Television CAN Save Your Life

Well kids, the next time your parents or someone close to you tells you that television rots your brains, you might want to point to the case of 9-year-old Grayson Wynne of Utah whose TV watching skills ensured that he survived a night in the woods all by his lonesome. Grayson was out on a hiking trip with his family in a Utah forest when he got separated from them. However, rather than panicking, he began to recall the survival techniques he saw on his favorite Discovery Channel show, "Man vs. Wild" (hosted by Bear Grylls). It was because of this show that Grayson ended up being reunited with his family on Father's Day (much to their relief).

Grayson apparently got separated from his family when they paused their group of 15 people to tighten the saddle on a horse they took along with them. Grayson, not realizing the group had stopped, continued on and took a fork down a smaller trail that ended up taking him farther from his family. Once he realized he was no longer with his family, he began to recall techniques shown on "Man vs. Wild". He began by ripping pieces of his yellow rain coat and tying pieces to nearby trees not only to make a trail for himself but in case anyone was following him to try and find him. He kept close watch on the amount of food he was carrying and rationed it so that he could keep energized in case rescue took longer than expected. Finally searchers found him the next morning by a pair on horseback.

Now while many will want to point to this incident as being chalked up partially to luck on the part of young Grayson, I would like to point out that the television show was part of the reason he survived overnight. Rather than freaking out like many of us would do, he build a small shelter for the night and decided to hold tight until the next morning. He remembered from the show to follow streams as they most often lead to civilization. In his case, Grayson hoped that the stream would eventually lead him to the nearby lake at the park where someone possibly camping out there would be able to help him. Now perhaps some 9-year-olds would have been able to figure that out but most of the ones I've ever met would probably have started to whine about not having their Playstation with them.

I think this is a case that proves that perhaps not all television these days is so bad. I mean if an interesting (though sometimes disturbing show) like "Man vs. Wild" can save a child from dying of exposure in the woods think of all the other good things that could happen if only parents encouraged their kids to watch 'good' television versus 'bad' television. Of course the dividing line between that standard is always up for debate. I mean some people may find "Jon and Kate Plus 8" to be educational while I myself find it to be yet another piece of reality crap. I think something like "Man vs. Wild" proves that education (albeit extreme) can be interesting and informative.