Nobody who heads away from their campsite ever intends to get lost. But it happens and it can prove deadly.
Here are two products that an RVer or other outdoor enthusiast should have along whenever away from a camp, whether in the wilderness or in a Forest Service Campground that may not seem to pose any threat of getting lost. We’re talking not only about hikers, but anglers, hunters or anyone else who wanders away from civilization, even 911 coverage.
The first is a bracelet that all by itself provides the most critical survival tools anyone might need — a compass, fire starter, emergency knife and whistle. Plus, unwind it and it becomes an ultra strong 12-foot cord for use wherever a rope is needed. Or use one of the inner strings as a fire starter, fishing line or sewing string. It sells for less than $9.
The second important survival tool is a LifeStraw, which you can use to filter otherwise undrinkable water into water that’s perfectly safe. The microfiltration membrane removes 99.999999% of waterborne bacteria (including E. coli and salmonella), and 99.999% of waterborne parasites (including giardia and cryptosporidium).
Two hikers lost for five days in the Southern California mountains survived because of a LifeStraw. “We just lost the trail,” said Eric Desplinter, 31. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue teams from multiple agencies in the surrounding area had spent days combing an area of approximately 30 square miles before finding the lost hikers.
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Another important item is a Plan. From years of boating, a float plan is extremely important for trips. It alerts others of your plans, ETAs and provides rescuers a general search pattern area to start their grids. Having all of the essential safety equipment for survival is good, but only if one knows how to use it and has the ability to activate EPIRBS. If a sudden fall incapacitated you, a search party has a better chance of reaching you alive. File a plan or make sure someone knows your scheduled ETA and approximate location.
Experienced outdoors people know that it’s important to have the “ten essentials” with them at all times when they’re out and about, but even more important is the knowledge they carry around between their ears. Having the tools for survival mean nothing if you don’t know how to use them, and survival knowledge alone can allow those lost without all the essentials to “MacGyver” their way out of trouble in many situations.
When we are hiking we carry a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) which sends a signal via satellite to an emergency center. It can work virtually anywhere you travel since it depends on a satellite and not on cell phone area coverage. It is the same device used on boats and aircraft.
Won’t work for spelunkers
Dang, me and 98% of the readers here will have to rethink doing that sport now. :-/
What’s missing is a mirror – the single best daytime signalling device.
If the sun is shining brightly