Learning emergency preparedness skills can he done on the cheap ‘Above: A hiking club is a great place to learn survivalrelated skills such as river ‘crossings and living in the outdoors. Right and above tight: A caving course taught the author haw to rappel, how to navigate in the dark and how to keep his coo! in a tight situation. Opposite page top lett: Outdoor clubs members learn the hard way about camping in a snowstorm, Lett: One way to learn rock climbing skills for free Isto put a notice on the bulletin board of autdoor stores looking {for more experienced climbers who may tne Ea ‘Or maybe you ral hundred dollI've been in that predicament. But | soon found out that learning emer gency preparedness skills can be done ‘an the cheap in your own backyard, ‘often on the weekends. I've found that courses offered at night ot high schools and colleges, through the YMCA or private organizations and clubs have expanded my emergency preparedness skills and, in the process, allowed me to meet individuals who have the same interests and concerns, The courses had a few thinas in common. They were all held on the weekends or week nights. Fees were in the $100 range, making them quite affordable. Many of the courses or skills were avaleble free through clubs. Most required some degree of phys- ical fitness, giving an added benefit w-Cost Survival Skills with » knowledgeable climber the learning process began. Physically, rock climbing works the legs and upper torso. Mentally it allows you to be comfortable with heights Caving: I never thought | would have the presence of mind to squeeze my body through a té-inch hole in total darkness. Wekome to the world of cav- ing, For me, caving was more of a men tal challenge and a method of over- caring my fear af confined spaces. You become adent at moving in the dark and learning self control But it was aso » spor that, lke climb ing, helped teach me about knots and rappelling. | also learned basic first aid tips and the dangers of hypothermia, I took 2 course on the weekend through a local high-school, Cost was $75, ning Continued from page 78 cof a workout. Other times they pro- vided e good reason to get out into the wildemess and practice what | had learned. Here's @ few courses I've taken aver the years and a rundown of some of the skills they have taught me. Basic Rock Climbing: What | learned from this spor that was useful fora sur- vival situation included how to tie var- jus types of knots and how to rappel. Same of the more advanced rock dimbing courses and outings teach you hhow to safely rescue a person fram a cliff-face, handy know-how to have in the outdoors. it could also be used in such situations as extracting an injured person from a high-rise building Rock climbing and rappelling are usually part of most survival school courses. But | learned my moun- taineering skills for free, putting up a notice on the bulletin board of a local outdoor equipment store offering to be a climbing partner for a more expe- fenced climber. Once I hooked up First Aid Training: | learned my first aid courtesy of my employer. And it was done on his time and with his money. Many companies want to have employees qualified in basic frst aid in case there are problems on the job site. Check nto whether your boss is interested in paying for you to learn first aid or CPR, Once you have those skills, your employer may be more inclined to pay for more advanced training. Another way a‘riend of mine learned outdoor frst aid was by vol- tunteering for the local ski patrol. He received free advanced first aid train- ing in return for spending a day a weekend on the ski hills helping stranded o° injured skiers, Not only did he actualy find himself practising his first aid on a regular basis, but he found himsalf getting in great shape by skiing every weekend. Backpacking: | originally went to 3 college outdoors club when | first became interested in backpacking. It was a great place to learn the basics 82. AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDENEBRUARY 1997 about equipment such as tips on the best boots te buy or types of back. packs to purchase. | learned skills such 2s how to handle river crossings and properly set up @.camp-site. At the seme time | had companions for week tend wilderness excursions. There was no cast to join this club but some ‘others may charge a nominal fee. This may seem a litte basic to some but can provide extremely useful infor- mation for those just starting out in the field of emergency preparedness. (One tip when joining any type of club; | would keep your ideas on poli- tics and survvalism to yourself until you have a chance to sound out others in these types of organizations and get a feeling for the “political” landscape, ‘Map Reading and Orienteering: An orienteering club is one of the easiest ways to learn how to become proficient in reading a map and using a compass, It’s easy to kid yourself into believ- ing you know how to use a map ‘and compass but these are the type of skis thet need to be con- tinually tested and improved an. Orienteering clubs can do just that by holding competitions to practice your map and compass skis on courses that can be men- tally and physically challenging. Four-Wheel Drive Clubs: A great way to get some tips on how to handle your fourwheel drive vehicle in the wilderness, | found = club advertising at the local four-wheel drive vehicle dealership and a few weeks later found myself out in the bush driving on an rugged course that had more than its share of mud and obstacles. The clubs are also a great place to learn basic mechanies and get ideas on modifying your four-wheel drive vehicles. There are also similar clubs for various other outdoor means of transportation that can be handy in survival situations. Ask around about organizations that cater to all terrain vehicles in the summer and snowmo: biles in the winter |'m not saying that these clubs and ‘organizations will give you all the skills you need in an emergency situation. But they are a good and inexpensive way to build a survival-skils base that may be improved upon later, when time and money permit you to take speciality courses or attend actual survival schools. @ Neen eee aEEEEEEEEEEEEEnEEEETEEEEEEEE