Tehachapi Mountain Search and Rescue
Tehachapi Mountain Search and Rescue
By: Jeniffer Hukill, News Assistant
Description: Teaching Tehachapi to stay safe while having fun this summer
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Posted by editor Fri Aug 10, 2007 10:42:46 PDT
Viewed 413 times
0 responses 0 comments Summer is upon us and warm weather activities such as camping and hiking are in full swing. Now more than ever it is important to take precautions while spending extended amount of time in the sun. Jeff Snyder, a Reserve Deputy Sheriff with Tehachapi Mountain Search and Rescue (TMSR), explained that it is very important to keep hydrated and stay on trails while hiking.
“There have been several instances, in Tehachapi, of individuals veering off of trails getting lost and needing to be rescued,” explained Deputy Snyder.
A few years ago, according to Deputy Snyder, a Mountain Park hiker, climbed up to the top of the mountain, decided to take a different route down the mountain off the marked trail and wound up getting lost.
The hiker made several crucial mistakes resulting in a rescue mission. His first mistake was hiking alone, hiking with a partner is always a good idea. His second mistake was venturing away from the trail. Finally, he did not bring enough water to stay hydrated. The TMSR team spent a day and a half searching before they found the lost hiker.
TMSR offers community classes such as “Hug a Tree” and CPR. These classes act as a proactive measure in the community. The classes educate individuals in the proper steps to take before and during outdoor activities, as well as teaching individuals what to do in the event they find themselves in a compromised situation.
The “Hug a Tree” program teaches children that if they get lost while hiking, the best thing to do is “hug a tree.” Hugging a tree ensures that the child stays in one place, decreasing the time it would take for a TMSR volunteer to find the missing child. The children are also instructed in what items to take while on outdoor excursions. Some of the items include a whistle, first aid kit and plenty of water.
TMSR is a solely volunteer unit. They rely completely on community donations to operate.
For more information or to sign up for classes contact Jeff Snyder Reserve Deputy Sheriff at 972-4201 or e-mail: jksnyder72@msn.com
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