Airman Education Programs Topics of Interest
Striving to Survive
By Roger A. Storey
As the popularity of aviation as a career and as a hobby increases, so does the concern for safety. One such concern is survival after a crash. As a Survival Instructor with the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute's Airman Education Division, I am often asked: "What is the most important piece of equipment to have in a survival situation?" The answer is simple:
Me.
In any survival situation, there will be specific priorities. The priorities will include medical first-aid, shelter from the elements, rest, water, and food. The order of importance you place on each of these priorities will be dictated by each situation. For instance, the priorities for a pilot forced into a survival situation in rural Missouri during the month of August will vary from a pilot who has to survive in Northern Michigan during January. One thing is for certain, without a "will to survive," there can be no survival. If you do not have a desire to survive, there is no equipment made that will help you survive.
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