‘It's a constant sleuthing process’: What goes into search and rescue efforts?
Several searches have occurred in Saskatchewan so far this year, but sometimes the efforts involved often go unnoticed.
Director of Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers Scott Wright says there are a lot of factors that can go into a search effort.
“There's a real core piece around that boots on the ground side,” he said.
“One starts with the mindset that search is an emergency, and there's a critical component of having your head in the game all the time. You're working with the understanding that there are more clues than there are subjects, so you're looking not only with the idea of that final subject but for all of the indicators that go around with that subject.”
Wright said it was vital to understand the missing person's perspective so they can try and anticipate what the person might be thinking.
“Give us indications, signs, direction, clues in terms of where (they) might go. It's a constant sleuthing process.”
Provincial coordinator for Adventure Smart Linda Mushanski says search parties will be looking for something that’s not natural in nature.
“For example, taking a bunch of logs if you're in the woods and you’re by a clearing, take a bunch of logs and make a big X, so that if an airplane or a helicopter goes over you they'll see that X that's not natural, they know that you're there,” she said.
Mushanski says the most important thing to do if you ever get separated in the wilderness is stay put.
“You want to make sure that you're in a safe place, so you want to know that you're not in the middle of a road or in the middle of an avalanche area, but get somewhere safe, stay put, hunker down and wait for searchers to come and find you,” she said.
“If you have fire-making stuff with you, make yourself a small fire as well so the smoke from that fire will also help to signal somebody to come to where you are.”
Mushanski said there were three T’s that Adventure Smart recommends people follow; trip planning, training and taking the essentials.
“Trip planning is very simple, it's telling somebody where you're going and when you expect to return so that if you are overdue, they know that they need to go looking for you,” she said.
Training also involves taking wilderness survival courses.
“The last one is taking the essentials, and these are a number of items that we recommend that you carry with you at all times. They include things like a first aid kit, sun protection, extra food and water, something to communicate with, so it would be a cell phone, be it a radio, something like that,” she said.
“Those are the main things that you need to have with you so that if you do get lost, you get do get separated, that you have a better chance of surviving.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.