Sep 03 2010 - 14:00

VICTORIA – Following what has already been a busy summer, the B.C. Search and Rescue (SAR) Association is urging all British Columbians and visitors who may be heading out to enjoy B.C.’s backcountry over the long weekend to play safe and plan ahead.

“The hot, dry weather this summer has provided many people with more opportunities to be active outdoors,” said Colin Wiebe, Vice-President of the BC Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA), “but it appears to have had a direct and unfortunate correlation to the number of incidents requiring Search and Rescue response.”

For the period of June 1 to September 1, 2010, there has been 416 SAR incidents, including lost and injured backcountry enthusiasts, assisting with evacuation notices for interface fires, and urban incidents like locating an elderly person who has wandered away from a care facility. This represents 57 more calls to action than for the same period in 2009 and in the last two weeks alone, SAR was called upon 82 times.

“We are fortunate to have such a beautiful landscape to enjoy here in B.C., but when something goes wrong and we’re lost or injured, we are even more fortunate to have the volunteers that leave their jobs and families to race to our rescue,” said Wiebe. “These people train hard and put their own lives at risk to ensure the safety of others, and this year they’ve been particularly busy.”

Last year 2,500 unpaid SAR volunteers donated over 100,000 hours and responded to 999 incidents involving 1,375 lost or injured persons; an astounding 95% subjects were found or rescued within the first 24 hours of SAR activation. The cost to replace the volunteer resources in the 87 SAR groups across B.C. would be more than $5,000,000 in direct annual salary dollars.

Entering into the final long weekend of the summer, the association is reminding people to be extra vigilant with their safety and fill out a trip plan to leave with someone who can alert authorities in case a return is overdue. They also ask that lifejackets be worn on the water and suggest visiting one of the following websites for additional outdoor safety tips: 

•               www.AdventureSmart.ca –backcountry safety and trip plans

•               www.lifesaving.ca –water and boating safety

 For more information about the British Columbia Search and Rescue Association, please visit: www.bcsara.com.