Running the Rapids: How to Protect Yourself in Whitewater

The rush of whitewater rafting is pure adrenaline. Your first sight of the set of wild rapids just down the river sends your heart rate pumping. You grip your paddle with knuckles as white as the water.

While floating rivers and group river rafting tours are a common outdoor pastime, they aren’t without some inherent dangers. It’s that risk that makes rafting so exciting. Here’s what to do if you find yourself thrown from the raft, and into the whitewater.

1. Get properly equipped before you even hit the water.
If you’re going out with a guided tour, take a look over their equipment first. Helmets and maintained life jackets are crucial to whitewater safety.

Wear light clothing that dries quickly and won’t take on bulky weight when they hit the water. Items like boots and denim jeans get wet, they’ll weigh you down if you’re in the water.

Keep your life jacket snug and buckled, making sure that you can breathe but the jacket itself can’t be pulled up to your neck. If it’s too loose, or not buckled, you run the risk of turning the life-saving device into a hazard instead.

2. If you’re in the rushing water, keep your legs out in front of you.
If you’ve been tossed from the protection of a raft and into the whitewater, keep your legs out in front of you to defend yourself from rocks or tree branches hidden under the surface.

If your life jacket and helmet are secure, your legs are the first line of defense as you tumble downriver. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your body flexible.

Push off of obstacles or, if they’re unavoidable, try to use the momentum of the water to push yourself up and over anything in your way.

3. Help your rescuers.
If possible, keep in contact with those still in the raft. Watch for them to throw you a flotation device or rope that you can hold onto.

When you’ve reached your rescuers, allow yourself to be pulled in face first. This way, you’ll be able to bend at the waist and roll into the raft.

Before venturing out into water, whether in a raft or while wading for angling, keep the dangers in mind. If you stay calm and follow these tips, there’s plenty of fun to have out on the water.

An Australian hunter survived the scorching Outback desert for six days by eating ants. Reginald Foggerdy, 62, was on a hunting trip in the Great Victoria Desert in mid-October when he went missing wearing only a t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops. He had gone on a hunting trip with his brother.

Foggerdy got stranded about 9 miles from where he went missing after he trekked to the area to hunt animals. He wound up being in the Australian Outback for a whole week until someone found him.

He was seen in photos under a tree talking to rescuers before he was put in a helicopter. The hunter was alert and sitting up when he was found.

The Australian hunter obviously put his survival skills to the test while he was away from home for those six days. As the report states, ants and other insects are considered “possible sources of nutrients” by survival experts. What’s more, is it’s a miracle that Foggerdy was able to stay alive that long in a region where temperatures typically escalate well above 90-degrees. It’s especially shocking given the fact that the hunter survived so long without water.

This is a true tale of survival in the harshest of elements. Australian authorities add that the Great Australia Desert is the largest desert in the country. It has “red sand dunes, stony plains and dry salt lakes” but permanent surface water is non-existent.

You don’t have to be out in the deep woods to learn basic skills. Now even residents of the Big Apple can get training.

One organization in Rochester, New York is designed to arm people with the survival skill they need to make it in the wilderness. EarthWorks Institute has programs that place residents in situations for hours or days to help them better understand nature and learn basic survival skills. These training sessions take place in various New York parks settings since they have the right elements.

Lindsay Cray, executive director and educator of EarthWorks, conducts survival training in area parks several times per week. The concept was implemented last fall in an effort to help residents gain “primitive life skills, social responsibility and how to interact with nature.” The Rochester-based school targets people of all ages — preschoolers to senior citizens.

“Our connection with nature is critical, as is understanding that you are as much a part of the world and nature as it is a part of you,” Cray said.

The local parks provide the perfect place for residents to learn important survival skills. Cray said a lot of what people can learn from are in their very own backyard. She says what people can learn from these lessons is how to feel good about themselves and feel “self-sufficient” while in the woods.

Lessons in the EarthWork’s program consist of how to make a shelter, build a fire, and how to safely prepare water and food for storage. It also helps prepare people for how to keep warm during the winter, where to search for food, and how to find their way back home.

Participants in this survival skills program also learn from Cray how to spot poisonous vegetation, such as poison ivy.

“You are your number one enemy in the woods. If you are lost and panicking, you won’t make wise decisions,” Cray told one recent group.

No matter where you live, get outside and practice the skills you’ll need to survive. Backyards or city parks are great resources.

A Washington wildfire nearly claimed the life of Mark Desdier in mid-August.

The 62-year-old was in his Okanogan County cabin near Omak when things got dangerous fast. The Washington native was in the midst of trying to save neighbors in nearby cabins around 4 p.m. on Aug. 21 during the natural disaster before his own life was in peril.

A large gust of wind up to 50 miles per hour pushed a nearby wildfire down Cave Mountain, leaving Mark with a limited escape plan.

Thinking fast on his feet, Mark sped on his four-wheeler to the nearest way out. He hit a bank in the overwhelming heat and blinding debris. His ATV flipped, but luckily landed back on its wheels. At that moment in the Washington wildfire, Mark was able to use the lake as a means to survive the disaster. He later encountered a nearby dock that helped him stay afloat … shielding himself from hazardous debris.

While the resourceful man made it out of the water, he spent seven hours sheltered in an alfalfa hay farm building that was owned by some people he’d met earlier that night. After waiting a while longer, Mark was rescued by firefighters who then transferred him to Omak Hospital since he sustained several injuries and burns.

As the wildfire played out during Mark’s ordeal, his wife, Janet, thought he’d died.

Janet is amazed at the skills her husband used in order to survive the harrowing natural disaster. Mark says that is ability to stay calm and focused in the potentially fatal situation is what helped him. He learned the value of these skills when he attended fire academies while working with the Washington State Ferries for 30 years.

Wildfires over the summer had claimed the lives of three U.S. Forest Service firefighters, injured four, and destroyed 200 homes in the process.

What’s the goal of most survival situations? Get yourself rescued or stay alive until you can manage to get yourself back into fighting form.

But what happens when you don’t want to be found? Whether you’re hiding from hunted prey or from dangerous humans, you’ll want to blend in with ease.

1. Avoid Symmetry
Very few things in the wild obey the rules of symmetry. Avoid making one side of your face or clothing looking exactly like the other side.

Our vision tends to expect and enjoy things that line up well, so distracting eyesight with oddly placed and haphazard covering is a great way to confuse the mind of your prey.

2. Match Color Schemes
If you know the area in which you’ll be hiding, research the colors and patterns. Take the time to observe how things like wind, sunshine, and shadows change the appearance of the area.

Whenever possible, use items taken directly from the area in your camouflage. Use the leaves, plants, and soil from your surroundings in your outfit to be sure that colors really blend.

3. Masking Scents
Your scent gives off a surprisingly large amount of information about you. If it’s animals you’re hiding from, they’ll be especially sensitive to what you’re wafting.

Just as you’d use the plants and soil nearby to cover your colors, use them to mask your scent as well. Mud, leaves, and water from nearby ponds or lakes will help to cover any overly human odors.

4. Hiding Guns and other Accessories
You may need to be on the move, or you may end up being stationary for long periods of time. Plan accordingly by wearing clothes that can adapt to a variety of weather types.

Many items you’ll be carrying feature shapes and colors that are not found in the wild. Dull any shiny or eye-catching areas of your equipment and firearms.

Use hair-ties or elastic bands to attach grass, small tree branches, and stems of leaved plants to any surfaces that are symmetrical shapes or otherwise stand out.

Keep these basic rules in mind as you prepare your camouflage. As with any survival skill, it takes work and practice to get right.

You can spend hundreds of hours training and preparing yourself for disaster or emergency. You can have a good plan and route and backups for both. But then there’s the time when Murphy’s Law kicks in and things start going south.

From there, your best option may be to hunker down and call in the cavalry. That’s when it pays to have the right gear and skills to make sure rescuers are able to find you and get you out.

Below, we’ll go over the various methods to alert emergency responders to your situation and location.

Communication
Today’s technology provides a variety of ways to directly communicate with responders. Each option has distinct advantages and disadvantages. Remember, each device relies on precious electricity. Also, it pays to know where you are and be able to provide a reference point or coordinates for quicker rescue.

1. Cell Phone – Many people own a cell phone of some kind and a fully charged device can be an easy way to call 911 in case of an emergency. Some models allow batteries to be replaced for long term use and a variety of solar chargers are available for others. The biggest con to this is that service is limited and sometimes not available in the backcountry and can be out altogether in a disaster.

2. Satellite Phone – These allow a more reliable way to get in touch while travelling in remote areas. The main disadvantage to these is that the devices and service plans can be quite expensive.

3. Radio – Two-way radios can allow users to directly communicate with teams and bring them to a designated location. Although readily available to the public, they do require a bit more training to effectively use than cell phones. Most radios allow users to switch batteries with spares during long periods of use.

4. Personal Locator Beacon – These tools are essentially a distress signal. When activated, they send a signal to the beacon’s company via GPS, who will then communicate with the appropriate agencies for search and rescue. The main con is that many do not allow the user to communicate directly with an operator to specify the situation. Remember, the more a rescuer knows about where you are and what’s going on, the faster and safer they can extract you.

Audio Signaling
5. Whistle – Many outdoor packs come with a whistle built into the sternum strap. If yours does not, make sure you have one close at hand. Three bursts of a whistle is the universal call for distress.

6. Shouting – Simply yelling will be enough if you hear a rescue team hailing for you. Keep your noise up, especially if you can hear a team walking towards you.

Visual Signaling
7. Lights – Flashlights and headlamps can be very useful in the dark. Flashing three times towards a team will alert them to your position and also conserve your batteries. Some lights and headlamps also have a built in strobe feature that can run for several hours. This can be especially useful for signaling rescue aircraft. We use the feature in my SAR unit for marking pick points for helicopters.

8. Flares – Flares are an effective method of signaling and are commonly used at sea. Handheld flares can be waved to attract attention while others can be shot in the air to signal over tree lines or other cover. Make sure you’re aware of your surroundings. The last thing you want to do is start a fire in the spot you want to get out of.

9. Signal Fire – One of the oldest ways of signaling. You can build it as high as you like depending on fuel and have the added benefit of warmth and cooking ability. Keep in mind that you want to keep absolute control over your burn. Do not start a signal fire if you are in a dry, wooded environment or when there are high winds.

Outdoor adventures always carry the chance for close encounters with a wild animals. Most don’t require any preparation or defensive measures, but some do. In areas known as bear country, there are measures and precautions outdoorsmen must take to ensure they come out of the situation alive.

What Gear Prevents Bear Encounters?

There is not a lot to pack when it comes to traveling in areas frequented by bears. I have been taught not to carry bear bells, as they do not act as a deterrent or let the bear know you are around. Instead, carry a loud conversation with your group members. Bears in the area will hear you and may leave the area because of your presence. Also carry a deterrent. Bear spray has proven to be the effective against bear species in America, even more so than firearms.

What Can I Do When I See a Bear?

Should you or your group encounter a bear, the first thing to do is keep calm. Make yourself appear big and talk to the bear in a loud, even voice until it moves on. Avoid eye contact, as this could appear aggressive. Don’t split up. This can excite the bear and encourage it to give chase. It can also lead to personal injury while running through unfamiliar terrain, making you even more vulnerable. In a case in New Jersey, a group split during a bear encounter that lead to the death of one of the men.

While backpacking in Yellowstone National Park, I chanced upon a young grizzly. I stood straight and started talking to it. Within seconds, it decided I was not very interesting and continued on its merry way. All that was required was a level headed response.

Remember: Do not put yourself between a bear and cubs. This will incur aggressive behavior from the adult. Also keep clear of a bear that is hunting and do not fish in areas frequented by bears. They will approach if you have food.

If I’m Attacked by a Bear, Should I Fight Back?

Whether or not to physically engage a bear depends on the circumstances of the attack. An offensive attack is generally defined as when the bear is approaching you out of curiosity or with some kind of aggression. In these cases, use your deterrent when the opportunity arises. Should the bear move past that, fight back and try to strike the eyes and nose. Avoid being hit by the paws as they can incapacitate you in a single blow.

A defensive attack is when a bear is defending cubs or a source of food. Grizzlies have been known to mount fake charges when threatened. In these cases, slowly back away while still making yourself appear large and avoid eye contact. If you feel that the bear will attack you, apply your deterrent when it is close enough.

A grizzly encounter is the only situation I’ve ever seen anyone recommend the fetal position in the case of a physical striking attack. In this case, cover your neck and vital organs while remaining as still as possible. Once the bear is convinced you’re not a threat, it will move on. If this does not work and the bear continues to strike, fight back. Try and used a hard or edged tool such as a knife or rock.

The best way to come out of a bear encounter alive is to avoid it.

Know if your area is in bear country. If so, make sure you’re checking trails for bear scat and food remnants.
Avoid feeding grounds such as streams and rivers full of fish.
When camping, hang your food out of reach or lock it in a bear box.

The more aware you are, the better chance you have of going through your adventure without having to worry about a close encounter with a bear.

Of all the disasters that can befall us wilderness explorers, few shake our boots quite like the snakebite. A recent Gallup poll asked Americans what it was they feared the most, and snakes topped the list with more than 50%, over such frights as heights and the dreaded public speaking.

The video of a rattlesnake strike below is enough to make your skin crawl. A fear of snakes is no reason to avoid the wilderness, though.

Relax. Here are some reassuring facts about snakebites.

Of all the snakes you might encounter in North America, about 10% of them are poisonous.
There are around 8,000 snakebites each year in the U.S., resulting in only about 8-15 deaths.
As long as a snakebite victim visits a modern medical facility quickly, survival rates are very high.
Snakes would much rather use their energy and venom on small varmints for food rather than on you just to be scary.

Relax. There are plenty of ways to avoid snakebites.

50 to 70 percent of reptile bites managed by the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center were provoked by the person who was bitten. Translation: If you don’t handle or bother a snake, odds are amazingly good that you won’t be bitten.
Deep grass, wood piles, and rock crevices are a snake’s favorite spots. Keeping your hands, feet, and faces out of those areas and your chances of survival increase drastically. If you must work or walk in these areas, wear sturdy ankle-high boots with tough pants or gaiters.
Walking around in the dark? Wear a headlamp, carry a flashlight, or stay in well-lit areas to avoid disturbing an innocent snake.
Snakes can still bite for a few hours after they die. If you see one smashed on the road, leave it there.
Remain relatively sober when camping and exploring the wilderness. Snakebites invariably happen to stumbling drunks who lack the coordination or brains to know when to leave well enough alone.

Relax. If you’re in the modern world, odds are good you’ll survive the bite.

According the the Poison and Drug Information Center at the University of Arizona (who know a thing or two about rattlers), your car keys are the most essential survival tool for a snakebite. After a bite, don’t mess around. Get in the car and get to a hospital.
Snakebite suction kits, tight tourniquets, and restrictive clothing all keep the venom concentrated in one area, and that’s bad. Loosen clothing, help the person to remain calm and still, and get medical attention.
Don’t bother trying to photograph, catch, or kill the offending snake. You’re just wasting time and increasing the odds of dealing with yet another snakebite victim. If you can remember it’s general appearance, that will help.
Get medical attention even if you’re totally 100% convinced that the snake was not poisonous. These bites can still cause nasty infections, pain, and there’s always the slim chance you could be totally 100% wrong.

The Coast Guard rescued a man this past Sunday from the waters of Lake Michigan. The 33-year old man was kayaking when a severe storm hit. The video below shows the Coast Guard video of his rescue.

His brother, who was with him at the time, was able to paddle to a nearby island for safety. He was able to call 911 and give their last approximate location. The stranded man was rescued after nearly 6 hours in the water without his kayak.

He was wearing his life jacket, and that’s likely the reason why he was able to make it out of the incident with only mild hypothermia. Night began to fall as he was floating and fortunately he was able to flash a light to signal for help.

Search and Rescue teams used his most recent cell phone location to find the empty kayak. Soon after, the helicopter spotted the flashing light.

This incident should serve as a reminder to be aware of the weather forecast before hitting the water for the day, even if you are an experienced boater.

All too frequently, people feel that they don’t need a life jacket in a canoe, kayak, or other recreational water craft. This incident shows that this small inconvenience can end up what saves a person from a ride in a Coast Guard rescue helicopter.

His small flashlight was enough to catch the eye of his rescuers, and that’s proof enough that keeping everyday carry items on you when you’re out can end up having big benefits.

Recreational boaters and kayakers should also consider using a small Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) when headed out on the water. These are increasingly affordable and come in a range of sizes that can be mounted on board or carried on your person. With a powerful GPS system these can be activated to alert search and rescue operations of the emergency.

Autumn Veatch, 16-year-old girl, was flying in a small 3 passenger plane when it crashed over the weekend in the Pacific Northwest. Her step-grandparents who were with her still haven’t been found, but she used survival skills to get out alive.

The plane left on July 11 from Montana but never made it to its’ final destination. They encountered bad weather and couldn’t avoid slamming into a mountain. After the crash, she stayed near the wreckage for a full day before bravely deciding to take her survival into her own hands

Covered in bruises and burns, she managed to hike for two full days in the dense and dangerous forests of Washington state and was eventually found by a motorist.

Amazingly, she had the presence of mind to follow a drainage creek to a river, eventually finding a nearby trail. She pushed herself without food or water on to an eventual trail head where she was spotted.

She’s been treated for minor injuries and dehydration, but has emerged from this heartbreaking tragedy alive.

The inspiring story of her survival serves as a reminder that staying prepared for desperate circumstances is always a good idea. Her fitness of mind and body played a crucial role in helping get out of dense forests and endure intense stress.