Disaster management and jungle survival course for high school

(Part II)

From December to March we pack off our intermediate gradeschool students to go camping at the Preziosa Botanic Park and Farm at Sulsugin, Alfonso Cavite bordering the Tagaytay highlands. Six reserved military officers engage them to be self sustainable in overnight camping with their classroom teacher advisers. For the high school, bivouac experience is provided by Scout Rangers who engage them in disaster management.

‘Disaster Survival’ for parents and children 

“Disaster Survival,” an easy to read and practical book by Lt. Col. Dennis  Eclarin should be a required book for high school and the whole family.  Just think, every year an average of 20 typhoons pass through the Philippine area of responsibility. Count the occasional volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides and floods and you have a full calendar of natural and man-made disasters, especially during the rainy season from June to November. Normal as they are, these deadly calamities still claim lives and properties. Be acquainted with the history of earthquakes, flooding, landslides and other calamities in your area. You must know if your home and community are flood or landslide-prone.

To prepare for an evacuation, have your SURVIVAL KIT always ready. The following are top priorities: 1) printed phone numbers of family members and other loved ones, 2) cash and ATM cards, in case bank will be closed and ATMs non-functional, 3) identification cards, 4) documents and passports, 5) external drives and USBs, 6) make sure jewelry pieces are stashed in a bag that you can quickly carry during emergency, 7) records and certificates, 8) medicines for common illnesses like fever, diarrhea, coughs and colds, etc., 9) first aid kit, 10) hooded jackets and blankets to protect you from the rain and cold, 11) extra clothes, 12) water, 13) Carry as much non-perishable canned food as possible. Cookies, chocolate bars and candies can help maintain sugar levels in your body, 14) batteries and flashlights, 15) battery-powered radio.

Stock up on survival items inside your car trunk. A full trunk can last for a week. Have your flashlights, tents, food and other supplies inside your car. Make sure your battery works and ignition system is perfect. You cannot afford a major car malfunction in an emergency. Park your car away from power lines and trees.

MOVE OUT FAST. You do not want to be caught unaware when disaster strikes. A flash flood victim told Gino Tagasa, a rescue volunteer that his house, which is made of light materials was washed away by fast-moving waters. Two of the victim’s siblings were carried away by a powerful current while another was unable to leave the room. He survived, but his siblings did not as they were not able to pry their doors open. It is important to leave as soon as one senses danger.

Among the human-induced disasters, fire is one of the most destructive. Many of the fires that happen are caused entirely by human fault or negligence. While we must be alert at preventing fires, we must prepare all measures to control smoke in case of fire. The leading cause of death during a fire by a three-to-one ratio over burns, is asphyxiation. When one inhales the smoke from fire, choking occurs. This causes death. One of the most common causes of fire is faulty electrical wiring. In an effort to save money, some families resort to hiring the services of unlicensed electricians. Hire a licensed electrician and buy safe wiring for your home.

Father and son ‘Jungle Survival’ camp-out 

In the introduction of the illustrated book “Philippine Jungle Survival” Lt. Col. Dennis Eclarin stated, “A jungle survival situation where you are alone to tackle the discomfort, fear and loneliness, can be one of the most extreme human experiences possible.” This may include trapping animals and preparing them for cooking, keeping safe in the darkness from aggressive animals. In these times, you will have to spread yourself thin and make do with what is around you.

FINDING WATER. In the jungle, when you are left to fend for yourself, your most important and immediate concern is finding water. Jungles are overflowing with fresh mountain springs. The water in these forests is fresh and sweet. These springs flow out of tiny recesses on the ground and along the ground between mountains. One of the best indicators that there is water in your survival area is if there are birds and other wildlife. At noon and afternoon they go to their favorite drinking points. A spring may be waiting for you there.

JUNGLE COOKING. You must be prepared for any eventuality in life. As in survival situations, it is not always enough that you know how to survive in the mountains and forests. The Philippines is exceedingly rich in marine resources. Many of the species that you can have for food are in rivers and lakes like cavalla (talakitok) and salmon catfish (kanduli) can be caught in fresh water and saltwater. But in most survival situations, you will not have a hook and a string. Do not despair. Nature has the answer. For the metal hook, you can substitute the thorns of bamboo or even rattan. For your cord, you can use abaca fiber. 

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING AND RIVER CROSSING. When climbing mountains, the whole idea is not to tire yourself too much. That means you must avoid going directly uphill if you can. Plan a zigzag approach, which would not be as steep. As you climb, make sure to maintain a steady, almost rhythmic pace. Shorten your steps, bend your knees, and drink regularly. Conserve your water, as there might not be water on top of the mountain. The best way to cross a shallow river is to use a bamboo pole as your guide. Noisy rivers are shallow, and the quiet ones are deep. Stones on the river can be slippery and if you fall, you might injure yourself, or worse, allow the current to take you downstream. As you cross, do not assume that all parts of the river are shallow. There can be portions that are deeper than the rest.

Scout Rangers, the efficient jungle survival trainors

During the battle of Abubakar, Capt. Dennis Eclarin spent his nights eating and drinking with his Scout Ranger comrades while they recounted their stories. By 3 a.m, he wrote them down as the manuscript of the Scout Ranger books. Today, he heads the organization of retired Scout Rangers. Of them he says, “I fully support retired Scout Rangers teaching jungle survival training. They are trained to be jungle fighters. Most have adolescent children, so they know how to teach and nurture. This will be good for our camp-out for either junior or senior high school as well as father/son partnership.”