Be Smart and Stay Safe this Winter
5 Tips from a Search and Rescue (SAR) Professional for Holiday Travel and Winter Adventures
As Canadians, we all know that winter weather events can be very unpredictable – temperatures can suddenly plummet and snow squalls can appear out of seemingly nowhere, reducing visibility and creating dangerous travel conditions not to mention ice! When it comes to safety, there are some simple steps that we can take to prepare for the unexpected as the holiday travel and winter season approach. From simple advance trip planning to packing essential gear and having an emergency plan, Randy Brown, SAR Manager and Member of the Penticton District Search and Rescue organization for British Columbia, is sharing these 5 top safety tips for holiday travel and outdoor winter adventures.
- Prepare and share your travel plan
Before heading out on any outdoor winter adventure or holiday excursion, prepare and share your trip plan with family or friends, including with your estimated departure and arrival times, or waypoints along your route.
- Dress in layers
Never under estimate the importance of proper outdoor attire. Try to wear multiple layer consisting of a minimum of 3 layers consisting of a base, thermal and protective layer to protect yourself from cold and wind, moisture and to keep the heat in. Avoid cotton as it absorbs moisture leaving you wet with risk of becoming very cold. Choose thermal, moisture wicking garments instead. You can easily take a layer off if needed, but you can’t put anything on that you don’t have with you.
- Prepare for the unexpected
From unforeseen medical incidents, car breakdowns or collisions, accidents on the hiking trail, ski slope or snowmobile trail, Canadian winters demand that everyone know their own capabilities and don't fall into the trap of being over confident. Stay within your limits and be ready with an alternate plan in case the unexpected arises, including a sudden change in weather or accident.
“Be prepared with essential gear to help you communicate if an unexpected situation arises. Ensure you have a whistle, compass and a GPS communication device that works beyond cellular networks, such as a SPOT X Satellite Messenger."
~ Randy Brown, SAR Manager,
Member of the Penticton District Search and Rescue, British Columbia
~ Randy Brown, SAR Manager,
Member of the Penticton District Search and Rescue, British Columbia
- Pack the essentials including a GPS enabled communications device
Before heading out, pack all the essentials starting with the right footwear. Carry hand and foot warmers in a well stocked emergency kit so that you can be ready to wait hours in the cold for rescue while staying safe and warm. Make sure you have an LED flashlight (check the batteries!), a flare and a mirror or reflective device so that SAR professionals can find you from land or air searches. Carry a portable GPS enabled communications device so that you can share your location and status even if you are outside the reach of cellular networks or if your cell phone battery fails. The GPS enabled SPOT X Two-Way Satellite Messenger or the SPOT Gen4 will ensure you have a reliable way to communicate independent of cellular, while also giving the ability to share your route of travel with family and friends who can track your progress, and the ability to notify emergency services with your location coordinates if rescue is needed.
“With cellular, even if you know where you are, you may not be able to share your exact location coordinates. Use a GPS device to take the search time out of any need for help. Cellular towers can be far apart, and it can be hard to triangulate an accurate location. Cell phone apps can also use a lot of power. It’s important to have a back up communications device.”
~ Randy Brown, SAR Manager,
Member of the Penticton District Search and Rescue, British Columbia
~ Randy Brown, SAR Manager,
Member of the Penticton District Search and Rescue, British Columbia
- Have an emergency plan
If an emergency does occur have a plan pre-prepared. If you become lost, stop and ask yourself if you have the skills and abilities to move forward. If you are injured and you can safely move, find a location where you are visible from both land and sky so rescuers can find you. Know when to call for assistance. If the situation is beyond your capabilities dial 911 if you have cellular service or hit the SOS button on your SPOT device.
Randy Brown is a SPOT Brand Ambassador. Learn more about Randy