The best time to visit the
outback
is in late autumn and winter. During most winter days the sky is
clear and the temperature in the low to mid 20s. At this time of
year, travel is generally pleasant for people and vehicles.
However,
clear nights can be below freezing and warm clothes are essential.
Summer is not the time to visit these
areas, as the temperature can soar to 50'C or higher, with average day
day temperatures around 40C. Travel during the summer (November
to
March) should be avoided, as breakdowns of vehicles and extreme heat
have
resulted in the death of travelers, despite the best of preparations.
If traveling across pastoral
properties,
make sure you are aware of regulations.
A Keep away from stock, sheep may be
lambing
or cows calving
A Leave your dog at home (Note that dogs
are prohibited in NPWS Reserves)
A Protect water supplies - they are
extremely
valuable
* Leave wind mills, tanks and troughs
alone
* Camp away from troughs and water holes
as it avoids pollution and allows stock and native animals access to it
.
Any 
distance
from a track, or drive off a track, you should contact the landholder
Stock may be watering or lambing near
where you wish to camp
Respect gates and private roads.
There is often a good reason for
water
being turned off or gates left open. If you feel something is
wrong,
contact the landholder.
Roads are expensive to maintain and
easily
damaged when wet.
After heavy rain wait until they dry
before
traveling.
be prepared
Come prepared to look after yourself,
carry sufficient fuel and water and respect the privacy of locals and
do
not abuse your welcome.
Whether you are going bush for
camping
or for a day long picnic, remember the area in which you are to travel
is remote, hot and arid. Make sure you are prepared for anything -
emergency
situations arise when least expected.
Always remember to follow standard
check
out/in procedures, no matter how short a trip you intend to take.
If you are overdue then Search and Rescue will begin. For each
leg
of your journey always telephone a reliable friend or relative and
advise
them of your intended route and estimated time of arrival at your
destination.
Always remember to telephone and advise them of your safe arrival.
Making sure you are adequately
prepared
to lessen the danger of becoming lost or breaking down in the bush.
driving in the bush
Regardless of what type of vehicle
you are driving, bush travel can be hazardous.
Always drive at sensible speeds,
remain
alert and check the condition of the track ahead. Drive carefully
and look ahead for unpredicted hazards such as large potholes, stock,
animals
etc.
The following items are considered
essential
for any trip into the bush should not be regarded as a self-contained
list
of all requirements. Drinking water (take at least 7-8 litres per
person
per day)
spare tyre (make sure it is at
correct pressure
and in good condition). If possible, carry a second spare
jack and wheel brace
wooden block or metal plate to support
jack
tool kit
first aid kit
shovel
tow rope
spare fan belt
appropriate maps
two-way radio. If you do not own
a HF
single-side band radio, they are available for hire from a variety
of
companies in most capital cities and some country areas. Check
your
local telephone book for details
old carpet, coir matting or hessian
bags will
assist as mats if you become bogged or lose traction
jumper leads
spare spark plugs, fuses, radiator
hoses,
coolant and engine oil
vinyl tape, electrical wire, Araldite,
a tube
of silicone and a can of WD40
plastic for an emergency windscreen
air pump for tyres
Be aware of the dangers of loading
your
vehicle with jerry cans. Many serious accidents happen due to
people
carrying large amounts of fuel in this manner. If possible, plan
your trip so that you can use roadside service stations to reduce the
need
to carry large amounts of fuel with you.
oncoming vehicles
When another vehicle is approaching
you, play it safe and slightly reduce pressure on the accelerator
(don't
brake suddenly) and move as for as possible to the left of the road
without
moving onto loose gravel on the road verge. Be aware on rises and
corners, as there may be a vehicle approaching you from the opposite
direction.
soft sand and mud
If you are about to enter a stretch
of soft sand, deflate the tyres until they bulge slightly. This
will
increase the surface area and provide much greater traction. It
will
help you drive on sand than sink into it.
Decide on your chosen speed to
negotiate
the sand and choose a gear which will see you through the soft patch at
a reasonable speed without revving the engine. (Second and third gear
are
usually best.) Do not apply your brakes suddenly as this will only bury
your front wheels in the sand. Maintain your speed until you
reach
solid ground.
If you become bogged in the sand, do
not
try revving the car as you will only dig yourself in deeper. If
the
tyres are not deeply embedded, digging out the sand from in front of
each
tyre may be enough to free you. If not, try placing branches,
stones
or matting under the wheels to increase traction. If you are
deeply
bogged, you may need to jack up each wheel and back fill under
it.
When leaving the bog, keep the revs as low as possible until the
vehicle
has started to move forward.
A similar technique will work for mud
patches,
providing the mud is not too deep. Remember to reinflate your
tyres
after leaving the sand or mud.
driving through water
If you need to cross a flooded creek,
walk
through first to determine the depth and the firmness of the bottom.
If you are traveling after rain, stay
on
what appears to be the centre or crown of the track to avoid getting
bogged
in the road verges.
Roads may be closed by the Department
of
Road Transport following rains, either because of dangerous conditions
or to prevent damage to the muddy road. After heavy rain, wait
until
the road has dried (usually 24 hours) before proceeding on your
journey.
A
Northern Road Conditions Hotline can be contacted on the net or by
phone:
1300 361033 for information on road
conditions.
Local police will also be able to provide advice and information. Never
try to drive on if a road is marked "closed". Driving on muddy roads
can
damage to roads leading to high repair costs and you may pay for the
damage
out of your own pockets. Insurance companies do not pay for wilful
damage.
stranded
Despite the best preparations, it is
possible
you may become stranded due to unforeseen events such as vehicle
breakdown,
accident or illness.
If you have a HF radio, select a
frequency
and contact the operator in the nearest centre (in the Leigh Creek
area,
Port Augusta or Alice Springs), describe your problem and seek advice.
If your vehicle has broken down,
stay
where you are. Do not
attempt
to walk to civilisation unless you are absolutely sure of your
location,
that you are less than five kilometres from the town, and that you are
able to keep to a main track. In all other circumstances you must
stay with your vehicle.
To help searchers you must make
yourself
as conspicuous as possible. Consider collecting firewood and
stacking
it ready to light with green wood on top to create smoke.
Consider
burning a spare tyre if you can bear searchers in the air or on the
ground,
but bear in mind that in the bush, sounds can deceive and you may
mistake
natural sounds for the noise of an approaching vehicle.
Do not hoard your water supply; it
is
best to drink as required. Trying to conserve water intake,
especially
for the very young, can be false economy as it upsets the body's
metabolism.
However, you can reduce your body's
water
requirements by wearing a thin layer of clothes, which will reduce the
amount of sweat lost, staying in the shade and exerting yourself as
little
as possible.
Remember to take adequate water
supplies
on your journey, but also remember that you may have other sources of
fluid
available in your vehicle. Some foodstuffs such as canned fruit
are
a good emergency source of liquid. You also may have an emergency
supply of liquid in your windscreen washer tank (providing it is not
equipped
with a detergent)- Do not drink your radiator water, as the coolant
used
in most vehicles is toxic.
If you do become stranded, water is
the
most crucial factor in your survival; you can survive without food for
several weeks. However, if you are short of water, it is often
best
to abstain from eating some types of food. These include salty
and
dry starchy foods and those rich in fats that increase your thirst.
If you are walking in the bush, make
sure
your group consists of at least three people so that if someone is
injured
one person can stay with them while another goes for help. If you
get lost in the bush, try to think back to when you were last on a
known
track and, if possible, walk slowly back to that point. If you
are
unable to do that, head for high ground and prepare to wait for
searchers
to find you. To help searchers, light a fire on the high
ground.
During the day aim to make a fire with a lot of smoke while at night
aim
for your fire to be bright as this will make you easier to see.
health and first aid
Because of the distances involved in
reaching
help when medical assistance is urgently needed, it is in your best
interest
to become responsible for your own health, safety and welfare. It
must be the aim of all individuals to take the necessary precautions in
an effort to prevent accidents and illness.
It is advisable to ensure that the
vehicle
you are traveling in is equipped with a first aid kit that contains a
comprehensive
medical handbook.
what do do in an emergency
bleeding
- Lay the casualty down
- Apply direct pressure to
- the bleeding point with a
- bulky pad
- Elevate the affected part
- if possible
- Raise the casualty's legs
- A Transport to advanced care
burns
- Remove from danger
- Put out fire (if
applicable) using water
or blanket if possible.
- Do not use sand.
- Remove any material not stuck to
the skin
- Run water over the affected area
for at least
10 minutes
- Do not apply any lotions,
ointments
or oily dressings
- Do not prick or break
blisters
- Give small frequent drinks
if there
is a long delay before treatment
- Do not give alcohol
- Cover the burnt area with
a non-stick
burns dressing or a clean piece of material
- Transport to advanced care
fractures
Cover any exposed bone or
open wound
with clean cloth
Immobilise the fracture using
some form
of padded splint leg stick)
transport to advanced care
snake bite
Snakes are not normally aggressive and
tend
only to bite when threatened or mishandled. Some are not
poisonous,
but to avoid making a mistake all snakes should be treated with respect.
To prevent bites:
- Leave snakes alone
- In snake infested
country, wear stout
boots, walk socks and jeans (90 per cent of all bites occur on the
leg.)
Do not wear thongs or sandals.
- Do not put hands in
hollow logs
- Walk noisily in the bush
- Look carefully when
walking through
long grass
Symptoms and Signs (these may take 15
minutes
to two hours to appear)
- Headache
- Double vision
- Drowsiness/nausea/vomiting
- Sweating
- Pain or tightness in the
Chest/breathing
difficulties
- Giddiness or faintness
- Usually two puncture
marks, but not
always - some may be a simple scratch
- Swelling and reddening of
the bitten
area
Treatment
- Keep the casualty at
complete rest
- Immediately apply a
pressure immobilisation
bandage to the affected limb
- Reassure and don't panic
- if the following
instructions are carried out, no harm will come to the victim
- Apply the bandage firmly
as if to support
a sprained joint bandage over the bite then upwards from the toes or
fingers
to the knee or elbow.
- Bandage as much of the
limb as possible
Place a splint on the bandaged limb. Do not remove the bandage or
splint until in a treatment centre. Transport the victim to
advanced
care as soon as possible. Ideally, call help to the victim to
avoid
unnecessary movement and strain.
- Resuscitation if required
For insect bites, apply ice wrapped in a
damp
cloth. Remove after 10 minutes, but reapply when the skin has
returned
to normal temperature.
heat in the bush
In
hot
conditions, death can occur very quickly. The body is like a car
and if the muscles and internal organs are the heat source, the blood
is
the coolant and the skin the radiator. Body temperature is
regulated
by varying the amount of blood flowing to the skin. This changes
the skin temperature and hence changes the rate at which heat is lost.
When necessary, sweat is made by the
skin
to provide evaporative cooling. If the water lost as sweat is not
replaced, then dehydration develops. This results in heat illness
and may lead to death.
Factors, which influence our body's
response
to heat, are:
- Air temperature
- Humidity
- Movement
- Radiant temperature and
surroundings
- Type of clothing
- Level of working activity
- Fluid loss from the body
- Acclimatisation
- Health and fitness
How to avoid heat-related problems
- Make sure you are
protected from direct
sunlight; make use of umbrellas, shade and broad-brimmed hats and only
ravel on foot during the cool part of the day
- Wear loose-fitting cotton
clothing
which allows air to circulate around the body
- Take frequent drinks to
prevent dehydration.
If you are carrying water, remember to drink it.
- Avoid drinking alcohol as
this causes
dehydration.
- If you are ill with
diarrhea or vomiting,
remember to drink more fluids.
Symptoms and Signs of Heat Disorders
- Clammy, moist skin
- Weakness
- Clumsy movements
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Extreme thirst
- Abnormal behavior
- Itchy skin
Heat
disorders,
if untreated, can lead to collapse, convulsion, unconsciousness, and
death.
Treatment of Heat illness
- Move to cool place and
assist victim
to rest in the shade
- Remove tight, unnecessary
clothing
- Raise legs if faint and
dizzy
- Replace fluids if
tolerated
- Cool shower, if possible,
if not, splash
water over the body
- Ice packs (if available)
to major arteries,
groins and armpits
Remember
that it is easier to prevent heat stress than to treat it.
Achtung! Im falle Sie mehr
Informationen
ueber eine Reise in das Innere von Australien wissen wollen, bitte schreiben
sie mir.