Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 13:33:19 +0800 From: Gregory.Dilley@Ebay.Sun.COM (Yes, I'm still here...) To: burnman-list@well.com Subject: Surviving Burning Man!!! (the movie) Cc: ebmr@marketsmart.com Hi there! - Greg Dilley here, field medical supervisor for Earthbound Medical Rescue and responsible for, (dear Black Rock Station) resident, your safety and health. If you have the patience, please bear with me while I ramble on a bit about survival, philosophy, Buddhism, and whatever else comes to mind. I love to read what I type B^) and hope you at least find it useful. Everything I write here I believe and practice with all my whole heart and life. Nichiren Daishonin, a Buddhist scholar from 13th century Japan once stated in a letter he wrote to an unnamed Samurai: "Unaware that life passes as quickly as a white colt glimpsed through a crack in the wall, ignorant as sheep being led to the slaughter, held hopeless prisoners by our concern for food and clothing, we fall heedlessly into the snares of fame and profit and in the end make our way back to that familiar village in the three paths (referring to where we go after death), only to set out on the road again reborn time after time in the six paths of existance. What person of feeling could fail to grieve at such a state of affairs, or could fail to be moved to sorrow!?". Of course he must have been referring to those who die and are reborn again and again without ever entering the mystical city of the Burning Man, the risen city of Black Rock. How fortunate are we who in our hearts call Black Rock our true home. Well, we're damn lucky anyway..... It is my concern that everyone with the fortune to attend the Burning Man be able to do so with absolute confidence in his/her own self-care skills and are able to maximize their experience both physically and spiritually. After all, it's difficult to feel spiritual when you have a splitting headache or stomach cramps. I wish to discuss survival skills. The subject of survival skills, I believe, is poorly represented. I, and other Earthbound Medics, have been fortunate to learn survival based special forces medicine from a man who spent 23 years in the Green Berets, and even now continues to work for our dear CIA training indigenous personel in the third world in the arts of "doing in" their enemies. One of the most profound perspectives I've inherited from Dutch was that "survival" to him and other veteran Green Berets was not a matter of living against all odds in a hostile environment - well sure it is that - but more importantly has to do with moving into a potentially hostile world and adapting, learning, and restoring *comfort* to one's life. I've imagined that "surviving" to Dutch, while on a mission, is less like real surviving (in the sense that he are only barely living) than it is establishing their own sense of well-being and comfort in whatever situation or circumstance they find themselves. His training and *mind set* (very important concept) allows him to turn the dirtiest, smelliest third world assignment into, well - nearly his own living room, kitchen and bedroom. And it's not rocket science. It's basic common sense. It's all mindset. In my experience we win or lose in survival in the *non-combat* world when: 1. We learn to always use common sense. 2. We learn when "rules" cease to be the basic ass-covering of society, and become real warnings of a threat to one's saftey. 3. We learn about ourselves - our own phsyical and emotional needs, as well as how to meet those needs. *** But Is Black Rock *REALLY* a "Survival Situation"? Yes, and no. Sure, you're sitting there reading this thinking, "Ah, Black Rock isn't that severe; I've been going for years with no problems". And, what I'm writing won't apply to everyone, but - luck favors the prepared mind - First - it's important to remember that people generally don't realize they are in a true survival situation until after they've already screwed up. Recall the recent lost skier incidents from past winter, victims of floods in the midwest and fires and earthquakes in the last few years. It's a leap of faith to say to one's self "wow, I may be in a survival situation as I sit on my butt and read this post" and yet it may be true. Burning Man participants already have shown themselves to be of a heartier and more common sense stock than your average member of society. Applaud yourselves for that. The medical crew can attest to the truth of my words. We treat surprisingly few "survival challenged" patients each year. Of course we have a few; I guess we'd all be disappointed if we didn't. We all must realize however that the Burning Man could turn on us with little or no notice. The weather this year (1995) was a good reminder of that. *** Why "Survive" Burning Man????? It is through the mindset of survival that we find the path to truly *potentiating* and *maximizing* our experience in Black Rock. Whether we trek to the Playa to dance, partake in substances or simply express ourselves in numerous ways, we can greatly enhance this experience by first surrendering to the survival mindset. Now - allow me to share with you my take on the subject remembering that it will in no way be definitive. *** On the Subject of WATER Pee Clear: -clear and copious urine- . There is no other way in which to verify that you've been drinking enough water. In the world of survival medicine, dehydration is the root of all evil. Your well-being and success with your own personal experience begins, and ends with your water intake. Believe me now, write it down later, remember it sometime. Dehydration exacerbates heat related injury and illness (duh) Dehydration also exacerbates cold related injury and illness Dehydration causes headaches Dehydration causes stomach cramps and painfull peristalsis (movement of the digestive system) Dehydration causes constipation Dehydration can cause flu-like symptoms Dehydration sucks..... Out of 100 persons who claim to be able to drink enough water in the outdoors, I'd venture to say there may be 5 or 6 that *really* drink enough. HUMAN BEINGS JUST DON'T DRINK ENOUGH WATER especially when we're in a water-consuming environment such as the Black Rock Desert. Yes, the whole environment of Black Rock will just suck the water right out of you. Here's some signs you may not drink enough water in Black Rock - 1. You didn't carry a water bottle with you at all times. 2. You "sip" water instead of drinking deeply. A quart bottle of water should be consumed in two drinking periods. 3. You wait until you're thirsty. (big no-no) and the biggy - If you've drinking alcohol, or taking recreational drugs, assume you're on your way to dehydration. I have a friend who lived in Brasilia for a while - here's what he had to say to me when I boasted of my super-human water-drinking abilities; **************** "I have lived in Brasilia for two years. There are months in which it rains every day. Then the rain stops in April and comes back in October. During this period, relative humidity goes down to 15%, sometimes it stays ay 10% for two weeks, and once we had 8% for two days. In Surinam, where I live now (jungle, rain forest, etc., humidity is 92%)." "How low is 15% humidity? The Sahara desert has around 12% - which is quite common in Brasilia. A few rules that apply in Brasilia: 12% humidity - no physical education in schools, schools closed after 12 o'clock; 11% - warnings on TV, no sports should be practised at lunchtime; 10% - schools close, people only work in the mornings; 9% - everything shuts down; 8% minimum for human life. (I wonder what happens at 7%?)" "What happens then? You have the physical urge to drink water. Lots of water, an incredible amount of water - you may drink one or two litres as if you were drinking a glass. You stop drinking soft drinks because they swell you stomach with gas and you can't drink too much. And the most important thing that we learn is to drink always - not only when we are thirsty, because when you are thirsty you know that soon you will have a headache (at least). In fact, we drink whenever we can - and we know that alcohol dehydrates." **************** *** On the Subject of Bowel Movements Just say it and get it over with. Bowel movements, crapping, pooping.... Under stress, usually the first thing to suffer will be your digestive process, especially if there's an element of dehydration to boot. We aren't always aware of our own stress intake - this is fact. There are versions of traveler's diarrhea and traveler's constipation that are attributed to little more than the stress of being away from familiar surroundings. Here's my suggested solution - start using raw natural psyllium husk, easy to buy in bulk at a natural foods store. Take a teaspoon twice a day in water or juice and work up to a tablespoon or two twice a day. Make sure your water intake is at a premium or you risk creating a blockage - . Pysillium husk is a natural bulk-forming water-absorbing undigestible fiber and a source of the unprocessed fiber we Americans don't get nearly enough of. Using this prior to and during your treks will ensure numurous bowel movements and tonify your colon. This is a great way to prevent both dairrhea *and* constipation. Interestingly enough, you will find that using pysillium husk also will make "clean up" practically non-existant thus adding to our personal hygeine and over-all well-being. *** On the Subject of Eyes and Sunglasses This year we had several patients who complained of sensitive, red and sunburned eyes due to forgetting their sunglasses. DON'T FORGET YOUR SUNGLASSES Forget your wallet, forget to kiss your dog goodbye, forget your emergency phone money, but don't forget your sunglasses. Have an extra pair? Bring 'em for that special friend you have yet to meet. Next year we will try to bring out inexpensive UV protecting sunglasses to sell at cost, but please - don't have to use ours...... Did you know you can make an emergency pair of effective sunglasses out of cardboard or heavy paper? See us next year to learn how. *** On the Subject of Nutrition I'm no nutritionist, but I will say that anytime we stress ourselves emotionally or physically, nutrition becomes more critical. An experienced traveler will use multi or anti-oxidant vitamins to reinforce the bodies immuno-status. *** On the Subject of Re-Bar One of the most common injuries this year was feet and leg wounds caused by contact with open ragged ends of the re-bar commonly used as tent stakes. Please consider using empty liter pop bottles stuck on the end of the re-bar stakes to prevent this from happening next year. *** On the Subject of Jumping off of Motorcycles While Speeding through the Playa After months of research, we have come to the conclusion that safety at Black Rock can be greatly enhanced by *not* partaking in this particular survival-challenged activity. *** On the Subject of Riding on the Hood of a Speeding Car in the Dark in the Playa and then Falling Off Same here. One should try and avoid this act, if at all possible. *** On the Subject of Getting Pissed at One's Friends and "Showing Them" by Walking Back to Black Rock 5 Miles out with a Single Bottle of Water. This - this is a fine example of selective evolution in action. If you're inclined to this sort of behavior, it's best you don't spread your genes around. Nichiren Diashonin further states, in his letter entitled "Bodies and Minds of Ordinary Beings"; "Dewdrops accumulate to form a stream, and streams accumulate to form oceans. Particles of of dust accumulate to form a mountain, and mountains accumulate to form Mount Sumeru. And in the same way, trifling matters accumulate to become grave ones. How much more so in the case of this matter?" He was speaking of correct Buddhist practice, I am speaking of simple survival. One innocent mistake joins another, and in the end we can easily find ourselves in the middle of that vast expanse of Black Rock sick, injured, or sitting upon a car buried 3 feet in mud. Embrace the survival mindset.... There are those who will live and die never seeing the Burning Man portray the absolute glory and celebration of life - flames burning away any doubt that we are alive in the super unknown. To come this close to the Burning Man, and then to become disabled from our own negligence - this is a sad thing indeed. Lets feel good, look good, and pierce our bodies in the most unusual ways, all the time having good healthy bowel movments, excellent hydration, and a strong immune system. Then we can all hold hands 'round the man and dodge embers from fireworks together - and celebrate. Greg out.... Suggested reading ----------------- The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol 1 - 7 Air Force Pamphlet 64-5 AIRCREW SURVIVAL, dept of the Air Force U.S. Army Special Forces Medical Handbook "Illusions" by Richard Bach "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss "The Importance of Proper Hydration" by I. P. Freely