As more and more Aussies tie on their hiking boots and head for the great Aussie bush, it’s been revealed almost half of us would have no idea what to do if we got lost. But thankfully there is one very small, very significant thing we can do to “take the search out of search and rescue”, survival expert Mike Atkinson told Yahoo News.
“There’s a long list of things you can do to help yourself but just put an emergency personal locator beacon (PLB) in your bag,” Mike, known as Outback Mike, said.
The hand-held devices connect to a “satellite that sits above Australia 24/7” and once activated, a helicopter can be hovering over you in a few hours.
“It’s smaller than a cigarette packet, it’s waterproof and it floats… and importantly you can’t annoy people with them either, it doesn’t impose your bush time. It only works one way and it can certainly save your life.”
A personal locator beacon can help to take the ‘search’ out of search and rescue. Source: NSW National Parks
His plea comes after the country held its breath during a string of lost hiker incidents last month, with three trail deaths in less than a week. The search and rescue mission of 23-year-old hiker Hadi Nazari also got national attention after he was found alive and well after being lost in the NSW Snowy Mountains for 13 days.
Outback Mike reckons he’ll definitely “take a PLB next time”.
The PLB did help save the life of sailor Luke Williams who went overboard from yacht Porco Rosso in the middle of night in rough conditions during the recent Sydney to Hobart race. He drifted about 2km from his boat but activated his beacon, which sent a message to rescuers who sent out a search aircraft before he was eventually found by his own crew.
PLBs can be bought for a few hundred dollars and some states even provide free hire of the devices, including in 12 national parks in NSW.
Hadi Nazari was able to keep himself alive for almost two weeks in the NSW bush. Source: ABC
How can I avoid getting lost in the Aussie bush?
Recent research from safety brand GME revealed almost half of Aussies wouldn’t know what to do if they were lost and possess very few basic survival skills which makes the difference between life and death.
Mike has two tips to help hikers avoid getting lost — plan your route and tell a friend.
There are many resources that hikers can use to plan their route. It’s important to ensure there are water sources along the way, stick to what you set out to do, and tell someone where you’ll be and what time to expect you back, that’s crucial.
Carrying water and matches are must-haves before setting off on a hike. It’s always good to have them and not need them, Mike pointed out. And having bright clothing and equipment is a “dual purpose” decision.
What do I do if I get lost in the bush
If you don’t have a PLB on hand, fight the instinct to try to find your way again. This can further disorientate you and push your further out of the search area once people realise you haven’t safely returned.
Finding a water source is vital and will likely be the first place rescuers will look for you. The general rule of thumb is hikers need four litres of water per person per day. This can change depending on the person, climate and general stress levels of the lost hiker, however, it’s no surprise water is your friend.
“Most people have Betadine in their first-aid bag and three or four drops per litre of water can help disinfect it, or you can boil it,” Mike said. “But just drink it. We’re not used to drinking water out of rivers and stuff, but it’s really not that bad and you’ve got to stay hydrated, so just do it.”
And lastly, create a signal as best you can to flag your location. This is where matches come in handy.
“Pile up at least a metre of green foliage and light it up. It smokes up this really thick smoke and it’ll go right through any dark tree canopy. That’s another great way to be found,” Mike said.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.