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Spring arrival ushers in busy season for search and rescue crews

Mar 21, 2019 | 12:22 AM

NANAIMO — The arrival of sunny skies also means the busy season has begun for search and rescue crews in Nanaimo and the mid-island area. 

There was already a large-scale response Tuesday morning and early afternoon after a man stayed out in the bush off Weigles Rd. overnight on Monday, March 18 but didn’t tell his family. 

Arrowsmith Search and Rescue president Nick Rivers told NanaimoNewsNOW the substantial response to the missing man is how they handle any challenge, big or small. 

“The sooner we can get problems resolved, the better. We’ll call everyone. If it ends quickly…we turn back aorund and go home, back to work, back to whatever it was we were doing when we got called.” 

Rivers said proper communication is key when hiking, even out on a short walk, since it tells friends and family where the person is going, where they’re supposed to be and also helps pinpoint where the search should focus. 

“With an instance like what happened earlier this week, that specific task had a very large area involved…with potentially a person who left on a dirt bike. They could be anywhere within where that tank of fuel could get them and a dirt bike in the bush can cover a lot of ground very fast.” 

Though spring days are peaking in the high teens temparature-wise, Rivers said summer apparel won’t always suffice. 

“Right now it’s 19 degrees but it’s probably going to go down to around zero at night. So going out in a t-shirt and shorts isn’t a great idea if you don’t have extra warm clothing in a pack with you.”

Nanaimo Search and Rescue handled record-breaking years in both 2017 and 2018 and the trend isn’t expected to stop in 2019. 

Nanaimo SAR Top 10 Essentials

  • Fire starter (matches, lighter)
  • Flashlight or headlamp
  • Extra food and water
  • Extra clothes
  • Pocket knife
  • Shelter (tarp)
  • First aid kit
  • Compass or GPS device
  • Cell phone
  • Whistle or signal device

 

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit