Trip planning, survival kits make difference between life, death Published Nov. 20, 2012 By Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- The Air Force Safety Center's "Safe-n-Sound, All Year Round" campaign is in full-swing and an Air Force flight doctor here says preparing for the worst can make a potential fatal situation survivable. In an effort to help keep safety at the forefront of Airmen's minds as they plan their winter trips, Capt. Rocky Jedick, a flight doctor assigned to the 510th Fighter Squadron, recently shared a cold weather survival story about a couple from Utah who became trapped in their snow-submerged truck in subzero temperatures in 2008. "In the case of any survival scenario, it is important to be prepared," said Jedick. "Your chances increase dramatically if you have thought through necessary actions beforehand and stocked your vehicle with a cold weather survival kit." In the winter of 2008, the middle-aged couple, Thomas and Tamitha Garner, managed to survive an emergency with only a few provisions and their resourcefulness of using other items on their person or parts of the vehicle itself to keep warm and trek through the snow, Jedick recounted from reading their story. According to The Associated Press and several other online news articles, the couple went on a trip to photograph horses when their vehicle became stuck in the snow along an impassable stretch of road. Unable to turn around, the couple became stranded in the Modena Canyon near the Utah-Nevada border with their dog and had hunkered down inside their vehicle to wait for a search party to find them. It was on Day 9 of the ordeal when the couple reportedly came to the conclusion that no one was going to find them unless they left their vehicle and exposed themselves to the frigid cold. Surviving on a small quantity of granola bars, dog food and bottled water, the couple ultimately found someone driving a snow plow after three days of trekking through up to waste-deep snow that had blanketed their vehicle and the region. "Driving in winter weather can be challenging for even the most experienced drivers," said Cledis Scandola, 31st Fighter Wing ground safety specialist. "Seventy percent of vehicle accidents are influenced by weather conditions and knowing all you can about travel conditions could save your life." Airmen planning their next weekend ski trip or venture across the Dolomites in search of Austrian Christmas markets, should have a survival kit in their vehicle before hitting the road said Scandola and Jedick. While the Garners were fortunate to survive their ordeal with reported frostbite and dehydration, Scandola and Jedick said Airmen should also make sure their trip planning starts as far in advance as possible and includes such things as: reviewing weather conditions, identifying safe routes of travel, and that the vehicle used is safe and road-ready. "Please pay attention to your surroundings, the weather, and especially your celebration game plan during this holiday season," said the Air Force's top three leaders in their Nov. 5 Letter to Airmen. "Travel and celebrate wisely, take care of each other, and return to duty 'Safe-n-Sound.'" To help meet this objective, Scandola and Jedick encourage those celebrating the upcoming season to adopt the following safety mindset when preparing for their next trip or adventure, and in building a cold weather survival kit. Know before you go: -Tune up. Performing routine maintenance on your vehicle and hiring a professional to look under your hood before a trip may prevent an untimely breakdown. -Inspect tires. Check the tires for the manufacturer's correct pounds per square inch of air pressure. -Know what type of brakes you have and how to use them properly. While using anti-lock brakes, apply firm pressure. If the vehicle does not have anti-lock brakes, they should be pumped gently. -Don't rush or speed. Allow plenty of time to get to your destination and try to plan your arrival before it gets too dark. -Bring your cell phone. A cell phone with a strong signal transforms any potentially deadly survival scenario into a few inconvenient hours. Unfortunately, cell phones often lose their signals far from urban centers. Handheld transceivers (walkie talkies) provide great backup. -Communicate your plan. Prior to departure, ensure at least one person not physically with you is aware of your intended route and time of arrival. Have a predetermined check-in time. Be sure to check in as an unnecessary rescue is almost as bad as a real one. -Take a deep breath. Overcoming the internal psychological battle may be your biggest obstacle. You will need your mind working for you, not against you. Fear and panic paralyze, which often leads to errors in judgment. -Prioritize. First aid, exposure, signaling, water and then food - in that order. First, take care of immediate injuries or bleeding. Find adequate shelter and appropriate clothing. Set up signals to assist rescue efforts. Use water as needed, but don't waste - a human can go days without water. You may get hungry, but you will likely be found before starvation. -Shelter in place. An automotive vehicle will provide shelter from extreme temperatures, precipitation and lightning. Wind chill from modest breezes can lower the temperature 5 to 20 degrees. Keep in mind that searches will soon be underway. Only leave the security of shelter if safety has been compromised. The Garners reportedly spent 9 of 12 days in their truck before venturing out when they realized fuel and water were in short supply. -Create signals. Smoke, fires, mirrors, flares, headlights, and colorful objects will all draw the attention of those attempting to find you. Ground signals should be large (at least 3 feet in height and 20 feet in width and length), unnatural colors and unnatural shapes. -Maintain morale. A positive attitude will go a long way. Take the Garners for example, they must have had cabin fever by Day 3 but they reportedly stayed in their truck until Day 9. Keep yourself busy with conversation, enlist your sense of humor, make up novel games, have something to read, document your experiences. Maybe when the rescue party arrives, you won't be ready to go. -Use what you have. In the absence of (or in addition to) a survival kit, your vehicle can serve many useful purposes. Use your hubcap as a shovel to dig yourself out. Occasionally start the vehicle for warmth. Ensure snow has not obstructed the tailpipe as this will increase your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Use seat insulate to provide warmth by stuffing into clothing. Signal audibly with the horn, visibly in the day with an engine oil fire, or visibly at night with high beams or emergency hazards. The Garners reportedly used deodorant to start fires at night and made snowshoes from their seat cushions. Be creative. -Keep a survival kit within reach. Get an old backpack, turn it into a survival kit and place the pack within reach. Survival kit: -First aid kit - include daily prescription medicines. -Small shovel - you may be able to dig yourself out of a snow drift. -Garbage bags - take up little space but can easily be turned into an insulated garment. -Sleeping bags or blankets. -Fire starters (waterproof matches, lighters, candles) - useful for warmth, signaling, melting snow and morale. -Light source (head lamps, flashlights, extra batteries). -Back up communication device (band radio, handheld transceivers, extra batteries). -Road flares. -Quart of oil to burn in hubcap for smoke signals during daytime. -At least one or two gallons of water. -Small metal pot to melt snow. Eating snow will not hydrate adequately, it must be melted to water. -Ice scraper. -Sand or kitty litter -Knife or preferred multi-tool. -Food - granola bars, trail mix and other high-calorie, non-perishable food sources. -Toilet paper. -Your favorite book or a journal and pencil. For more information about these and other safety related topics, contact the base safety office, a unit safety representative, or go to the AFSEC website at http://www.afsec.af.mil/.