Summary: /* When to Swim for It */
[[Image:LifeRafts.jpg|630px|thumb|left|Keep hope afloat as you navigate the treacherous big blue. Photo by daves_portfolio/[http://www.flickr.com/photos/daves_portfolio/4809485160/ flickr]/CC]]
On April 19, [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2F2012%2F04%2F19%2F150897139%2Fcruise-ship-didnt-aid-drifting-boat-passengers-say&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFm_k854snMpmFU5SnV3pl11jklJA National Pubic Radio ran a story] about a cruise ship that may have ignored reports that fishermen were stranded in a small vessel only a mile away. The lone survivor of the vessel, 18-year-old Adrian Vasquez, was rescued weeks later. He said that two friends who were stranded with him died from exposure and dehydration in the days after the [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.princess.com%2Flearn%2Fships%2Ftp%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGfAIC990GPtSee6dc-YTMY4Ew7cg Star Princess] sailed past them.
Though Vasquez and his friends surely did everything they could to survive, here are a few tips that could help you stay alive if you ever find yourself adrift at sea.
''This how-to was written by Matt Bushlow, who spends his days promoting a children's literacy nonprofit in Vermont, and his evenings writing about musicians and technology for various media outlets.''
==Prepare Yourself Before You Leave Shore==
Before you don a tux and start chanting [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DavaSdC0QOUM “I’m on a boat!”], pause for a moment. Are you prepared to jump ship if things go south? It’s probably the last thing on your mind. But if you own the vessel, you owe it to yourself and your passengers to make sure you have the best dinghy or life raft you can afford and a kick-ass [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fproducts%2Fcatalog%3Fq%3Dditch%2Bbag%26oe%3Dutf-8%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26um%3D1%26ie%3DUTF-8%26tbm%3Dshop%26cid%3D2842255163091393000%26sa%3DX%26ei%3Dy6WhT-XgGqqy6QGFjbj5CA%26ved%3D0CE0Q8wIwAQ ditch bag].
And really, unless you have the cabbage to buy a brilliantly designed [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.winslowliferaft.com%2Fraft_category_1.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFRTYRIZbtzNL8FmkSaRlnCNrLU6A Winslow Ocean Resuce life raft], use this list to pack that ditch bag:
*'''A 406 Mhz [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FDistress_radiobeacon&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEkvOFY0mQ4B0WGzOgzVcTldVthTg EPIRB]''' - When activated manually or immersed in water, these beacons can send out a digital distress message encoded with the user’s identity and GPS location. Can you say “Search and Rescue on the way?”
*'''A flare gun''' - Shoot this guy into the air and the captain of that passing cruise ship won’t think you’re just out fishing.
*'''A short spear gun''' - [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSteven_Callahan&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEJGOpdetPV9heRDzX6aw0gRof5Zg Steven Callahan survived for 76 days] on the open ocean. Like [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPoon_Lim&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEz_EwLa07FhKrlPF8nItbDvrS5eQ other survivors], his ability to catch fish was vital to his survival.
*'''A Leatherman super tool''' - How else are you going to fashion a fish hook out of a piece of metal wire or slice up that bumper crop of flying fish to dry in the sun?
*'''A [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.landfallnavigation.com%2Fmemss.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGkoKDfq7Jum4lKsRlkKSTogvzfDQ solar still] to purify sea water''' - This could be the greatest invention that landlubbers know nothing about. Models like [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.landfallnavigation.com%2Fmemss.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGkoKDfq7Jum4lKsRlkKSTogvzfDQ the Aquamate] weigh just a pound and produce more than a pint of fresh water each day.
*'''Strong, thin rope''' - Whether you need to dive for fish or tie yourself to your raft during a storm, you don’t want to get separated from what’s keeping you afloat. You can also use rope to hang those extra fish to dry in the relentless sun.
*'''Clothing, a life vest, a tarp''' - You’ll have to keep the sun off your skin to stay hydrated and fight off heatstroke. Plus, you can use clothing, the canvas jacket holding the vest, or a tarp to capture rainwater and funnel it into a container.
*'''A [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aquaflex.net%2Faquatank%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEwnuqQEZzE7sL68dTB8Y9mfCqe6Q flexible container]''' - The capture and storage of fresh water will be the most important part of your survival. You don’t want to be caught in the most blessed rainstorm of your life without anywhere to store all that fresh water.
*'''To that point: Condoms''' - No, really. They take up very little space, and after you rinse them out, they can hold a large volume of fresh water.
*'''Fishing hooks or wire and fishing line''' - You will have to fish to survive. Unless you pack some hooks and line, you’ll find yourself improvising some with that Leatherman — and cursing your lack of forethought.
==When to Swim for It==
So the shit has hit the fan. You’re frantically searching the horizon to see how far you are from dry land. You see a speck out there. Your heart leaps. Should you swim for it?
Hmm, how far is it? You can use this handy equation from [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fscience.howstuffworks.com%2Fquestion198.htm&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHlDbqq7bu0g3Y3dWdW90ztlUuPaw HowStuffWorks.com]:
''SquareRoot(height above surface / 0.5736) = distance to horizon.''
If you’re slumped against the side of your life raft and your eyes are about two feet above the water, the horizon line is almost two miles away.
According to Laura Hamel of [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usms.org%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFCpsGRHGUWFhzKeA3PDpFlmjFXtg U.S. Masters Swimming], the average person with basic swimming skills can swim a few miles, as long as conditions are optimal and panic does not set in. That means water at around 75 degrees, calm waters, favorable currents, benign sea creatures, a visible point of focus, and a strong will to live. Good luck with that.
But [http://openwaterpedia.com/index.php?title=Steven_Munatones Steven Munatones], a former head coach of the USA Swimming National Open Water Team and an expert on open water swimming, has said that only 2.3% of Americans could swim more than 500 meters non-stop in unfavorable conditions.
Munatones has observed that many survivors of shipwrecks died with dry land less than 1000 meters away. But if you decide to go for it, Hamel and Munatones agree that you should keep calm and do the breaststroke while taking off your clothes — they’ll just slow you down.
==If You're Already Too Far From Land==
You’re stranded. In the middle of the ocean. Screwed. When adrift at sea with little food or water, you have two priorities: Fresh water and food.
===The quest for fresh water===
If you’ve packed your solar still, get that thing working. It should produce at least a pint per day. That will help keep you alive.
If you forgot your still, but have clothing, a tarp, a sail, or anything else that can help capture water in case of rain, figure out how you’re going to do the capturing — and the storing — while you’re waiting for a benevolent storm. You’ll want to create the most surface area possible and somehow funnel water into a container, if you have one. (You packed that ditch bag, right?)
If you only have clothes, take them off and rinse them in the ocean before you capture any water. Salt will build up on on your clothes the longer you’re at sea. While sea water is salty, it won’t contaminate your water as badly as what has built up through sweat and exposure to ocean water.
===Time to hunt===
The most famous survivors of the open ocean, including [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPoon_Lim&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEz_EwLa07FhKrlPF8nItbDvrS5eQ Poon Kim], who survived for 133 days, used ingenious methods to catch fish, sea turtles, birds, barnacles, and even sharks. If you didn’t bring any hooks or line, you’ll have to improvise some out of whatever you have at hand: wire, threads from rope, safety pins, etc. It’s also possible to catch fish or birds by hand or tie yourself to your vessel and dive for your food.
Once you score a catch, try to drink whatever water you can get out of them. Bones of large fish can be broken open and will contain some liquid. The eyes of fish also contain water. Drink that before you hit the sashimi. Protein requires a lot of water to digest.
==Stay Hydrated and Prevent Heatstroke==
The average person can only [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.livestrong.com%2Farticle%2F494958-how-long-can-the-average-human-go-without-water%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNH3FUnMoIraQq2zibgDe5WujC4Nlg survive for about a week without water]. So do your best to retain as much of it as you can.
Keep the direct sun off of you to help prevent dehydration. Drink small amounts of fresh water, if you have it, of course. If you haven’t drank water for a few days, [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brighthub.com%2Fengineering%2Fmarine%2Farticles%2F24753.aspx&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGFjhX8Qd_hqR7akOUSJpX4DpIqYg some experts claim it’s possible to stay alive on small amounts of seawater].
According to the Mayo Clinic, heatstroke can cause [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mayoclinic.com%2Fhealth%2Fheat-stroke%2FDS01025%2FDSECTION%3Dsymptoms&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFp26EWd6x_cjVZw2fSusShznLtLw disorientation, nausea, and unconsciousness]. Create shade if you can, or at least cover your head and neck. Wet your clothes with water to help prevent sunburn, and to keep you cool. Both will help you stay hydrated, too, even though salt can rob your skin of moisture. Hey, there are a lot of compromises on the high seas.
==The Last Resort: Cannibalism==
So you’ve had no luck hunting fish. You’ve been adrift for weeks. Your friend just keeled over. You’re literally starving. You’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. After weeks at sea with no food or water, Gregorio Maria Marizan, who was [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbclosangeles.com%2Fnews%2Farchive%2FMigrants_Adrift_at_Sea_Turn_to_Cannibalism_to_Survive.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNErh40D5-s65-y76CwsrkNHTDhcMg stranded on a boat with several other people], finally resorted to cutting the human flesh of a recently deceased man into “little pills” and swallowing them. It happened only a day before he was rescued. In his words, it tasted “just like beef.”
[[Category:Survival]]
[[Category:Water Sports]]
On April 19, [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2F2012%2F04%2F19%2F150897139%2Fcruise-ship-didnt-aid-drifting-boat-passengers-say&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFm_k854snMpmFU5SnV3pl11jklJA National Pubic Radio ran a story] about a cruise ship that may have ignored reports that fishermen were stranded in a small vessel only a mile away. The lone survivor of the vessel, 18-year-old Adrian Vasquez, was rescued weeks later. He said that two friends who were stranded with him died from exposure and dehydration in the days after the [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.princess.com%2Flearn%2Fships%2Ftp%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGfAIC990GPtSee6dc-YTMY4Ew7cg Star Princess] sailed past them.
Though Vasquez and his friends surely did everything they could to survive, here are a few tips that could help you stay alive if you ever find yourself adrift at sea.
''This how-to was written by Matt Bushlow, who spends his days promoting a children's literacy nonprofit in Vermont, and his evenings writing about musicians and technology for various media outlets.''
==Prepare Yourself Before You Leave Shore==
Before you don a tux and start chanting [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DavaSdC0QOUM “I’m on a boat!”], pause for a moment. Are you prepared to jump ship if things go south? It’s probably the last thing on your mind. But if you own the vessel, you owe it to yourself and your passengers to make sure you have the best dinghy or life raft you can afford and a kick-ass [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fproducts%2Fcatalog%3Fq%3Dditch%2Bbag%26oe%3Dutf-8%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26um%3D1%26ie%3DUTF-8%26tbm%3Dshop%26cid%3D2842255163091393000%26sa%3DX%26ei%3Dy6WhT-XgGqqy6QGFjbj5CA%26ved%3D0CE0Q8wIwAQ ditch bag].
And really, unless you have the cabbage to buy a brilliantly designed [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.winslowliferaft.com%2Fraft_category_1.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFRTYRIZbtzNL8FmkSaRlnCNrLU6A Winslow Ocean Resuce life raft], use this list to pack that ditch bag:
*'''A 406 Mhz [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FDistress_radiobeacon&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEkvOFY0mQ4B0WGzOgzVcTldVthTg EPIRB]''' - When activated manually or immersed in water, these beacons can send out a digital distress message encoded with the user’s identity and GPS location. Can you say “Search and Rescue on the way?”
*'''A flare gun''' - Shoot this guy into the air and the captain of that passing cruise ship won’t think you’re just out fishing.
*'''A short spear gun''' - [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSteven_Callahan&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEJGOpdetPV9heRDzX6aw0gRof5Zg Steven Callahan survived for 76 days] on the open ocean. Like [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPoon_Lim&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEz_EwLa07FhKrlPF8nItbDvrS5eQ other survivors], his ability to catch fish was vital to his survival.
*'''A Leatherman super tool''' - How else are you going to fashion a fish hook out of a piece of metal wire or slice up that bumper crop of flying fish to dry in the sun?
*'''A [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.landfallnavigation.com%2Fmemss.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGkoKDfq7Jum4lKsRlkKSTogvzfDQ solar still] to purify sea water''' - This could be the greatest invention that landlubbers know nothing about. Models like [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.landfallnavigation.com%2Fmemss.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGkoKDfq7Jum4lKsRlkKSTogvzfDQ the Aquamate] weigh just a pound and produce more than a pint of fresh water each day.
*'''Strong, thin rope''' - Whether you need to dive for fish or tie yourself to your raft during a storm, you don’t want to get separated from what’s keeping you afloat. You can also use rope to hang those extra fish to dry in the relentless sun.
*'''Clothing, a life vest, a tarp''' - You’ll have to keep the sun off your skin to stay hydrated and fight off heatstroke. Plus, you can use clothing, the canvas jacket holding the vest, or a tarp to capture rainwater and funnel it into a container.
*'''A [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aquaflex.net%2Faquatank%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEwnuqQEZzE7sL68dTB8Y9mfCqe6Q flexible container]''' - The capture and storage of fresh water will be the most important part of your survival. You don’t want to be caught in the most blessed rainstorm of your life without anywhere to store all that fresh water.
*'''To that point: Condoms''' - No, really. They take up very little space, and after you rinse them out, they can hold a large volume of fresh water.
*'''Fishing hooks or wire and fishing line''' - You will have to fish to survive. Unless you pack some hooks and line, you’ll find yourself improvising some with that Leatherman — and cursing your lack of forethought.
==When to Swim for It==
So the shit has hit the fan. You’re frantically searching the horizon to see how far you are from dry land. You see a speck out there. Your heart leaps. Should you swim for it?
Hmm, how far is it? You can use this handy equation from [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fscience.howstuffworks.com%2Fquestion198.htm&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHlDbqq7bu0g3Y3dWdW90ztlUuPaw HowStuffWorks.com]:
''SquareRoot(height above surface / 0.5736) = distance to horizon.''
If you’re slumped against the side of your life raft and your eyes are about two feet above the water, the horizon line is almost two miles away.
According to Laura Hamel of [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usms.org%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFCpsGRHGUWFhzKeA3PDpFlmjFXtg U.S. Masters Swimming], the average person with basic swimming skills can swim a few miles, as long as conditions are optimal and panic does not set in. That means water at around 75 degrees, calm waters, favorable currents, benign sea creatures, a visible point of focus, and a strong will to live. Good luck with that.
But [http://openwaterpedia.com/index.php?title=Steven_Munatones Steven Munatones], a former head coach of the USA Swimming National Open Water Team and an expert on open water swimming, has said that only 2.3% of Americans could swim more than 500 meters non-stop in unfavorable conditions.
Munatones has observed that many survivors of shipwrecks died with dry land less than 1000 meters away. But if you decide to go for it, Hamel and Munatones agree that you should keep calm and do the breaststroke while taking off your clothes — they’ll just slow you down.
==If You're Already Too Far From Land==
You’re stranded. In the middle of the ocean. Screwed. When adrift at sea with little food or water, you have two priorities: Fresh water and food.
===The quest for fresh water===
If you’ve packed your solar still, get that thing working. It should produce at least a pint per day. That will help keep you alive.
If you forgot your still, but have clothing, a tarp, a sail, or anything else that can help capture water in case of rain, figure out how you’re going to do the capturing — and the storing — while you’re waiting for a benevolent storm. You’ll want to create the most surface area possible and somehow funnel water into a container, if you have one. (You packed that ditch bag, right?)
If you only have clothes, take them off and rinse them in the ocean before you capture any water. Salt will build up on on your clothes the longer you’re at sea. While sea water is salty, it won’t contaminate your water as badly as what has built up through sweat and exposure to ocean water.
===Time to hunt===
The most famous survivors of the open ocean, including [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPoon_Lim&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEz_EwLa07FhKrlPF8nItbDvrS5eQ Poon Kim], who survived for 133 days, used ingenious methods to catch fish, sea turtles, birds, barnacles, and even sharks. If you didn’t bring any hooks or line, you’ll have to improvise some out of whatever you have at hand: wire, threads from rope, safety pins, etc. It’s also possible to catch fish or birds by hand or tie yourself to your vessel and dive for your food.
Once you score a catch, try to drink whatever water you can get out of them. Bones of large fish can be broken open and will contain some liquid. The eyes of fish also contain water. Drink that before you hit the sashimi. Protein requires a lot of water to digest.
==Stay Hydrated and Prevent Heatstroke==
The average person can only [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.livestrong.com%2Farticle%2F494958-how-long-can-the-average-human-go-without-water%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNH3FUnMoIraQq2zibgDe5WujC4Nlg survive for about a week without water]. So do your best to retain as much of it as you can.
Keep the direct sun off of you to help prevent dehydration. Drink small amounts of fresh water, if you have it, of course. If you haven’t drank water for a few days, [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brighthub.com%2Fengineering%2Fmarine%2Farticles%2F24753.aspx&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGFjhX8Qd_hqR7akOUSJpX4DpIqYg some experts claim it’s possible to stay alive on small amounts of seawater].
According to the Mayo Clinic, heatstroke can cause [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mayoclinic.com%2Fhealth%2Fheat-stroke%2FDS01025%2FDSECTION%3Dsymptoms&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFp26EWd6x_cjVZw2fSusShznLtLw disorientation, nausea, and unconsciousness]. Create shade if you can, or at least cover your head and neck. Wet your clothes with water to help prevent sunburn, and to keep you cool. Both will help you stay hydrated, too, even though salt can rob your skin of moisture. Hey, there are a lot of compromises on the high seas.
==The Last Resort: Cannibalism==
So you’ve had no luck hunting fish. You’ve been adrift for weeks. Your friend just keeled over. You’re literally starving. You’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. After weeks at sea with no food or water, Gregorio Maria Marizan, who was [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbclosangeles.com%2Fnews%2Farchive%2FMigrants_Adrift_at_Sea_Turn_to_Cannibalism_to_Survive.html&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNErh40D5-s65-y76CwsrkNHTDhcMg stranded on a boat with several other people], finally resorted to cutting the human flesh of a recently deceased man into “little pills” and swallowing them. It happened only a day before he was rescued. In his words, it tasted “just like beef.”
[[Category:Survival]]
[[Category:Water Sports]]
Source: http://feeds.wired.com/~r/howtowiki/~3/P6sVFbJ18oY/Survive_if_You%27re_Floating_Adrift_at_Sea
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