Survival Class for SAR Personnel

Discussion in 'Randall's Adventure & Training®' started by Patrick Rollins, Apr 3, 2019.

  1. Patrick Rollins

    Patrick Rollins Lead Instructor Staff Member

    Messages:
    182
    Likes Received:
    798
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Dalton, Ga
    Survival/Bushcraft Class for SAR Personnel


    The ability to make a suitable shelter and a fire can mean the world of difference when suffering through a long night. This can be especially useful for search and rescue personnel who may have to shelter in place due to inclement weather. Reuben and I recently taught a two-day Survival/Bushcraft class through Southwestern College in Franklin, North Carolina.

    Although SAR personnel carry some type of shelter in their packs, I wanted to teach them to how to make decent shelter out of natural materials. You can seldom predict when accidents happen such as losing your pack in the river, or off the side of the mountain. We instructed them in building a proper debris shelter, which is basically the same concept as a squirrel’s nest. A ridge pole is either lashed or propped against a tree on one end, and then more sticks are leaned up against it in an A-frame fashion. After that, tons of debris (leaves, pine needles, etc.) are piled on top. If I have no shelter and no way of making fire, the debris shelter is the best choice because it helps trap your body heat.

    If I have no shelter but can get a fire, the lean-to is what I would use. A lean-to consists of a ridgepole supported at both ends, sticks leaned against it on one side, and debris on top. Anything that would help shed water should be incorporated as well such as sheets of bark, space blankets, or plastic if it is on hand. The lean-to works best when used in conjunction with a long fire.

    I strongly suggest the carrying of a fixed blade knife for anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors, especially SAR members. Simply carrying it isn’t enough, you need to be able to use it safely and efficiently, so we covered safety, basic grips, snap-cutting smaller diameter saplings, and v-notching larger pieces of wood with the aid of a baton. The students soon learned that a knife is also a huge aid when it comes to processing wood for fire. Fire making was covered in depth and the students had to make a fire using only natural materials and a ferro rod. Yes, they all carry lighters also, but if you can light it with a rod, you can easily light it with a lighter or matches.

    All fire building requires patience and perseverance, but most especially friction fire. Most likely the students will never have to rely on making a fire with a bow drill, because they will be carrying several ways to make fire at all times. But being successful with friction fire is a huge confidence builder and it reinforces many of the principals of fire building as a whole. I am happy to say we had 100 % success rate by the end of day one.

    There was a hard, steady rain during the night, so we started off day two with more fire building. The students had to gather natural material from the surrounding woods and were allowed to use anything they had on them to start it. Many learned that even with a lighter, cotton-balls and Vaseline it is still a very difficult process when everything is wet. Preparation is the key!

    The rest of the day was spent with more knife skills, bushcraft knots, and a few basic traps and snares. Not that they should ever expect to need to build traps on a SAR mission, but it is still good info to have and it gives students even more time to practice knife skills.

    The North Carolina Search and Rescue Community are some of the best in the business and it was a real pleasure teaching the class.
    Leadshot.JPG P3300178.JPG P3300182.JPG P3300191 2.jpg P3300205 2.jpg P3304644.JPG P3304652.JPG P3304702.JPG P3310231 2.jpg P3310246.jpg P3310252.JPG P3310254.jpg P3310259.jpg P3310261 2.jpg P3310270.JPG P3310277.JPG P3314729.JPG
     
    Mike Yax, hma153, Reno Lewis and 6 others like this.
  2. Strigidae

    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

    Messages:
    21,001
    Likes Received:
    15,831
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    United States
    Thats awesome!!!

    Look at that beautiful long fire!!!
     
    Patrick Rollins and mtngoat like this.
  3. Patrick Rollins

    Patrick Rollins Lead Instructor Staff Member

    Messages:
    182
    Likes Received:
    798
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Dalton, Ga
    Got a little cool at night!
     
    hma153, mtngoat and Strigidae like this.
  4. mtngoat

    mtngoat Member

    Messages:
    2,165
    Likes Received:
    4,927
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Greenville, SC
    There was enough people to snuggle though right? Looks like a great class.
     
    Patrick Rollins likes this.

Share This Page