FILE: A helicopter with North Shore Search and Rescue.
By Sonya Kuitenbrouwer Posted May 16, 2024
The B.C. Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA) is asking the public to “adopt a safety mindset” before adventuring into the outdoors in order to keep search and rescue calls as low as possible ahead of the May long weekend.
The association points toward their online education tools that are available for outdoor-goers to “make informed decisions by using reliable resources.”
BC AdventureSmart executive director Sandra Riches tells CityNews long weekends are always a busy time, but especially with nicer weather in the forecast.
She says crews are expecting to see a significant uptick in calls over the long weekend.
“We’re asking the public to be considerate of the search and rescue crews in their community,” Riches said.
“There are a number of resources created for the general public to get more informed, and then we can work collectively to help reduce the number and severity of search and rescue calls.”
BCSARA says outdoor enthusiasts play an important role in reducing the amount of calls received by search and rescue crews, beginning with how they prepare before heading out on an adventure.
Riches points to the “trifecta of outdoor safety,” or “the three Ts,” as a great way to adventure responsibly: trip-planning, training, and taking the essentials.
She says often, people forget about training, which the resources from BCSARA aims to address.
“Training can be certification-based, mentorship, courses that you take,” she said. “Physical, literal, and don’t forget about mental preperation. Decision-making is always the key to sucess.”
The B.C. Search and Rescue Association is made up of 78 crews and nearly 3,500 volunteers across the province.
According to Riches, crews in B.C. respond to on average 1,750 rescue calls per year. She says a large majority of them occur because of a lack of pre-preparation.
