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Trip Safety Plan


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  • #1236176
    John S.
    BPL Member

    @jshann

    Here is a model safety plan to leave with a family member and to have on the trail.

    Backcountry Safety Plan

    Emergency Instructions: Please notify Ranger station if I do not make contact within 24 hours after exit location time below.

    Trip Information
    Trip: (location; dates; # days/nights)
    Leader: (name)
    Participants: (# male; # female; names)
    Travel Plans: (vehicle year, make, model, color, license plate; flight information; travel dates)
    Entry Location: (date; trailhead; time)
    Exit Location: (date; trailhead; time)
    Communication Gear: (plb, satellite phone, cellular phone)

    Land Management Information
    Location Name: (name of national forest or national park)
    Management Agency: (name; address; phone)
    Ranger Station/Outpost Facility: (ranger district; address; phone)

    Additional Emergency Contacts
    Hiking Group: (name; address; phone; website)
    Sheriff: (name; county; address; phone)
    Police: (department; address; phone)
    EMS/Fire Department: (fire dept; address; phone)

    Medical Facilities (24 hour emergency services)
    1. name; address; phone
    2. name; address; phone

    Route/Evacuation Information
    Day 1 (day of week; date)
    Route: entering trailhead; trail name(s); direction of travel; on-trail or cross country; possible camping locations
    Evacuation: most likely trailheads to evacuate

    Day 2 (day of week; date)
    Route: trail name(s); direction of travel; on-trail or cross country; possible camping locations
    Evacuation: most likely trailheads to evacuate

    Day 3 (day of week; date)
    Route: trail name(s); direction; exiting trailhead
    Evacuation: most likely trailheads to evacuate

    #1500842
    John S.
    BPL Member

    @jshann

    BEFORE THE TRIP
    1. Leave with family/friend: backcountry safety plan

    AT THE TRAILHEAD
    1. Leave in your car: shoe/boot make and model; hiking shoe sole imprint (make a boot print in aluminum foil, mark your name with a marker, and leave it on your dash); description of hiking clothes; emergency contacts; second cheap digital camera with group picture in memory.

    Note: There is controversy about how much info to leave in cars at trailheads. Some think leaving how long you are out and route is not a good idea.

    2. Keep on your person: safety plan; medical ID tag

    ON THE TRAIL
    1. Trail registers: sign in and out for an extra safety measure.
    2. Rangers/hikers on the trail: talk to any Rangers you see and introduce yourself, most important if hiking solo.

    OFF THE TRAIL
    1. Make contact with family/friend who is holding your backcountry safety plan.

    Medical ID tag
    You: (name; address; phone)
    Next of Kin: (relationship; name; address; phone)
    Family Physician: (name; address; phone)
    Work: (company; address; phone)
    Birthdate:
    Height/Weight:
    Health Insurance: (name; policy #; phone)
    Medical History: such as heart ds, lung ds, diabetes
    Medications: blood pressure pills, etc.
    Allergies: prescription drugs, bee sting, etc.

    #1500920
    Frank Deland
    Member

    @rambler

    Locale: On the AT in VA

    If you are overdue on a hike, who should the person who knows you are overdue call? Although Field and Game or some other service might do the actual searching, they usually have to go through the police for authorization. So knowing the nearest local police station location and emergency numbers would be good to have. If you just call the State Police, you could be talking to someone miles from the correct area. They would probably ask, "What county?" Also, rescue services often do not have 24 hour phone service like police stations do.
    My suggestion is to call police first. If you are the one calling for help from the trail, dial 911 before calling the rescue service.

    #1500922
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    "My suggestion is to call police first."

    Hi frank,

    I don't know how it works out your way, but in Washington and California, the county sheriff is the contact for SAR situations. Probably varies from locale to locale.

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