Safety Tips

As you’re planning your time outdoors, whether exploring the beautiful backcountry via hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, camping, trail running, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, etc. – Even when you carry the 10 Essentials, emergencies can still happen. Here’s what typically occurs during a mountain rescue: 

• An injury or emergency happens in the backcountry.
  If something feels wrong or unsafe and you can’t turn around, don’t wait — reach out for help. Early calls make rescues safer and faster.
• Call or text 911.
  Your information is relayed to the local Sheriff’s Office, which coordinates all search and rescue missions.
• The Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) Deputy contacts Seattle Mountain Rescue (SMR).
• The mission is quickly evaluated and launched.
  Within minutes, volunteer rescuers begin mobilizing. Leaders assess:
  • Location
  • Weather and terrain
  • Nature of the injury or emergency
  • Resources needed
    
• Teams respond to the trailhead and deploy into the field.
  Rescuers travel to the closest access point and then hike or travel overland to reach the person(s) in need. Team size varies. Sometimes a full team is needed; other times, a single highly qualified rescuer may be sent ahead if speed is critical.
• Rescuers locate, assess, and treat the patient.
  Care is often provided on scene, and a safe evacuation plan is made.
• Evacuation to safety.
  Depending on conditions, evacuation may occur by:
  • Helicopter
  • Ground transport (litter carry, assisted walking, or other methods)
    All patients are brought to the trailhead or a safe transfer point for further medical care.

It is important to note that a typical rescue mission can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours. It may take an hour or more before rescue teams can reach you.

SMR’s rescue services are provided free of charge, made possible by community support and donors like you.

What to Do While You’re Waiting for Help

If you find yourself in the mountains with an injury, whether yours or someone in your party, be sure to follow the below recommendations:

• Stay calm and stay put.
  You’ve contacted the Sheriff’s Office and rescue teams are on the way. The best thing you can do now is conserve your energy and avoid unnecessary movement.
• Do NOT try to hike out or “meet” rescuers.
  Stay where you are — even if you think help might be nearby. Moving makes you harder to find and can make injuries worse.
• If someone is injured, stay with them.
  Do not leave an injured person to look for help. Rescuers are coming to your reported location.
• Make yourself easy to see.
  Help rescuers spot you:
  • Move to an open area if it’s safe
  • Lay out items on the ground to create contrast, preferably brightly colored and/or reflective
  • If you can, wave or use reflective items when you hear aircraft or voices
    
• Assess the situation.
  Take a moment to calmly figure out:
  • Who is injured or unwell
  • What supplies you have
  • Immediate risks (weather, falling rocks, water, etc.)
    

6. Give first aid if needed.
   Treat serious bleeding, keep injured people still, and make everyone as comfortable as possible.
7. Protect against the environment.
   Exposure is one of the biggest dangers.
   • Stay warm, dry, and out of the wind
   • Put on extra layers
   • Use insulation from the ground
   • Ration food and water, but do drink fluids
     

• Listen and signal.
  Rescuers may approach on foot, by helicopter, or with drones.
  • Listen carefully for voices, aircraft, or equipment
  • Respond by shouting, waving, or signaling

9. Keep a whistle ready.
   Every person — especially children — should have a whistle within reach.
   Three short whistle blasts = signal for help. Repeat as needed.

These simple actions can make a critical difference—for both the person in need and the volunteers responding.  

Seattle Mountain Rescue is an independent 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization under “Mountain Rescue Council” with EIN 91-6049880. We are run by dedicated, highly trained volunteers that respond under the authority of the King County Sheriff’s Office and collaborates with other units through our association memberships with KCSARA and MRA.  SMR’s rescue services are provided free of charge, made possible by community support and donors like you.

Seattle Mountain Rescue Welcomes University Prep

Seattle Mountain Rescue (SMR) recently welcomed 15 Upper School students from University Prep (UPrep) for an outreach education visit that connected classroom learning to real-world winter travel, leadership, and safety in the mountains.

An Intensive Snow School Experience

This year’s cohort enrolled in UPrep’s Intensive Snow School, participate with a program designed to build strong foundations in outdoor leadership and risk awareness. As part of the course, all students will complete an AIARE 1 Avalanche Course as well as spend multiple days at Mount Baker with a Pro Guide, where they’ll deepen their understanding of avalanche awareness, decision-making in winter terrain, and the responsibilities that come with recreating in snow-covered mountains and environments.

The visit to SMR offered a local, community-centered perspective—showing students how education, preparation, and teamwork extend beyond the classroom and into the broader outdoor ecosystem.

Getting to Know Seattle Mountain Rescue

During their visit, students received a brief introduction to SMR—who we are, what we do, and how we support the outdoor community across Washington. Volunteers shared how SMR partners with local sheriffs’ offices and other search and rescue (SAR) teams to respond when people need help in the backcountry.

Students were especially excited to explore the rescue truck, learn how equipment is organized for rapid response, and see how technology, such as drones, is helping bring everyone home from the backcountry faster than ever before. They also had the chance to meet Ruffles, SMR’s crisis response canine, whose calm presence and specialized training sparked plenty of curiosity and smiles.

Building the Next Generation of Outdoor Leaders

SMR is grateful for opportunities like this to connect with students who are actively learning how to head out on a hike, recreate responsibly and lead with awareness in winter environments. Programs like UPrep’s Intensive Snow School help cultivate thoughtful decision-makers—people who understand not only how to enjoy the mountains, but how to care for themselves, their partners, and the broader outdoor community.

We wish the UPrep snow school students a safe, inspiring experience at Mount Baker and beyond, and we’re proud to be part of their journey into winter leadership.

Seattle Mountain Rescue is an independent 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization under “Mountain Rescue Council” with EIN 91-6049880. We are run by dedicated, highly trained volunteers that respond under the authority of the King County Sheriff’s Office and collaborates with other units through our association memberships with KCSARA and MRA.  SMR’s rescue services are provided free of charge, made possible by community support and donors like you.

Infrared Image using SMR’s Thermal Drone

So, you’ve been rescued.  This almost always brings a sense of elation and relief. However, adjusting back to the real world can be difficult. Upon arrival home, many are faced with transitioning from conditions of fear or a sense of helplessness back into the daily demands of life.

What is a near-miss experience?

Traumatic events usually happen quickly and chaotically. A near-miss experience occurs when you are involved in an event where you think you will die or be badly hurt but are not. This can have a deep psychological impact, sometimes with lasting effects.

How does the body react to a near-miss experience?

When you face a moment of danger, the  automatic systems in your brain and body create a state of high alert that prepares you for survival. Your senses are heightened, you act instinctively (without thinking), and you are able to make decisions much faster than usual as there is no time for emotion or to make sense of the situation.

If the threatened event or anticipated outcome of death or injury doesn’t occur, the danger is replaced by unfamiliar and demanding experiences requiring attention, such as contact with emergency services, police, health care/medical  or other rescue workers.

In this flow of events, there may be no time to take stock of what did and didn’t happen, so the mental and emotional changes you made when anticipating the worst outcome are not undone. In time, this can lead to confusion – potentially leaving you stuck in the terrible moment deep down, while on the surface everything appears normal.

What are some common responses to a near-miss experience?

Common responses (known as survivor reactions) to a near-miss experience can include:

• Thinking: Intrusive thoughts, denial, impaired memory, decreased concentration, being overcautious and aware, confusion, or fear of the event happening again
• Emotions: Shock, shame, numbness, anxiety, guilt, depression, anger, fear, sadness and a sense of helplessness
• Interactions: Withdrawal and avoidance of family, friends, activities, and being on edge or irritable

Such reactions to an extremely stressful event are understandable and normal. These are typical responses and generally decrease after a period. Of course, it is completely natural for everyone’s reactions to vary from one individual to another.

Self-help for reactions to a near-miss experience

If you’ve had a near-miss experience, there are some things you can do immediately to address any disturbing reactions you may experience: .

• Receive medical attention.

• If you’re constantly preoccupied with the event, when it comes to mind, make an effort to think past the moment of danger to remember how you survived. Tell yourself the whole story, then try to put the event aside and return to the present.
• If you’ve lost interest in your career, hobbies, activities or social life, give yourself time to work the event out, then see if you can get enjoyment from familiar activities again. If not, consider that your priorities may have changed and that you might value different activities more.
• If you’re having feelings of not belonging, try doing things that are meaningful to you and that you enjoy doing with others. A shared bond between people helps to build belonging. It may also help to explain how you feel to people who will understand. This could be a friend or family member, or a counsellor.
• It’s not uncommon for a near-miss experience to change people’s outlook on life and what’s important to them. These experiences often give a clearer sense of our values, such as the importance of people, relationships and making the world better.
• If you feel life has lost its meaning and you’ve lost interest in the future you had planned or expected for yourself, consider what kind of future is important to you now.   Make an effort to connect with someone that shares similar interests.
• If you’ve become preoccupied with death, think about what is important and will give life meaning now. It may help to avoid news and media until you have found your direction again.  Do not hesitate to reach out to someone you trust.  It is important not to isolate!
• If you are feeling guilty for surviving, remember that during traumatic events normal order is disrupted. You are not responsible for the event or the outcome. Try to accept what happened and give yourself permission to stop trying to find meaning in what occurred.
• It may help to put your thoughts and feelings into words by keeping a journal, talking to family and friends, or participating in support groups associated with the event.

Consider talking to a trained professional who has experience with traumatic events; they are likely to help you understand what is happening, offer the benefit of their experience and suggest ways of helping yourself through it.

When to seek help for reactions to a near-miss experience

Near-miss reactions included those previously described can be a consequence of facing a tragic or traumatic event. If they do not resolve, or if you feel previous problems are stirred up, early support from trained professionals can prevent complications and help speed the recovery process. Seek professional help if:

• the reactions you are having are interfering with your day-to-day life and relationships
• the event does not seem to fade and your feelings about it are not subsiding
• you are having difficulties with sleeping, eating, your mood, relationships, work or leisure
• no matter how you look at it, the event doesn’t make sense
• you have ideas of self-punishment, self-harm or taking risks you wouldn’t normally take
• you continue to feel detached, have lost interest in previously enjoyable activities, or are isolating yourself.

Tools to help for reactions to a near-miss experience

Breathwork

• “How to Breathe” video by Dr. Belisa Vranich

Recommended Apps

• Headspace
• Ten Percent Happier
• Calm
• Insight Timer

Gratitude & Journaling

Gratitude has a profound effect on our wellbeing and resiliency.  The practice of gratitude sharpens your attention for the good and the positive in your life, which helps us to appreciate things that we otherwise take for granted.  Science has shown that people who are consistently grateful are relatively happier, more energetic and more hopeful.   Here is a quick video: “The Amazing Effects of Gratitude”

Prioritize Sleep

No, sleep isn’t a magic wand to cure everything in our lives, BUT did you know it does strengthen our mental clarity, creativity, memory, positive attitude, efficiency and more?   While we commonly believe that sleep is about giving rest to the body, research shows that sleep is more about the brain!

Some Sleep Benefits:

• Enhanced immune function
• Help us live longer
• Increased energy and strength
• Enhances our coordination and flexibility
• Improves emotional regulation, so we can keep our cool under stress

We all have times in our lives when we have more responsibilities than others.  Science has proven that even a short nap can provide benefits. Therefore, when we are in the midst of a busy time, we can still implement tools to maintain our health and increase our productivity and ability to stay safe!  The key is to take advantage of slower times to make sure we increase our resiliency.

Research shows that positive growth and resilience can occur following trauma.  We wish you the best and look forward to seeing you out on the trails again soon! If you would like to connect and/or share your rescue story, please contact development@seattlemountainrescue.org.

It should come as no surprise that outdoor adventurers of all experience levels get caught in unexpected weather, but that isn’t always the case.  Regardless of the season, from winter to summer, scores of people get surprised by bad weather and quickly find themselves in a dangerous, if not lethal, situation.