Archive for the ‘SAR’ Category

Lost and Found

Monday, August 23rd, 2010
Q: Where are people most likely to get lost?

A: The Great Smokies

The online version of the August issue of Backpacker Magazine has an outstanding article that offers 33 essential tips to remember if you or your partner goes missing, including "ways to stay found," and what to do if you do become lost. I highly recommend reading this; whether you're a hiking newby or a grizzled outdoor veteran. Hey, everyone needs to brush up on this invaluable knowledge every now and then.

The magazine also published a pretty good video on how to get "Un-Lost" using a GPS and a topo map.

The typical person who gets lost is a male, age 38, hiking solo, during the months of July or August, in the mountains, and often lacking a map and/or compass.

Finally, Backpacker posted a very interesting Q & A with SAR Statistician Robert Koester. Koester has spent the past seven years creating the International Search and Rescue Database. With 50,000 documented incidents, it's the largest, and first, compendium of its kind in the world. He uses the data to analyze risk, and predict who will live, who will die, and, most importantly, where lost hikers may be found.




Further reading: Top 10 Items to have on a Day Hike


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Backpacker Magazine, Lost Person Behavior, Robert Koester, SAR, Search and Rescue Database, getting lost, gps, lost hikers | Comments Off

Smokies SARs are tough and rewarding

Sunday, February 7th, 2010
A couple of weeks ago the Chattanooga Times published a pretty good article about Lee Lewis, a Search and Rescue volunteer in the Smokies.

Lewis discusses some of the physically and emotionally challenging experiences he's encountered over the years, as well as the rewards.

I like the quote at the end of the article: “You don’t want to take on Mother Nature (unprepared),” Lewis warned. “She’ll spank you and send you back home every time.”

He also emphasizes the importance of staying together when families or other groups are hiking in the wilderness.

You can read the full article by clicking here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Posted in Lee Lewis, SAR, Search and Rescue, Smokies | Comments Off

Dead Men Walking: Search and Rescue in US National Parks

Friday, October 23rd, 2009
The September issue of Wilderness and Environmental Medicine published the results of a study called Dead Men Walking: Search and Rescue in US National Parks.

The study was conducted by Travis W. Heggie PhD and Michael E. Amundson BS from the University of North Dakota to identify search and rescue (SAR) trends in US National Parks.

There are some interesting statistics and conclusions from the abstract (to read the full article requires a membership) that I thought you might be interested in:

* From 1992 to 2007 there were 78,488 individuals involved in 65,439 SAR incidents. This translates into 4090 SAR incidents, on average, each year.

* These incidents ended with 2659 fatalities, 24,288 ill or injured individuals, and 13,212 saves during the 16-year period.

* On average there were 11.2 SAR incidents each day at an average cost of $895 per operation.

* Total SAR costs from 1992 to 2007 were $58,572,164.

* In 2005, 50% of the 2430 SAR operations occurred in just 5 NPS units: Grand Canyon National Park (307) and Gateway National Recreation Area (293) reported the most SAR operations. Yosemite, Rocky Mountain National Park and Nevada’s Lake Mead National Recreation Area rounded out the top 5.

* Yosemite National Park accounted for 25% of the total NPS SAR costs ($1.2 million); Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve ($29,310) and Denali National Park and Preserve ($18,345) had the highest average SAR costs.

* Hiking (48%) and boating (21%) were the most common activities requiring SAR assistance.

* Hiking (22.8%), suicides (12.1%), swimming (10.1%), and boating (10.1%) activities were the most common activities resulting in fatalities.

* On average, one person dies every other day throughout our national park system.

* The study revealed that during those 16 years young males, day hikers, and boaters needed rescue more than anyone else.

Conclusions:

Without the presence of NPS personnel responding to SAR incidents, 1 in 5 (20%) of those requesting SAR assistance would be a fatality. Future research and the development of any prevention efforts should focus on the 5 NPS units where 50% of all SAR incidents are occurring.

Perhaps all of this will serve as a reminder to be extra careful while exploring our national parks, forests and wilderness areas, and to be thankful that there are emergency personnel close by if we need them.





Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Smoky Mountain Day Hikers Store

Posted in Dead Men Walking, SAR, Search and Rescue, Travis Heggie, US National Parks | Comments Off

Eight steps to prevent Search and Rescues

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
Backpacker Magazine recently published an article that details 8 steps that (the author claims) would have prevented 95% of the search and rescues (SAR) incidents and accidents that occurred over the summer season.

These are all common sense measures, but they're always good to keep in mind whenever you head out into the wild:

1) Never assume that your expertise will keep you safe

2) Get in the habit of turning around every 5-10 minutes and looking at your route from the 180 view

3) If you get disoriented, always retrace your steps to get back on track.

4) Take some gear, including extra clothes, a rain shell, a map and compass, a butane lighter, a headlamp, and perhaps a cell phone, pocket flares, or an emergency beacon.

5) Know the weather report.

6) Have a plan

7) Don't scramble unroped on cliffs, drop-offs or snowfields, especially if you're alone.

8) Don't be afraid to dial back your plans (i.e. don't let your ego get the best of you)

You can read the full article by clicking here.




Jeff
Smoky Mountain Day Hikers Store Quality gear and apparel from some of the best outdoor brands.

Posted in Eight steps, SAR, Search and Rescues, prevent | Comments Off