Dead Men Walking: Search and Rescue in US National Parks
Heggie TW and Amundson ME. 2013. Dead Men Walking: Search and Rescue in US National Parks. Wilderness and Environmental Medicine. 20(3):244-249
From 1992 to 2007 there were 78 488 individuals involved in 65 439 SAR incidents. These incidents ended with 2659 fatalities, 24 288 ill or injured individuals, and 13 212 saves. On average there were 11.2 SAR incidents each day at an average cost of $895 per operation. Total SAR costs from 1992 to 2007 were $58 572 164. In 2005, 50% of the 2430 SAR operations occurred in just 5 NPS units. Grand Canyon National Park (307) and Gateway National Recreation Area (293) reported the most SAR operations. Yosemite National Park accounted for 25% of the total NPS SAR costs ($1.2 million); Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve ($29 310) and Denali National Park and Preserve ($18 345) had the highest average SAR costs. Hiking (48%) and boating (21%) were the most common activities requiring SAR assistance. Hiking (22.8%), suicides (12.1%), swimming (10.1%), and boating (10.1%) activities were the most common activities resulting in fatalities.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Heggie, Travis; Amundson, Michael
- Units
- GLAC
- Keywords
- Fatality, illness, injury, National Park, rescue, search