Tackling a worrying gap in the nation’s emergency rescue education, Australia’s leading communications and safety brand, GME has partnered with leading survival expert and instructor, Outback Mike to launch the inaugural National Rescue Awareness Week.
Raising awareness of the importance of proper safety and communication in the great outdoors, National Rescue Awareness Week brings together 65 years of expertise in helping Australians explore our beautiful backyard with simple advice to prepare Aussies better and keep them safe on land and out at sea.
The initiative follows the release of new research revealing the country’s knowledge of proper travel safety is dangerously low. The data from GME shows that less than half of the nation (only 41%) would know what to do if they found themselves lost while travelling the great outdoors.
With eight out of 10 Aussies looking to tap into their sense of adventure and explore our beautiful landscape, less than half of the nation (49%) would know how to contact someone without phone service – leaving us at risk in the thousands of mobile phone blackspots across Australia.
What’s more, Aussies lack knowledge of basic survival tactics. Just 36% of Australians know how to find north without a compass, less than a third (31%) can find a drinkable water source and only a quarter (25%) can build a fire without matches or a lighter.
According to solo adventurist, survival expert and filmmaker, Michael Atkinson (aka Outback Mike) having the right gear and know-how is crucial when it comes to exploring the Aussie outback or coastline.
“Australians have a strong sense of adventure. We love to explore but there’s a common misconception that as long as we’re exploring close to home, we’re safe.”
“Understanding basic survival principles is vital whether you’re exploring on land or sea. Planning your route, carrying the right gear – like a GME personal locator beacon (PLB) or Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and staying calm in an emergency, can be the difference between making it home or not.”
“Having an emergency beacon takes the SEARCH out of SEARCH AND RESCUE. They allow rescue authorities to send assets to your exact location with minimal delay. This greatly improves your chance of survival and quick rescue”
“Technology has made outback travel much safer. In an emergency, you can literally be saved from anywhere at the press of a button. But, you must have the right equipment with you.”
Giving Aussies the tools they need to explore safely, GME and Mike have come together to create a survival preparation guide featuring four key steps to safe travel.
Tony Crooke, Safety Expert at GME comments: “We regularly hear stories of people who find themselves in emergencies simply because they failed to prepare adequately. Whether venturing off-road or heading out to sea, having the correct safety equipment and understanding basic survival techniques are crucial.”
“When it comes to survival skills, there’s no one more experienced than Mike. From his time in the Airforce to his solo journey up the Great Barrier Reef in a dugout canoe, his love for the outdoors aligns perfectly with ours, making him the ideal partner for this campaign.”
“Through National Rescue Awareness Week, we aim to equip Australians with the essential skills and knowledge needed to handle emergencies effectively and safely.”
For the full outdoor survival guide, click the link HERE to download.