Courtesy Jim
Detterline/Rocky Mountain National Park
FOUND: A helicopter hauls a dead climber off
Longs Peak in this file photo. Search-and-rescue victims often
are unprepared for extreme conditions.
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There is no reason to die in the wilderness.
That's the motto Loveland resident Don Davis uses to inspire
outdoor recreationists to learn about wilderness survival before
they venture into the backcountry. In classes he teaches through the
Wilderness Institute of Survival Education, Davis demonstrates how a
little preparation can go a long way toward saving your life if you
lose your way in the wilderness.
"People are getting killed and they don't need to," Davis said.
In 23 years working with Larimer County Search and Rescue, Davis
has seen it all. He's planned operations to search for hunters,
skiers, fishermen and kids, just to name a few.
And those who end up as search- and-rescue victims usually have a
few things in common. Here are some of the most common mistakes:
They don't tell anyone where they are going or they deviate from
their intended itinerary.
They split from the group or the group leaves them behind.
They don't make the decision to turn around when they should.
They are not wearing the proper clothing or footwear.
They ignore warning signs, such as hunger, thirst, cold or
fatigue.
They don't have a survival kit.
But even if you do everything right, if you spend enough time out
in the wilderness, there's a chance that some day you might get
lost. If so, you should know some basic techniques to help you to
survive until help arrives. It's also a good idea to educate
yourself about using a map and compass, wilderness first aid and
avalanche safety.
For Fort Collins resident Bob Babbs, learning about wilderness
survival is a way to feel more comfortable taking his family on
wilderness outings. Although he's been hiking and camping in the
outdoors for years, a move from Ohio to Colorado prompted him to
take Davis' survival course.
"The mountains here are a lot different from the hills of Ohio.
They are higher, it's colder, it's more windy -- it seems to be much
more on the edge," Babbs said. "Plus, in Ohio you're usually within
earshot of a farmhouse. You can go out here and literally be in the
wilderness."
Davis defines wilderness as a remote location more than one hour
from definitive medical care. Sometimes a "wilderness" situation can
occur in an urban environment. If your car is broken down or stuck
on the highway during a snowstorm, you're probably more than one
hour from definitive medical care, he said.
Survival capability depends on
Shelter
Fire
Coping with your present situation and not worrying about other
concerns.
Water
Signal
Food
A survival kit should include:
Materials for building a shelter, such as a 10-by-10 foot tarp
and 50 feet of utility cord or a shovel in the winter
Three to five ways to build a fire, such as matches, sparking
methods, dry timber such (100 percent cotton balls work well), steel
wool, flint and steel
At least two methods for purifying water, such as a container to
boil it, a water pump and iodine
Signaling devices, such as true signal mirror and a whistle
Enough food for more than 24 hours
First aid kit
4- to 6-inch straight blade knife with full-tang handle
Flashlight and batteries
Folding saw
Sunglasses
Lip balm
Insect repellant
Extra glasses or contacts
Any medication you take regularly
Toilet paper
Extra clothes
Space blanket in the winter
Though not part of the survival kit, a map and compass is
essential.
A winter survival kit for the car should include all of the
above plus a sleeping bag for every person in the car and an
entertainment kit with books and games
In an emergency, S.T.O.P.
Stop -- Stay where you are before you become more lost.
Think -- Calmly assess the situation and your options. Evaluate
the situation. Evaluate yourself and others both physically and
mentally. Remain positive.
Observe -- Observe the weather. What resources do you have? Take
stock of your supplies and equipment. What are your capabilities?
Plan -- Prioritize your immediate needs -- shelter, fire, water,
signal and food. Develop a plan of action. Follow your plan. Remain
positive.
Source: Don Davis, Wilderness Institute of Survival
How to be a victim
The average search and rescue victim has one or more of the
following in common:
Travels too far too fast
Does not properly acclimate him or herself to the conditions.
Travels from an artificial environment
Not prepared to sustain life
Unrealistic time constraint
Ignores sign of weather change
Ignores environmental hazards
Ignores body indicators (hunger, thirst, cold)
Has not learned to protect and conserve body heat
Doesn't have the right clothing or footgear
Is fatigued
Is thirsty
Is suffering from the effects of heat or cold
Has undertaken too ambitious a task for current skills
proficiency
Is in poor physical condition
Has inadequate or improper food
Has done little or no planning
Inadequate skills for goal
Lacks leadership
Itinerary is not known to others
Could not recognize a potential problem or threat (physical,
mental or environment)
Hasn't planned for the weather
Is not familiar with terrain
Has too much faith in material goods (such as GPS)
Has no survival kit
Source: Don Davis, Wilderness Institute of Survival
Hypothermia
Signs of mild hypothermia
Complaints of cold
Shivering
Difficulty using the hands
Psychological changes, withdrawal and apathy
Core temperature above 90 degrees
First aid for mild hypothermia
Replace wet clothing with dry or add insulation to clothing.
End exposure.
Place patient in warm environment, such as in a sleeping bag.
Add heat though hot water bottles or other heat sources first
wrapped in clothing.
Offer warm liquid or food.
Signs of moderate to severe hypothermia
Lethargy, mental confusion or refusal to recognize the problem
Slurred speech
Stumbling
Core temperature of 90 degrees and lower
Cessation of shivering
Physical collapse
First aid for moderate to severe hypothermia
Evacuate patient as soon as possible,
Replace wet clothing with dry. Cut clothing off to prevent
unnecessary movement.
Cover the patient.
Begin active rewarming.
Source: "Mountaineering First Aid"
Acute mountain sickness
Signs of mild AMS
Difficulty with sleep
Unusual breathing during sleep
Swelling in hands and face
Headache, mild to severe
Fatigue and weakness
Lack of appetite, nausea
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
First aid for mild AMS
Stop ascent until symptoms disappear.
Increase intake of fluids.
Take aspirin or ibuprofen.
Rest.
Descend if symptoms persist.
Signs of moderate AMS
Signs of moderate AMS
Vomiting
Headache does not respond to aspirin or ibuprofen
First aid for moderate AMS
Descend immediately and seek medical help.
Increase intake of fluids.
Signs of severe AMS
Difficulty with walking and coordination
Combativeness
Severe shortness of breath
First aid for severe AMS
Descend immediately and seek medical help.
Increase intake of fluids.
Source: "Mountaineering First Aid"
Some upcoming classes
Wilderness survival
Wilderness Institute of Survival -- Offers classes in
wilderness survival several times a year. Information http://www.wisesurvival.com/
or call Don Davis at 669-9016 or e-mail dondavis@frii.com
Map and compass
Map and Compass Fundamentals, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 16,
Colorado State University Outdoor Adventure Program -- Learn
simple-to-use techniques in this one-day field session held in the
foothills near Fort Collins. Learn about the compass, how to take a
bearing, how to convert a map bearing to a ground bearing,
triangulation and more. The Outdoor Adventure Program provides maps
and compasses. The course will be offered again in April. Cost $19
for CSU students, $25 for nonstudents. Register at the Outdoor
Adventure Program Office at the north end of the Lory Student Center
from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., call 491-1669 or fax to 491-0977.
Information: 491-1669
Avalanche safety
Avalanche awareness slide show, 7 p.m. Dec. 7, Mountain Shop
632 S. Mason St. -- With Knox Williams, director of the Colorado
Avalanche Information Center. Free slide show and discussion on
avalanche awareness. Information: 493-5720, http://www.themountainshop.com/
Colorado Avalanche Information Center avalanche seminar,
6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 19 and all day Jan. 22 or Jan. 23, The Mountain
Shop, 632 S. Mason St. -- Learn snow science, terrain evaluation,
and route finding in this short course setting. Cost is $40,
benefits CAIC. Preregistration required at the Mountain Shop.
Information: 493-5720, http://www.themountainshop.com/
Level 1 avalanche course -- Colorado State University
Outdoor Adventure Program, Session 1 is all day Feb. 5 and session 2
is all day Feb. 12. Each session includes an evening classroom
session earlier in the week. Cost is $25 for CSU students and $35
for nonstudents. Information: 491-1669, http://www.oap.colostate.edu/
Colorado Mountain School in Estes Park offers a number of
avalanche courses. Information: (970) 586-5758 or http://www.cmschool.com/
Wilderness first aid
Wilderness first aid and WFR re-certification -- 8 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. January 29 and 30, Colorado State University Outdoor
Adventure Program -- Two-day course covers a wide range of
wilderness medicine topics for people who travel and work in the
outdoors. Topics include assessment, spinal injuries,
shock/bleeding, wound management, fractures and other pertinent
topics. $145 for CSU students, $155 for nonstudents. A wilderness
first-responder course will be offered in May. Register at the
Outdoor Adventure Program Office at the north end of the Lory
Student Center from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., call 491-1669 or fax to
491-0977. Information: 491-1669, http://www.oap.colostate.edu/
Front Range Institute of Safety -- Offers wilderness
first aid classes. Information: http://www.frisfirstaid.com/
National Outdoor Leadership School's Wilderness
Medical Institute -- Offers a number of wilderness first aid and
other wilderness medicine courses throughout the West. Information:
www.nols.edu/wmi/
Other resources
Colorado Avalanche Information Center -- avalanche education
center for state of Colorado. Visit http://geosurvey.state.co.us/avalanche/
The CAIC hotline for mountain weather, snow and avalanche
information updated each morning is 482-0457
REI periodically offers clinics related to wilderness
survival. Information: http://www.rei.com/ and click on
"Find a store" and after locating the Fort Collins store, click on
"Store clinics/events"
Books
"Mountaineering First Aid," by Jan D. Carline, Martha J. Lentz
and Steven C. McDonald, The Mountaineers Books, $12.95.
"Wilderness Navigation," by Bob Burns and Mike Burns, The
Mountaineers Books, $12.95
"The ABCs of Avalanche Safety," by Sue. A Ferguson, Edward R.
LaChappelle, The Mountaineers Books, $7.95
Originally published Sunday, September 26, 2004
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