Safety & Survival in the Outdoors
For the past few decades we have become
increasingly dependent upon artificial shelters for comfort and protection
from the environment. We have become so used to moving
between our cars, homes, offices and other protected areas, we are
often unaware of, and totally unprepared for the weather and
environmental conditions surrounding us. Even when hunting, fishing,
skiing, boating, snowmobiling, mushrooming, or any
endless number of other outdoor pursuits, we can easily put our reliance on cell phones, fancy clothing, or sports equipment that might be completely
inadequate for unexpected changing conditions. And, to top it off, with the increased understanding
of the often fierce consequences of global warming, should we become
more depended on technology or on our own ability to handle the
unexpected?How about you? Could you ever find yourself in a recreational activity, unprepared for nasty weather? How about getting lost? Falling into cold water? Stranded in a car because of deep snow or sand? What would you do if you had to spend an unexpected night outside while snowboarding, hunting or hiking? What would be the impact be if someone near you suffered a serious injury? What if the lights or heat switches quit working at home? If your faucets quit running? If your phone was out? If emergency services couldn't get to you? Could you spend 3 days in your home with no electricity without it from becoming a "life or death" survival situation?
Course Structure
Survival & Safety in the Outdoors is delivered in a fast-paced and humerous manner, making use of lectures, PowerPoint presentations, guided discussions and demonstration performances. Each course participant receives a "Survival Course Workbook", a small individual survival kit that will be put to use during the course and a Certificate of Completion will be mailed upon completion of the course.
On occasion, ERI runs Safety & Survival in the Outdoors at a specific locations in the US, Canada or overseas. However, the most productive way to offer the course is for one or more local host organizations to sponsor the program for their own constituancy. Since it is an academic only course, ERI can handle several dozen students.
Course Content
- ABC's of Wilderness & Urban Survival
- Defining Survival and Survival Odds
- Survival Basics & the Research
- Dispelling Survival Myths
- PMA, Necessities of Life & Body's Enemies
- Necessities of Life
- Physiological Aspects of Heat & Cold
- Energy Use, Loss & Conservation
- Clothing Systems & Protection
- Shelter Requirements
- Fire and External Sources of Heat
- Water Procurement & Preparation
- Signaling Distress & Civilian Search & Rescue Systems
- Survival Kits, Emergency Kits, & Emergency Equipment
- Improvising from a Vehicle, House, Office and Nature
- Survival First Aid & Environmental Injuries