Assistance
Breakdowns
With the right preparation, your trip should go relatively smoothly. However, if you do get into difficulty and your car breaks down it is important to remember some key points. The Australian National 4WD Council suggests you:
never leave your vehicle. Use it for shade and shelter and remember – it is easier to locate a missing vehicle than a missing person
use your satellite phone or HF radio to make contact with the outside world and let someone know your problems and your location
conserve energy and remain in the shade
distribute food and water sparingly
if you are isolated, light a small smoky fire with green leaves during the day and a small bright fire with dry materials at night; and
be prepared to wait!
If you have an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), you may activate it in an emergency. There are very costly penalties for triggering these devices in non-emergency situations.
Medical Assistance
In the event of a serious emergency or need for medical consultation, the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) are available to handle telephone medical consultations and HF emergency calls. These calls are switched to the duty RFDS medical officer who is nearest to the patient’s location. If the RFDS medical officer determines that an evacuation is required, the operations centre duty coordinator will then task the most appropriate base that is not already flying.
Coordinators then arrange ambulance transfers for patients to the pick-up airport and from the destination airport to hospital. They will also arrange refuelling, airstrip lighting and vermin inspections and any other special requirements in support of crews. There are airstrips near the track at Well 33, Parnngurr (Cotton Creek) and Billiluna community. Other airstrips are located at each pastoral lease to the south.
