Central Coast’s own survival expert and adventurer Michael Atkinson – known as Outback Mike – has teamed up with communications and safety brand GME to launch National Rescue Awareness Week.
The aim of the week is to address a worrying gap in survival know-how that could put ordinary Australians at risk when out and about exploring the country.
New research from GME has revealed nearly half of Australians wouldn’t know what to do if lost, and very few possessed basic survival skills that could be life-saving.
National Rescue Awareness Week is an Australian-first initiative to equip people with essential safety skills for the bush, coast, and beyond and provide people with a practical survival guide from GME and Outback Mike, covering essential survival skills for safe off-grid adventures.
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 their beautiful backyard with simple advice to prepare them 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, with eight out of 10 Aussies looking to tap into their sense of adventure, less than half would know how to contact someone without phone service.
Just 36 percent of Australians know how to find north without a compass, less than a third can find a drinkable water source and only a quarter can build a fire without matches or a lighter.
According to survival expert and filmmaker Atkinson having the right gear and know-how is crucial when it comes to exploring the outback or coastline.
“Australians have a strong sense of adventure,” he said.
“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.”
Through National Rescue Awareness Week, the partnership between Atkinson and GME aims to equip Australians with the essential skills and knowledge needed to handle emergencies effectively and safely.
Search for the Survival and Rescue Essentials Guide on the GME Australia website.
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