Article:

Flood of hikers, protective gear requirements could pose challenges for search-and-rescue teams

Great article! A good point, too- COVID makes SAR more dangerous and reduces the available pool of volunteers.

I have an odd comment/question ...

How do I know that a post's hyperlink is safe to click on?

If the post was from someone on the forum that has a strong history, I may not be so unsure.

I guess the original post in this thread - with no real info and just a link - looked too much like an email that I'd immediately delete.

I certainly have no intention to offend the original author!!!

I right-click on the link, copy the URL, and dump it into a text file for examination first. That's pretty safe.

He has a strong history- Micheal2 has posted several times a year for 16 years!

Interesting article. It's a caution to be better prepared and more conservative about risk during Covid, because of the increased difficulty of mounting SAR operations.

There's also a link in the article to an Outside piece about the state of SAR in the US. I found it interesting. https://www.outsideonline.com/2407811/search-and-rescue-america-overwhelmed

Newsflash- Participation in SAR operations has always been challenging for volunteers. The current corona virus situation adds yet another complication (and a face mask, no doubt).

Being prepared for your escapade is always a good idea,regardless of what bug is currently laying waste to us, and since when was mounting SAR operations easy?

Yep Hikermor is correct.
I spent 12 years as a MRA certified volunteer, with the all volunteer El Paso County Colorado SAR. Nothing is easy in this line of work.
To steal the words of the US Navy Seals the only easy day was yesterday . Colorado has a fee for hunting and fishing licenses, and hikers can pay a small fee also. The money is for replacement of team gear like ropes, litters etc.
The rest of personal gear is paid for by the individual team members not cheap.
Dang too bad I got too old I miss it
Stay safe out there
Happy Fourth of July

Don't cry too hard for the poor volunteer, SAR, or other specialty. I have experienced that the rewards and benefits of volunteering definitely outweigh the sacrifices.

The sacrifices are definitely present, but the rewards are immense. During my most active period in SAR, i was experiencing the negatives of a prolonged deterioration in my marriage, eventually ending in divorce, and a flat spot in my career. For several years, SAR was just about the only positive element in my life and I believe the opportunity to react positively and aid someone in a bit of trouble had profound beneficial effects.

In an odd way, depending upon the job situation, there may be a definite positive feedback into your work environment

Now retired, I also volunteer for other pursuits and I find similar benefits. I believe this would hold true for anyone devoting effort to a volunteer enterprise, provided the activity is something that definitely interest you.

Sometime when you are out at 3 AM, in the rain, searching for little Johnnie, and drinking the last of your water, just remember"Hikermor made me do this..."

I wonder, with the gig economy, contract work, irregular income and all that: where will the next crop of SAR volunteers come from? I think it's a good question to explore.