Save Our Selves: A guide to getting help in remote areas

Save Our Selves - A guide for getting help in remote areas

By

Philip Gaden

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 Philip Gaden

www.campingcommunication.com

Smashwords Edition Licence Notes

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Table of Contents

Part I: How to survive travelling around Australia

Emergency Contact Sheet

1. Trip Planning / Preparation – the stuff you do before you leave home

2. What constitutes and emergency… i.e. when do you call for help

3. How to call for help in an emergency in Australia:

Phone

PLB / Beacon

Other satellite messenger (e.g. SPOT / inReach)

Satellite Telephone

HF Radio

UHF Radio

Visual Means (Flares / Signal Fires etc.)

If you cannot raise an alarm

4. What to expect once you have activated your beacon

5. What to do if you accidently activate your beacon / False alarms

6. What to expect if alerting using other means

7. What to do until help arrives

Part II –Communication Equipment

Distress Beacons and Satellite Messengers

Satellite Telephones

Other Means of Communication

Annex A: Important Telephone Numbers:

Roadside Assistance – in event of breakdown

24 hour Police Stations- Australia

Annex B: Royal Flying Doctor HF Radio Frequencies

* * * * *

Part I: How to survive travelling around Australia

* * * * *

Australia is a magnificent country. For some of us, the dream is to pack the camper or caravan and head off for a lap around. For others it might be a 4WD dash across the Simpson Desert or to hike the Larapinta Trail in NT. It may just be a short weekend away at a nearby National Park, we truly are spoilt for options.

Many of the roads or paths we travel are lonely empty places. This is of course part of the appeal or lure as to why we do these trips. The only problem is that if something goes wrong, it can be very difficult to get help.

For many years whilst working in Search and Rescue Coordination, I have been noting that the people who invariably are rescued are the ones who have taken the time to be well prepared and know what to do if things go wrong.

The purpose of this book is to give some practical advice to anyone who heads away from the crowds. And don’t think you need to travel far to be remote. We have been