Last month Graham & Sean attended the 24hr survival course delivered by Chris Smart from 112 Survival in Telford, Shropshire.

As the title suggests, this was a 24-hour course and was aimed at Preventative Search & Rescue (PSAR) and covered the following:

Before Your Outdoor Activity

• Activity preparation & planning.
• Risk assessment and hazard avoidance.
• Equipment selection.
• Safety measures.
• Survival strategy.

During Your Outdoor Emergency

• Adaption of previous knowledge and skills to your emergency situation.
• Application of the A.S.T.A.R acronym.
• Admit you are in trouble.
• Sort any injuries, Select a Safe place, Sit down, and adopt a Survivor mindset.
• Temperature control of your body and environment.
• Alert emergency services (SAR).
• Become Rescue ready.
• 1 meter survival drill.

After Your Rescue

• Post rescue injury.
• Identify lessons learned.
• Preparation & planning your next outdoor activity.

With a real focus on modern methods of getting help including the importance and use of Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) and trying out some skills being immobilised from potential injuries (in the main these would be lower limb). A night out showed with only some Blizzard blankets and what equipment you may have had on you for a day’s walking showed the importance of Planning.

At night Chris took thermal readings of the guys sleeping and showed where they were visible through heat signature as well as where they were losing vital heat. Additionally, it showed how difficult it could be for potential rescuers to see them.

Overall, it was a very informative course and some additional tricks and tips taken away.

This is a very worthwhile course if you are looking to add to your personal skills toolbox. For more information check out 112 Survival