So you went to the camping store, you got all of your shinies, and headed off into the hills. When you got there it was all nice and sunny, but at 6pm
the SHTF - weather closed in, a member got injured and you have to sit a few hours or more for rescue.
So, you get out your survival bag and get in. Question - Did you get in it the right way?
Sounds stupid? bear with me.
See that picture on the front of lifesystems bag? Thats how NOT to get into a shelter bag. If the emergency means you need in, heres how to do it.
1) Unwrap your bag.
2) get out your knife and cut a face sized flap at the FOOT END.
3) Take you whistle and hang it around your neck.
4) Climb head first - yes head first into the bag, making sure you face flap is the side your face is going to peak out of....
5) Once in, reach down and open your bergen ( A bergen is military slang for a back pack / rucsac ) and slide your feet into it and pull it up into
the survival bag as much as you can. This keeps your feet warm and insulated from the ground and you know where your kit is (It won't be blown away
if its windy!)
Your waits going to be 100% warmer and safer for you now than if you got in feet first. Heres why.
A) Heat rises. You get in feet first you made a perfect polythene funnel for your body heat to rise up and escape into the cold outside.
B) Head loses 30 times more body heat than your feet do. You also think with your head....
C) Rain falls downwards, not upwards. Rains just gonna funnel on down that poly bag and puddle inside it. Thats really going to spoil your day.
D) If you need to use your whistle and you are feet in the bag first, you'll raise your arm to your face and waft off huge amounts of heat upwards...
Bad idea.
E) Head first, and your arms stay INSIDE the hot coccon, and only your face is partly exposed, but protected from falling rain by the flap you cut
hanging down. Now blow your whistle to your hearts content and it won't cost you an iota of body heat.
F) With your feet in your bergen you know its going to remain where you left it as its anchored to you. If you in the bag feet first, its going to be
out side and to hold it you would need to keep moving arms outside the bag... this head first way means you can just reach down into the bag and get
your nice dry stuff out and keep body heat in.
Winner really.
[edit on 18-7-2008 by Dan Tanna]
[edit on 18-7-2008 by Dan Tanna]
[edit on 18-7-2008 by Dan Tanna]