VI. Safety and Signaling
A. Explain what procedures to follow to avoid getting lost and what to do when lost (topo maps)
B. Construct a simple primitive survival kit/ possible bag and know how to use its contents
C. Demonstrate various signals
a. Mirrors
b. Body signals
c. Fire/ smoke
d. Transmitter
e. Ground to air signals (panels, shadow, markers)
f. Flares
g. Primitive signals
h. Noise
i. Torch
j. Color
k. Lights
l. Whistles
m. Pyrotechnic
n. Making a survival kit
D. Identify various outdoor hazards
a. Plant
b. Animal
c. Tides
d. Avalanche
e. Insect
f. Reptile
g. Quake
EMERGENCY PROCEDURE: EARTHQUAKE
Earthquakes strike without warning, and the major shock is usually followed by numerous, after shocks, which may last for weeks or months. An earthquake’s effect on buildings will vary from building to building. Fire alarm or sprinkler systems may be activated by the shaking. Elevators and stairways will need to be inspected for damage before they can be used.
The major threat of injury during an earthquake is from falling objects and debris, and many injuries are sustained while entering or leaving buildings. Therefore, it is important to remain inside the building and quickly move away from windows, glass and free-standing partitions and shelves. Take cover under a sturdy desk or table, in a doorway, or against an inside wall until the shaking stops.
h. Flood
i. Lightning
j. Wind
E. Demonstrate basic first aid treatment for various outdoor ailments
a. Blisters
b. Burns
c. Internal poisoning
d. Rash and skin irritation
e. Heat problems
f. Shock
Shock Symptoms
Shock is defined as abnormal metabolism at the cellular level. Since it is not easy to directly measure cellular problems, the symptoms of shock are indirect measurements of cellular function. Shock is the end stage of all diseases, and symptoms will often be dependant on the underlying cause.
Vital signs
As the patient goes through the various stages of shock, vital signs change. In the early stages, the body tries to compensate by moving fluids around from within cells to the blood stream with an attempt to maintain blood pressure in a normal range. However, there may be a slight rise in the heart rate (tachycardia = tachy or fast + cardia or heart). Think of donating blood. A unit of blood (or about 10% of your blood volume) is removed, yet the body compensates well, except for a little lightheadedness, which is often resolved by drinking fluids. Another example is exercising and forgetting to drink enough fluids and feeling a little tired at the end of the day.
As the body loses the ability to compensate, the breathing rate gets faster and the tachycardia increases as the body tries to pack as much oxygen onto the remaining red blood cells as possible and deliver them to the cells. Unfortunately, blood pressure starts to fall (hypotension=hypo or low + tension= pressure) as compensation mechanisms fail.
Body function
Cells don’t get enough oxygen and the organs that they comprise start to fail. All organs may be affected.
• As the brain is affected, the patient may become confused or lose consciousness (coma).
• There may be chest pain as the heart itself doesn’t get an adequate oxygen supply.
• Diarrhea often occurs as the large intestine becomes irritated due to hypotension.
• Kidneys may fail and the body may stop making urine.
g. Hypothermia
h. Cold injury
i. Snake bite
j. Insect stings and bites
k. Diarrhea
l. Herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, mountain medicine, primitive medicine
F. Demonstrate proper health and hygiene techniques
a. Water treatment
b. Food storage
c. Bathing
d. Waste disposal
e. Food preparation
G. Make items for health and hygiene from nature
a. Yucca soap
“First pull up the root which is deep into the ground and wash all of the dirt off, peel away the dark layers until you reach the white root (inner root), then take a hammer or cut the root and when agitated it should produce a lather that is great for washing”.
b. Hair brush
c. Sweat lodge
d. Tooth brush
e. Pot scrubber from equisetum
f. Primitive meds
H. Discuss wilderness hazards
a. Snakes
b. Plants
c. Plague
d. Spiders
e. Bees
f. Ticks
g. Bears
I. Demonstrate minimum impact techniques (leave no trace)
a. Camp layout
b. Pot holes
c. Fires
d. Litter and refuse
J. Participate in planning a trip schedule, activities and route to minimize risk
K. Discuss the basics of emergency procedures, evacuation and victim care for a variety of program components
a. Search and rescue emergency work
b. Breathing, bleeding, circulation, wounds, burns, sprains, strains, dislocations, fractures, shock, infection, internal disorder, poisoning, disease, cold injuries
c. Natural medicines
L. Show basic skill and understanding how various modern survival and emergency gear/ kits are used