http://www.whiotv.com/news/14338476/detail.html

I wonder if they had had even minimal survival gear or a cell phone if the outcome would have been different?

Without being able to contact someone, I doubt it. Sixty-eight and eighty... The trouble with cell phones is that elderly people can have trouble hearing them, so they don't use them.

Very sad.

Sue

Yes, but even if they did not know how to use a cell phone, a number of the newer cell phones have GPS tracking capability (popular with parents with teen age children). It might have made a difference, but hard to say.

Craig.

Burning a wet wood would give off a columnn of smoke and it's easy to start a fire with a cigar lighter and petrol or trim from the car. they had everything they needed with them. except the knowledge.
simon

My grandmother is nearing 90 years old, yet it still quite sharp and able. A while back my uncle bought her a cell phone and a car mounted GPS and we all made sure she knew how to use both. Not too long ago she and a friend got lost trying to find the friend's niece's house. They pulled over, took the GPS out of the glove box, put in the address, and got there no problem. Didn't even need to use her cell phone. Since then she loves the thing and uses it all the time.

It just goes to show that both young and old alike can be taught to use new tools and technology. It's just that we often don't spend the time with them necessary for learning.

(By the way, she also keeps a well stocked first aid kit, blankets, water, and other basic supplies in her car. We didn't even have to tell her to do that, for her it's common sense having had three sons, nine grandkids, and five great-grandkids running around. )

To me, this reinforces the idea of “let somebody know where you are going and what your plans are”. There’s a big difference between Columbus, Ohio and Carollton, Kentucky. It seems the confusion between the two made the search area a whole lot bigger than it needed to be.

"It just goes to show that both young and old alike can be taught to use new tools and technology."

Very true. I looked up the retirement home where they lived, and it's no low-rent place. Either no one knew how helpful a GPS could be, or no one could be bothered.

Sue

This proves that it is a bad idea "to shop till you drop"

Wildman,

1) We will pretend you didn't post that.
2) We won't give their families your house address.

Sue

Thank you!