Outdoor Safety – Squamish Search and Rescue

"I really never thought something like this could happen to me."

-- Mostly Everyone

So You're Lost?

It does happen and how you respond early will very much impact how things end.

Remain calm and don’t panic

As obvious as this may sound, most people who become lost in the wilderness stop thinking straight and quite often make the situation worse.

Stop moving and stay put

As soon as you realize you’re lost, stop moving. It is far easier for search and rescue personnel to locate you if you stay in one location. Generally, people who keep moving wander farther from the trail and go deeper into the backcountry.

SEEK OR MAKE SHELTER

Because you’ve packed your 10 Essentials, you should have everything you need to create a reasonably dry shelter. If you don’t have an emergency tarp, look for a dry area near the base of a tree or under a log. It is critically important that you stay out of the rain or snow.

BUILD A FIRE

Fires are not only a source of heat and comfort, but can help occupy your time and mind. Being lost is not an excuse for starting a forest fire however, so be careful if you opt to build a fire.

BE VISIBLE

Do everything you can to be visible from the air and the ground during the day. Use a whistle or other signalling device to help rescuers or other backcountry users to find you.

Trip Planning

The importance of a trip plan cannot be understated. Your trip plan provides prospective rescuers with information on how to find you if you become lost or injured. If you do not file a trip plan, critical time is absorbed trying to determine where to begin searching. In the case of inclement weather or injury, time can mean the difference between life and death.

Complete a Trip Plan

For your trip plan, leave it with someone your trust.

Trip Plans Include:

Time of departure
Your starting point
Your destination
Your planned route
People in your group
Your contact numbers
Anticipated return time

AdventureSmart is a national program dedicated to encouraging Canadians and visitors to Canada to “Get informed and go outdoors”. The AdventureSmart program was created by Emergency Management B.C. with the assistance of the National Search and Rescue Secretariat, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the British Columbia SAR Association. AdventureSmart combines online and on-site awareness with targeted outreach to try and reduce the number and severity of search and rescue incidents.

Squamish Search and Rescue is proud to have partnered with AdventureSmart to deliver these key messages within our community. Team members regularly deliver the following courses to upwards of 1,500 children and adults within our community each and every year.

Available Programs

Hug-a-Tree and Survive Program

This presentation is aimed at children in Grades K-6. It teaches children how to avoid getting lost in the woods and covers what to do if they should become lost.

Snow Safety Education Program

This presentation is aimed at children in Grades 4-6. It teaches ski hill safety, signage and backcountry survival tips including “Out of Bounds” hazards.

Survive Outside Program

This presentation is aimed at people aged 12 and up. It focuses on trip planning, the Code of Responsibility, training and tips for safe backcountry travel.