The tragic event last month causing the death of a person started innocently enough.
A car got stuck in the mud on a logging road in the backwoods of the Nicola Valley. The two occupants of the vehicle attempted to walk out of the area in search of help.
This decision started a chain reaction of events that ultimately led to the death of one of them.
What should have been just a quick drive out into a remote area turned deadly and is a stark reminder of how quickly a situation can go very wrong.
With the spring hunting season just around the corner, it is well worth remembering that nature can often turn quickly and unexpectedly deadly for the unprepared person.
A little common sense and a few simple preparations can help to avoid potential problems. To that end, here are a few basic tips that will help you to stay safe in the outdoors.
• Always let someone know where you’re going and at what time you will return. If necessary, leave a map of the area you will be visiting with a family member or friend.
• If your vehicle should break down, stay with it. Never, ever abandon the vehicle. The vehicle will provide you with shelter from the elements and rescuers are more likely to find you quickly.
• Always carry some sort of fire starter with you. Making a small fire will provide you with warmth and comfort and at night serve as a visible signal to rescuers which can be seen from far away.
• Make sure your cellphone battery is charged so that you can call for help when there is reception. No matter where and how far I go off the beaten path, I always carry a Rubbermaid box in the vehicle that contains a blanket, flashlight, spare batteries, bear spray, small tarp, warm jacket, socks, underwear, boots and a pair of pants. Should I, for whatever reason, get wet, it is important to change as quickly as possible into dry clothing to prevent hypothermia.
• If you have a medical condition that requires regular and scheduled medication, make sure that you have the required prescription medication on you at all times. There are several cases each year of people developing life-threatening health conditions or dying because they get stranded in the bush without having access to their prescription medication.
• Always take a few bottles of drinking water and some food in the form of chocolate, trail mix or nutrition bars with you. While humans can go up to six days without food, they only can last two days without fluids. As well, it is important to a person’s overall well-being and personal comfort to drink and eat regularly.
The above recommendations should be considered even on short trips. If you go out in the wilderness, always be prepared for the worst-case scenario and prepare accordingly. There has been a time or two where I had to make long detours because the road was blocked by a fallen tree. Now I always carry a chainsaw and pulley in my outdoor emergency kit.
If you get stranded in the wilderness, try to attract attention from others. At night, make a fire. During the daytime, activate the vehicle horn with three short sounds every half hour.
If you have a firearm, shoot three times in the air in quick succession every half hour. These signals are universally recognized as distress signals.
Being outdoors is a wonderful experience but for the unprepared person, nature can quickly turn deadly as was sadly illustrated last month.
Always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst is good advice that will keep you safe from harm in most instances.
With that in mind, I wish you all an enjoyable and safe spring hunting season.
