Since I haven't been rescued lately, I can't answer this one. How is your little survival campsite left? When do you put out the 3 signal fires, pack up your stuff, take down the garbage bag tube tent, fold up your air panel & remove the poncho that is tied to trees for shade, etc? Do you rush around, or will the helicopter wait? The fires, air panel, & tent/shelter must stay up until you are sure that you will be rescued shortly. OR do we forget about the environment & just leave our trash & fires behind?

I heard that MedEvac just lets you take the clothes on your body. Someone MAY put out the fire. The rest will probably be left to rot at the site. It might depend on individuals, but from the look of America's roadsides, I wouldn't count on a cleanup crew.

Cynical Sue

Unless its a combat situation, the SAR bird will drop a crew member to assess your situation and then stand off. You might be injured and need medical attention before being evacuated. The impact on the environment of your equipment is minimal. Just be thankfull to be rescued.

Get the GPS cordanates of were you where and post them on geochaching.com or here so theETSers will know where to get the free gear. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I agree. The environment is the number 2 priority, your hide is number 1. I would look at what is left behind as minimal, considering everything I see left behind by inconsiderate littering hunters, campers, hikers, fishermen, canoers, and the like in America just for one little excursion. As for myself, I leave a campsite better than I found it and don't leave traces, at least visible ones.

And what do they do with a life-raft?

Sink it. Don't want some concerned pilot or Ship's Captain reporting a raft, do we?

When we use a helicopter to hoist a patient out of an area, we always walk out and pretty much clean up both our equipment and the patient’s items. We generally turn over any equipment to the family/friends or in their absence to Park Rangers or other Law Enforcement personnel.

Pete

I work SAR and we usually leave a couple of team members behind for clean up while the victim is taken out and to the nearest hospital, haste depends on the condition of the person.

For example, if we find a couple of lost hikers who are perfectly fine, but just lost, we're not calling in a chopper and flying them out.

After Evac of people, the scene is photographed, or video taped and then items are forwarded to family. disposables and contaminates are cleaned up and disposed of.