tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post4210811269251527050..comments2024-02-24T15:49:59.506-08:00Comments on Another Long Walk: Day 124: Emergency! Emergency!!!Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-78271384156506352172016-01-06T12:16:44.520-08:002016-01-06T12:16:44.520-08:00Reading this just verified for me why I could neve...Reading this just verified for me why I could never hike alone or with another directionally impaired person. My husband has a built-in compass (well, he was in the Boy Scouts!) and has tried to teach me about orienting myself outdoors. I'm hopeless because I'd get lost/disoriented in my hometown of 5,000 people! I can also get lost indoors which happened at work one day in a large hospital with a new addition! You'll never encounter me hiking so thank you Ryan for these virtual hikes!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14331569178647292884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-79735252624169378942016-01-02T11:21:04.250-08:002016-01-02T11:21:04.250-08:00While I'm only starting to Letterboxing, I'...While I'm only starting to Letterboxing, I've been outdoors quite a while including long stints with various SAR groups... I just retired from my team for the last 9 years and have yet to reconnect yet. I just mention that to qualify my comment for now.<br /><br />This story for Day 124 is a great insight into what happens quite often to outdoors people. And does so from several perspectives (provides insight that is) in relation to people and their reactions. I have to go read it and digest it. I like it so much I'm trying to figure out how to use it as a training aid (after talking permission of course and trading some further comments) for both searchers and subjects alike. More on that later.<br /><br />For now I'd like only to give my usual advice to people I talk to about this.<br /><br />If you are an outdoors person at any level of experience consider this.<br /><br />Locate and contact your local SAR team, they have high expenses and are almost always self funding volunteer groups, so first thing is SUPPORT them financially.<br /><br />While you are in contact, ask about taking a Ground Search training course. We didn't worry about whether someone would join and stay around... just taking the course orients people to the problems involved with searches and the methods, as well as the reasons we do things the way we do. Most people who ask usually find the time if possible and become members... but it isn't true that most teams require that for the course since it is pretty basic stuff and you would probably know most of it anyhow... <br /><br />I've been following the blogs and one thing I've noticed especially in this one was how taking notes can really help... things like real names, descriptions and such.<br />Eleven had one of the most important things in my book... he had the last point seen and the direction of travel... good job on that part.<br /><br />I hope to get back here or elsewhere after I dissect this more... I want to compare it to our pre search information gathering requirements... still there is no doubt that the decision to ACT was was correct as High Urgency... based on age, person alone, without medications, dark with weather degrading and so on... anyone of which would trigger that level of response from most teams... experience counts, but not much if the subject is unresponsive..<br /><br />Anyway I had to say something in the short term and there it was. Glad it worked out and thanks for the informative descriptions in the blog.<br /><br />Doug 7rxc7rxcnoreply@blogger.com