Read survival expert Ross McFadyen's responses to your questions below. Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask him more survival questions now.
Q: Hi, my question is, if you don't have water, should you still eat? I have been told that it takes water to digest food and turn it into energy, and that you can actually get sick from eating without having water. Is this true?
Thanks.
Randall
A: Experience is life's best teacher! Take a look at this Web site — www.equipped.com/srvschol.htm. Due diligence will help you find the school that best fits your needs. Do you want training in just basic survival or something more advanced? What topics would you like to learn — there are many. Some schools will offer one- or two-day courses; some for as low as $150 per day. Save the necessary funds and do it! Believe me, you'll find what you want and get what you pay for. You might also want to whet your appetite by ordering some of the DVDs offered on many of the individual sites. These DVDs offer information by topic and are normally very informative. However, try as you may, you will never gain the education you seek by watching a DVD. I remember learning to start a fire using a bow and drill. I watched someone else do it and couldn't wait to try it myself. I gathered everything the other guy had. I went to work tying the string to the bow, making a socket for the drill/spindle to rest in, etc. I tried and tried to no avail. I even set off a few smoke alarms in the barracks, but no fire! I was physically exhausted and mentally perplexed when I finally gave up. Kind of like the MythBusters episode where they tried and tried and failed to do it. Then I found someone with experience that could work with and teach me until I got it. Without his guidance and hands-on expertise I wouldn't have gained the proper experience to succeed.
Q: My friend and I are both firefighters/paramedics, and this question was brought up after watching several of the newer horror movies at our station. We have seen several recent movies where people get a leg caught in a large steel animal trap; we work in a area where transport time to a local hospital is about four minutes. We know what to do in that situation — or else we would need to be fired! However, I have been in Kenya (and some other places) where the field is all you have. Would the trap be best left in place, to prevent compartment and/or crush syndrome? And to prevent hypovolemic shock? I'm sure trap size would be a determining factor, so let's say it would be big enough to fracture a tibia/fibula, but unable to amputate.
Thank you very much for your reply!!
Brian P.
Tampa, Florida
A: Your best advice should come from a doctor. However, in a survival situation where that option is not available, here's what I would do:
1) Check the ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation).
2) Treat for shock (face is red raise the head, face is pale raise the tail).
3) Apply a tourniquet or constriction band above the wound and remove the trap. Using a constriction band versus a tourniquet will depend on the situation — i.e., extent of damage to the limb, elapsed time of injury, time to competent medical help, etc. A constriction band is just like a tourniquet only it isn't wound as tightly, thus allowing a small amount of blood flow, which may keep the limb alive and may prevent later amputation. It's important to remember to keep the band itself about 2 inches wide; anything smaller will cause more damage. A belt isn't a bad option. The band always goes above or below a joint — never on a joint. Also keep in mind that a constriction band can be dangerous due to blood clots. Allowing the blood to flow could dislodge a blood clot, which could be a killer — literally.
4) Immobilize the limb in a position of function and transport the person to safety.
