stranded and you are not on a main road, the first thing to remember is to economise on water. Water truly is the key to survival and if you follow the survival page link below it will both enlighten and frighten.

You do have an almost perfect survival capsule in your van provided you behave sensibly. Erecting tarps to further increase the shade is a good move and could also assist with water collection should it rain. Don't forget that water can get a "taste" when collected in this manner. The Leyland Brothers recommend this approach in their seminars. Before leaving home study up on how to make a fresh water still - extracting water from plants. You will also find this sort of info on the back of some maps. Never ever leave your vehicle under any circumstances – a missing vehicle is far easier to locate than missing people particularly from the air. If you intend to leave the main roads, let somebody know of your estimated time of arrival at your destination - try to phone a family member say every two days so they can sound the alarm if you fail to check in. Be ABSOLUTELY certain to advise them of changes in itinerary or be prepared for the Rescue helicopter hovering overhead! We carry a Silva Compass in the car glove box and another in a back pack. Not expensive - $25.00. We suggest you have a look at this survival page from the USA. It lists how long you will survive using various amounts of water and in different temperatures.

We carry a gadget called an EPIRB at all times in the vehicle and ALWAYS put it in a back pack when walking - even on short formed track walks. Think of an EPIRB as just a life insurance premium when you hand over the $250.00 - peanuts really, as it can easily save your life. What it does buy you though is peace of mind. Other sections of this site explain how an EPIRB works if this technology is new to you, but basically it sends a signal to the rescue services in Canberra and gives your exact position. The batteries have a 10 year life but under Australian law they must be replaced every five years. EPIRB is short for Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. The latest sea going versions have a GPS in the same package and send out your exact position without waiting for another satellite to pass over. Even the hand held ones float which is possibly why they are expensive. Try this 100% Australian internet site for more info http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront type EPIRB and "Voila" lots of info.

Hand held and the very latest "Dick Tracey" wrist type GPS units

Now the best gadget around to stop you getting lost in the first place, or at least to give you your exact position on your map, is a GPS unit - Global Positioning System. These have come right down in price lately and good units are available around the $300.00 mark. The one on the right is truly state of the art and a miracle of miniaturisation - US$799.00. Again we suggest that you look upon the purchase as an insurance policy, that way it will seem cheap! The unit shown on the left is a combined GPS/Compass and is the latest offering from Silva the famous compass people.