NZ Search and Rescue have released figures showing that over one third of rescues carried out this summer have been for lost or injured overseas visitors. The great proportion of these are in the South Island where mountain climbing is popular during the summer months.
New Zealand Land Search & Rescue (landSAR) say many of these visitors lack basic awareness of the dangers and requirements to venture into the wilderness. Tourists are often ill equipped and unfamiliar with NZ systems. Many man hours of searching are often wasted due to visitors not filling in intention forms.
Basic outdoor safety messages are taught to New Zealanders from a early age however this education may be lacking in visitors who venture into our parks.
LandSAR has devised a seven point safety tip to help educate visitors which will be added to tourist information distributed by Tourism New Zealand.
SURVIVAL TIPS
- Sign in/sign out. Leave a detailed trip plan with DoC or a friend including a “panic” date. The more details searchers have about your intentions, the quicker you’ll be rescued if something goes wrong.
- Don’t underestimate bad New Zealand weather. Check the forecasts before going into the outdoors for the period you’ll be gone.
- Take advice from people who know the area you’re planning to tramp or climb.
- Rivers can be killers. If it’s running too strong to walk through, wait until level drops. Be conservative.
- Going with others is better than going alone.
- Consider using a personal locator beacon, especially if you’re travelling alone.
- If lost – seek shelter and stay where you are. Use a torch/camera flash to attract attention at night. Try and position something coloured and visible from the air to help a helicopter search during the day
Tags: New Zealand by Road
But this is obvious. Of course tourists are less familiar with New Zealand’s nature and its dangers. But I think that in New Zealand there is so much warnings and explanations, that any THINKING tourist will get the idea before going on his first tramp.