Survival (Desert) - Semester 1 (2013-2014)
Part I - Instructions
Instructions: "Scenario You are out Jeeping with your family in the Senora Desert in mid-October and you are the last person in your group. Unfortunately, you get separated from the group and note that your CB is not working and you do not have cell reception. Trying to catch up, you speed up over a precision area, and end up rolling over off a small ledge. Once the dust has settled you notice that the vehicle is upright but no longer drive-able (you can determine what broke). Your family had only intended to be out for a day trip and packed limited food & water (you can determine what & how much so long as it is reasonable). Unfortunately, both of your parents have been injured in the roll-over - mom appears to have broken arm and multiple cuts, and dad has hit is chest on the steering wheel causing him difficulty in breathing, he has a big cut on his head, but does not appear to have any broken bones. A basic first aid kit has been packed in the Jeep (mom was a Girl Scout of course). Night will be quickly setting. You had been on a well known path following a group of friends who will notice that you did not make it in tonight. Anticipate that they will try to come find you in the morning. Anticipate a survival situation of 2 days and 3 nights. Needs For this class please complete the following as part of your project (you can do this on your blog):
Final Project For your final you will create a written report (you can do this as your blog), an oral report, and a project demonstration. For your project demonstration you may choose to demonstrate any of the skills you have learned. We will utilize the same rubric for the oral report. Don't forget to keep track of your resources." |
Preparation
Most people that go into foreign areas prepare for the worst. It's a great idea to have a shovel with you, and most people also carry a tool bag with them just in case they have a break down or need to help out some other people. When my family goes we always have one water bottle per person and everyone with us has to have a jacket (just in case). When going somewhere planed or not planned, try to be prepared to stay in the area for a long period of time. Have a map and brush up on your fist aid skills prior to heading out. In the desert the rules of three do not count. Your body can only go about a day and a half in the desert with out water and that's pushing it. Just breathing causes the loss of fluids, so plan for a gallon of water a day for every person in your party. Fire, shelter, and signal can be quickly made usually with little effort but water can take an entire day. Tell people where your going and what your ETA at your destination. Make a Plan Stan! * Make a plan: Before you go out into the desert or forest, or where ever it is that your trip will take you, make some plans. Tell people outside of your group where your going, how long you will be gone, and when to expect a call. This can mean life or death for you and your group. *Prepare your vehicle: Always have a gallon of water in your vehicle if possible. If you're Jeeping or going somewhere other than the grocery store or mall have your vehicle packed with supplies. Shovel, CB Radio, wool blankets, hats, and small snacks that don't need to be refrigerated are recommended. *Know the dangers: The desert or any natural area is dangerous. The desert and rain forest are filled with many poisonous plants and animals. Be prepared before you go into these areas: know your edible plants and which one are poisonous, poisonous animals and how long you have to live after being infected, etc. *Have an emergency kit: Some people are entirely against having an E-kit with them because they want the bragging rights of living based on instincts, but when a problem beyond their capabilities arises they will wish that they had been smart enough to pack supplies. Keep supplies with you in a bag or an easily accessible container. *Understand the region: Know the terrain (e.g. rocky, soft mud, ledges, etc.). Properly equip your vehicle with gear suitable for the weather conditions and terrain obstacles. If you are out Jeeping and someone in your group goes up a steep hill and you know that you can't do it but want to attempt it anyways, DON'T. It's never a good idea to try and out-do someone in your group when you know that you can't do it. Regarding my scenario... If you're a normal person then your heart would be trying to beat it's way out of your chest and you would be so full of adrenalin that your brain would not be functioning correctly. Roll overs to begin with are scary but to add in an additional fall off a ledge raises the risks. If your not a normal person and are actually some form of alien or hybrid species, then you might be in more luck than the average human.
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Water
Water is extremely important as it's what sustains the human body. When out in a foreign area with out running water it's needed twice as much: drinking purposes, medical uses, cooking, and sanitation. If the body looses approximately 2 quarts of water (2.5-3.0% of body weight) people begin to stumble and fall, get fatigued and unable to concentrate, headaches, cramps, and possibly heatstroke (heatstroke can be fatal if not treated). The average person needs to drink about 4 quarts per day when out in the desert, and this can be a problem. The Senora Desert only receives anywhere from 1-10 in. of rainfall a year, and it's almost immediately evaporated. The sky is almost cloudless which fry's our skin during the day and freezes the desert at night. When using the techniques listed below, try to make 4-8 of them if you can. This is what you will need to do to create water in the desert to keep you, and your group alive.
When in the desert, water really doesn't like us humans...It's stubborn, makes us spend twice the amount of energy that should be used, and only gives us about half a liter of water if done correctly. Honestly, the water in the desert is selfish. It would rather watch us die trying, than just give its self up and let us get out of the hot, hell-hole that it lives in.
But what if you're out in the desert with your family, and you only have enough water to survive one day? Your not just going to sit around and wait for all your lives to wither away. Your going to brake out the ol' Girl Scout-y-ness and make some water collection devices!
But how? I'll tell you how!
This is much like the solar still I talked about in the last survival scenario (forest), although, vegetation might be a little harder to locate.
First Method: Pit Style Solar Still
Items needed:
Items needed:
Water is extremely important as it's what sustains the human body. When out in a foreign area with out running water it's needed twice as much: drinking purposes, medical uses, cooking, and sanitation. If the body looses approximately 2 quarts of water (2.5-3.0% of body weight) people begin to stumble and fall, get fatigued and unable to concentrate, headaches, cramps, and possibly heatstroke (heatstroke can be fatal if not treated). The average person needs to drink about 4 quarts per day when out in the desert, and this can be a problem. The Senora Desert only receives anywhere from 1-10 in. of rainfall a year, and it's almost immediately evaporated. The sky is almost cloudless which fry's our skin during the day and freezes the desert at night. When using the techniques listed below, try to make 4-8 of them if you can. This is what you will need to do to create water in the desert to keep you, and your group alive.
When in the desert, water really doesn't like us humans...It's stubborn, makes us spend twice the amount of energy that should be used, and only gives us about half a liter of water if done correctly. Honestly, the water in the desert is selfish. It would rather watch us die trying, than just give its self up and let us get out of the hot, hell-hole that it lives in.
But what if you're out in the desert with your family, and you only have enough water to survive one day? Your not just going to sit around and wait for all your lives to wither away. Your going to brake out the ol' Girl Scout-y-ness and make some water collection devices!
But how? I'll tell you how!
This is much like the solar still I talked about in the last survival scenario (forest), although, vegetation might be a little harder to locate.
First Method: Pit Style Solar Still
Items needed:
- Clear (transparent) plastic bag, or clear wrap
- As much vegetation that can be found
- Container for collecting the cleaned water
- Rock
- Beginning liquid (e.g., urine, (I know it's gross to think that you might have to drink the water out of your pee, but if it's that and death, just think about how nice it will be when you get to have actual water), dirty water that was found in a river bed, stream, pond, etc.)
- Using a stick, your hands, or a shovel, dig a hole roughly 19 inches down, or until you can see moisture in the sub soil.
- Use any vegetation that can be found, and throw it messily into the hole.
- Use any containers that have an open top and are semi-clean. Place the container in the center of the hole, and try to place as much vegetation around the container and on the sides of the hole as you can.
- Lay the plastic bag or clear wrap over the hole so that there is still some access around the edges.
- Cover the edges of the clear wrap/plastic bag with soil, dirt, mud, twigs, and rocks to secure it in place.
- Place a rock (only big enough to make the wrap/plastic bag dip over the container) in the center of the wrap/plastic wrap so that the rock hangs a few inches over the container being used to collect the cleaned water.
- Wait as long as you can for the sun to evaporate the moisture out of the liquid and plants in the hole. When you go to collect the water, you wont have to worry about purifying it.
Items needed:
- Tree or bush
- Clear (transparent)plastic bags
- Water collection container
- 550 paracord or other strong/ secure rope/string
- Hose
- Water purification tablets/bottle
- Open the plastic bag and slide it over a branch on the tree/bush that you are using to collect the water.
- Using the 550 paracord, tie the bag to the branch as securely as possible. (TIP: If the branch you are using just stands straight and tall, you might consider pulling it down and trying it off to something so that the tip of it (opposite end of the string)hangs at an angle over the ground. Tying another piece of string loosely over the tip of it will allow water to collect at the tip of the bag without any leaves or debris in it.)
- Water vapor will be drawn out of the branch and condense into the bottom of the bag. Check the bag often to ensure there is no leakage.
- Wait until evening before removing the bag(s) from the branch to ensure all the water was collected from the leaves. Only expect one cup-to half a liter of water in the finished product.
- Check the water by taking a small sip and swishing it around in your mouth. If the water does not have a semi-sweet taste to it then don't drink it, try this technique on another plant.
- If the water IS semi-sweet, then take one small mouth full and wait 30-90 minutes. If your body reacts fine to it (no vomiting or diarrhea) then continue to drink the rest of the water.
- Place the plastic tube at the end of the bags (where the water collects). You can follow the safety steps above to ensure it is safe enough to drink. If it is, then you can enjoy your water through out the day.
Dangers
Hypothermia and hyperthermia are real and very dangerous things. They can and may happen to people in the group and if not treated as soon as possible can be fatal. Be prepared by knowing the symptoms and treatments for each. Hypothermia Hypothermia is the sudden decrease in body temperature, usually caused with prolonged exposure to freezing air or cold waters. (The Umblies- STUMBLING MUMBLING FUMBLING CRUMBLING) Signs and Symptoms
What to do
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Hyperthermia
Hyperthermia is the opposite of hypothermia. It is the dramatic increase of body heat, usually occurring when the body is being tested in extreme heat or in an area where the body has a difficult time perspiring. Hyperthermia is the common term/classification of heat related illnesses, of which there are more than one form. Common Signs and Symptoms
What to do
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