Hi, all (or Mrs. K and my family occasionally)! I've kind of been slacking during my leisure reading time, but I aim to change my direction slightly. I have decided to finish all the series of books before I start a different one. The first trilogy on my list to finish is The Hunger Games, followed by Harry Potter, and then The Lord of the Rings. I might take a break on some of them by throwing in a short book in my stack, but I will try to keep on track as much as I possibly can. I cannot wait until Summer! - there's just so much more time to read. But I also aim to accomplish the 50 (or was it 100?) books to read before you die. Shi has a bookmark, and I've asked her to write down the books listed on it - I'll post them later. Another goal I have decided is to own a small library's worth of books when I am old. :) It is one of my many green lights! Well, a-ta for now - I better get started on my list!
To see a growing list of the books I've read/am reading/ will read, check out my profile on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5038233
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
The High Seas Survival Guide
“For a month we’d neither wittles nor drink, / Till a-hungry we did feel, / So we drawed a lot, and accordin’ shot / The captain for our meal” (116) is a song about under what circumstances Kenneth Kamler, M.D. in Surviving the Extremes describes to survive while being trapped at high seas. As South Dakotans, it’s not quite plausible that we will need to worry about being surrounded by water and quite how to survive under such conditions. Surviving the Extremes is a guide made to teach how to endure extreme circumstances our body can go through.
The first thing to consider if ever trapped in the sea is to prepare as much as possible before ending up stranded in the middle of the ocean. The main way to prepare for this is to make sure to attack supplies to the safety raft (89) or they will be lost instantly in the large abyss we call the ocean! Also be sure to maintain the raft (94-5), by paying attention to air pressure on the walls of the raft, and keeping supplies in safe places as well to stay alive.
Someone suddenly thrust into the sea might find it difficult to keep from panicking; however, this is the worst possible thing anyone could do. The first objective one should have is to avoid swallowing water and drowning (86). Confusion and fear are typically the first reactions that come with drowning, but “fear automatically stimulates the production of energy” (86). So sort out the brain’s confusion to maintain higher reasoning centers in the brain so, while almost drowning, the brain is able to make correct decisions that could save lives.
The first thing to consider if ever trapped in the sea is to prepare as much as possible before ending up stranded in the middle of the ocean. The main way to prepare for this is to make sure to attack supplies to the safety raft (89) or they will be lost instantly in the large abyss we call the ocean! Also be sure to maintain the raft (94-5), by paying attention to air pressure on the walls of the raft, and keeping supplies in safe places as well to stay alive.
Someone suddenly thrust into the sea might find it difficult to keep from panicking; however, this is the worst possible thing anyone could do. The first objective one should have is to avoid swallowing water and drowning (86). Confusion and fear are typically the first reactions that come with drowning, but “fear automatically stimulates the production of energy” (86). So sort out the brain’s confusion to maintain higher reasoning centers in the brain so, while almost drowning, the brain is able to make correct decisions that could save lives.
There are often certain mental problems that may come along with being stranded at sea. One man had been lost at sea for 43 days when he saw a (rather good-looking) woman come up alongside him and offer him an icy, cold beverage – only to be teased! The man knew it was a hallucination and did his best to resist the woman. It may also be vital to life to separate the body’s responses to certain stimuli, such as “separating” oneself into a physical, emotional, and rational being, using the “rational you” to make decisions.
Here’s an interesting fact: starving people indeed smell like nail polish remover! This is because when fat burns, it leaves behind a residue excreted in urine and exhaled in breath similar to acetone, a common/main ingredient in nail polish remover. It is imperative that one stranded in the ocean knows how to fish, considering the ocean is swimming (ha-ha, get it?) with food! It’s not as easy as it looks, though, because light is deceiving when fishing and correct usage of fishing gear must be used. And, although morbid, resulting to cannibalism is often necessary for survival (as portrayed in the poem above). Unlike seafood, humans contain carbohydrates that are also essential for survival, and at time this seemingly can be the only option. However, there is always fish, and if patient enough, it will be caught!
It may seem ironic to some that, although surrounded by water, DEATH will occur if it is drunk! Maintaining 1 percent salt concentration in the blood is a high priority, so if the body can’t take water from outside, it will from cells as blood passes by (109). However, after drinking water for about a week, salt accumulation will overwhelm the kidneys and they will shut down. This time unconscious when kidneys shutdown could be time needed to possibly see a nearby ship or fish to catch for survival!
Although all this information is vitally important to survive at the sea, the main thing to remember is that there will be no surviving without the will to survive.
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