Self Help

(Airwaves Issue 5 Autumn 2008)

More and more air rescue operations are in response to emergencies where victims are completely unprepared or ill-equipped for the activity they are undertaking.

Kiwis' love of the great outdoors is well documented and each year, thousands of people head off to our mountains, seas, rivers, bush, coast, lakes and wilderness well prepared, well resourced and generally armed to the teeth with an impressive array of equipment and a responsible attitude to their activity and their own personal safety.

Many take well-planned precautions, telling people where they are going, when they aim to return and what to do if they don't.

Many keep a sharp eye on the weather, surrounding conditions and travelling times and are fully aware of their own physical limitations and those of any companions.

Many return safe and sound, after a journey or an adventure that put them in touch with nature and themselves in one of the world’s great adventure playgrounds.

But unfortunately, many don’t.

An increasing number of people head off into the back of beyond with a misguided sense of adventure, safe in the knowledge that if things go wrong, someone will come and rescue them.

Unfortunately, it’s not quite that easy.

New Zealand is a big country and the wilderness isn’t called the wilderness for nothing. Imagine looking for trampers, lost amongst 24,000 hectares of tightly packed, bush covered terrain when you have no idea of the direction they were headed.

Now imagine them cold, hungry and possibly injured because they had minimum food, the wrong type of clothing and underestimated the difficulty of the terrain.

Imagine them wearing green jackets. And now imagine them at night.

Certainly, that’s a worst case scenario but preparing for the worst could speed up rescue and ultimately save lives.

There is certainly no shortage of safety advice, readily available from organisations and agencies tasked with the role of helping people equip themselves and prepare adequately and correctly.

At the same time safety equipment, clothing, provisions and navigation equipment is technologically more advanced and easily accessible than it has ever been, providing every advantage to responsible outdoor enthusiasts.

However, even the best laid plans have a habit of turning foul and accidents do happen. From an air rescue point of view, simply knowing where to look is an obvious but critical factor in mounting an effective rescue operation.

Emergency locator beacons are a good place to start.

For boats they are referred to as EPIRBs (emergency position-indicating radio beacons), for aircraft ELTs (electronic locator beacons), and for trampers, climbers, mountainbikers and everyone else PLBs (personal locator beacons).

However they are known, the principle of operation is the same. When activated, these units send out a radio signal that helps searchers to locate it.

In the past, beacons transmitted a signal on a radio frequency of 121.5MHz. That signal was located by satellite and radio direction-finding equipment to find out where the signal originated. Two or more different fixes were needed to narrow down the search area, lengthening the time before a fix on the position was established and a search team dispatched.

As well as the time delays, 121.5MHz beacons transmitted an analogue signal that was difficult to distinguish from radio interference, often resulting in false alarms and because the signal was anonymous, it was not possible to determine whether a search was required.

However, the old technology associated with the original 121.5MHz system is gradually being phased out and is due to be replaced by a new digital beacon transmitting on 406MHz.  From February 2009, the old system will no longer be monitored.

The new digital signals are clearly distinct and will also identify a registered owner, enabling a quick check to determine a false alarm. Signals on the new 406 frequency are detected worldwide by a fleet of new satellites, and the originating location can be found quicker and with much greater accuracy.

The new beacons also transmit a code that is unique to the owner. This code is matched to a database, which brings up the owner's details and any relevant information - type of vessel, aircraft, etc – provided they are registered with the New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre.

Beacon registration is free and information provided is kept confidential. Registration forms can be downloaded at www.beacons.org.nz

Being rescued within the ‘golden hour’ (the first hour after an incident) can increase chances of survival and recovery up to 80%. With increased accuracy and speed the likelihood of this occurring is greatly enhanced with the new 406 beacons.

Carrying locator beacons and keeping them up-to-date, well maintained and registered, demonstrates a responsible attitude to personal safety when venturing into the bush or out on to the water. 

For boats, the EPIRB should to be fitted in a bracket where it is not susceptible to knocks, yet readily accessible in case of the need to abandon ship.

With PLBs, it is important to carry it on the person. There’s really no point leaving your personal locator beacon or other communications equipment on the shore, as you are swept down a river or out to sea.

Recognising the need for recreational divers to carry locator beacons or cellphones with them while diving has led a North Canterbury couple to develop a watertight canister specifically designed to hold communication equipment in a safe, dry environment.

Tony and Robyn Maw developed DiveBuddy™ in the hope of reducing the growing number of incidents and fatalities caused by divers being lost or injured without being able to contact help.

DiveBuddy™ has been well received nationwide and is recommended by the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust.

Whether it means carrying Emergency Locator Beacons in your boat or a simple First Aid Kit in the glovebox of your car, taking a responsible approach to personal safety means thinking ahead and applying a solid dose of common sense.

The same preparatory attitude relates to every outdoor activity.

Last year, recreational skiing and snowboarding accidents and injuries cost taxpayers $12 million in ACC payments.

The Accident Compensation Corporation received 11,633 claims for snow sport injuries during the 2006-2007 financial year. Of those, 1200 were "serious or moderate claims" worth about $8 million.

While most of the injuries involved ‘human error’, many involved poorly maintained equipment and could have been prevented by thinking ahead and preparing for the season.

Of last year's snow sports claims, 61 per cent were from skiers, many with knee injuries, and 39 per cent from snowboarders, most of whom had upper limb injuries.

The statistics have snow industry experts warning skiers and boarders to check their gear thoroughly before heading to the slopes.

The Snow Industries Federation is offering free equipment checks through retailers during the upcoming snow season.

Each year, we see a dramatic increase in the numbers of air rescue missions flown in response to accidents involving some sort of leisure activity.

By taking a responsible attitude to safety, preparing for the conditions, thinking ahead, making adequate preparations and if necessary carrying the appropriate safety equipment, these activities can be enjoyed to the full while reducing the chance of becoming another rescue statistic.