What’s In Your Wallet??
The second of the seven steps is ‘Inventory’. The Encarta Dictionary associated with my word processor defines inventory as “the act or process of making an inventory, or the period of time when this is done”. Additionally, inventory is “a list of things, especially items of property, assets, or other resources.”
Once, while I was living in Sitka, Alaska, a Coast Guard HH-60J helicopter was forced to land on a remote coastline to deal with a small electrical fire and the associated smoke in the cockpit. All ended well, in that the crew was safe and the airframe was saved. It was noted in the report afterwards that (paraphrased) “upon extinguishing the fire and securing the aircraft, the crew reviewed the Seven Steps of Survival to plan the next action.” They looked at where they were, who knew of their situation and location, what tools they had with them, and began to plan their next step. They utilized the step of inventory to assess their liabilities and assets.
We should run an inventory on the different facets of our emergency situation. Right now we’ll start with location. Is it safe or is it not. Can I reduce the risk to myself and those with me by moving? Is it safe to move or travel, or should I wait? For most of us this is an instinctive step that we carry out without much forethought. Is it unsafe and scary? Yes, run away. O.K., all better. That thought process takes about .5 seconds. But this step, inventory, becomes more involved after that, and takes into account other important aspects of an emergency or survival scenario. What’s working for me, and what’s working against me? Am I too cold, or too hot? Am I injured, and how seriously? Can I treat the injury? Am I dehydrated or fatigued? What shape are my teammates in? Do I have all my team mates? Can I help without endangering myself? Is this situation long-term or short-term? And as your situation improves or deteriorates, you reapply this dynamic step, inventory. You update your information you’re using to build a plan.
In the Army manual FM 3-05.70, the step inventory is covered in ‘Sizing Up the Situation’. You are encouraged to check yourself for injuries and give yourself first aid. Then get a feel for what is going on around you. And finally, have a close look at your equipment and its condition. What is it designed for? Can I use it for something else? In my last article, I described the survivor of a car crash who survived three days before rescue; drinking rainwater she had collected using a steering wheel cover. So cameras with a flash become a signaling device; dental floss becomes shelter building material, etc. This is “Inventory”.
Gimee Shelter..
The third step of the 7 steps is ‘Shelter’. Let’s face it. If you are reading this, you are a semi-hairless bipedal mammal. You need to maintain a core temperature that hovers near 98.6˚F and aside from our fairly modest nature, we use clothing to make up for our inability to regulate our body temperature beyond a degree or two either side of that core temperature. So, I’ll ask you; what is your primary shelter? The textbook answer is, ‘whatever you are wearing. If that is so, what is your secondary shelter? Well, that would be anything else you can use to separate yourself from the elements that would rob you of your body heat, or overheat you, threatening your fragile body core temperature.
O.K., now let’s exercise the dynamic aspect of the 7 steps. Here’s my scenario; in my particular emergency, As evening approaches I recognize that I have become “disoriented” during a leisurely afternoon hike, and I need to extricate myself from an area now exposed to high winds and rain that were not in the afternoon forecast. Because of my exposure, I’m wet and cold, and beginning to shiver. I inventory my condition and I know I need shelter beyond what I’m wearing. I find some thick evergreen trees with low branches, forming a natural protected area, so far, so good. I’m out of most of the rain and wind, so I run through the first steps again, Recognition. How has my situation changed? Is it better or worse? Inventory. What’s working for me, what’s working against me? I’m out of the rain and wind, good. But I’m still cold, this is bad. I need a fire, because I don’t have any dry clothing. Do I have something to start a fire? Yes, a lighter, check. Now, what to burn? Small fallen tree limbs seem fairly abundant under these evergreen trees, and appear to be dry, even in this rain. Now I’m getting somewhere.
With a small fire started I’m warming up, slowly getting dried off. My attitude even seems to be improving. O.K., back to the first step, recognition. My situation has improved and upon further examination, I remember that I did tell my family where I was going to be hiking, and when I expected to get back. So depending on how my family feels about me, someone should be looking for me soon. So, what’s the next step?
When I post next week, you may be surprised by what comes next, if you’re not already familiar with the Seven Steps. As always, any comments, suggestions or questions are always welcome.
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