Funny Outfits & YouTube Videos; The Rise of The Self-Proclaimed Survival Expert

There’s no doubt about it: survival skills and preparedness are big right now, and that means people want to cash in. More and more we see individuals and corporations alike with little to no emergency training, who are much more focused on the “cashing in” aspect than the survival one. Be they seeking fame or fortune, there is a massive rise in those claiming to be qualified to train others in wilderness survival tactics and techniques.

What you may not know is: there is no certifying body for wilderness survival skills. There is no “standard curriculum” for survival techniques and most “schools” have their own approach. This is just part of what separates wilderness survival from EVERY other form of emergency rescue training; from simple first aid, to swift water rescue, to ropes rescue… you name it; there is a certifying body and a recognized standard of training in the field. It is simply not so in wilderness survival, and there is no shortage of individuals who have never been in a life and death situation that have no problems telling you how to react in one.

In other words: I can name no other field of emergency training, or training in any dangerous task really, where the instructor’s experience is purely hypothetical. When I learned how to rappel out of firefighting helicopters as a “helitack” firefighter, the instructor who taught me had earned his title through not only performing countless helicopter rappels, but performing them before an individual “certifier” who watched his every move. Only then were the lives of young firefighters put in his hands, where he was to teach them the highly dangerous art of rappelling up to 200’ out of a hovering helicopter (very often in gusty winds) onto open and hazardous terrain.

This leaves it up to you. You will have to research and use your own discernment in choosing who to trust your life to and train with. It can be a very daunting task to those new to this field, so I’ve compiled a small list with some “common sense criteria” to assist you in the selection process. If you’re looking for real emergency training, not a “survival themed vacation” then you may want to consider these factors:

If you're looking for a survival instructor consider:

 It can be impossible to know how you will react in an emergency if you’ve never been in one. This is why training in real emergency skills includes systems and checklists for proceeding with action: the more you have been trained in coping mechanisms, in the common mental and physical stressors faced in said emergency, the more likely you are to react quickly, instinctively, and appropriately… in other words- you’re less likely to freak out and do the wrong thing out of panic/fear. These systems and checklists for taking action (i.e. rapid risk assessments) are essential for taking quick and appropriate action in a disaster, and must be included in your training. It is easy to get search and rescue experience. Most local teams are volunteer and will provide free training in tracking, ropes rescue, river rescue, and more. A "survival expert" should be aware of this. Does your instructor have actual training or experience in outdoor emergencies? Have they ever worked in a field where performance could mean life or death(fire, rescue, police, military, hazmat, etc), or have they simply "worked" in the outdoors?

*Field Experience. If you've never gone out and lived off the land with little to no gear how can you teach anyone else too? Exposure is the #1 killer in wilderness survival. Have they spent time practicing their craft in extreme conditions? Enough time to develop systems and methods for coping?

*Field Training. A survival course at a campground or park is absolutely NOTHING like a real field course. You may make the bow and drill fire quickly and easily in mid-summer, with the optimal materials the instructor dutifully harvested from several locations, in low humidity, on a full belly... now try to make one while you’re hungry and on the edge of hypothermia out of whatever is around you... see what we're getting at? If your instructor/school doesn't offer field training then they don't offer training.

*Reputation. Who do they attract? Is it mostly locals who signed up for the “groupon discount”, or families looking for a novel vacation? Or is it frequented by; outdoor professionals, guides, members of the military, and/or world travelers as well? In other words, where do the people whose lives may very well be on the line go for their training?

*Presentation. This one really gets me. I could care less how you like to dress, but when I see guys that are basically wearing costumes- clothing you would never see someone hiking the backcountry in- I know they are more about ego than info. They are every bit as much about cultivating an image/personality as they are about transmitting information. Does the instructor present themselves as an outdoor professional or outdoor personality? Do they don appropriate outdoor clothing for the day's purpose, or do they dress in a "survival" costume?

*Approach. Do they advertise survival "vacations”, “rites of passage”, and courses that will “get you back in touch with the earth” or do they offer “life-safety” training. Should disaster occur, you survival will not be a game. Take your training seriously and train with others who do as well.

About the author:

Thomas Coyne is the President and Chief Instructor at Survival Training School of California. He has worked in the outdoors, in all four seasons and weather conditions, his entire life. From 2001-2008 Thomas served as a highly specialized wildland firefighter and professional rescuer for such organizations as; The U.S. Forest Service, Cal Fire(CDF), and Kern County Fire Department. During his career Thomas has not only responded to, but been among the first on scene of some of the nation's most historically devastating fires (California Firestorms). Thomas often served in leadership and other highly critical positions on his fire crews. and has been trained in: Training & Qualifications: helicopter hoist rescue, confined space rescue, ropes rescue, swift water rescue, HAZMAT, and more. Thomas has also served as:  a fire squad leader(squad boss), helicopter rappeller, Crew Emergency Medical Technician, and as a member of the rescue team for the first civilian space shuttle launch (2004 X-Prize launch)