Staying Safe in the Outdoors

A few key tips from LandSAR volunteers Huntley Adamson, Charlotte Aronsen and Steve Pooley on how to enjoy the New Zealand landscapes safely.

BE PREPARED:

Safety begins before you even get to the outdoors. Many searches involve looking for someone who may not have a rain jacket or adequate gear for the environment. Simple things like torches and extra clothing. Have good gear and know how to use it.

KNOW YOUR LIMITS:

Be aware of what you’re capable of, and don’t push too hard when outdoors. If you wake up feeling lousy before you depart, consider postponing your trip. Personal growth and new experiences are good, but not to a degree where it becomes unsafe.

LET PEOPLE KNOW:

Tell someone where you’re going. Leave intentions, a plan of where you’re going, and even some other possibilities in case you change your mind during your journey (e.g. some main points of interest, where you’ll park your car, etc.).

RESPECT OUR WILDERNESS:

Our New Zealand bush is quite unique, and easy to underestimate. Weather can quickly change. The environment can rapidly shift from lovely to dangerous. A loose rock, rolling your ankle on a trail. It happens fast. Take care, be prepared.

CONSIDER A LOCATOR BEACON:

Recommended (and used) by all our interviewees. Available for purchase or hire, these GPS-enabled rescue beacons relay your exact location to Search and Rescue if you get in distress in the outdoors.

SIGN THE HUT BOOKS:

Whether you’re staying in the DOC huts or not (e.g. pitching a tent or just passing through), sign into the hut books as you go. LandSAR use these as part of their search and as extra clues to a lost party’s direction. An easy and important thing to do.

STAY IN PLACE:

If you get in serious trouble in the outdoors, call 111 on your cellphone or set off your personal locator beacon and then stay put until rescue can arrive.