But I also have very strong feelings about SAR having to go out and look for idiots. Maybe back country registers at trailheads/ranger stations should include a 10 essentials list and if you don't have at least 6 out of 10 then you forfit a Search & Rescue effort in the event of your non-return - you can still go and play but you've admitted that the gene pool would be better off without you and the rest of us can act accordingly.
That might conflict with the “duty to perform” aspect of abandonment. I don’t think any SAR team would want to be the first to test it out in court of law or the court of public opinion.
My feelings on the subject have been posted before. If you participate in SAR/EMS/Fire/Rescue/LE, you do so with the knowledge you may need to come to the aid of the prepared individual who just got into trouble or the unprepared individual who may have or not done something real stupid to be in their current situation. If you do not want to be response neutral you should not be in SAR, EMS, Fire/Rescue or any other emergency service. Yes, you get tired and fed up with people who are unprepared or are frequent fliers (an EMS term) or a whole host of seemly unnecessary emergency reponses, but if you are that bothered by such people/situations, you should look to some other job or interest.
Pete
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