Before you venture out into the hills tell a trusted person what exactly you are doing. Give as much detail as possible, and tell them at what time they should raise the alarm should you not make contact - it is best if you write all this information down. If you wish to do this online visit www.adventuresmart.org.nz.
PLEASE TELL YOUR TRUSTED PERSON WHEN YOU RETURN SAFELY! Searching for people that have left the Village or Park, causes us much grief, and wastes our valuable resources and personel's time!
SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES
If you meet with a mishap in the hills, and you can't get word to us, you are committed to survive using your own resources... (for a minimum of one full day more than likely). If weather conditions are bad, don't assume we can get to you, most helicopters cannot operate in strong winds or poor visibility, and we cannot cross flooded rivers!
- STUCK IN FLOODS ...
- If your in a hut, stay there till the situation changes, rationalise your food supply, the only thing likely to kill you is boredom! Be aware we do not remove people from huts during flooding, except in exceptional circumstances, or at your own expense! If your not in a hut, seek or make shelter immediately!
- LOST ...
- Don't stumble your way into further danger by guessing, if you can retrace your exact route safely - do so! If you have a map, study it, maybe an obvious landmark is nearby. Don't follow streams or creeks off mountains they invariably lead to waterfalls, prominent ridges or spurs are the only possible option. If you cannot return the way you came - stay put - try and draw attention to yourself by shouting for a few minutes (on well used tracks), light a smokey fire, if conditions are poor - seek or make shelter immediately! You may have to survive a night out! On the day a search is likely to start make yourself as obvious as possible (stay on open ground or ridges)!
- CAUGHT OUT without shelter...
- If you have tramping equipment, you can turn your pack into a waterproof Bivy Bag, by emptying its contents, putting the foot of your sleeping bag into it, and covering your upper body with your wet-weather gear. Put your dry clothing in your sleeping bag with you. If your only a Day Hiker, make shelter in the Beech trees, wear ALL you clothing, cover yourself in leaves, ferns, anything that can stop heat leaving you, if you are getting cold curl up in a tight ball, stay awake. If your in snow above the treeline, dig a hole or trench, a sleeping bag is a wonderful asset in this circumstance.
- INJURIES...
- should be treated on-site immediately, stop any bleeding, immobilise fractured bones, don't move the victim unless you are absolutely sure it is safe to do so (a fall victim may be suffering spinal damage). You can always build shelter around a victim that cannot be moved. If there is enough persons in your party to enable a couple of people to return to civilisation safely, arrange it! Make sure they are fully aware of the situation, your exact location etc
- HYPOTHERMIA or EXPOSURE...
- these cases should be treated immediately. Hypothermia kills very quickly. STOP! Initiating rewarming whilst the victim is still conscious is critical. Shelter, especially from the wind must be obtained (a tent, in forest). If the victims clothing is wet, change them, and / or put them in a sleeping bag/s with someone else if need be. Feed warm, sweet drinks (Not Alcohol - death could be almost immediate!)
