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5 – forced land i ngs
hints
STAYWITHYOURAIRCRAFT
It ismuch easier for air search observers to spot an aircraft than awalking
survivor, and this applieswhether your aircraft is still in onepieceor not.
However, there are two exceptions to this rule:
• If your aircraft is completely hidden from air observation by trees or
undergrowth, try to find a clearingwhere you can set up signals for search
aircraft.
• If you are absolutely certain that a town, settlement, road or homestead is
within reasonable distance, you couldwalk out – but if youdo, leave notes
for a land search party telling themwhat you are doing and leave a trail
which they can follow. See signal codes, page388.
WATER
Salvage yourwater supply, conserve it asmuch as possible and augment it if
you can, by rain, dew, riverwater or any othermeans. For example, digdown
in themiddle of the sandy bed of awatercourse to locate a soak, or distil salt
water by holding a cloth in the steamof boilingwater andwringing it into a
container.
Water ismore important to survival than food – you can comfortably do
without food for 48 hours ormore, but lack ofwater causes dehydration and
only one-fifth of the body’s fluids (about 11 litres) can be lost if an individual is
to survive.
Under desert survival conditions, the preferredmethod, after a forced landing,
is towait until your are extremely thirsty before drinking at all and then to
drink at the rate atwhich sweating is takingplace. Thismethodensures that
there is little impairment in efficiency andwastes nowater. You can also save
water by reducing sweating, e.g. by keeping in the shade, not exposing the
skin to sun or hotwinds and resting during theday. Ifwater supplies have to
be restricted, do not take salt or eat salty foods.
DONOTdrinkURINEunder anycircumstances.