I been watching a bunch of videos and reading some news related to survival stories and been wondering if there really is any way to reach out to a majority of the people out there about the basics of survival. After the major influx of interest by the public in survival (or so the media would have you believe) after y2k and with the new advent of 2012 theories it seems like still people have no idea about the simple basics. Survival shows aired in my area are mainly les stroud survivorman and bear grylls and neither of these address the common situations such as a broken down vehicle or stuck vehicle.

Would some form of PSA even be taken seriously by The general public? Or would it be considered "survivalist and not for me"?

The basics Im thinking about are pretty simple. Leave expected arrival time with someone and map of route you will be taking, Add enough Water and precooked food to last a week at one basic meal a day for each person, Check your vehicle for issues, make sure to have a jack jumper cables and tow cable, proper clothing for the climates you will expect to experience during the drive, so on so forth and the most important do not leave your vehicle and attempt self rescue OR split up.


Any ideas suggestions other basics?

I think it is a good idea. The problem is anything currently done by the Federal or national agencies are all pretty "soft-touch" in their approach. There is not much of an edge to them. Also, any of the websites they direct people to are typically cumbersome and non-engaging or uninspiring.

To your point about the public's perception: the production quality is the key factor in this. If the ads were really slick and professionally done, and let us not forget relevant, then there is a chance some folks would jump on the wagon.

My $.02

Agreed The current prep videos found on most Government state or city based websites are appalling. They feature robotic acting Incoherent scripts of unhumanlike speaking an almost 40s PSA style and worst of all bad and lacking advice information and such.

Packing 100 pounds of crap into a giant bin so you can "take it with you" if you have to leave is just flat out stupid advice. Two bottles of water and a can of spagettios for your entire family for a week is just stupid. And the number 3 that the media loves to harp on is getting on my nerves. Not to mention the complete lack of Advice instructions and tips for any situation outside of a natural or Human based disaster.

Enligthen me, please... what is "PSA"???

Even if they go out and buy the equipment they still need to have some skills. For instance in the town I live in there are two outdoor stores (soon to be three when REI comes in) that sell Doug’s original pocket kit. But just the folks walking in the door of those stores-- probably have a better idea of for instance how to get a sustaining fire going from a spark and tinder than the average joe. Doug’s kit does have darn good printed instructions with the kit.

So they either need knowledge and practice or well written instructions with the kits no matter what the size of the kit and how the kits supplement each other. Then they will also have to maintain the supplies and equipment. I’m sure too many go out and buy a flashlight and toss it in the trunk only to find it not working with leaking batteries a year or so later.

Next they need adequate clothing and footwear kits for the environment they are in or traveling and in cold climates that does get fairly expensive.

PSA= public service announcement; basically a commercial that is aired for free.

PSA= Public Service Announcement

The muppets and humans cast of Sesame Street have made several "urban" preparedness videos and show them quite often.

Sesame St. Gets Ready!

They cover making a BOB, supplies you should have at home, and even one about the flu. The idea of expanding the video line to include car kits and other common emergencies is a good one.

-Blast

Edit: I was just looking through the Sesame St. page, they've added several new videos since I last checked including hurricane kits and what to do if a parent is deployed.

I remember seeing a few ads for Ready.gov. IIRC, they didn't really say much other than to visit the website. It was still a welcome change from most ads though.

IMO, so few people die or are even injured in these scenarios that it make zero fiscal sense to spend public money on an education campaign for this purpose. I'm certain that more people get injured or killed walking and texting at the same time. Also, nothing airs for 'free'. Someone always pays for the time, either the taxpayers, radio station, or advertiser.

I hear the following Ad Counsel psa several times a week on my prefered radio stations.

Be ready psa

Here is a link to a webpage full of them, i pulled the above link from it.
ready.gov

This one always gets to me. Watching it again now, I think I have something stuck in my eye.

I just know exactly what you mean. Watching this reminds me of May 16, 1992.

Jeanette Isabelle

Florida has "Get a plan" PSAs and there is/was "Get a plan" month.

There are several related web sites ie:
http://www.floridadisaster.org/

http://www.historiccity.com/2010/staugustine/news/florida/florida-preparedness-month-get-a-plan-5143

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/chdHernando/webpages/php/phpmain.html

I'm a bit on the skeptical side.

It's not any hostility to PSAs or to survival skills, but rather to the efficacy of PSAs when it comes to survival. The topic of survival is big, but an effective PSA says offers targets one problem that a lot of people can relate to. It offers one solution that people can remember. Examples:

• Quit smoking
• Don't drink and drive
• Drive defensively
• Wear a seatbelt
• Call the gas company before digging
• Look both ways before crossing the street
• Don't take candy from strangers

What would one problem would a survival PSA focus on? What one concrete action would it urge? I've heard the ones about "Have a Plan," but all they really do is jack me up. Have a plan for what? What do I do? I wind up making a mental note to do that someday. Ah, I am supposed to go to some website. Ready.gov. Which, I must say, is pretty good. I have to hand it to them. They don't bury you under a ton of stuff. It makes sense. But the ads? Too oblique, too busy. And the whole process takes too many steps for this to go into the PSA hall of fame.

I still remember the defensive driving ads. To this day, I sometimes catch myself saying "Dead Right." The ad showed some guy in a car who had the right of way and didn't look to make sure. Sure enough, some dork comes speeding through the stop sign and the guy who had the right of way dies. The punchline said something, "He was right -- dead right." Simple, effective, and very credible because just about everyone who has driven a car gets the point and agrees with it.

Effective PSAs are rifle shots that cut through the clutter. A "survival" PSA? I'm doubtful, because I don't think it'd be clear enough. I'm having a tough time coming up with the unifying thread, and (especially) the single action. Mere "awareness," that shiny rainbow hovering over every do-gooder's blessed head, is not enough. A PSA has to tell me what I can do about it, or you just might wind up pissing me off. "Have a plan" isn't bad, but it might be a little too theoretical. Too easily put off for a later day. I can say this much: They'd better not run PSAs that have any kind of "to do" list. That would make the survival community all warm and fuzzy, but wouldn't accomplish anything.

I absolutely agree.

However, there are no rules without exception. I want to give you a case where exactly this kind of PSA actually has worked quite well:



The Norwegian mountain code is exactly that - a "to do" list of 9 bullet points, repeated each easter because a lot of people will then swarm into the mountains. At TV, one or more of those bullet points is enacted by a single TSA announcement that nails the point home. I've litterary grown up with that on the radio, in the papers and on TV...

More about the mountain code here: http://forums.equipped.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=190824


Why does it work? I think because it adresses a specific activity in a specific environment: Skiing in the high mountains. Therefore, this bullet list is clear and consice enough to be your "rifle shots through the clutter".

I can't recall any PSAs with that "mountain code." Where have you heard these things? You got a link to any of them?

I'm not sure if a "survival" PSA would be well received, but a "preparedness" PSA at the beginning of hurricane season focused on Hurricane preparedness and survival might be better. Use that medium to start getting people in a survival mindset thinking "be prepared" and get them moving in the right direction, stockpiling critical items and understanding that help may take time.

An Earthquake Preparedness PSA might be useful in earthquake prone areas like California and along the Madrid fault in the Midwest. There might already be one, but I don't recall seeing it.

Some will take the lessons further; for some watching cartoons or video games would be an upper limit.

I think longer and more complex PSAs can work in situations where people are likely to be paying closer attention. Hurricane prep in the hurricane belt during hurricane season is a good example. When I discussed it before, I was talking about PSAs directed at general audiences, with no particular news peg. It's not that people are stupid or lazy, it's that people are busy. If they don't have a specific and immediate reason to pay attention right now, it's unrealistic to hit them with anything other than something very simple and concrete.

The Los Angeles Public Radio station (KCET) prepared and has periodically aired an hour long show on earthquake preparedness and response. It has aired several times in the last decade. I am positive it has benefited oh... 1% of the population.

A tiny country in Northern Europe called Norway...

Sorry, no videos or anything, my 60 seconds youtube/google-search turned up negative. You can find more details about the mountain code in the links of my previous posts.

The background was the easter of 1967 when a total of eighten people died after really good weather turned really bad in the Norwegian mountains.

Norway's population is only slightly larger than that of the Puget Sound. Without more detail about its PSAs, it's pretty tough to draw parallels with a PSA campaign to be aimed at the American adult population of roughly 210 million, living in far more diverse styles. I'm not opposed to the idea of PSAs; other way around, actually. I just question the efficacy of broad-scale survival PSAs here.

Simplicity can be not only the most valuable tool, but the hardest to achieve. I very much laud the goal, but am skeptical of the tool you propose. I say that with a great deal of respect, and hope that this comes through in what I've been writing.

That PIF (Public Information Film) never made into the TV series 'How TV ruined your life -Fear' for some reason.

How TV ruined your life (part 1) - Fear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb00H6mCTM8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KryOYburlFI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHq767Fl26E

But the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc54mdvZTFw (The Finishing line) is my absolute favourite

Now all the children just sit in front of the telly box with their Wees with their parents (70s gen children) too frightened to let them go out.