Airplane Crash

AIRPLANE CRASH:

It is estimated that about two million people worldwide travel by plane each year (Courtley, 2012). Airplanes are widely considered the safest way to travel, although they do occasionally go down. In SEAL Survival Guide, Courtley addresses two main threats you face on an airplane. Aside from hijacking/terrorism, we face the impact of the plane against something, and post-impact conditions which often include fires, fuel combustion and smoke inhalation. Courtley talks about how a crucial part of a SEALs success on a mission is the uniform and gear they wear and use. This generalizes to us. Choices are made based on level of functionality. We should ask ourselves daily- are we dressed to handle an emergency?

CLOTHING:

In the case of airplane travel, it is best to wear long pants and long sleeved shirts, made of less flammable materials (wool, polyester, nylon). Long sleeved shirts/pants will serve as a layer of protection for your skin (Courtley, 2012). You should avoid open-toed shoes or high heels. This is due to the fact that in an emergency situation you may need to climb or maneuver your way through wreckage or debris. Lastly, you should carry a handkerchief or some type of cloth material that you can use to cover your mouth with in case of a smoke or noxious-fume event.

WHERE TO SIT:

You should prepare for an emergency as early as when you’re booking your flight. Statistics of airline crashes compiled by the Federal Aviation Administration show that the greatest number of survivors are among those who were sitting towards the back of the aircraft (Courtley, 2012). As you may think, seats closer to the exit doors are preferable. If you survive the initial impact, it is most desirable to be in a position that allows you to get out of the aircraft as quickly as possible.

GATHERING INTELLIGENCE:

We often check ratings of hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and basically anything else you can give a rating on, so why not gather intelligence on the aircraft you will be taking? It is important to research the safety record of the plane you are going to take. You can check the mechanical data and safety records of any plane, and I think that many people (myself included until reading the book) are unaware of this. The Federal Aviation Administration maintains incident reports for all aircraft. By knowing the aircraft identification or “N” numbers, which are found near the tail of the plane, you are able to access this information (Courtley, 2012).

IMPACT:

Under this circumstance, there may not be much you can do. What you can and should do is stay alert, especially during takeoff and landing, keep your seat belt on, and brace yourself. There are two main brace positions:

1. CROSS-ARM BRACE POSITION includes grabbing the back of the seat in front of you with one hand, then crossing the other over the first to also grab the back of the seat. Then, you should place your head in the compacted triangle you have created (Courtley, 2012).
2. BEND-AND-TUCK BRACE POSITION includes leaning forward and placing your chest into your thighs. You should put your head between your knees and reach down with your hands to grab each opposite ankle. Your feet should remain flat on the floor for both methods.

GETTING OUT:

Once you have survived the impact, time is of the essence. If there is no fire or smoke, you may have no more than two minutes to save your life. The closest exit may be blocked. Exit doors are usually placed in tandem, opposite each other, so if you notice one is dangerous you can cross over to the other side and check that one. It is important to keep moving, do not pause or sit at the edge of the door and wait for anything.  After getting out of the plane, it is important to keep moving. If you’ve crash landed in water, you should get as far away from the plane as possible because a secondary explosion may be likely. If your crash landing was a remote area, you should remain in the vicinity of the plane because that is where rescuers will check first (Courtley, 2012).

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References:

Courtley, C. (2012). SEAL Survival Guide. New York, NY: Gallery Books

SEAL Survival Guide Pt. 3: Improvised Weapons

IMPROVISED WEAPONS:

This section of the book really sends of some Macgyver type vibes. Courtley discusses how when it comes to what to use as an improvised weapon for defense, you are “limited only by your imagination” woah, what? This is something to remember, not only for your own use but for self-defense as well. This section makes you realize the vast number of things that are potentially harmful to you. At the same time, it illustrates how many things you can use to protect yourself. Belts, coats, heels, or the old “coins in a sock” bit are all options that can be utilized in an emergency situation. Toiletries like nail files or straight razors can also be used. Books, magazines, pens, rulers, power cords, staplers-the list can go on and on. Basically this section is summarized by the idea that if you are in a situation where someone is trying to bring you harm, the options for tools to aid you in getting out of that situation alive are limitless. It is important to think quickly, and take advantage of resources in your surroundings that may aid you.

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References:

Courtley, C. (2012). SEAL Survival Guide. New York, NY: Gallery Books

SEAL Survival Guide Pt. 3: Firearms

FIREARMS:

Nor myself or any of my immediate family members own or use them, but I think that is important to be educated on the subject. In 2010, there were six hundred self-inflicted accidental deaths caused by improper use of firearms (Courtley, 2012). This is a scary statistic, and reinforces the idea that firearm owners and users must be highly educated on safety procedures, and lock up their firearms. Attending a course given by an expert will help you use a firearm proficiently. Then you should practice using it at a designated firing range (Courtley, 2012). Storage is something I think is extremely important, especially if your home has children. Courtley recommends a fingerprint-recognition safe, as well as trigger locks for rifles and shotguns.

As far as operation and safety, the book has a list of basic and general safety rules that always apply even though each firearm is different. Some points on the list include always assuming the firearm is loaded, never pointing the firearm at something you don’t intend to kill (this was an excellent point in my opinion because you obviously know you shouldn’t wave it around, but the way it’s worded really puts things in perspective), keep the safety on until you are ready to fire, keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire, take a safety course and practice as much as you can.

I personally would not own a firearm, but I understand individuals who make the choice to, and I think we have to accept that we live in a world where it’s an unavoidable fact that some individuals will own and operate firearms. It is important to follow procedures and take safety courses in order to properly and efficiently use a firearm and avoid fatalities due to careless or ignorant mistakes.

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References:

Courtley, C. (2012). SEAL Survival Guide. New York, NY: Gallery Books

SEAL Survival Guide Pt. 3: Gear

GEAR

Most of us at some point have encountered people who look a lot like Bear Grylls carrying a huge backpack full of gear. I’m not sure about anyone else but I always find myself wondering what their bag could possibly be full of, and why it is so necessary to lug around. In Part three of SEAL Survival Guide by Cade Courtley, he discusses the importance of having the right gear and equipment, but urges it is no substitute for knowledge and training. Different situations require different types of survival equipment. The types of situations discussed in the book may be a little extreme, but I think that they can generalize into themes and ideas that would help average Joe’s like you and I. For example, in some cases it could be very helpful to have a small go bag. This is a collection of gear. It is something you can quickly grab and run with not something too heavy that will weigh you down. Courtley mentions in the book it would be helpful to prepare a go bag (or bags) for yourself and family members and leave one at home, one in your car and even one at work.

Go bags should include things like:

• Copy of passport, driver’s license, contact list
• Pliers, knife, or screwdriver
• Compass
• Marker or pen and small notebook
• Flashlight and batteries
• Glow-sticks
• Lighter, water proof matches, cotton balls for tinder
• First Aid Kit
• Emergency/Space Blanket
• Tape
• Spare socks
• Zip-ties
• Trash bag
• Cash in small bills

The list can vary depending on your region or environment, and can be modified accordingly.

Courtley talks about the fact that these items are the basics, and you can “take your kit to the next level” by adding things like a small sleeping bag, hand powered radio, snare wire, fishing kit, extra cellphone, GPS, Bear spray, Folding shovel, flares, and various other items.

Sure, some of these things may seem a little extreme, but I can definitely see the benefit to having a go bag. I always make sure I keep something like this in my car in case I ever break down (blanket, flashlight, spark plugs, protein bars).

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References:

Courtley, C. (2012). SEAL Survival Guide. New York, NY: Gallery Books

SEAL Survival Guide Pt. 4: Injury Types

HEAT:

Air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and sun exposure are all environmental factors that may contribute to heat injuries. Additionally, dehydration, body fat levels, and fitness levels can increase your chance of a heat injury (Courtley, 2012). As you would expect, your primary goal when you find yourself in a situation where someone is suffering from a heat injury is to cool down the human body.

Dehydration stems from a sudden loss of body fluids (Courtley, 2012). It is important to realize how important it is to stay hydrated and drink a lot of water.

Heat cramps are also discussed in the book. Heat cramps could occur in your legs, arms, or abdomen. Sudden or excessive loss of salt may cause this. That is something that I was unaware of before reading the book.

Heat Exhaustion is displayed by excessive sweating, and headache. During this, your body temperature has risen to between 99 and 104 degrees, and it is attempting to regulate the temperature of your skin. If your body temperature reaches 105 degrees or more, you may have a heatstroke; your nervous system may malfunction, which could lead to organ damage or death (Courtley, 2012).

The book discusses how the treatment of Heatstroke, Heat Exhaustion and Heat Cramps all include cooling down the body. Ways to do this include getting to a shaded environment, loosening clothing, sipping fluids, or even wrapping the victim in a water soaked blanket.

 I think that we take our bodies for granted sometimes, and expect them to perform under extreme conditions without realizing the toll it may have. Many people live in environments where they are often out in the sun for long periods of time, and it is important to protect yourself and hydrate appropriately.

COLD:

As with too much exposure to heat, prolonged exposure to cold temperatures also has negative effects on the body.  Our bodies try to maintain a core temperature, which burns a lot of calories and takes a lot of energy. You might say “Well yeah, of course being out in the cold too long will have negative effects” but short periods of exposure to extreme cold can also take their toll and be dangerous.

Hypothermia is defined in the book as a decrease in the core body temperature to a level where the bodies’ muscular and cerebral functions become diminished. Improper clothing, fatigue, dehydration, alcohol consumption and wetness may contribute to hypothermia (Courtley, 2012). Various stages of hypothermia may occur depending on how much the body temperature drops.

98-96 Degrees (MILD): Involuntary shivering may occur when the body temperature slightly drops. Shivering is the body’s way of attempting to generate heat. I think that we have all experienced this at some point or another.

95-93 Degrees (MODERATE): You may begin to feel dazed and lose fine motor coordination.

92-86 Degrees (SEVERE): The book says if the body temperature goes down between 92 and 86 degrees, death is “imminent” (Courtley, 2012). Shivering occurs in waves, and eventually stops when the individual falls to the ground and curls into a fetal position. As I’m typing the characteristics of severe hypothermia, it sounds very scary and makes me think of the importance of the proper treatment and prevention. As I read the book, it seems the most vital step in treating hypothermia is to REMOVE WET CLOTHES! Generating a fire, eating and drinking, wrapping the person in multiple layers and transferring body heat are also methods discussed.

Frostbite on your hands, feet, nose, ears or cheeks may occur when body tissue freezes. Skin may become itchy or turn colors, and in severe cases amputation may be necessary (Courtley 2012).

CHOKING:

We’ve all seen a goofy scene in a movie where someone is choking, and another character steps in and gives them the Heimlich, usually resulting in the person spitting their food across the dinner table (usually in the direction of a less likable character). In real life, choking can be much more serious and dangerous. If someone is choking, it is important to make sure the individual is actually choking (see that their airway is obstructed completely). The book says to manually remove the obstruction if you can, but if that isn’t possible you should perform the Heimlich maneuver (Courtley, 2012).

BURNS:

Damage to your body’s tissues caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, sunlight or radiation is classified as a burn. There are three degrees of burns, one being least severe and three is the most. First degree burns usually only affect the outer layers of skin, while second include damage to the second layer which may cause blisters and splotchy skin. Third degree burns are the most severe, and all layers of skin are affected and they may even reach bone (Courtley, 2012).

BITES & STINGS:

One of my personal fears are bee stings. I’ve been afraid of bees since I was younger, because my Father is allergic to them and may go into anaphylactic shock if he is stung. I cannot help let out a small shriek when a bee comes too close, even though I’m not allergic and would only be susceptible to some irritation (but still painful!).

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Injuries and accidents occur in life whether we want them to or not (obviously we all learn towards NOT). It is important to distinguish between various risk factors, and to prepare ourselves by developing knowledge to prevent injuries as well as knowledge in how to react when one occurs.

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References:

Courtley, C. (2012). SEAL Survival Guide. New York, NY: Gallery Books

SEAL Survival Guide Pt 4: Immediate Priorities/Shock

IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES:

In the book, it describes what your immediate priorities should be in an emergency situation. They are as follows:

1. Restore breathing and heartbeat if absent
2. Stop any bleeding
3. Protect wounds and stabilize fractures or dislocations
4. Treat for shock

(Courtley, 2012)

ABC:

ABC is an acronym that stands for “airway, breathing, circulation”. When you treat an injured person, you should check to see if their Airway is open, they are Breathing, and that there is a pulse or sign of Circulation.

RESCUE BREATHING: Adult & Infant

In the SEAL Survival Guide, Courtley explains that if an adult stops breathing (but still shows signs of circulation) you should call for EMS and begin rescue breathing. If a child or infant stops breathing but shows signs of circulation, you should perform recue breathing for two minutes, call for EMS and then resume recue breathing.

CPR:

If there is an adult who is not breathing and shows no signs of circulation, you should call for EMS. If an AED is available, you should begin to attach it to the victim, if not you should begin CPR. If there is a child who is not breathing and shows no signs of circulation, you should give CPR for two minutes immediately before then calling EMS, after which you should resume CPR (Courtley, 2012).

STOP THE BLEEDING:

“During catastrophes, accidents, and survival situations, expect to see blood.” (Courtley, 2012).

Bleeding requires immediate attention. If too much blood is lost, you will not survive. When you are in a situation where there is a lot of blood caused by an injury, you should first examine the body for signs of major bleeding (pools of blood, blood-soaked clothing).

Something explained in the book that I found very interesting was the fact that you can usually detect if there is major bleeding by color, because bright red splurting blood comes from arterial wounds while darker red bleeding is usually from smaller veins.

DRESSING THE WOUND:

As soon as the bleeding subsides, it is important to wrap and cover the wound and apply pressure. If the field and pressure dressings become soaked with blood, you should apply new dressings directly over the old ones. If none of this controls the bleeding, you should try to identify a nearby pressure point. If none of this works, the book describes the necessity for fashioning a tourniquet.

Prior to reading the book, I don’t think I have ever heard this word before. It is defined as any device that can be twisted and constricted tightly around a limb and above the wound to cut off blood flow to the area (Courtley, 2012). It is stressed that this should be used as a last resort. A tourniquet stops all circulation below where it is applied.

Once you have stopped bleeding and the person is breathing, you can take the time to do a more thorough physical exam. This includes identifying any other injuries that may also be life-threatening. You should look for fractures, dislocations, sprains etc.

SHOCK:

Shock is defined in the book as occurring when the circulatory system fails, resulting in an insufficient flow of oxygen to the vital organs. Some early warning signs to look for include:

-Sweaty but clammy skin

-Pale skin

-Restlessness

-Thirst

-Confusion

-Nausea

-Blotchy or blue-ish skin

I know from previous experiences that blue-ish skin often occurs with poor circulation, and I think that this is one of the best signs to look for because a lot of the other signs could be attributed to less serious conditions.

Having the person lie down on their back if these signs are present is a good way to prevent shock from occurring (Courtley, 2012).

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Courtley, C. (2012). SEAL Survival Guide. New York, NY: Gallery Books

SEAL Survival Guide Pt. 4

In part four of the SEAL Survival Guide, Courtley describes every human’s duty to act, or provide aid in an emergency situation. He stresses the importance of medical training in order to do so.

SIZE UP THE SCENE:

The book stresses the importance of doing this as you arrive on a scene where someone else is injured. Maintain awareness, and assess unusual characteristics like changes in sounds, smells, or anything else that seems odd (Courtley, 2012).

SELF AID, THEN BUDDY AID:

This slogan refers to taking care of your own injuries if possible. When involved in an incident, you should evaluate and treat yourself before you attempt to help others. This reminds me of when you’re in an airplane, and the stewardess tells you that you must put on your own mask first in case of emergency before attending to anyone else. It is important to make sure you are safe and secure before helping others not out of selfishness, but because if you don’t attend to your own personal needs you may suffer more and then you wouldn’t be able to help anyone.

After you size up the scene, you should begin the initial assessment of the injured person(s). This is a set of procedures used to identify and treat an individual’s immediate and life-threatening conditions (Courtley, 2012). In a situation where there are multiple injured parties, you should use a Triage. A Triage is a system used for sorting patients to determine the order in which they will receive care (Courtley, 2012). It seems as if a lot of the approaches and techniques taught in the book include separating steps and making quick decisions in order to do as much as possible. This is beneficial because in many situations a person without these skills would be overwhelmed with a wave of uncertainty and not know how to take on everything at once.

Stepping up to help can be a scary, overwhelming idea. It is important to keep these general steps in mind: Casualty Assessment, Get into Action, Initial Assessment, Triage.

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References:

Courtley, C. (2012). SEAL Survival Guide. New York, NY: Gallery Books

Seal Survival Guide

SEAL Survival Guide

 Part One of this book begins to address the SEAL mindset and survival Psychology. As you begin to read you feel like you’re holding all the secrets to survival, and it’s teaching you how to be more mentally  “tough” as you turn each page.  With a closer look, you realize that a lot of the techniques illustrated can help you immensely in everyday life (wait, I’m not really training to be a literal Navy Seal just by reading this one book?). As I went through each subheading within part one, I tried to apply the ideas to real life situations. I’m not too far in yet, but so far this is what I’ve learned:

Challenge your limits and daily routines (this was a big one for me)

*PUSH THE COMFORT ZONE

The book expresses the importance of pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone. I think that we all get stuck in the same old routines (School, work, home, repeat) It discusses making small changes at first. Changing what you DO to can change how you THINK.

It’s important to realize that we posses the mental capacities to make changes and better our own lives, I think that a lot of people get caught up in waiting for things to change instead of making them.

MENTAL and PHYSICAL “toughness” are also addressed in part one.

yeah yeah, get in shape. We all know we should do it, but what if we thought of it not as restricting our pizza intake, but preparing our bodies for anything that may come our way. That is what the book suggests. Don’t wait until you’re attempting to outrun a mugger to think “man I wish I jogged more often”.  You can always improve your physical condition. Mental fitness is addressed in part one, with an emphasis on a “never quit” mindset.  Mental prep could also include Emergency Conditioning, Visualization, Rehearsal, Muscle Memory, Creating a Trigger, and developing Situation Awareness (Courtley, 2012, p. 10-17).

We may not be put into the same situations that a Navy SEAL would be, but we often have to make quick decisions that can have lasting effects.  Using these techniques can help us on the road to becoming a stronger individual, both physically and mentally.

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References:

Courtley, C. (2012). SEAL Survival Guide. New York, NY: Gallery Books

Introduction

Hello!

This is my first post on the “ThinkSafety” blog. I intend to use this blog to share the information I learn about safety in HLS 313. I have not had much prior training with safety, but am excited to share any information I learn related to accident causes and counter strategy development in various areas some being home, fire, personal, and auto safety.

I also hope to share preventative methods like behavior modification, changes in physical environment, and primary prevention.

I believe that learning about safety whether it is general preventative practices or in depth procedures is very important and beneficial for anyone, regardless of their background/major/job. Learning how to prevent unintentional injuries or react when one occurs is important to ensure the safety of yourself, and potentially others.

Looking forward to creating future posts, and sharing information with you 🙂