Dont die in the Outback

[Jaros]

I reckon you MUST carry extra fuel out there as the going is harder, higher speed means higher fuel usage, rougher roads-same, hills, running aircon etc it all adds up. I have 3 x 20ltr jerry cans extra on the camper trailer as well as a 20 ltr drinking water container-water always full. Fuel filled depending on my distance needed.

 

[savage bitter]

I reckon you MUST carry extra fuel out there as the going is harder, higher speed means higher fuel usage, rougher roads-same, hills, running aircon etc it all adds up. I have 3 x 20ltr jerry cans extra on the camper trailer as well as a 20 ltr drinking water container-water always full. Fuel filled depending on my distance needed.

For us, we know were we are going and carry enough to do it most time. I know if someone is coming out of they know if we are going there but a lot of travellers are just going that way to somewhere. Most cop stations will take notes if you tell them when going thru a district and can tell you if the road is good or bad etc. but when it comes to map reading some its the first map and the first time they have ever used one. I had one lot pull up in Quilpie and thought they were in Emerald so that's pretty bushed and it took them 2 days of driving before asking where they were.

I have edited this but cannot work out what the "if someone is coming" section--very hard to understand without Capitals, full stops etc.
Please make a greater effort to make the posts legible as you DO have good things to say and we do enjoy your input.
Jaros

 

[Bush Chook]

At Quilpie and thought it was Emerald? Major geographical embarrassment.

 

[Jaros]

Probably because the North/Sth Poles are moving.

 

[Ded Driver]

Probably because the North/Sth Poles are moving.

Jaros, pole switch wont make any difference, coz most of these lost people dont know which way is up, down, left, right, north, or home :lol: :awful:

 

[Luke]

a lot of what I have seen out western qld is know your limits no your vehical and what it can do and if the worse your car breaks down stay there do some reading on survival and bush craft a skill set that never a waste of time ask stupid questions a lot of travellers I have seen carry over priced useless junk that they don't know how to use and causes more problems
I have done a lot of searches looking for lost or hurt people and simple mistakes are the biggest cause for them to be put into the situation which could of been avoided
basic skills can help and be prepared

Very true mate
What a lot of people dont realize is that those of us that do a lot of prospecting are gdually re ote and by ourselves.
At my age i cant handle silly buggers out with me and getting gold fever .
Also like to piont ouf that you can spend as much as gou want on sat phones etc but many real remote areas there is no reception .
Com on sense is your main line of defence .
Know the bush well is your best thing you can do

No sat phone reception?Where's that?Unless you fall in a mineshaft or deep forest you should be pretty much fine.I carry both, a sat phone and the SPOT tracking device/messenger.That covers me in 99% of all trouble cases.
You get bitten by a snake in the middle of nowhere on your own...you're gone :skull: even if you have all bush skills you want.
It's 2019 with right tools no need to worry.

 

[Ded Driver]

the best rule of thumb is to always have a Plan B, with at least a tentative idea on a Plan C.
Technology is known to fail ... usually when its needed most.
many years ago my brother was at a truck accident in the hills in thick forest. The cops Sat Phone could not get a sat signal so they had to borrow my brothers CDMA Telstra phone as it was the only service there with signal.
Didn't have internet services in those days but the CDMA system was more dependable & went further from the tower than any of todays systems.

 

[savage bitter]

we have sat phones out here and they can be hit and miss some days and then don't work for 2-3 hours in some arears in desert country with not a hill or tree in site sat phone is a paper weight. when it comes to snake bites we carry snake bite kits get bitten one jab and head to the closest doctor haven't herd of any deaths since these kits were available to us but before that 2 maybe 3 would die before the RFD could get there

 

[goody2shoes]

Where can you buy those kits from Savage bitter?

Goody

 

[savage bitter]

they are supplied by the local doctor we pick them up from the local chemist they are about 800 dollars

 

[goody2shoes]

Thank you Savage bitter

Goody

 

[savage bitter]

and they have a small shelf life in the fridge about 3 months I think the local vet has them for horses so the old man says

 

[Ded Driver]

today I went to the APLA Southwest Field Day (Amalgamated Prospectors & Leaseholders Association WA) & had the very good pleasure of meeting & chatting with renowned trainer Bob Cooper of 'Bob Cooper Outback Survival Training'.
A very very knowledgeable bloke who has been around for long time & done lots to promote & provide safety & survival training, including for mining companies. And what a pleasant person to chat with
in his talk today he mostly covered dehydration, & a syndrome known as 'dehydration dementia' where it affects your mind & logical reasoning.
It was a very enlightening topic & talk.
He also has a range of merchandise - 1st aid kit, basic survival kit, book, dvd etc ... worth a look
If anyone is coming to WA & interested in specialised WA outback survival training he offers a couple of courses, including a snake handling course :awful: :skull:
have a look here; https://www.bobcoopersurvival.com/
Also today a very good demonstration with hints & tips on detecting for large deep nuggets by a local, Brad Fowler. Learnt a fair bit from that.
many thanks to them both for their time erfect:

 

[Rockhunter62]

Just saw this in the news.

https://www.9news.com.au/2019/03/20...ound-in-search-for-bushwalker-bitten-by-snake

Not even in the outback.

Cheers

Doug

 

[Jaros]

Sad result.

 

[Ded Driver]

very sad outcome. & in the Champion Lakes reserve he would of only been a couple/few hundred metres from houses! :/
unfortunately he didnt send his GPS location, probably didnt know how.
At the last APLA meeting here the other week, a fellow gave a talk on exactly that ... how to acquire your current GPS coords to send to someone ... more people should start to learn to do this on their phones!
Not always usual in WA goldfields if you have no phone signal to send them, but thats why a good PLB has a GPS locator in it, or have a Sat Phone.

 

[Rockhunter62]

You can even get the Emergency+ App for smart phones or tablets that will give your location without having any service.

Cheers

Doug

 

[Ded Driver]

little refresher for everyone: St John Ambulance snake bite 1st Aid
https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/doc/member-docs/12692/1553062510_snakebite_1st_aid.pdf

 

[CreviceSucker]

A pair of these might have helped , pity these ones wont fit me.

Anyone know where to buy snakeproof boots without a trip to the USA ?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/183724673006?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

 

[Ded Driver]

CreviseSucker, most people just use 'snake gators' ... on eBay & from most prospector shops
have a read of this thread https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=463293#p463293
some pics there too