Survival in the Outback

Survival in the Outback requires mainly common sense. The two most dangerous things to watch are car accidents and dehydration.

To avoid car accidents, drive slowly and carefully. Watch for the dust of oncoming vehicles and pull well over and stop if you are in a dust cloud. See my mate Don's driving tips.

To avoid dehydration you will need to almost force yourself to drink in the hot Australian summers. Even locals become dehydrated and need medical attention. Many tourists have reached Marla on the way from Adelaide to Alice Springs and had to be rehydrated or flown out to Pt Augusta hospital only because they have not been drinking enough water.

Be especially careful if you have been drinking alcohol. You will need extra water the next day. Dehydration will sneak up on you. The first signs are some disorientation, nausea and lethargy. Strange as it sounds the next stage is an urge to abandon your clothes because they feel restrictive and uncomfortable. Searchers in the Outback are told to look for abandoned clothes when they are searching for missing persons.

As you travel get into the habit of making a mental note of any source of water you pass, a windmill, dam etc. It may help you later if you break down.

You can practice some water gathering techniques in your overnight camp. The Arizona Still is a hole dug in the ground with a container in the middle and a piece of plastic over the top with a small weight in the centre of it. You can place leaves, salty water, radiator water, or even urine in the hole. The water will evaporate, condense on the plastic and run to the centre to drop into your container. The same principal works if you tie a series of plastic bags over bunches of green leaves overnight.

It also pays to carry some form of rehydration salts such as Staminade in the summer.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service has detailed tips on staying healthy in the Outback.

If you are interested in emergency survival techniques, this publication from the West Australian Police is excellent.

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