AS-101
Arctic Survival and Safety Course (3 ECTS)

Note: This course cannot be applied for separately. Obligatory for all undergraduate students/students staying for 6 months or more.

Objective:
The purpose of this unit is to provide all full-semester students at UNIS with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to survive under the conditions they will encounter when engaged in fieldwork, projects and recreational excursions on Svalbard. The Arctic Survival and Safety Course provide students with a sound basis for planning and executing field activities in the Arctic wilderness. The course is obligatory.

Content:
The course assumes that students have no prior experience of life in the High Arctic. The first segment therefore focuses on clothing and general conduct, as well as providing an insight into the sort of conditions and risks you can expect to meet on Svalbard.

A thorough theoretical grounding and hands-on practice are provided to students in a range of vital survival skills: Use of rifles and pyrotechnic flares to scare away polar bears; first-aid, looking especially at treatment and prevention of frost injuries; navigation on Svalbard by map reading and compass, assisted by GPS; use of communications systems including VHF radio, HF radio, satellite phone and direction beacons; emergency kit including tent, windbag and primus stove; sea ice behavior and rescue techniques.

In January, in the week after their safety training, students spend a whole day and evening learning to drive a snowmobile. In August, students learn how to use the inflatable boats and become familiar with the survival suit. The course closes with sessions detailing the factors that must be considered when planning field trips in the Arctic, and includes lessons in helicopter sense and signals.

Finally, students are required to take a refresher course in rifle handling to complete the Arctic Survival and Safety Course unit.

	Period:	11 - 16 January 2010 (6 days) and 1 day in August (rubber boat)
	Teaching:	20 hrs theory, 40 hrs practical exercises
	Evaluation:	Written test (pass/fail), group practical exercises (pass/fail)
	Course responsible:	Fred S Hansen