A sad reminder

I'm sure many of you by now know that the search for a missing person in Southern Oregon ended in tragedy. It's a reminder that none of us are immune from unforeseen problems coming upon us. Whether or not we live past them depends on how adequately prepared we are.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, the Presbyterian minister here is part of the regional Search & Rescue team. He is also an avid kayaker. He often goes out for a week all by himself. But before he heads out, he lets someone know where he is going and when to expect him back. He is also prepared with enough supplies and equipment to survive longer than planned, if needed, until help arrives. This is particularly important in a remote area such as what we have here.

So I took his advice (he doesn't want to be the one to tell Elise and the kids that because I was ill-prepared, the rescuers didn't reach me in time) and purchased a few essential gear for those times that I might head into the forests and other remote areas, whether by myself or with others. It's a few dollars that could mean the difference between coming out alive or dead.

So some of the essentials that everyone should do & carry, whether it's an afternoon hike, or a car trip through remote areas. Not only do you owe it to yourself, but to your family, in order of importance --

1. If lost, stay where you are -- if you start moving and don't know your surroundings, you might become injured. Once injured, the possibility of survival diminishes greatly.
2. Some form of shelter to keep dry and maintain body heat (space blanket, portable tarp, rain poncho). Just a few dollars and a few ounces.
3. Water - unless you're in SE Alaska, in which case an empty water bottle or skunk cabbage will do just fine in collecting fresh, clean water as it comes down.
4. Food - a few energy bars to maintain your body engine, enough to last a couple of days. Again, a few dollars, a few ounces.
5. Weatherproof matches, candle, and possibly some kindling - useful for both heat and signaling.
6. Useful, but less critical: Bright colored clothing, tarps, flashlight, glo-sticks, etc. to help searchers more easily locate you fro the air. Handwarmers for heat. Small toolkit -- like a Leatherman.

Cell phones may or may not be useful. Don't rely on them to be available when you need it most.

"Be prepared." That's also a good spiritual motto. None of us knows what sort of storms and trials are around the next corner in the journey of life. Are we sufficiently prepared to weather out the storms and make it through the inevitable wildernesses that we travel through?