Common Sense Crucial to Survival in the North
Phil Duffy
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Apr 27/01) - There are a lot of people out there who owe their lives to the diligent efforts of the members of search and rescue teams throughout the North.
Whether they were rescued by plane, helicopter, boat, snow machine, all-terrain vehicle, or even dog team they were all grateful.
The territorial government, and the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS), held a national search and rescue prevention conference earlier this month.
The mission of the conference was to motivate all people to acquire and use the knowledge, information, skills, equipment, supplies and programs necessary to avoid or reduce the severity of incidents associated with Northern life.
Director of the Emergency Services Division, Eric Bussey represented the Northwest Territories in the national discussion on promoting prevention information, held in the NorthwesTel boardroom in Yellowknife.
"What we are attempting to do, with the aid of a federal grant, is to consult with Northern communities and increase their level of awareness and preparedness concerning search and rescue," said Bussey.
"This involves everything from the basic common sense approach when boating or camping, etc. to learning the intricacies of the new computer systems."
Holman resident Dave Jones and his girlfriend Vicki Tompkins were out for the weekend last September boating and camping in the White Beach Point area located on the north arm of Great Slave Lake.
Due to unexpectedly rough weather their return was delayed by more than 24 hours.
"After waiting out the rough weather we were heading back in the boat when we encountered a search and rescue boat that was looking for us," said Jones.
"We were never really in a life-threatening situation, but we greatly appreciated the fact that search and rescue was out there on our behalf."
Jones and Tompkins had the foresight to let some neighbors know where they were going, and when they were due back.
When they failed to return around the appointed time, the neighbors called search and rescue who were able to spot the couple from the air.
There is a lesson to be learned from this experience. Let people know your trip plans in case something goes wrong.
Other simple little things like wearing life jackets, having and checking adequate equipment and supplies, and learning about the terrain you will be visiting before you depart, are often foolishly overlooked.
RCMP Sgt. Jack Kruger co-ordinated 26 successful search and rescue missions last year.
"There are three basic rules to outdoor survival -- preparedness, preparedness, preparedness," he said.
