Self Responsibility & Medical Care
The Australian Outback offers spectacular scenery and the chance for great adventure. But it is important to be ready for the rigours of travelling in isolated areas.
Unfortunately, up to a quarter of the emergency medical evacuations that the RFDS carries out each year are the result of city travellers who get into trouble on their Outback adventure
There are few places on earth as vast, beautiful, rugged or unforgiving as the Australian outback. Be prepared and cautious before you set out on your outback adventure.
Exploring on foot
Before you set out anywhere, get local advice about conditions and what you should know about where you intend to go. Advise people of your intended trip, where you will be going, when you'll be leaving, when you think you'll be back, so if you're not back, they can sound the alarm. Remember to:
carry ample food and water
take notice of signs at ALL times
follow the advice of tour guides and rangers
always wear a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a reliable insect repellent
wear good walking shoes and be prepared for extremes of temperature
carry a detailed map, compass, whistle and lighter if it is an emergency
If well planned, your trip should go smoothly and safely, but if you get into difficulty, there are a few key things to remember:
if your car breaks down or you become lost, never leave your vehicle; use it for shade and shelter and remember it is easier to locate a missing vehicle than a missing person in the vast Australian Outback
if you become lost while out walking, sit down and study your maps; determine where you came from and slowly take that route back; if you can't find the way back, move to higher ground
distribute food and water sparingly
if you hear rescuers, signal with three torch flashes and with your whistle
light a small smoky fire with green leaves during the day and a small bright fire with dry materials at night
be prepared to wait
Click here to learn how to prepare a patient for transport, or prepare an airstrip for the Flying Doctor.
Watch for the signs of exposure
heat exposure - an affected person becomes pale, clammy and breathes rapidly and should be sponged with cool water: drink water with a little salt dissolved in it and rest in the shade
exposure to cold – an affected person may become slow, irritable, develop cramps, shiver, stumble and have blurred vision; attempt to find shelter from wind and rain, wrap up as warm as possible, share a sleeping bag and drink warm fluids, take a little salt or a salt tablet