Smart - and so simple

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In Nevada (I think it's Nevada) there are two adults and 4 children missing in a cold, snowy wilderness area. They went there two days ago to "play in the snow" and did not return. They are in a silver jeep with a black top and so far air rescue has had no sightings.

A TV anchor was passing on some safety tips for driving in bad weather conditions and one thing he said was so brilliant and so simple.

He advised drivers to keep a blue tarp in the trunk of their car. Theory is the color blue is not found in nature so if you are lost or stranded and can't phone out - spreading a blue tarp over your car will help searchers find you.

A $20 tarp could save your life in a car - and it struck me that it's a great idea to carry on small planes as well.

Wilderness campers and hikers carry tents - usually green or brown in color to blend in with natural surroundings. How smart would it be to line those tents with bright blue so they could serve in an emergency, too?

One of those simple, smart ideas I would have never thought of.

kay
#off topic forum
  • Banned
    Good idea on the blue tarp.

    Breaking News. Family has been found alive and well. Thank goodness.
    • [ 5 ] Thanks
  • Good idea...

    ...and good news.

  • I pack a blue tarp. It's cheap cover from the elements and can be made into ponchos, collect water, etc. I also have some mylar emergency blankets which are cheap and highly reflective. They make good "attention getters" and should be in every vehicle.

    A couple of road flares are also a good idea. They can get attention, but also are good for starting a fire in conditions where other fire starters will fail.

    But as far as blue not occuring in nature, sounds like the guy has never seen a sky, big lake or an ocean. Many survival tarps are camo on one side and orange on the other. To be found, I'll take orange over blue any day...
    • [1] reply
    • Sky, lake and ocean - yes. But in a desert, rocky terrain, mountainous area, flat prairie or snow covered area - the blue would stand out. You don't get lost in the sky - and better have more than a tarp if you are in the water.

      Sounds like the couple were smart folks. He built a fire and heated stones and then put the warm stones inside the car. Nature's space heater.
      • [2] replies
  • Banned
    Smart idea about heating the rocks, makes the heat last longer.

    The black smoke from the burning tire would also draw attention for miles...
    • [1] reply

    • Don't count on smoke to help anyone find you in mountains. I lit a nice damp fire that was the size of a large RV - about 10 feet high and at least 15 feet long. It was damp wood so smoked to hell and back. Nobody ever saw it.

      It isn't often you actually WANT people to see you. It can be dangerous if it's not the right people. I had a cop tell me just last week that near the homeless camps is getting dangerous now. However - if you need to be seen sometimes just a small flashlight and a hand held mirror will do the trick. When the mirror reflects that flashlight it seems to amplify it.

      I was just thinking about color the last time Ricky and I were out together by the lake. I had on all browns and remembered when I got there that it was hunting season. Oops. That's a mistake I didn't like realizing I'd made.
      • [1] reply
  • Thanks for sharing sweet and simple ideas here. Keep 2 or 3 olde tires in jeep. You can get double benefits by burning the tires 1- you can get attention of researchers as well as other folks, because others can see the black smoke of burning tires from miles away. 2- You can get heat.
  • Banned
    Also helps that she had a cellphone and they searched where the phone last pinged from.

    I prefer to watch people playing in the snow in sub-zero degree temps in the mountains on TV
  • I should add a bright tarp and other stuff to what I have in my van, but I do have a super-good down sleeping bag and some cheap down jackets in there at all times. Takes up very little space. Major highways can quickly close for hours in the winter around here, making simple trips more difficult than you'd plan.

    Very good idea on heating the rocks. I've heard candles recommended, but I tried them once (in my Astro mid-size van) to see and I don't think they put out enough heat. And the fire danger and the fact that they could take your oxygen...

    In that same van, I've also tried Coleman catalytic heaters and they do very little. (Those are the ones that are supposed to be about 100% efficient so they don't put out Carbon Monoxide. And they run off little propane cans.)

    Speaking of being careful about who finds you: One time I was car camping and came across this guy who seemed just a little bit off. And he had a hand gun on his belt. I was on a road near camp and he came up on horse back and asked where we were. Then he started to argue with me about the location I indicated and I was only a mile or two from the campground. He creeped me out and I realized he now knew my vehicle. I went home quickly and early. The end.

    Dan
  • Good ideas, along with a blanket and basic survival gear if you're going snow sporting.

    Hit -10F here a couple of nights ago. Coldest its been in many years.
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    Smart - and so simple

    In Nevada (I think it's Nevada) there are two adults and 4 children missing in a cold, snowy wilderness area. They went there two days ago to "play in the snow" and did not return. They are in a silver jeep with a black top and so far air rescue has had no sightings. A TV anchor was passing on some safety tips for driving in bad weather conditions and one thing he said was so brilliant and so simple.