GME partnered with leading survival expert and instructor Michael Atkinson (Outback Mike) in November 2024 to launch Australia’s first National Rescue Awareness Week. And as part of this initiative, GME released a handy Survival and Rescue Essentials Guide.
Here are some of the tips it covers which should help you increase your chances of survival:
1. Pack the right gear
Ensure you’ve got enough drinking water (4L per day per person, more for strenuous activities in hot conditions and bring portable water filters for emergencies), have a reliable communication device such as a satellite-capable phone or UHF radio and a personal locator beacon (PLB) or emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) so that you can always reach emergency or rescue services and they can pinpoint your exact location in a remote area.
A personal locator beacon will contact authorities in an emergency
A pro tip GME included was that if you can’t afford your own PLB, check the local national park visitor centre to see if they have them available for hire. A comprehensive first aid kit (including compression bandages), waterproof fire-lighting tools including waterproof matches, weather-appropriate clothing and navigation gear are some of the other essential items of gear to have in your emergency survival kit.
2. Planning your route
Prepare your trip thoroughly before you go, noting any potential hazards that could pop up, including terrain, weather conditions, potential natural disasters and other environmental factors.
Check weather conditions before you set off
Make a backup plan if things go wrong, make sure you’ve got the right gear for the environment/scenarios and seek local knowledge on track conditions, alternate routes and nearby support facilities.
And don’t forget to check mobile phone coverage in the area where you’ll be travelling and plan accordingly.
3. Communicate your plan
Make sure a family member or friend has thorough details about your trip, including the planned route and expected arrival and return time and dates. Give them detailed information about planned stops and when you’ll check in. This way they can monitor your progress and alert the authorities if needed.
GME highlighted that most national parks offer trip intention forms which you can fill out and share with your emergency contact.
And if you have an EPIRB or PLB, you can log your trip details with AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) on their beacon registration page.
Make sure your contact knows to call 000 if you fail to check in by the expected time.
4. Keep calm in an emergency
If in an emergency situation, remain calm, take a few deep breaths, assess your situation and immediate safety and address any imminent danger. Try calling for help on 000 or other two-way communication methods if available. If you’ve got a PLB or EPIRB, activate it carefully, ensuring the antenna and GPS components are unobstructed; these devices can send your location to rescue authorities via satellite, emit a homing signal and feature a strobe light for visual identification.
Use a two-way radio to call for help
Assess the equipment you have on hand to support you and prioritise your survival needs across four key categories:
Protection (seek shelter, maximise clothing, administer first aid etc.). Ensure to include a rain jacket even if travelling in arid locales. Your sleeping bag needs to be rated for the full gamut of extreme temperatures you expect to encounter, and a space blanket is never a bad idea. And double whatever quantity of insect repellent you think you might need!
Location (maximise visibility for rescuers by staying near your vehicle, use bright items or reflective devices etc. and ensure you have several portable light options with spare batteries, plus a signalling mirror).
Water (if water is scarce, seek natural sources to filter or purify with tablets or by boiling, minimise sweat loss by reducing physical activity if possible) and
Food (ration your food carefully, and if foraging only eat foods you know are safe). The order of importance can depend on your situation. Include tins of non-perishable food, a can opener, fishing line and basic tackle in your kit. Even bouillon cubes are a good addition to your survival kit since a broth made with them is better hydrating than either coffee or tea and can also season any fish you catch.
Download the guide
The full guide and equipment checklist is available as a downloadable pdf
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