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How long can you survive in Australia's outback? | How long can you survive in Australia's outback? |
(about 16 hours later) | |
The stories of three people stranded in the Australian outback for two weeks have captured global attention. | The stories of three people stranded in the Australian outback for two weeks have captured global attention. |
Two of them survived, while a body was found on Thursday, presumably of the third person. | Two of them survived, while a body was found on Thursday, presumably of the third person. |
The outback is a vast remote area in the centre of Australia: dry, arid and almost entirely uninhabited. | The outback is a vast remote area in the centre of Australia: dry, arid and almost entirely uninhabited. |
During summer, the outback can get extremely hot and getting lost is dangerous - but experts insist that most deaths are preventable. | During summer, the outback can get extremely hot and getting lost is dangerous - but experts insist that most deaths are preventable. |
So what are the chances of surviving if lost and what are the factors that take or save a life? | So what are the chances of surviving if lost and what are the factors that take or save a life? |
How long can you survive without water? | How long can you survive without water? |
"The biggest two factors are heat and dehydration," explains Dr Matt Brearley of Australia's Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre. | "The biggest two factors are heat and dehydration," explains Dr Matt Brearley of Australia's Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre. |
Generally, a person can survive for three days without water - but that is only under certain conditions: without physical exertion or being exposed to too much heat in the direct sun. | Generally, a person can survive for three days without water - but that is only under certain conditions: without physical exertion or being exposed to too much heat in the direct sun. |
In the unforgiving summer of the outback, the window for surviving without water might be as short as one day, he explains. | In the unforgiving summer of the outback, the window for surviving without water might be as short as one day, he explains. |
Only with shade and with minimal physical activity would a three-day survival in the outback be possible. | Only with shade and with minimal physical activity would a three-day survival in the outback be possible. |
The heat will likely shorten that window. Especially if - like in the most recent case - you're trying to free a car stuck in mud or even if you decide to walk and look for help. | The heat will likely shorten that window. Especially if - like in the most recent case - you're trying to free a car stuck in mud or even if you decide to walk and look for help. |
The group of three that got stranded in the Northern Territories had been travelling by car when their vehicle got stuck in a riverbed. | The group of three that got stranded in the Northern Territories had been travelling by car when their vehicle got stuck in a riverbed. |
They tried to free the vehicle but after three days split up to find help. | They tried to free the vehicle but after three days split up to find help. |
How long without food? | How long without food? |
"Food is actually one of the least concerns in a situation like this," says Gordon Dedman of Bushcraft Survival Australia. | "Food is actually one of the least concerns in a situation like this," says Gordon Dedman of Bushcraft Survival Australia. |
People can survive without food for about three weeks, he explains. That means that long before food becomes an issue, it's the heat and the water that'll become crucial. | People can survive without food for about three weeks, he explains. That means that long before food becomes an issue, it's the heat and the water that'll become crucial. |
"We sum it up with the rule of three: you can survive three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food." | "We sum it up with the rule of three: you can survive three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food." |
Both the risks of dehydration and starvation are higher if someone in a weaker physical condition to begin with - which includes children and the elderly. | Both the risks of dehydration and starvation are higher if someone in a weaker physical condition to begin with - which includes children and the elderly. |
How dangerous is the heat? | How dangerous is the heat? |
Aside from the dangers of dehydration, it's the heat itself that comes into play. | Aside from the dangers of dehydration, it's the heat itself that comes into play. |
Temperatures can rise well above 40C (104F) during the summer and that means that unsheltered exposure for a prolonged period of time can be deadly. | Temperatures can rise well above 40C (104F) during the summer and that means that unsheltered exposure for a prolonged period of time can be deadly. |
"The normal body temperature is between 37 and 38 degrees," explains Dr Brearley . "If it rises above 40C, it gets dangerous." | "The normal body temperature is between 37 and 38 degrees," explains Dr Brearley . "If it rises above 40C, it gets dangerous." |
"If you're doing physically strenuous activity, like getting a car out of a ditch or even just walking trying to reach help, your body temperature rises." | "If you're doing physically strenuous activity, like getting a car out of a ditch or even just walking trying to reach help, your body temperature rises." |
And when it then is very hot outside, there's a risk the body can't cool down properly. | And when it then is very hot outside, there's a risk the body can't cool down properly. |
"If the body temperature stays above 40 degrees, your organs begin to fail - kidney and brain functions can be impaired and that means the person can die." | "If the body temperature stays above 40 degrees, your organs begin to fail - kidney and brain functions can be impaired and that means the person can die." |
In winter, outback temperatures can drop to freezing levels at night which means that warm clothing is also essential for survival. | In winter, outback temperatures can drop to freezing levels at night which means that warm clothing is also essential for survival. |
Wait for rescue or search for help? | Wait for rescue or search for help? |
"The best thing is to stay with the vehicle, that's a very important rule," stresses Mr Dedman. | "The best thing is to stay with the vehicle, that's a very important rule," stresses Mr Dedman. |
A car can be spotted much more easily by an aircraft and search missions are usually conducted from the air. | A car can be spotted much more easily by an aircraft and search missions are usually conducted from the air. |
So as long as there is some shelter at or around the car, it's best to stay put and wait to be found - rather than venture out to search for help. | So as long as there is some shelter at or around the car, it's best to stay put and wait to be found - rather than venture out to search for help. |
"The problem is often that these decisions are made when people are already in a heat stress environment," Mr Brearley explains. | "The problem is often that these decisions are made when people are already in a heat stress environment," Mr Brearley explains. |
"And that means you're more likely to make the wrong decision." | "And that means you're more likely to make the wrong decision." |
It is therefore important to have a Plan B long beforehand, so that you can then stick to that when things go wrong. | It is therefore important to have a Plan B long beforehand, so that you can then stick to that when things go wrong. |
If you do go out to look for help then key advice is to find a fence and stick with it. | If you do go out to look for help then key advice is to find a fence and stick with it. |
Farmers conduct regular checks on their fences and it's much more likely someone is found that way. | |
One survivors from the recent group was in fact found by a farmer who was performing checks on his land, known locally as a station - about 160km (100 miles) south of the town of Alice Springs, police said. | One survivors from the recent group was in fact found by a farmer who was performing checks on his land, known locally as a station - about 160km (100 miles) south of the town of Alice Springs, police said. |
How do you keep in touch? | How do you keep in touch? |
"The tragedy of most of these cases is that they are very preventable," explains Mr Dedman. | "The tragedy of most of these cases is that they are very preventable," explains Mr Dedman. |
Very often it just boils down to precaution and preparation ahead of a trip to the outback. | Very often it just boils down to precaution and preparation ahead of a trip to the outback. |
The fundamental basics are that you let someone know exactly where you're travelling and when you expect to be back. | The fundamental basics are that you let someone know exactly where you're travelling and when you expect to be back. |
Also ensure you can call for help. Normal mobile phones don't have a signal across most of the outback. | Also ensure you can call for help. Normal mobile phones don't have a signal across most of the outback. |
"That's why people should bring either a satellite phone or an EPIRB on such trips," the outback coach stresses. | "That's why people should bring either a satellite phone or an EPIRB on such trips," the outback coach stresses. |
An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is a device which can send a distress signal which will be picked up by local authorities who will then launch a search operation. | An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is a device which can send a distress signal which will be picked up by local authorities who will then launch a search operation. |
"With the right knowledge and preparation, getting stranded might be little more than an inconvenient camping experience," he says. | "With the right knowledge and preparation, getting stranded might be little more than an inconvenient camping experience," he says. |