As a condition of my employment with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service I was required to take many different training courses. Those ran the gamut from boat handling to bear marksmanship. They were all excellent classes; but some were more relevant to daily life than others. Wilderness First Aid was taught over the course of three days. While you would think that with that amount of time invested, it would be a fairly comprehensive course. But the instructor was quick to tell you the contrary; she had only scratched the surface. The course was taught in anticipation of its students’ work being conducted in the Alaskan Bush. But, as the instructor was quick to point out, and as defined by the Red Cross, ‘Wilderness” is anywhere that it would take an hour to receive assistance. There are untold numbers of places from the Grand Banks to the South Side Rocks where it could take hours for rescuers to find you. As anglers, think about how many times you’ve callously put yourself in danger: Guys headed to the Canyon; 100 miles from land. Skishers off the Point, drifting along in the dark miles from land, in potentially shark filled waters. Or the jetty hopper, perched precariously on rocks battling an incoming surf. Even the simple act of unhooking a fish can have dire consequences. It was the new moon last October, and a buddy and I were experiencing epic fishing over a particular hump. As soon as we passed the peak it was fish on. It was lock and load eeling at its finest. But as people do, we got careless in our haste to keep our lines in the water. While quickly unhooking a teen-sized bass, my friend was struck by the fish’s dorsal spines. This is a common injury; anyone who spends enough time pursuing these magnificent c... ... middle of paper ... ...nds) • Duct tape • Scalpel • Blunt-tipped scissors (Paramedics shears) • Thermometer • SAM splint(s) • Finger splint(s) • Throat lozenges • Lubricating eye drops • Acetaminophen (for fever relief) • Diarrhea relief tablets • Antacid tablets • Glucose or other sugar tablets (to treat hypoglycemia) • Cotton-tipped swabs • Triangular bandage • Eye pads • Rubbing alcohol • Distilled water • Styptic powder • Mask with one way valve (for mouth to mouth resuscitation) With this cold winter still upon us, take this opportunity to compile the items listed here. Most of these items may already be in your medicine chest, and if they aren’t they are readily available at the local druggist. Alternatively, there are many good commercially available kits on the market. Whatever route you chose to go, make sure its waterproof, and that you carry it. It just may save your life.
He ventures into merciless terrain of Alaska and unfortunately, as he was not adequately prepared for the life in
Most people are not bizarre enough to live in the wild with no money, identification, and just the clothes on their back, however; most people are not cut from the same fabric as Christopher McCandless. McCandless is an adventurous, Tolstoy idolizing, Transcendentalist nitwit whose naivete and foolish mistakes got him killed in the Alaskan wilderness, nevertheless he is an American examplar. Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild, a book based on who McCandless was and the adventure he led, raves and identifies with Chris. Whereas Peter Christian, author of the article, Chris McCandless from an Alaska Park Ranger’s Perspective, criticizes Chris and believes that he is unworthy of being labeled a hero.
As Chris became more fascinated with the wilderness, he increasingly became indifferent towards different aspects of his life. Chris’ operation prior to embarking in the wilderness was fruitless because he lacked the sufficient and valuable preparations. Furthermore, it is appropriate to say that the actions that he took were beyond heedless: “He spent very little time learning how to actually live in the wild” (Christian 1). Practice makes perfect is a common proverb that echoes throughout society but was unfortunately missing from Chris’ life. Chris’ enthusiasm towards nature prevented him from making a logical decision of having sufficient experience with the wilderness itself. Ultimately, Chris was an oblivious person because he commenced into the wilderness with meager supplies. However, Chris failed at entering his excursion with sufficient preparations: “He left the map in Gallien’s truck, along with his watch, his comb, and all his money, which amounted to 85 cents” (2). By leaving his belongings in Gallien’s truck, Chris made an extremely absurd decision. More specifically, he disabled any possibility for him to receive immediate assistance when his health began declining rapidly. Finally, individuals should prioritize rationality in certain situations because it is crucial for them to use when they are blinded by a
A defining feature of the lionfish which everyone sees are the “18 venomous spines on its dorsal fin and its pelvic and anal fins, which are used for defense” as described in FACE OFF WITH THE ENEMY: LIONFISH by Special To The Citizen. Which is a neurotoxin that results in intense pain and swelling of one’s body. Fernando Simal, a marine hunter at STINAPA National Marine Park, found out the potency of their venom after his first hunt when being stung by the lionfish he caug...
In Jon Krakauer’s non-fiction novel, “Into the Wild”, he tells a story of young man named Chris McCandless. McCandless had grown up in a wealthy family. He was a loner, mainly because of his thirst for social isolation, but seemed to be independent. McCandless had given away all of his money, left almost all of his possessions, became an explorer, and changed him name to Alexander Supertramp, without letting anyone know of his whereabouts which was selfish of him. Not even his own family. He was also a highly intelligent man, yet he also lacked to understand something immediately and the knowledge to keep safe when it is needed. In April of 1992, young McCandless stubbornly hitchhiked his way to Alaska to live in the wild nearby Mt. McKinley. Then four months later in late August, a group of hunters sadly found his dead body. Chris McCandless was very courageous for his decision to go out on his adventures, yet he was inconsiderate for his lack of common sense during the time he was out in the wilderness in Alaska.
Since three-forth of the world is composed of bodies of water, it’s natural that a great number of people rely on fishing for their livelyhood or just for their recreation needs. There are numerous of fish species swimming under the lakes, seas, ponds, and rivers. Most anglers consider fishing as the delight in their purpose-driven life, a sport, as they say.
Chris McCandless, all throughout his Alaskan adventure, showed the transcendental quality of striving to live closer to nature. One great
On April 26, 2003 Aron Ralston was hiking alone through Blue John Canyon, in eastern Wayne County, Utah, just south of the Horseshoe Canyon unit of Canyon lands National Park. When the unexpected happened where suddenly Aron’s life was on the line. Aron Ralston was an arrogant and independent adventurous. Ralston would do anything adventurous that didn’t involve family or someone helping him. He wouldn’t talk to any of his family. Ralston would ignore them because he thought they couldn’t help him. Also, he thought they would want someone to go with him in case of an emergency. After an hour or two of climbing mountains and hiking in the canyon Aron tried climbing down Blue John canyon. This canyon which only is three feet wide and seventy
Does wilderness exist? To many people, this would seem to be a very meaningless question. Of course wilderness exists. But, coming from a student who decided to enroll in a class called Humans and the Natural Environment: Impacts and Moral Obligations, this question has become one that has almost thrown my world upside down. Before we can answer the question, we must first know the definition of wilderness is this, “an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man is a visitor who does not remain.” Because of my recent class periods and readings, I believe that the concept of wilderness does not exist, and that it is not useful. Throughout this essay I will explain why
Living in the wilderness is difficult, but understanding the meaning of such lifestyle is even more difficult. One of the Christopher’s admirable qualities was that he was well aware of what he was doing. He knew about the difficulties and dangers that he would face into the wilderness, and was mentally prepared for that. Author Jon Krakauer says that “McCandless was green, and he overestimated his resilience, but he was sufficiently skilled to last for sixteen weeks on little more than his wits and ten pounds of rice. And he was fully aware when he entered the bush that he had given himself a perilously slim margin for error. He knew precisely what was at stake” (182). McCandless was an educated youth, who loved nature and dreamed of living in the Alaskan wilderness. Although he ignored to take many necessary things with him on this
As a bass angler with more than 25 years of experience it occurred to me the other day that in 25 years of bass fishing I've most certainly made a ton of mistakes and other people could learn from these mistakes. This way you can avoid these mistakes, thus saving you time and making you a better bass angler. It's my view that nothing will make you a better angler like spending time on the water practicing your craft, and after reading this article the time you spend on the water won't involve these common mistakes that cost anglers time and more importantly bass.
To start with, McCandless was not someone who gave up. Despite others trying to scare him out of continuing with his journey into the Alaskan wilderness, nothing deterred McCandless. He anxiously awaited to experience life off the land. The people McCandless encountered on his way to Alaska often commented on his determination. Jim Gallien, a man who drove McCandless into the Alaska interior, described McCandless as “real gung-ho”. McCandless's attempt to undertake such a risky endeavour is something to admire in itself. To travel two years, mostly on foot, is certainly not an easy task. However, McCandless still persevered through the hardships he faced throughout his journey. McCandles...
In April of 1992 a young man named Chris McCandless made a daring journey into the wilderness of Alaska. Chris left his family and all of his belongings at home and left without anyone knowing. All alone Chris ventured out into the wild with minimal resources and the knowledge to survive. The harsh wilderness caused a very misfortunate end for Chris’s life. If Chris had any sense why would he go out in such a remote area with almost no humans?
Peter. "Chris McCandless from an Alaska Park Ranger's Perspective." Chris McCandless from an Alaska Park Ranger's Perspective. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.
First aid skills and kit is a dire necessity in unfortunate areas prone to accidents and natural calamities. It makes communities aware of the dangers posed to remain prepared for any