TO PRINT: move flashing cursor to top with arrow keys. mark this point with keys Ctrl K B; move cursor to end with arrow keys; mark end with Ctrl K K; and print with Ctrl K P. PRESS THE 'Ctrl' WHILE YOU PRESS THE OTHER TWO KEYS IN ORDER. SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS ---------------------- Review safety rules before each outing; review with other fishing partners also. Physical Requirements - Make sure you can physically do what you plan - consider the worst environments e.g. snow, ice, rain, etc. Get a physical examination if in doubt. Get preliminary exercise - walking, hiking, jogging to get in necessary shape. Elderly anglers may want to fish with a younger partner. General - Safety has priority over everything else. Check the weather before each outing and review it periodically. Tell someone responsible where you will fish. Know the area where you fish. Make sure you have enough gas. Make sure boat has proper lighting. Take a flashlight. Clothing - Have a sun hat; avoid over exposure to heat and sun. Take clothes for worst possible weather - it can change. Watch out for hypothermia (exposure to cold) - Make sure to dress warm; fisherman are prime candidates for hypothermia; take a woolen hat and mittens and dress in layers of clothes - signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable fits of shivering, dizziness, disorientation, memory loss, stumbling, drowsiness (to sleep may be to die), fatigue, and slurred speech - Believe the symptoms not the victim who may deny problem. get a person out of wet clothes and warmed up SOON by a fire and/or with blankets. Put victim in sleeping bag with another person or between to people if bag is big enough. Drink warm liquids but not anything with alcohol. Get to a doctor. Hypothermia cases can develop in temperatures as high as 30 to 50 degrees and many do. Carry some foods and hot liquids with you; chocolate or hot soup. Take matches in case you need to start a fire. Fishing - Watch your casting so as to keep hooks away from fishing partners. Be alert of fishing partners' casting as well. Some fish have sharp gill plates (e.g. walleye) or tines (e.g. bullhead, catfish) so use care handling fish. Some fish may require a needle nose pliers to remove the hook safely from toothy mouths (e.g. northern, musky). Lightning - Take cover before a lightening storm occurs. Open area, high conductors attract lightening so avoid being out in open water in a boat or an open field or under a single tree in an open field. Things such as boats and fishing poles may also attract lightning especially when projected above other objects into the air. Graphite and boron rods conduct electricity and fiberglass rods (or boats) may also conduct under certain circumstances. Spread people out if caught in lightening and take cover in a low area or under trees in a low area. If you feel body hair on arms or neck stand up, lightning may strike nearby; Put any objects in hand down and crouch low until bolt strikes. Stay away from anything metal and stay dry; getting wet may cause more risk of electrocution. Places to avoid when lightning occurs are open fields, single trees in an open field, and on or in the water. Boating - Know safe boating practices and regulations for your area, state, and type of boat. Make sure you have enough life preservers, flares, horn, bailing devices, anchors and adequate rope length, gas, oil for mixing in gas, compass, maps, battery operated radio for listening to weather reports. Do not overload boat; this is a common cause of capsizing. Keep boat stable when you stand; especially if you stand to urinate in water; take a urination bucket or tube instead for this purpose. Find out ahead of time where big currents or whitewater are and use appropriate care. Wear appropriate shoes which have good traction on the boat. Driver should refrain from alcohol; appoint a designated driver if appropriate. You may desire a 3' chain attached to anchor in order to prevent anchor line from breaking. Wading - Some rivers or streams have strong currents especially in the spring runoff. Use caution in how deep you wade and use waders with a high traction sole. Restrict wading to ankle or knees only. Moving slowly is safer (and also quieter). Heaters - Make sure to have adequate ventilation with heaters which use up oxygen in confined spaces e.g. tents, cabins, etc. Carbon monoxide can cause death quickly. Recommended ventilation includes fresh air inlet from ground or other low level; a roof or high air outlet which allows carbon monoxide to escape (carbon monoxide will float to top). Symptoms of carbon monoxide include first a severe quick headache, red face, then stomach sickness and vomiting. Get fresh air if you notice a headache and provide proper ventilation. Never sleep with certain heaters on which use up oxygen. Read directions carefully on all portable heaters and with use of propane or other fuel. Survival - Here are some proven common sense rules to help you stay out of trouble while hunting, hiking, fishing, or backpacking. It is very important for you to know how to care for yourself in the field and back country. IT COULD BE A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH ::PLAN AND PREPARE TO PREVENT TROUBLE ** Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Leave a description of yourself, your vehicle, and your vehicle license number with a responsible person. Advise them when to notify the proper authorities or a responsible agency if you should not return on time. ** NEVER hunt, hike or backpack by yourself. ** Cancel your trip or change areas if the weather turns bad. ** If you are out just for the day plan to return to camp or vehicle BEFORE DARK. ** Wear clothing proper for the WORST conditions possible in the area you plan to be in. (Hat, gloves, good boots, warm jacket, and if you plan to camp out be sure that you have a GOOD sleeping bag.) ** Study the area carefully. Take maps and a compass and KNOW how to use them. ** Assemble and carry with you a practical survival kit that includes a space blanket, waterproof matches, PLASTIC whistle, first aid kit, signal mirror, knife, high energy food supplements, and water as minimum. (Drink plenty of water when hiking in cold or snowy weather.) Include a booklet on survival and first aid. ** Be prepared for the worst, expect the best. Keep a POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE(PMA.) DO NOT VENTURE OUT IF YOU ARE A NEGATIVE THINKER. Be mentally prepared for the possibility of someday having too face a survival situation. IN THE EVENT YOU DO BECOME LOST *** STOP! If lost, admit it, stop traveling, stay put and wait for rescue. *** THINK! POSITIVE! Keep your PMA. The only thing to fear is fear itself. Judge the situation and the problems which might occur. Keep a rational mind, avoid confusion or panic. Remember, worry wastes energy. *** OBSERVE! Look around for possible solutions to the problems. *** PLAN! Set up a course of action which will best use your energy and resources. *** Check yourself for injuries and attend to them promptly. *** Find shelter and build a fire. Conserve precious body heat and energy, keep dry, get comfortable rest and some sleep if possible. Avoid HYPOTHERMIA and frostbite. *** Don't worry about food. You can live for 30 days or more without food and 3 days without water. Minimum of activity conserves water and body heat. *** Know how to use your survival kit and have it with you. It won't do you any good sitting back in camp or in the vehicle. *** Prepare for rescue. Blow your whistle often, you may not know if someone if near. Use your signal mirror on a clear day and build a smoke fire with green boughs. CONTENTS OF A LIGHTWEIGHT, COMPACT SURVIVAL KIT ARE AS FOLLOWS. l red clip on kit or a fanny pack 2 space survival blankets 1 25' nylon cord 1 waterproof match safe with matches and 1 BIC butane lighter 1 Metal match 1 pad 0000 steel wool or cotton in a zip lock bag for starting a fire. 1 GOOD quality signal mirror 1 PLASTIC coach-type whistle (ACME Thunderer) 1 Duracell #805 flashlight w/extra batteries 1 Varco Woodsman wire saw 1 bottle Potable Aqua water purification tablets (Don't drink yellow snow) 1 Silva Compass 1 bottle liquid insect repellent 1 package glucose tablets, extra food and/or powdered Gatorade WATER What ever else you think you might need. 1 SMALL FIRST AID KIT ******REMEMBER, it makes good sense to prevent becoming lost by thoughtful preparation and planning. If you become lost, keep your head, take care of yourself, and make it easier for someone to find you. Survival is 10% equipment, 10% knowing how to use the equipment, and 80% PMA. HAVE A GOOD TIME IN THE BACKCOUNTRY Survival information Courtesy of White Mountain Search & Rescue Ruidoso, New Mexico, USA 09/88