A search and rescue operation involves the use of various techniques deployed by trained professionals to attempt to find and save casualties that are lost or in danger. However, search and rescue are two separate functions; the former is indicative of a location-related activity wherein attempts are made to look through an area, place or zone carefully, in order to find something missing or lost and the rescue function uses a combination of techniques to free or deliver from confinement, persons or things.

Objectives of search and rescue techniques
The main goal of launching a search and rescue is to find the right rescuer, rescue the greatest number of people in the shortest amount of time and always rescue the lightly trapped victims first. Those seeking more information on search and rescue techniques can find out from local authorities if there are positions available for voluntary services. However, in the initial stages, most volunteer workers have to confine their efforts to light search and rescue, which involves relatively uncomplicated release of victims from minimal risk situations.

The importance of planning: a necessity in search and rescue techniques
Planning a rescue strategy is very important when attempting successful search and rescue operations as more often than not; spontaneous rescue efforts result in serious injuries and compound the problems of persons trapped in a dangerous situation. For this reason, rescue efforts should be planned and practiced in advance and need to be based on:

• the risks involved in attempting the search and rescue
• overall goal of doing the best for the greatest number of people.

Importance of time in search and rescue techniques
The importance of time cannot be stressed enough when attempting search and rescue operations as it may be very limited for some victims. This is why the first 24 hours after a disaster are referred to as ‘Golden Day’ since that is the period during which injured or trapped victims have an 80 percent chance of survival, if rescued.

• It is important to be part of the solution, not the problem and first identifying the risk in the rescue situation.
• Understanding the implications for rescuer safety is very important to minimize further loss.
• A quick analysis of the types of occupancies involved in the disaster provides valuable information about the human and physical resources that may be required and the amount of time that may be available for search and rescue operations. It is essential to use discretion and act fast, but not hastily in such a situation.
• Assessing the resources includes identifying personnel, equipment and tools that will prove useful for putting the techniques into practice.
• A buddy system is a good technique as working in pairs with a third person acting as a runner helps control most situations.
• Rotating teams and having back-up teams available after monitoring the length of exposure of active teams and checking for signs of fatigue helps establish regular search and rescue shifts and safe evacuation.

When it comes to talking about safety rules, conventional avalanche wisdom points to there being no rules of thumb. Having said that, it still does not completely rule out all hope for staying safe and alive in the face of such impending disasters that can happen on snowy terrains.

Overview of avalanche safety:
Avalanche accidents do not occur because of any fatal hand played by Dame Luck but as a result of physical and human factors that underlie each mishap. Persons heading for the outdoors where avalanche accidents are common need to update themselves on the available information about related factors that result in avalanche accidents.

Increasing chances of survival: avalanche safety tips
Most accidents involve slab avalanches and the victim, or a member of the victim’s party, usually triggers the slab that kills them. Skiers and climbers make up the bulk of the unfortunate casualties in avalanche accidents but snowmobilers and snowboarders are surpassing these numbers at an alarming rate now.

• Begin by learning about the fundamentals of the backcountry or avalanche prone area. Most avalanche conditions form as a result of the interaction of terrain, weather and snow pack. If one can learn to recognize the subtleties of avalanche terrain and mountain travelers understand how to correctly spot the obvious slopes where a fracture may occur, it will bring down fatalities by a large percentage.
• Mountain travelers need to know the likelihood of a potential fracture site, how far it may propagate by studying the terrain and paying attention to the weather. This is a vital link since storms are the source of most the world’s avalanches. Recognizing weather patterns helps travelers determine when a prolonged period of extremely cold and clear weather can significantly weaken a snow pack and set up a hair trigger circumstance. This is why persons venturing in such situations need to have a ‘feel’ of the snow and a good grasp of the physical processes that the snow pack depends on.
• Keep an ear out for any hint of hollow sounds, cracking, or collapsing, which are also important field observations. The ability to get a ‘feel’ of the snow is not of much use unless the smart mountain traveler combines it with the knowledge of slab structure and fracture propagation. This essential base of knowledge allows one to evaluate the stability of a given slope.
• Plan a route prior to leaving and ensure safety by staying close to dense timber. Also plan out escape routes before beginning to cross unstable slopes.
• It is advisable to cross slopes one at a time if instability is suspected of a slope and do so while maintaining constant visual contact with members of your group throughout.
• Stay aware of changing weather/temperature conditions if the outing lasts more than a few hours and carry avalanche rescue equipment, like beacons, ski-pole probes and collapsible shovels, as a necessary part of survival gear in mountainous areas prone to avalanche accidents.

While traveling in the outdoors is appealing for those with a yen for visiting foreign places, it is in keeping with good judgment that certain necessary precautions be kept in mind.

Travel tips for those venturing in the outdoors: safety and smartness
Most state government departments keep updated bulletins on travel destinations, covering factors that every tourist needs to be aware of when visiting a strange land; this includes vital information on issues like political unrest or criminal activities that target tourists, areas that are safe for day and night visits and which are best avoided.

• Consulting with a reputed travel agent, talking with friends who have already visited the intended destination and checking the Internet for more information about necessary security measures and comfortable stay in a new place are good ways to ensure a great holiday. Knowing as much as possible is the best way to prevent mishaps in any area, weather, terrain with a bit of common sense and forethought.
• It is prudent to keep travel plans and accommodation details to yourself and desisting making any change in plans/day’s timetable by hitch hiking or opting for cheaper, local options to reach a destination. These can be deceptively inexpensive but costly to life and limb, as many tourists have encountered.
• Avoid travel at night and stay in a group as far as possible. Opt for a ‘buddy system’ wherein there is always someone to venture out into the woods, if need be, with you.
• If entering a remote area, keep to a group of a minimum of four people; this ensures that if someone is hurt, another can stay with the victim while two go for help. Never go seeking for help alone in a strange place.
• If the area is unfamiliar to you, take a local along who knows the area or can at the very least, act as a translator for you.
• Be aware of the time of sunsets in a new place as you can be caught off guard in the outdoors when setting up camp or repairing a car by sudden loss of daylight. Also keep the location of the nearest telephone or ranger station handy in case an emergency occurs on your trip.
• If planning travel in the outdoors, one of the necessary precautions is to ensure that your body is in top gear to combat uncertain weather and terrain, not to mention local food. However, it is best to set a comfortable pace if planning on hiking, carrying necessary emergency medication to combat sudden illness, like diarrhea; and take along adequate supply of energy foods like hi-protein/carbohydrate bars to replenish lost energy.
• Try and take wilderness survival training so that you are equipped physically, mentally and emotionally to survive the wilds. Essential skills may include learning how to read a compass, erect a temporary shelter or give first aid and practicing these skills in advance will put you in a better position to handle life in the outdoors.

For all adventure lovers that enjoy the feel of the outdoors, life at the extremes is not a daunting prospect. But, for those that are family campers or out for the first time, braving the wilds and the unexpected can be a scary thought. However, this needn’t always be so for if correctly planned, any outdoor trip will go smoothly and happily.

Being prepared for eventualities: surviving life at the extremes
Among the things that can go wrong are the chances of people getting lost, losing maps, dry rations, injuries, not finding adequate shelter in time and running out of water/fluids when illness strikes. The best way for dealing with one or all such situations is to remember to keep from panicking and slowly figure out the possible course of action and feasibility of each approach to the problem at hand.

• If one gets lost in a place with extreme weather conditions, the first thing to do is prepare clothing and help gear to protect against the elements since food and fluids are come lower on the list when survival is the question.
• Move to higher ground, share out the food and water, listen out for rescuers, and signal if you hear them. This is where the essentials wilderness survival kit comes in and torchlight, a mirror, a compass and whistle are very significant elements in a complete kit.
• During the day, a person battling the extremes can attempt to light a small smoky fire of green leaves, if the vegetation in the area allows for that. If not rescued by nightfall, light a small, bright fire with dry materials and be prepared to brave it out for a while till help is at hand.
• If the conditions are extreme heat, one can turn pale, get clammy and breathe rapidly. In such a situation, persons experiencing life at the extremes should rest in the shade, sponge self with cool water and drink cool water with a little salt dissolved in it to keep from getting dehydrated.
• Try to protect yourself from the elements by crafting some kind of shelter to keep out the cold and wind and keep yourself as warm and dry as possible.
• If life at the extremes extends to very cold weather conditions, a person’s movements tend to naturally become slow and unsure; a person may stumble, get cramps, shiver suffer from blurred vision. Finding a warm, dry place for shelter from the wind and the rain is crucial in such a circumstance and if part of a group, one should wrap up as warmly as possible, share a sleeping bag and have warm drinks.
• Carry a waterproof electric torch since these give off no noxious fumes and are not a fire risk. Also remember to carry spare batteries in a dry place where they wont get wet.
• Good, strong waterproof boots and lined cloaks for cold weather, uneven terrain and unknown climes are a good buy and carrying several pairs of socks helps one to have padded protection for the feet doing the most hard work throughout an outdoor trip.

For all those that love the ruggedness of being in the outdoors, it is essential to know some key survival skills for staying alive in the woods, which is a likelihood that adventure lovers need to be prepared for. The most important aspect of first aid training for survival in the wilderness is to remember to stay calm and not panic as it can lead to the brain fogging up and the person doing just the opposite of what is required to stay alive.

Essential kit planning: what every person needs to stay alive in the woods
A small bag is ideal for carrying the bare minimum essentials kit for staying alive in woods; these include a compass, a reliable flashlight, waterproof matches, pocket knife with two blades, extra clothes, extra high energy food and water, a map of the area, sunscreen and bug spray/ointment, long-burning candle or fuel tablets and a small first aid kit.

Possibilities in the wild: general guidelines for staying alive in the woods

• Experts advice that if you get lost, stay in one area instead of attempting a La Christopher Columbus and discovering ‘America’ as it is more likely you will lose track of where you are headed and step in to more danger. It also makes it more difficult for others to rescue you.
• Inform people beforehand about the route you plan to take when in the wilds and go according to a daily timetable set beforehand. Carrying an emergency whistle and signal mirror is a great survival idea that raises one’s chance of being found. As simple as it may sound, the glare from a mirror can be seen 20 to 30 miles over the horizon and is an excellent way for signaling help.
• Seek shelter early instead of waiting for it to turn dark or cold in the hope of finding your way around.
• Avoid panic and think, rest, drink water/fluids and relax the mind to reassure yourself you will survive.
• Try to protect yourself from the elements by crafting some kind of shelter to keep out the cold and wind and keep yourself as warm and dry as possible.
• Water, food and fire are lesser priorities as compared to staying warm and dry and it is possible to even survive without these too. The reason why shelter is high on the list for staying alive in the woods is because human beings can survive without water/fluids for 3 to 5 days at a stretch and longer without food; however, when at the mercy of nature, one can die in a matter of hours.
• During thunderstorms, avoid the largest tree and stay away from the crest of rocks and protruding boulders as these may act as lightning conductors. Avoid marshy areas and wide open areas.
• Give yourself two hours of daylight when possible to build or find shelter, firewood, water and look out for tree branches to make lean-to shelters or teepees.