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Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day

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avatar Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 19, 2009 02:07PM
SALT LAKE CITY — The ripest recipe for trouble in a national park? Young men hiking on a weekend who make a bad decision or two and end up hurt, exhausted or lost.

On average, 11 search-and-rescue operations are launched in national parks every day. While expenses average around $900, the price can easily jump into the thousands of dollars, according to a new analysis of search-and-rescue operations over 15 years.

Story here.
avatar Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 19, 2009 04:43PM
So you want to bar young men from the parks?
avatar Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 19, 2009 05:27PM
If the average was 11, there must have been some days with a lot more rescues than that. I wonder if they include actions by lifeguards?
Yosemite was 25% of costs but only 10% of rescues (see associated charts).


Heggie's study, published in the latest issue of the journal Wilderness and Environmental Medicine
http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1580/08-WEME-OR-299R.1

Abstract:
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine 20(3):244-249. 2009
doi: 10.1580/08-WEME-OR-299R.1



Dead Men Walking: Search and Rescue in US National Parks
Travis W. Heggie, PhDa,b and Michael E. Amundson, BSa

aFrom the Recreation & Tourism Studies Program (Dr Heggie and Mr Amundson), University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND

bFrom the Great Plains Injury Prevention Research Initiative (Dr Heggie), University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND

Abstract
Objective.—To identify search and rescue (SAR) trends in US National Park Service (NPS) units.

Methods.—A retrospective review of the US National Park Service Annual Search and Rescue Reports from 1992 to 2007 and the SAR statistics for all NPS units in 2005.

Results.—From 1992 to 2007 there were 78488 individuals involved in 65439 SAR incidents. These incidents ended with 2659 fatalities, 24288 ill or injured individuals, and 13212 saves. On average there were 11.2 SAR incidents each day at an average cost of $895 per operation. Total SAR costs from 1992 to 2007 were $58572164. In 2005, 50% of the 2430 SAR operations occurred in just 5 NPS units. Grand Canyon National Park (307) and Gateway National Recreation Area (293) reported the most SAR operations. Yosemite National Park accounted for 25% of the total NPS SAR costs ($1.2 million); Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve ($29310) and Denali National Park and Preserve ($18345) had the highest average SAR costs. Hiking (48%) and boating (21%) were the most common activities requiring SAR assistance. Hiking (22.8%), suicides (12.1%), swimming (10.1%), and boating (10.1%) activities were the most common activities resulting in fatalities.

Conclusions.—Without the presence of NPS personnel responding to SAR incidents, 1 in 5 (20%) of those requesting SAR assistance would be a fatality. Future research and the development of any prevention efforts should focus on the 5 NPS units where 50% of all SAR incidents are occurring.



The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.
-- Carl Sagan
avatar Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 19, 2009 06:45PM
Hmmmm. Suicide was commonly fatal. Hmmm



Old Dude
Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 19, 2009 08:19PM
Even Marines can be caught unprepared up in the mountains:

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20091016/NEWS01/91016022/1263/UPDATE
avatar Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 19, 2009 08:26PM
Quote
KenS
Even Marines can be caught unprepared up in the mountains:

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20091016/NEWS01/91016022/1263/UPDATE

Well, they were resourceful. I have never heard of using a tram for a rescue. I wonder how the whole situation occured originally.
Probably worse places to be "rescued to" than Palm Springs.



The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.
-- Carl Sagan
Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 22, 2009 08:30PM
suicides are the 2nd leading cause of death in national parks following motor vehicle crashes.
avatar Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 22, 2009 08:44PM
Quote
Pistolpete
suicides are the 2nd leading cause of death in national parks following motor vehicle crashes.

Isn't that what they mean by "Plan Your Visit"
avatar Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 26, 2009 11:12PM
That's probably taking into account all parks but I think in Yosemite the main cause of death is "not reading signage".



Old Dude



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/26/2009 11:13PM by mrcondron.
avatar Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 27, 2009 12:51AM
Quote
mrcondron
in Yosemite the main cause of death is "not reading signage".

The "35 MPH" signage?
avatar Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 27, 2009 12:57AM
That and "don't go up the cables if..", " don't go in the water or..", "wet granite is slippery..", "never say 'Hey, watch this!' ". Stuff like that.



Old Dude
Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 22, 2009 08:28PM
Read the study. It says nothing about banning anyone.
Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 19, 2009 09:16PM
Color me unsurprised. I'm actually surprised the number of rescues is that low....
avatar Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 19, 2009 11:05PM
Quote
AlmostThere
I'm actually surprised the number of rescues is that low....

God protects children, animals, and idiots.
Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 20, 2009 07:12AM
Quote
szalkowski
Quote
AlmostThere
I'm actually surprised the number of rescues is that low....

God protects children, animals, and idiots.

Rolling on floor laugh

Most of the time!
avatar Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 20, 2009 08:48AM
Quote
bpnjensen
Quote
szalkowski
Quote
AlmostThere
I'm actually surprised the number of rescues is that low....

God protects children, animals, and idiots.

Most of the time!



She can't be everywhere at once.

Besides, even God can be outmaneuvered (see Corollary #7 to Murphy's Law): "Nothing is foolproof... because fools are so ingenious."
avatar Re: Study: Park Service averages 11 searches per day
October 20, 2009 12:34PM
Quote
bpnjensen
Quote
szalkowski
Quote
AlmostThere
I'm actually surprised the number of rescues is that low....

God protects children, animals, and idiots.

Rolling on floor laugh

Most of the time!

s/Most/Too much/
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