2.4 Staying alive
|
Levels:
|
P, S, SS |
| Focus curriculum areas: |
Health and well-being
|
| Supporting curriculum area:
|
Mathematics/numeracy |
| Key concepts: |
Survival outdoors, clothing, first aid, minimising impact |
Understanding goal
Students become familiar with what is suitable clothing for survival in the outdoors in Tasmania and understand that prior research and preparation are essential.
Recommended materials
Camping/walking clothing examples would help to set the scene.
Activities
Be well prepared
1. Think about what you would need to take with you in a game of Tasmanian Survivor – living outside in the wild Tasmanian highlands, away from shops, buildings and other people. See Background Note 2b - Planning for a safe trip in the outdoors
- List what clothes you will need to pack. (List clothes you have, and any you may need to borrow.) Hint: Sometimes it snows in summer!
- List anything else you may need to take with you (include a tent).
- Check your list against the Background Note 2c - Bushwalking equipment list and first aid kit.
d. Were you adequately prepared? Which things didn’t you consider? Which areas were you well prepared for? Were you surprised by any of the requirements listed on the fact sheets?
e. Review your list and see if you can lighten your load.
2. Why is it so important to be well prepared in the Tasmanian outdoors? List at least four possible consequences of not being well prepared.
3. Research what hypothermia is. Write a first aid procedure for dealing with hypothermia.
4. Consider doing a Red Cross or St John Ambulance first aid course with your whole class or with a parent.
5a) Investigate ways of getting weather reports for Tasmania. Find ways to critically evaluate and compare the reports you source.
b) Identify why it is so important to be aware of the weather possibilities.
Minimising your impact
To learn about minimal impact, see Background Note 2b - Planning for a safe trip in the outdoors.
6. Give three reasons washing your hands when camping is important.
7. Why does the Parks and Wildife Service recommend boiling all drinking water for three minutes?
8.What are the some of the advantages of cooking your meals on a fuel stove instead of a fire?
9. In areas with toilets, we recommend using them. In areas without toilets, you need to bury your waste in a 15 cm hole, 100m for water sources or camps. Research why this is the case.
10. What are the benefts of staying on the track when walking?
An overnight adventure
11. Plan to go on a real overnight trip. It may be camping in the back garden, in the holidays, on the school oval or a school camping trip. Use your knowledge from the exercise above to make lists of what you will need. The day before you leave, ask a friend to help you check everything you plan to take - four eyes are better than two!
Going further
Watch the inspiring film, Alone Across Australia, about John Muir's solo journey across the country. Answer the questions within the