Beginners Guide
Student Booklet Sample
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Facing the Unexpected
In coping with any unexpected event it is essential to know how
to use a map and a compass. Other skills to learn are how to survive in certain
terrains in case of an emergency and a basic knowledge of first aid.
Map and Compass
Getting lost may not seem very serious if it only means you return home a little
later than expected. But if you become lost so that you are stranded and cold or
if there is an injury which needs immediate help, getting lost can be a tragedy.
When you are out on an ATV it is essential to carry a compass and
a good map of the area. Keep your eyes open for blaze marks, cabins, rivers, and
other landmarks as you travel.
Topographic
maps are best, because they show the land in three dimensions: north, south,
east, west, and elevation. They can warn you of steep areas, valleys and ridges.
A topographic map also tells you the number of degrees between magnetic north
(where the compass arrow points) and true north (where the North Pole is). This
number of degrees, called the declination, varies everywhere in the world, so
you must know it for your particular area.
To
use a compass and map:
1. Place
map and compass on a flat surface away from any metal objects.
2. Place
the compass on the map so that the north-south line on the compass dial is
parallel with the map north arrow or the vertical lines on the map.
3. Turn the
map and compass as a unit, until the arrow moves away from north on the compass
at the proper declination noted on the map of your area. Now the map and compass
are oriented.
4. If you know your location on the map, you can line up a
visible landmark with its map symbol, once the map and compass are oriented.
5. If you do not know your position on a map, but you know you
are somewhere along a certain line, such as a ridge, or river, or trail, you can
figure out where you are along that line. Orient the map to north using the
compass (Steps 2 and 3), take a bearing on some landmark which you can
positively identify. such as a mountain peak.
The line of this bearing will intersect the trail or ridge where
you are located. The point of intersection is your location on the map. As you
move along in the right direction of travel, continue to take readings to
recheck your position.
To find direction using a watch, lay the watch flat with the hour
hand pointing toward the sun. Find the point on the watch face which is half way
between the hour hand and the 12. That point will be south.
To find
direction with a shadow stick, use a stick that is straight and about three feet
long. Place it up right in a clear area. With a peg, mark the end of the shadow.
Wait 30 minutes. Then place another peg at the end of the new shadow. The line
between these two pegs is the east-west line.
If you are in a blizzard or thick fog, and you have no idea where
you are, do not wander around, particularly at night. You will waste energy. As
calmly as possible, take the steps necessary for survival. Build a shelter, and
a fire if you can find the materials. If you must choose between wandering and
staying where you are, stay put and keep yourself warm.
Avalanche
In
some regions of the country, ATV riders will be operating in mountainous areas.
Since one footstep is enough to start an avalanche, or "snow slide," an ATV is
certainly capable of starting one. However, it is doubtful a responsible ATV
operator will be found on such high elevations where avalanches usually
occur. Many potential avalanche hazards will be posted
and that region closed to travel. There is enough danger in
unknown areas don't risk your life in an area you know to be hazardous.
Handling Emergencies
If your ATV
breaks down and you are unable to fix it or walk out, it is extremely important
to remember that you must conserve energy in order to survive. Seek shelter from
the wind and restrict your body movements to reduce sweating. Your machine can
be used as a windbreak or as part of a lean-to. Seek shelter in a protected
area. An over-hanging rock shelf or a clearing at the base of a tree make ideal
shelters.
In a
timbered area, you can make a lean-to by placing one horizontal bar between two
trees or crotches in upright poles. Lean small branches against the horizontal
bar. Interweave branches to thatch the shelter.
Snow banks
and deep drifts offer protection possibilities. Dig a snow cave facing away from
the wind, slightly larger than your body size. Line with any extra material you
may have such as the seat of the ATV. Place a six-inch diameter ventilating hole
in the top of the cave.
Good
planning, systematic maintenance of your ATV and traveling with a companion on
another ATV will eliminate most emergencies. To be prepared, learn and follow
these steps in case of an emergency:
1. Prepare
a checklist of supplies, tools and other items necessary for your ride and
consult it prior to your departure.
2. Let someone know where you will be and when you will be back.
3. If a
fire is needed, choose a protected spot that is not under overhanging branches
with snow on them. Pick small dead branches to get a fire going. Dead brush
works well also. Larger dead wood is added after small branches have a good
start. Collect enough fuel before dark if you have to spend the night.
4. Do not
travel on foot in strange areas at night. Conserve your energy, because it will
help keep you warm. Moderate exercise can help circulation to cold limbs, but
don't over do it. Good judgment and common sense are always necessary to make
the best of an emergency. If you become unsure of your location during a heavy
storm, find shelter and keep warm.
5. In all cases, attend to injuries first, then sit down and
calmly think out solutions and possibilities. Panic is your worst enemy.
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