WHEN you were a kid you might have had a copy of the Scouts handbook that showed you how to tie knots, repair tents and fight off killer spiders. Well, here at Great Walks we thought we might do something similar and present a mammoth How To guide which pretty much covers everything from how to choose the right camp stove to how to spot symptoms of hypothermia. If you want to know how to fight killer spiders you’ll still have to refer to your old Scouts manual!
How to... be prepared for bushfire season
Unfortunately, it looks like bushfire season is already here and for bushwalkers that means extra vigilance when planning where and when you are going to go for a walk and to be aware of what to do if you encounter a bushfire whilst out hiking.
The Bushwalking NSW website (bushwalkingnsw.org.au) has a very good info page filled with commonsense ideas including:
Before you go
• Check with the local fire authority that there are no bush fires or hazard reduction burns in the area you are planning to walk in.
• Download the Bureau of Meteorology app to your phone.
• Check the Bureau of Meteorology weather forecast (bom.gov.au) prior to commencing any activity, particularly a multi-day activity. Cancel the activity if windy conditions and high temperatures are predicted.
Manage risk while bushwalking
• On multi day hiking activities if a Total Fire Ban is unexpectedly declared (or suspected) leave the park early. If this is impossible, find the safest place possible to spend the day.
• On a multi-day activity use a mobile phone and/or a portable AM/FM radio to monitor news bulletins for information on fire activity, fire danger ratings, total fire bans and park closures.
• Carry a personal locator beacon (PLB) so that emergency services can locate you if necessary.
What to do if caught in a bushfire
• Call Triple Zero 000
• Move to a cleared area. You can’t outrun a fire. Look for shelter in rocks, hollows, embankments, streams or roads. Do not hide in water tanks. Remember that radiant heat can be as deadly as flames.
• Head to a lower area, not uphill, as a bushfire will rapidly ascend from valleys to ridges.
• Drink plenty of water and cover your mouth with a damp cloth.
• Keep low and cover your skin.
How to... apply first aid
Knowing basic first aid can save lives whether indoors or outdoors so it’s recommended you do a first aid course such as the ones St Johns offers (stjohn.org.au/first-aid-training) - and the first thing they’ll teach you is the 'Doctors ABCD' set of rules when you come across a patient who might be unconscious. The what? D.R.S.A.B.C.D:
D - Danger: Ensure that the patient and everyone in the area is safe. Do not put yourself or others at risk. Remove the danger or the patient.
R - Response: Look for a response from the patient — loudly ask their name or squeeze their shoulder.
S - Send for help: If there is no response, phone triple zero (000) or ask another person to call. Do not leave the patient.
A - Check their mouth and throat are clear.
