Gearing Up For Survival Air Force Teacher’s Tips Simple, Widely Useful
Take away the high technology and international intrigue from Scott O’Grady’s recent adventure in Bosnia, and what do you have? Just another guy trying to stay alive in the woods, with other guys trying to get him out alive.
So it’s no surprise that Idaho search and rescue volunteers would want the inside scoop on the Spokane pilot’s training.
What might surprise some people is that much of what O’Grady learned would be useful to them if they get lost or stranded - or they’re out to rescue someone else.
“When you’re in bad shape, you can’t help the person who needs it,” said Jim Tourtillotte, an instructor at Fairchild Air Force Base survival school, where O’Grady trained.
Tourtillotte spoke Saturday at the Idaho Search and Rescue Association’s annual convention.
In front of him was a table filled with gear. It fell into these categories: personal protection (clothing, shelter, firestarters), sustenance (food and water), health and welfare (first aid items) and recovery (maps, compasses, flares).
“These are the types of things people should have in their cars at any time,” Tourtillotte said. “If you get a flat tire or a broken fan belt, if you slide off the road in a snowstorm, it may be days before anyone finds you.”
Tourtillotte recommends survival gear that serves many purposes, or is very simple. Such as:
A Leatherman tool, which contains a file, pliers, screwdriver, awl and a dozen other devices.
Parachute cord. It can secure a tarp for shelter or be unraveled to provide endless amounts of fishing line.
A garbage sack, which can become a poncho or shelter.
Packaged dental floss. It provides twine, a cutting blade and a dry container.
A whistle. “It’s going to last a lot longer than your voice, and it will go farther.”
A signal mirror. “There are no batteries to go out. If it breaks, you’ve got two.”
A gun can be handy for hunting food, making noise to guide rescuers, and providing gunpowder from shells to start a fire.
“But if I don’t have a firearm - oh, well, I’ll use something else,” Tourtillotte said. “We don’t train our people to use a firearm to survive.”
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo