Planning, preparation critical for travel into wilderness, RCMP say

RCMP are reminding the public to be prepared when venturing into the Saskatchewan wilderness after a rescue over the weekend.

On Saturday, a 33-year-old man from La Ronge had to be airlifted from an area roughly 160 kilometres north of the community after he injured himself while working on a trapline. The call for assistance came into La Ronge RCMP at roughly 9:30 p.m.

Paramedics from La Ronge Emergency Medical Services were transported to the area by float plane and the man was then transported to hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening.

Sgt. Josh Hallett of the La Ronge RCMP said the man was injured while cutting wood and was fine once he was transported to hospital. Alongside ensuring someone is aware of where you’re going and when you plan to return, Hallett noted those travelling into the woods should also be equipped with a satellite phone, a working GPS tracker and a first-aid kit.

“Something that would be a minor injury in the city or in town — where you can get help or get to an ambulance right away — can take a drastic turn when you’re in a remote area and you can’t have someone attend to that injury right away or you’re not able to attend to it yourself,” he said.

With some areas in Saskatchewan’s north only accessible by plane, people should also be prepared to wait for rescue, as it can take some time for paramedics and police to respond once a call is received, as weather and time of day are just some of the factors that come into play. However, having the equipment alone, Hallett said, isn’t always enough.

“Beyond just having the tools, the person needs to have the skills to use them as well,” he said. “The time to test your GPS is not when you’re lost.”

Rich Hildebrand, a provincial conservation officer, said overall research on a planned route is also important as conditions in Saskatchewan’s wilderness can change “very quickly.”

“It takes one thunderstorm to go through and all at once things are different,” he said, adding that checking in with conservation officers or local residents may be one way to get information about changing conditions or potential wildlife dangers.

“Call. Do a quick double check and do as much research as you can,” he said.