Watch this!! You can save yourself
Hi all friends and travellers in this blog
I saw these interesting articles on discovery channel and these are very helpfull. I would like to shear to everyone. There are some example scenarios:
Rule No. 1 when you're hiking in bear country: make noise. Most bear attacks occur when hikers stumble upon and surprise a bear, often a mother and her cubs. Don't think they'll be easy to spot; even huge grizzlies can conceal themselves in the brush or the high grass of meadows.
If you see a bear, fight the urge to run. Repeat after me: You can't outrun a bear. Bears can sprint for short distances at speeds up to 56km/h! And don't assume you can escape by climbing a tree. That only works if you have enough time to climb at least 10m high. Black bears are good climbers and grizzlies can climb at least partway up a tree. And if you're near water, e.g., a lake or river, don't get in the water and try to swim away from the bear. They can swim.
Offer Soothing Words
What you need to do is stay calm and slowly begin backing away. If you are downwind and the bear hasn't seen you, try to make as little noise as possible as you slowly backtrack. If the bear sees you, however, you also should start talking to the bear in a calm, firm voice. That will allow him or her to identify you as a human. And try not to stare into the bear's eyes. The bear may interpret direct eye contact as aggressive behaviour; it's better to avert your eyes and turn your head to the side, a more submissive pose. As you move away, it's not a bad idea to stay upwind of the bear, if possible — you want him to know you're a human.
If you're in a group, stay together. You'll look larger and that could keep the bear from charging.
Often bears will bluff a charge, meaning they will rush toward you and then stop in close proximity to your position. It's a warning to back off. Heed the warning. Back off. Slowly. But should the worst happen and the bear attacks, reach for your bear pepper spray. If you carry bear pepper spray, make sure it is easy to reach — it won't do you much good in your backpack, so keep it close to your hands.
Duck and Cover
Sometimes just the sound of the spray discharge will stop a charging bear. But if the bear keeps coming, as a last resort, drop to the ground and play dead. Either lie on your stomach with your hands protecting your neck, or lie on your side in a foetal position with your legs and head tucked into your chest. And keep your backpack on. It can serve as a shield. Basically, you want to protect your soft tissue and organs to the best of your ability against a large animal that is built to maul.
Finally, don't move or get up until you're certain the bear has moved a distance away. There's a story of one hiker who made the mistake of reaching for his bear spray while the animal was nearby, an action that provoked another attack.
One last bit of advice if you plan to camp in bear country. Most people know to keep their food either in the trunk of their vehicles or in an approved bearproof container. Many campsites, even in the backcountry of some national parks, have bearproof storage lockers or bear poles. If unavailable, hang a "bear bag" at least 60m from your campsite. A bear bag is a stuff sack loaded with your provisions, cooking gear and the clothing that you wore while cooking, which you suspend from a sturdy tree branch at least 3m above the ground and 1.5 to 2.5m from the tree trunk. Make sure you store your cooking clothes in the bear bag, because sleeping in the same clothes you cooked in is like yelling, "Come and get it!"
A disturbing fact: Most house fires happen between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Which means you're likely to be asleep, making it that much more important that you know how to save yourself and your family since you won't have much time to plan your escape.
If you notice smoke, drop to the floor and begin to crawl to the nearest exit. The smoke and heat will rise to the ceiling. With luck, you'll be able to stay where the air is cool and clear.
Beware of Hot Doors
And before you go opening doors, check for heat. The smart way to do this is to feel the top of the door with the back of your hand. You don't want to go burning your palm or your fingers — you could be needing them later in your escape, like for climbing down a ladder.
If the door is hot, don't open it. Doors can keep out smoke, even more so if you can put a blanket or clothing along the bottom. Head for the window. If you can't get out, find a way to signal your presence, say with a flashlight or white sheet.If the door isn't hot, open it slowly. Obviously, if you see flames, close it quickly. If all seems clear, however, start crawling, making sure that you close any doors between you and where you think the fire might be.
Get a Plan
Once you get out safely, stay out. Don't get any lame ideas about saving your high school yearbook.
If you have children you owe it to them and to yourself to work out an escape plan. Remember, chances are any fire will start while they're sleeping and you may not have the opportunity to tell them what to do. They need to know what to do, and they'll only know if they've practiced it. Plus, children, when they panic, look for places to hide, like a closet or under the bed. They need to know to get out of the house, and how to do it, by crawling to the nearest exit.
If a window is your only option, lower any children to the ground first. Kids might panic and not follow if you leave first. Once outside head to the meeting place that's the final piece of your escape plan, like a mailbox or the big tree in your yard. You want to make sure as soon as possible that everyone's safe.
The simple way to avoid hypothermia is a) dress warmly and b) stay out of the cold.
But things don't always work out and there may come a time when a) you don't dress warmly enough and b) you're so cold you can't remember your name.
Dazed and Confused
No, really. When your body temperature drops below 35 degrees Celsius, you're hypothermic and one of the symptoms is that you're dazed and confused, not to mention shivering violently. You also get pale, and your lips, ears, fingers and toes turn blue. Then things could get really serious. If your temperature should drop as low as 32.2 degrees Celsius, your organs begin to fail and without immediate medical attention, you'll likely die.
Forget the Whiskey
Luckily, there are things you can do to reduce your chance of freezing to death. If you think you could be caught outside in very cold temperatures, dress in layers, preferably wool or other fabrics that can dry quickly. Keep your head covered. Drink plenty of warm fluids, but not alcohol or any caffeinated liquid, both of which hinder the body's heat-producing mechanisms. So forget about that shot of whiskey getting you through the cold night.
Also, do whatever you can to stay dry. Obviously, you're not going to go around flopping into streams when it's freezing outside. But if you should get wet, keep in mind that wet clothing can lose up to 90 percent of its insulating effect, so your risk of hypothermia could rise dramatically.
No Massages, Please
If you're lucky enough to be with someone when your body starts shutting down, what should they do to save you? First, they should call for the ambulance. You're going to need medical help. They also should get you into shelter, if possible. If they can't get you indoors, they at least should move you out of the wind. Wherever you are, they should wrap you, including your head, in blankets, towels or even newspapers. Ideally, they should put hot water bottles under your armpits and between your legs, making sure that they don't put anything on bare skin.
Finally, they should keep you flat and move you as little as possible. Movement could cause a severely hypothermic person to have a heart attack.
A few things they shouldn't do. They shouldn't rub or massage you. That could cause more damage if you also have frostbite. They shouldn't get you anything to eat. And they shouldn't give you anything to drink, especially alcohol, no matter how much you think that's just what you need.
Most people think they know the rules of lightning: 1) Get out of the water. 2) Don't stand under tall trees. 3) Don't wave your metal walking stick in anger at the sky.
That's a start, but there's much more you should know; for starters, how to tell how close the lightning is. If you can't count more than 30 seconds between lightning and thunder, you're in danger. That means the lightning is less than five miles (eight kilometres) away.
Ditch the Golf Cart
If it's that close, head for shelter. Large, enclosed buildings are much safer than small, open ones, such as a gazebo or baseball dugout. Enclosed vehicles with the windows rolled up are safe. Golf carts are not. If you make it to a house, you'd be smart to avoid contact with electrical appliances and even landline phones. You don't want to get close to plumbing fixtures either. So don't take a shower or wash the dishes. A violent thunderstorm is a great time to read a book.
Don't Lie Down
But let's say you can't make it to a building or a car; let's say you're hiking out in the middle of an open field. Whatever you do, don't lie flat on the ground. Instead, crouch on the balls of your feet, with your feet together to minimize your contact with the ground, and put your hands over your ears to protect yourself from acoustic shock. If you're in a group, spread out, with at least 6m between each person. That will decrease the risk of more than one person getting hit.
The good news is that most people struck by lightning do survive. But you should call for the ambulance immediately. If someone is unconscious, but breathing, they'll likely recover on their own. But don't hesitate to move them to a safer spot, if possible. Don't worry; you won't get electrocuted if you touch someone struck by lightning. So if they're not breathing, start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, blowing in a breath every five seconds. And if you can't feel a pulse in the victim's carotid artery at the side of their neck, start cardiac compressions on their chest.
Two factoids to remind you how dangerous lightning is: The air within a strike can reach 50,000 degrees F (almost 28,000 degrees Celsius). And you're 30 times more likely to die from a lightning strike than from a shark attack.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
IF you want to see more... check this web site
http://www.discoverychannelasia.com/survival_zone/worst_case/hypothermia/index.shtml
for chinese version
http://www.discoverychannel.com.tw/survival_zone/worst_case/hypothermia/index.shtml
Download the files. pdf(scenarios above)
求生手冊
Everyday Worst-Case Scenarios
I saw these interesting articles on discovery channel and these are very helpfull. I would like to shear to everyone. There are some example scenarios:
When It's a Bear, Don't Stare
Rule No. 1 when you're hiking in bear country: make noise. Most bear attacks occur when hikers stumble upon and surprise a bear, often a mother and her cubs. Don't think they'll be easy to spot; even huge grizzlies can conceal themselves in the brush or the high grass of meadows.If you see a bear, fight the urge to run. Repeat after me: You can't outrun a bear. Bears can sprint for short distances at speeds up to 56km/h! And don't assume you can escape by climbing a tree. That only works if you have enough time to climb at least 10m high. Black bears are good climbers and grizzlies can climb at least partway up a tree. And if you're near water, e.g., a lake or river, don't get in the water and try to swim away from the bear. They can swim.
Offer Soothing Words
What you need to do is stay calm and slowly begin backing away. If you are downwind and the bear hasn't seen you, try to make as little noise as possible as you slowly backtrack. If the bear sees you, however, you also should start talking to the bear in a calm, firm voice. That will allow him or her to identify you as a human. And try not to stare into the bear's eyes. The bear may interpret direct eye contact as aggressive behaviour; it's better to avert your eyes and turn your head to the side, a more submissive pose. As you move away, it's not a bad idea to stay upwind of the bear, if possible — you want him to know you're a human.
If you're in a group, stay together. You'll look larger and that could keep the bear from charging.
Often bears will bluff a charge, meaning they will rush toward you and then stop in close proximity to your position. It's a warning to back off. Heed the warning. Back off. Slowly. But should the worst happen and the bear attacks, reach for your bear pepper spray. If you carry bear pepper spray, make sure it is easy to reach — it won't do you much good in your backpack, so keep it close to your hands.
Duck and Cover
Sometimes just the sound of the spray discharge will stop a charging bear. But if the bear keeps coming, as a last resort, drop to the ground and play dead. Either lie on your stomach with your hands protecting your neck, or lie on your side in a foetal position with your legs and head tucked into your chest. And keep your backpack on. It can serve as a shield. Basically, you want to protect your soft tissue and organs to the best of your ability against a large animal that is built to maul.
Finally, don't move or get up until you're certain the bear has moved a distance away. There's a story of one hiker who made the mistake of reaching for his bear spray while the animal was nearby, an action that provoked another attack.
One last bit of advice if you plan to camp in bear country. Most people know to keep their food either in the trunk of their vehicles or in an approved bearproof container. Many campsites, even in the backcountry of some national parks, have bearproof storage lockers or bear poles. If unavailable, hang a "bear bag" at least 60m from your campsite. A bear bag is a stuff sack loaded with your provisions, cooking gear and the clothing that you wore while cooking, which you suspend from a sturdy tree branch at least 3m above the ground and 1.5 to 2.5m from the tree trunk. Make sure you store your cooking clothes in the bear bag, because sleeping in the same clothes you cooked in is like yelling, "Come and get it!"
If Your House Catches Fire
A disturbing fact: Most house fires happen between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Which means you're likely to be asleep, making it that much more important that you know how to save yourself and your family since you won't have much time to plan your escape.If you notice smoke, drop to the floor and begin to crawl to the nearest exit. The smoke and heat will rise to the ceiling. With luck, you'll be able to stay where the air is cool and clear.
Beware of Hot Doors
And before you go opening doors, check for heat. The smart way to do this is to feel the top of the door with the back of your hand. You don't want to go burning your palm or your fingers — you could be needing them later in your escape, like for climbing down a ladder.
If the door is hot, don't open it. Doors can keep out smoke, even more so if you can put a blanket or clothing along the bottom. Head for the window. If you can't get out, find a way to signal your presence, say with a flashlight or white sheet.If the door isn't hot, open it slowly. Obviously, if you see flames, close it quickly. If all seems clear, however, start crawling, making sure that you close any doors between you and where you think the fire might be.
Get a Plan
Once you get out safely, stay out. Don't get any lame ideas about saving your high school yearbook.
If you have children you owe it to them and to yourself to work out an escape plan. Remember, chances are any fire will start while they're sleeping and you may not have the opportunity to tell them what to do. They need to know what to do, and they'll only know if they've practiced it. Plus, children, when they panic, look for places to hide, like a closet or under the bed. They need to know to get out of the house, and how to do it, by crawling to the nearest exit.
If a window is your only option, lower any children to the ground first. Kids might panic and not follow if you leave first. Once outside head to the meeting place that's the final piece of your escape plan, like a mailbox or the big tree in your yard. You want to make sure as soon as possible that everyone's safe.
Out in the Cold? Avoiding Hypothermia
The simple way to avoid hypothermia is a) dress warmly and b) stay out of the cold.
But things don't always work out and there may come a time when a) you don't dress warmly enough and b) you're so cold you can't remember your name.
Dazed and Confused
No, really. When your body temperature drops below 35 degrees Celsius, you're hypothermic and one of the symptoms is that you're dazed and confused, not to mention shivering violently. You also get pale, and your lips, ears, fingers and toes turn blue. Then things could get really serious. If your temperature should drop as low as 32.2 degrees Celsius, your organs begin to fail and without immediate medical attention, you'll likely die.Forget the Whiskey
Luckily, there are things you can do to reduce your chance of freezing to death. If you think you could be caught outside in very cold temperatures, dress in layers, preferably wool or other fabrics that can dry quickly. Keep your head covered. Drink plenty of warm fluids, but not alcohol or any caffeinated liquid, both of which hinder the body's heat-producing mechanisms. So forget about that shot of whiskey getting you through the cold night.
Also, do whatever you can to stay dry. Obviously, you're not going to go around flopping into streams when it's freezing outside. But if you should get wet, keep in mind that wet clothing can lose up to 90 percent of its insulating effect, so your risk of hypothermia could rise dramatically.
No Massages, Please
If you're lucky enough to be with someone when your body starts shutting down, what should they do to save you? First, they should call for the ambulance. You're going to need medical help. They also should get you into shelter, if possible. If they can't get you indoors, they at least should move you out of the wind. Wherever you are, they should wrap you, including your head, in blankets, towels or even newspapers. Ideally, they should put hot water bottles under your armpits and between your legs, making sure that they don't put anything on bare skin.
Finally, they should keep you flat and move you as little as possible. Movement could cause a severely hypothermic person to have a heart attack.
A few things they shouldn't do. They shouldn't rub or massage you. That could cause more damage if you also have frostbite. They shouldn't get you anything to eat. And they shouldn't give you anything to drink, especially alcohol, no matter how much you think that's just what you need.
When Lightning Strikes
Most people think they know the rules of lightning: 1) Get out of the water. 2) Don't stand under tall trees. 3) Don't wave your metal walking stick in anger at the sky.That's a start, but there's much more you should know; for starters, how to tell how close the lightning is. If you can't count more than 30 seconds between lightning and thunder, you're in danger. That means the lightning is less than five miles (eight kilometres) away.
Ditch the Golf Cart
If it's that close, head for shelter. Large, enclosed buildings are much safer than small, open ones, such as a gazebo or baseball dugout. Enclosed vehicles with the windows rolled up are safe. Golf carts are not. If you make it to a house, you'd be smart to avoid contact with electrical appliances and even landline phones. You don't want to get close to plumbing fixtures either. So don't take a shower or wash the dishes. A violent thunderstorm is a great time to read a book.
Don't Lie Down
But let's say you can't make it to a building or a car; let's say you're hiking out in the middle of an open field. Whatever you do, don't lie flat on the ground. Instead, crouch on the balls of your feet, with your feet together to minimize your contact with the ground, and put your hands over your ears to protect yourself from acoustic shock. If you're in a group, spread out, with at least 6m between each person. That will decrease the risk of more than one person getting hit.
The good news is that most people struck by lightning do survive. But you should call for the ambulance immediately. If someone is unconscious, but breathing, they'll likely recover on their own. But don't hesitate to move them to a safer spot, if possible. Don't worry; you won't get electrocuted if you touch someone struck by lightning. So if they're not breathing, start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, blowing in a breath every five seconds. And if you can't feel a pulse in the victim's carotid artery at the side of their neck, start cardiac compressions on their chest.
Two factoids to remind you how dangerous lightning is: The air within a strike can reach 50,000 degrees F (almost 28,000 degrees Celsius). And you're 30 times more likely to die from a lightning strike than from a shark attack.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
IF you want to see more... check this web site
http://www.discoverychannelasia.com/survival_zone/worst_case/hypothermia/index.shtml
for chinese version
http://www.discoverychannel.com.tw/survival_zone/worst_case/hypothermia/index.shtml
Download the files. pdf(scenarios above)
求生手冊
Everyday Worst-Case Scenarios
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