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PREVENTION

Trip planning:

It could save your life

By NSS staff

In support of the National Search and Rescue Program, the National Search and Rescue Secretariat is pleased to provide you with this information piece, which can be used in your public education, outreach and prevention activities.

It’s the beginning of May, it’s nice out and you have a few days off work. You decide to take a trip with a few friends. You all agree that going hiking for a few days outreach and prevention activities. would be the perfect way to unwind and leave the stress of every day life behind. You know where you want to go; you’ve printed maps, checked the batteries in your GPS and have everything you need for your little getaway. You think you’re not forgetting anything but you may have overlooked one very important thing – to leave a plan of your trip with a friend or family member.

SAR prevention

Trip planning is one of the basic elements of search and rescue prevention. The problem is that many first-timers do not know about it and many avid recreationalists do not use it. Although it is not mandatory for every excursion, if you’re going to be flying, boating, hiking or skiing, completing a trip plan could save your life.

While new technologies instill a sense of security (real or perceived), they are not a guarantee of distress alerting and timely rescue. Trip plans, once created and left with someone who could notify the authorities if you do not return, can help save lives by focusing search efforts and minimizing response time.

Trip plans do not have to be complicated. There are a number of tools available to help you document the details of your trip and equipment. Whether you fill out a complete trip plan in advance or leave a note with a friend, the knowledge about your intended route, equipment and experience can be crucial for investigators and search managers.

AdventureSmart, which was created through a National Search and Rescue Secretariat New Initiatives Fund project by the British Columbia Provincial Emergency Program, aims to increase awareness, educate people about potential risks and outline how to enjoy the outdoors safely. Their focus is on the three Ts – training, trip planning and the 10 essentials for every outdoor activity.

Be smart; do not ignore warning signs

Some people are the adventurous type. They seek thrills and do not hesitate to try something new or venture where they have not been before. Although it is surely fun to try new things, we must all be aware of the danger that venturing into closed or out-of-bounds areas entail. When you see a warning sign, take it seriously and stay away; it could be the difference between an enjoyable outing and a one-way trip.

Here are a few outdoor travel tips, provided by AdventureSmart:

• Be prepared for your chosen recreation – being fit enough to go the distance takes physical preparation. Stick to your turnaround time. Take the proper equipment, have a trip plan and use reference and guide books.
• Always carry the essentials – if necessary, be ready to stay overnight.
• Complete a trip plan and leave it with a friend – the trip plan explains your destination, the route you are taking, who is in the group and your return time. If you do not return as planned, the friend with whom you have left the trip plan can give the form to the police to initiate a search.
• Never hike alone – hike with a group and keep together. Travel at the speed of the slowest person. If a person becomes separated by going ahead or falling behind, he or she is more likely to become lost.
• Do not panic – maintain a positive mental attitude if you become lost. Being lost is not dangerous if you are prepared.
• Stay where you are – people who carry on after they become lost usually get further from the trail and further from people who are looking for them. Going downhill also often leads to natural drainage gullies, which typically have very thick bush, expansive cliffs and waterfalls, making travelling and searching more difficult.
• Use signaling devices – blowing a whistle, lighting a fire and staying visible will help searchers find you. Help searchers find you even if you are embarrassed or afraid. Remember that animals will not be attracted to your signals. Searchers may also use planes or helicopters – make yourself visible to them.
• Build or seek shelter – protect yourself from the rain, wind and excessive sun. Be as comfortable as possible, but when it is daylight, make sure that you are visible to searchers in helicopters or planes.
• The most common mistake – an individual’s belief that “it could never happen to me.” This is summed up as EGO. By being prepared, you can enjoy your trip outdoors regardless of what nature throws at you.

For further information on trip safety and to find examples of activity plans, whether it’s your first or your hundredth time out, you may refer to the following Web sites:
http://www.sarvac.ca/Survival/ TripPlans/tabid/182/language/ en-US/Default.aspx;

http://www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/ debs/obs/preparation/trip/menu.htm;

http://www.adventuresmart.ca/trip_safety/index.php.

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