We have to make a decision on our Lap. Plus: Are you prepared for remote emergencies? Ep 47.

[@kymbatten6738]

Hi, Glad Paula is OK. Something that might interest you and others, is in the emergency plus app (and others), you can just use the what 3 words when contacting emergency services. This tells emergency services your exact location without quoting GPS coordinates. I used this last Easter after witnessing a caravan rollover. Note this only works if you internet access. Safe travels and enjoying your commentary

[@nextleveloz]

Hi thank you and Paula is just about back to her full good self! Great point on the just three words. It’s a very simple and good app. Nasty way to have to use it though - but it does reinforce the value of a bit of preparation doesn’t it? There have been a few good suggestions on the comments. If I get a chance I will try to share them. All the best and thanks again. Have a Merry Christmas.

[@jebw]

What three words is a great way to share your location, especially if the communications channel is a bit poor, like over a radio. It certainly reduces the possibility of going down the wrong highway or heading for the wrong landmark.

[@sue-ellenskinner954]

Good info Dave, hoping Paula has made a good recovery. As a paramedic in Darwin - wholeheartedly agree with your thoughts. We have been dispatched to Adelaide River which is down the Stuart highway only to find our patient is at the Adelaide River bridge out the Arnhem highway. It's also important for all parties travelling to be able to pack, hitch and drive- have seen numerous cases where the wife gets stranded while the husband is evacuated out.

[@nextleveloz]

Thanks so much for watching and the feedback. 💯! When our car broke down in NW WA, the roadside assist told us they knew where we were and missed by a whole highway. Wrong road and wrong roadside stop. poor towie came 750km to the wrong place and then had to come an extra 100km to get to the right place - once he contacted us direct and we shared our google map location. Imagine if we didn’t have comms. Great lesson. In that case it wasn’t time critical just a screw around for everybody concerned. Wherever possible we encourage people to send a shared location / screen shot and lat/ long with a lay description. it will be obvious almost immediately if somebody thinks they are despatched to the wrong place. And yes - everybody should be able to hitch and drive although my advice to Paula if she had to drive and if she was in doubt the van in that case is a secondary consideration. We, she some one can always go back and get it if she isn’t already hitched. For emergencies etc the comms, the car and first aid are supreme. One thing I would change is we would carry an AED in future. Thanks again. If i do a follow up i might add in this and a couple of other great suggestions from a few others - all consistent but great reinforcements.

[@peneloperobertson2803]

Just wanted to send you and Paula all the best for a safe and enjoyable trip.

[@nextleveloz]

Thank you so much for the kind thought. We love our trip but it’s fair to say Paula had a rough few weeks. But she’s on the mend now and hopefully it’s a prompt for people to at least have a think about the issue and have some gear and a general plan. Thank you.

[@michaeldallimore8590]

I too would like to know about the natural fly repellant! (that one made me laugh). Totally agree with your approach to just doing a few wineries each day and taking your time to get educated. I always like the stops witin walking distance to a pub but also those pubs that have a courtesy bus. Well done reversing the van into that tight spot. Glad Paula is OK. Useful reminder that things can go wrong.

[@nextleveloz]

Thanks again. Yes Paula is on the mend and we were lucky that we were reasonably close to a regional hospital in that case. But it is a sober reminder that something could just as easily happen when you’re remote and by yourself. So it’s worth investing a bit of time thinking about before something happens. The reverse onto the ferry was fine particularly because there was plenty of room to ensure we were straight and lined up before reversing. They also let you join their coord UHF channel so one of the guys was behind as well to help guide once we got to the tightest bit. But we were also just about the last to get the go ahead to come on, so everybody was watching 😂👍 thanks again.

[@Sansui313]

great info on being prepared for an emergency Dave you presented it very calmly and to the point with great insight about awareness, knowing your surroundings and what's available to you etc. Being a first responder I can't recommend those aps and devices highly enough, I also hope you were able to talk with someone after the event (debrief) to alleviate any thoughts you may or may not have had. Hope Paula and yourself continue with good health for the rest of your wonderful journey.

[@nextleveloz]

Thanks mate and we really appreciate the watch and feedback especially given your background . It was also important not to head into the actual treatment or response area- people need to do their first aid courses etc and get in contact with the respective systems - so we simply wanted to get people to at least think about it, grab the apps, check out those sites, make sure their comms are set up and above all spend some time thinking about it before something happens. I know RFDS for example will tell people where the nearest airstrip is they can land on or telehealth advice to guide people and assure them. In our case we got first rate service from an overstretched regional hospital. But it was brilliant. Paula is on the mend and we got to review our medical plan having had a successful interaction in a not so remote place. TBH most of the youtube content and peoples prep focuses on the rig and recovery not the more critical people health bit. There are 2 bits that i missed. firstly ensure your health insurance is up to date - probably not the most important issue in emergency, but more options for serious illness and secondly we would carry AED. Our issue didn’t need resuscitation but it got us thinking about the common issues.

[@jeetts59]

Sorry to hear paula was not well, hope all is ok. That was a very helpful and comprehensive information on emergency services. Thank you for taking the time

[@nextleveloz]

Thanks for the kind thought and Paula is on the mend. But it did prompt the right that sharing our thoughts on emergency preparations might at least prompt others to think about their own plans. We had thought about it, but to be honest you get so used to being remote and comfortable you do take your eye off the ball. So it reminded us to think about it more often as well - without it being a downer!

[@kevencronk1270]

Glad to hear Paula is ok and on the mend. Great info re emergency contacts and planning. Love your content, looking forward to more

[@nextleveloz]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment and give some feedback. We love it. Paula is on the mend thank you. Stay safe and yes there are a few more to come yet. All the best.

[@diannehavelberg5875]

Kangaroo island was magic when we were there really loved the place hope Paula is back on the mend now take care safe travels

[@nextleveloz]

Next week we share more of the time on Kangaroo Island. It was a last minute option for us. Lucky to get the ticket on the Ferry. Only one of the two ferries were operating and we booked on short notice. Not even the Sealink call centre thought we’d have any luck getting on and off the island i the timeframe as even locals were having trouble. But we jagged spots on both directions that were perfect for our van and car servicing times. Paula is on the mend thankfully. cheers

[@peterbullen3347]

Great emergency advice, I have decided to take a nurse with me on all my trips, I met her 38yrs ago and have been well looked after ever since..

[@nextleveloz]

Well, that’s one way to prepare! 😉 Thanks for watching as always. cheers

[@StephenFogarty2023]

Hi David, Glad Paula is ok. Fantastic advice regarding being prepared for emergencies and illness etc The Adelaide Hills is a beautiful place to visit. I’m yet to get to KI…

[@nextleveloz]

Thanks mate, it wasn’t nice but Paula is now back to her good self. We’ve been lucky this lap - a couple of passing illnesses - and apart from some car issues we’ve not come close to testing the health or emergency system until now. While we know we don’t want to put any false fears or dampeners on our travels, it’s worth people having a bit of a think about it and a rough plan. Thanks for watching and your comments - we love them. All’s the best to you guys Christmas and wishing you a successful 2024.

[@StephenFogarty2023]

@@nextleveloz Thanks David, I will shortly watch the KI video. Best wishes to you, Paula & your family for Christmas and for 2024. Safe travels.. 🎅🏼 🎁 🎅🏼 🎁

[@michaeldallimore8590]

Can I also add that if you have an international satphone as I do or one that cannot call 000 then program in all the RFDS regional numbers if in a remote area. They can give medical advice and direct you to the nearest emergency airstip for evacuation. HF radio (yes old fashioned I know) is another useful way to contact the RFDS. Thanks again, great information here. (Did you mention doing a comprehensive first aid course before setting off?)

[@nextleveloz]

Great point. How many people carry HF now though? It’s the one reason why, if you can radio or call a station it would be worthwhile. I reckon people get torn between not wanting to initiate emergency unecessarily for minor things but forget some of the systems are there to help triage. And maybe there is a fear of pressing that SOS button on the PLB. With sat wifi like starlink now, within 15 minutes in most places you can be taking directly to one of the services. But reminding people to have the phone numbers pre programmed - great tip!

[@Wilbargosh]

I bought a Telstra Sat phone in Brisbane from a Telstra shop. It worked in town with testing and setup. When I went remote it would not work. Telstra gave me a replacement sim card. Still would not work. Turns out they were not providing me with the required Iridium network sim. I finally got the correct sim and had the phone on standby, but the number has now been issued to a different user. Lesson being, don’t rely on a Sat phone in emergencies as it may not work! You need multi coms and risk mitigations….. Even Starlink can be switched off by Elon Musk when he feels like it…..oh to be a carefree female hippy, solo backpacking through Africa!

[@nextleveloz]

Thanks for watching and the share. Poor form to sell a sat phone without access to the satellite network, but it is a good example of why thinking about all the options before something happens is important. cheers

[@grahameroberts8109]

Good guess on my part last episode, that you would be visiting KI. 👍🏻🙏🦘

[@nextleveloz]

Yes it was 👍. I might add we are such bad content creators. We can’t do the whole click bait and keep them guessing stuff for too long 🤣Thanks for watching, it’s much appreciated. Next episode is more of KI which is such a terrific place - but the question we have to ask is whether it’s worth the cost to take the rig across. All the best