SAFETY
Adventure Awaits
INTRODUCTION
Before embarking on any adventure into the Bush, always ensure you are properly prepared and are undertaking trips within you capabilities and level of experience.
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The Bush is a natural and uncontrolled environment that can hold many inherent hazards and dangers. Yet it is often these very factors, and your ability to face and overcome them, that provides the sense of achievement and adventure in your travels.
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Knowledge, training, preparation and planning can go along way in mitigating and controlling many of the risks and dangers you may face. However, they CANNOT replace common sense and due care on your part.
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Only you have the ability to ensure your own safety and the safety of those with you. You need to fully accept responsibility for your own safety and the safety of those with you. If you cannot or will not accept this, then DO NOT GO !!!!
In this Section of the website, we aim to provide some basic tips and ideas to help make your trips and travels into the Bush a safer and enjoyable experience.
PLANNING
Pre-trip planning is an essential part of making for a safer and enjoyable experience. We suggest the following points be carefully considered in the planning stages of your trip:
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1. EXPERIENCE - does your group hold sufficient experience for the proposed trip;
2. FITNESS - do the members of the group hold sufficient levels of fitness for the proposed journey;
3. WEATHER - have you checked the weather forecast and, if applicable, the Tides and Swell;
4. CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT - what does each member of the group need;
5. GROUP EQUIPMENT - what equipment do you need to take as a group;
6. NAVIGATION - what level of Navigation Skill is needed and what Navigation equipment do you need for the trip;
7. SAFETY EQUIPMENT - what Safety Equipment do you need to carry;
8. TIMINGS - what time do you plan to leave and return. We VERY STRONGLY suggest you always inform someone of these details along with the planned location of your journey; and
9. SAFETY PLAN - what is your "back up" Safety Plan.
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EQUIPMENT & CLOTHING
The "Equipment Section" of the website can provide some guidance in this area.
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NAVIGATION AND SAFETY
In any Adventure into the Bush, some level of navigation ability is essential.
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This can be as simple as a general awareness of where you are heading and what is around you (Basic Directional Navigation) or as complicated as using compass, bearing and paces, across country, to reach your destination.
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If you are new to Bush Adventures, we strongly suggest you gain some knowledge of Navigation Skills before heading out. The "Skills Section" of the website may be a great place to start.
NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT
As a minimum, we strongly suggest that the following navigation equipment always be carried:
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1. A map of the area - preferably a Topographical map;
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2. A good Compass; and
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3. A Mobile phone with a Navigation Application.
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Further information and suggestions on these items, and how best to use them, can be found in the relevant sections of the website.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
As a minimum, we suggest the following basic safety equipment should always be:
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A. Carried by the group:
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1. Mobile phone;
2. Basic First Aid Kit;
3. At least one water resistant small torch or headlamp; and
4. An emergency shelter big enough to cover the group.
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B. Carried by each individual in the group:
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1. Safety Whistle; and
2. Safety Blanket.
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Further information regarding these items, and more advance safety equipment, can be found in the "Equipment Section" of the website.
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SAFETY PLAN
It is always worth considering the situation of "WHAT IF?" and having a plan to suit. The plan can be as simple as "stay put and call for help".
Good pre-planning can remove many of the potential problems that may otherwise become situations during your trip. However, on rare occasions you may be faced with such a moment. Some of the most likely are:
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a. Getting "off Track" or lost;
b. Getting caught out in the dark;
c. Getting caught in unexpected, poor weather;
d. A trip, slip or fall injury; or
e. A bite injury (although these are exceptionally rare).
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If you cannot solve the problem or issue yourself, the best course of action is almost always to stay where you are and call for help. This is where the mobile phone, as an essential item, comes to the forefront.
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GETTING LOST OR OFF TRACK
This is where some level of navigation skill really becomes invaluable. If, during your pre-trip planning, you have considered a "Basic Directional Navigation Plan", this can be of great assistance in getting you back to a known point or location.
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A second option in this situation is to try to back track to the last known point on your journey. In these situations, a Navigation App such as All Trails, that maps your course in real time, can be very helpful
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If neither of these are practical, then you may be best to stay where you are and call for assistance. Again, this is where having some idea of "where you are" is pretty much essential so that potential helpers know where to start looking for you.
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Details of some more advance Safety Equipment that can be of great help in these situations can be found in the "Equipment Section" of the website.
GETTING CAUGHT IN THE DARK
If you inadvertently end up caught out in the dark, you really only have two choices. Either stay where you are and wait till morning, or attempt to walk out in the dark.
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If you are on a clearly formed foot or 4WD track and there is sufficient ambient light, the second option may be viable. This is where a torch becomes invaluable.
However, be aware that the chances of trips and slips greatly increase in lower light, so this must be taken into consideration in your decision making.
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If you are not on formed and well cleared tracks, we suggest that by far the safest plan is to make your group as comfortable as possible and wait till daylight.
Attempting to move around, across country in the dark can be very dangerous. The chances of trips, slips and falls are greatly increased. It can be very easy to stumble over a rock or cliff edge in the dark. It is far better and safer to accept your situation and wait till daylight.
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Remember, the final decision is yours and you alone are ultimately responsible for the consequences of your decisions.
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If in doubt ....wait it out !!!
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GETTING CAUGHT IN POOR WEATHER
Good pre-planning goes a long way in avoiding this situation. Ensuring that proper equipment is carried, can go a long way in alleviating the effects if it does occur.
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In most cases, a good jumper and a decision to abandon and head home if poor weather "sets in", are the best solutions. The next step up is where an Emergency Blanket really shows its value. Small, light-weight and inexpensive, they can be a literal life saver.
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If the weather turns bad, the two primary choices you have are wether to keep moving or to stop and wait it out. In most cases, the best course of action is to keep moving and try to extract your group from the situation as quickly and carefully as possible.
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If you have to stop and wait, you are best to try to find whatever shelter you can and stay as warm as possible. The biggest potential threat in these situations is the onset of Hypothermia (commonly called "exposure"). It is well worth gaining a reasonable knowledge of how to avoid this hazard, how to identify the onset and how to treat the occurrence. One day it might just save your life or the life of someone with you.
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TRIP, SLIP OR FALL INJURY
Of all the situations you may encounter, these are probably the most likely to occur.
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By taking your time, watching where you are walking, and exercising due care when out in the bush, you can minimise the risk of these occurrences.
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However, if an injury does occur, you will need to try to assess the severity of the situation and then decide if it is something you can address or if you will need outside help.
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As a guide, we would suggest that minor cuts, grazes, and abrasions are things that most people could successfully remedy. Sprains and strain become more difficult, especially when considering getting back to your start point.
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For more extensive or serious injuries, you should strongly consider calling for outside help.
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Once again, a basic knowledge of First Aid can be invaluable in these situations. We very strongly suggest you consider undertaking such as course.
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BITE INJURY
Although probably the most feared occurrence by those unfamiliar with the outdoor environment, these type of incidents are exceptionally rare.
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Most snake bites actually occur in the urban environment when people try to either catch or kill a snake. In most cases snakes would rather flee than attack and if left alone they will generally leave the area. It is truly a case of .... "if you don't mess with them, they won't mess with you". Spiders tend to be similar, especially if you exercise common sense and do not do silly things like putting your fingers in holes to see what is there.
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However, in the highly unlikely situation that someone does sustain a bite, a basic knowledge of First Aid is, once again, very handy and could be life-saving.
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Always treat any unknown snake or spider bite as SERIOUS. Call for emergency help and apply immediate First Aid.
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First Aid for Bites - Click Here
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COMPOUNDED PROBLEMS
Safety is an extremely important consideration when heading into the Bush Environment. External help is not always readily available and you need to exercise due care when undertaking your activities.
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It is often the challenges and risks you face that can provide for much of the sense of achievement you can gain from your endeavors. Problems will occur over time, but most will be well within your capacity to solve. As your knowledge and experience increase, you will become more comfortable in the outdoor environment. However, you should never become complacent and always ensure you prepare properly before heading into the bush.
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Major situations are more often than not the result of a number of minor problems, mixed with a bit of bad luck, that then compound into major problems.
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