Night rescue tip - signaling at night

[Al_HikesAZ]

I heard this last week in a conversation with some SAR people. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) helicopter "Fox 1" http://www.mcso.org/submenu.asp?file=Aviation has a powerful FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared Radar) system.

If you are lost at night in Maricopa County, when you hear the chopper,
1) definitely use your flashlight or headlamp
but if you don’t have a flashlight or headlamp, or the batteries are dead;
2) illuminate your cell phone screen and use it like you would use a signal mirror during daylight. In the FLIR system, the illuminated screen lights up brightly and can be seen from several miles away. Don’t waste your battery, but use every available tool to help rescuers find you.

I don’t know if Fox 2 or the smaller Fox 4 & 5 have FLIR. Fox 2 probably has it since is it similar to Fox 1. Can’t answer that.

I have a mirror and can signal during the day, but if I were to be lost at night I would fear building a fire because of the dryness. I don’t want a spark to start a conflagration. But then again, if I can clear a large enough area and feel that I can control a small fire, I would start a fire. I wouldn’t want to be remembered like that woman who started part of the Rodeo-Chediski fire, but I would want to be found.

Think about survival scenarios when you don’t need them so that you are prepared if ever you do need them.

[Sredfield]

At a Tucson air show I was talking to the police helicopter pilot and he was explaining something similar. Using that kind of radar, they search a crime scene and the surrounding area. He said many many times the suspect runs about as far as he can, which isn't too far, then hides in a shadow and lights up a smoke. Beside the lighter/match when he lights up, they can see the change in the brightness when the guy sucks on the cigarette, increasing the glow of the burning end.

Ain't technology something.

[RedRoxx44]

Sort of off the subject--in my caving group we hold meetings at the SAR house in Pima county; quite a few of the cavers also are members various SAR organizations. In caves light is precious, so even if your cell phone doesn't work (obviously) you can use the light of it to try to orient yourself to get yourself out if you bring it in the cave. Same for the light on your watch.

Best thing is be prepared to get yourself out. My own experience stranded on a ledge in a flash flood on the Az strip, I had an unplanned night out but got myself out the next day, one day late, and let the rangers know my status. Had a heat exhaustion experience a couple of times on solo forays, realized my situation, took care of myself, and manged to hike out on one, get a ride out (yes I hitchhiked) on the other one. Always, always have a plan, and a backup plan or two.