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| You cannot plan for the unpredictable but you can learn some basic things to do in an emergency. Preparation is better than cure and knowing what hazards are out there allows you to avoid them and not let them spoil your travels. There are plenty of hazards that might face you on your travels from an earthquake to a plane crash. But common to all is the issue of survival. COPING IN A PLANE CRASH To some this could be their ultimate nightmare. Even if you survive the initial impact, knowing what to do after the plane comes to a halt could be a question of life and death. Fasten your seat belt as tightly as possible. This will help to prevent you from being thrown around the cabin on impact. Don't go into a screaming panic. Try to stay calm and check where the emergency exits are and plan your route to each one. Check the safety leaflet in front of you. Take off your high heeled shoes and remove any sharp objects from your person. Cross your arms over your legs and fold into the brace position with your head down to your knees and your feet directly in front of you. Smoke can be a major cause of death after impact. Moisten a handkerchief or piece of clothing with water, if there is smoke after impact keep your head down and your face covered with your wet cloth. If you do survive the impact, get out of the aircraft as soon as possible. Don't wait to be told what to do, just get to your nearest exit. Don't waste time crawling on the floor to avoid the smoke, you could cause people to trample over you. Make sure you have both hands free to climb out of the aircraft. When you get to an emergency exit, check to see if there is any fire outside before opening the door, otherwise leave by the exit on the other side of the plane. Once outside of the wreckage get clear. Your number one priority is not to put your own or someone else's life in danger by doing something stupid. THE NEED FOR WATER Humans cannot survive without water, in dire circumstances you would survive days rather than weeks. You can lose water rapidly through perspiration as well as exertion in the cold. Securing an adequate supply of water is a priority when venturing into the wild or unfamiliar terrain. When water is in short supply the underlying rule is to conserve it. You will find thirst is not a problem, but dehydration is. So knowing where to find water is vital to your safety and should figure large in your planning. Getting water in a town or village is not a problem, although you should check the suitability and quality of it before drinking. Out in the wild, getting access to water can be another problem. If you are out at sea, do not be tempted to drink sea water. The salt in sea water can have a serious effect on the balance of minerals in your blood and other fluids. Try and collect rain water by catching it in anything to hand. If you are in the desert, you can extract water from a cactus by slicing through the thick skin to get to the pulp inside. Crush and strain the pulp through a piece of cloth, catching the falling drops in a container. You could put the pulp straight into your mouth and suck the water out. But remember not to eat the pulp, discard it once all the moisture has gone. If you drink the milk from coconuts remember that milk from green unripe coconuts will quench your thirst, but milk from mature coconuts contains an oily substance that has a laxative effect. So only drink the milk in moderation. THE NEED FOR FOOD Whatever the climate or terrain, the human body is resilient and can survive a long time without much food. If your not a botanist be wary about eating plants, they could end up killing you. You will find almonds are an excellent food source, with the almond tree growing wild in southern Europe, the Middle East, the Mediterranean and China. If you are able to find them they can be collected and saved for later and are highly nutritious. HYPOTHERMIA Cold is a major threat to survival, extreme cold has the effect of impairing your judgement which could lead you to your death. Hypothermia happens when the body draws warm blood from the surface tissues to maintain the temperature of vital inner organs. This tends to be triggered when warm blood comes into contact with the cold air at the surface tissue and returns to the heart and lungs several degrees lower, giving you the feeling of losing the will to live. Hypothermia is fatal so it is essential to do everything possible to prevent it from happening. SHELTER Even in hot climates, the nights can be extremely cold if you do find yourself lost and are forced to spend a night in the open, build yourself a shelter from whatever comes to hand. Broken tree branches can be placed together to form a simple frame which is then covered in leaves. This simple shelter is adequate to keep the rain off you and to give you some insulation throughout the night. If you can try not to sleep directly on the ground, otherwise you may end up being bitten by all manner of insects. |
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